Outstanding San Diego Gardens

The excitement begins even before you leave the parking lot, as you glimpse the dramatic dragon tree (Dracaena draco) in the Old World Desert Garden with its mushroom-like shape and stout, upright branches will piquing your curiosity.

While most visitors take the path through the Mediterranean Garden, passing the cork trees with their magnificent textured bark on the way, Debra frequently detours first to see the Succulent Garden by the offices. She especially recommends you visit the adjacent Undersea Succulent Garden which mimics a tropical coral reef and marine life.

Built for the 1915-16 Exposition, the historic Botanical Building within Balboa Park is one of the largest lath structures in the world and houses more than 2,100 permanent plants, featuring fascinating collections of cycads, ferns, palms, orchids and other tropical plants, as well as a scratch-and-sniff garden and seasonal displays.

Debra loves its old-fashioned ambience which transports her back to a bygone era. “It’s a delightful San Diego garden.” She has been thrilled to encounter string quartets that sometimes play inside the building, adding to the wonderful sense of nostalgia.

You could easily spend an entire day here and still not see everything. With guided bus tours, live shows, 4-D theater, and a miniature train, there are endless ways to experience both the animals and the botanical treasures this world-class zoo offers.

When time is limited, Debra recommends heading to her favorite exhibit: Africa Rocks. She loves the way both African and Madagascar plant species as well as analogs were used to create the appropriate setting and varied habitats here. For example, in the Ethiopian Highlands at the top of Africa Rocks, you will see the lucky bean tree (Erythrina lysistemon). This deciduous tree is from South Africa and has a wonderful showy bloom that appears just before the leaves emerge in spring.