San Francisco Botanical Gardens, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

After two days of walking around San Francisco, I found myself longing to see some green. I live in the mountains and took for granted the joy growing things brings to my daily life. The city is a buzzing, exciting, access to everything place, but it could use some more trees, parks and wild places.

So it was with this desire in mind that my sisters-in-law and I made our way to San Francisco Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park is home to the California Academy of Sciences, De Young Museum, Japanese Tea Garden, a Conservatory of Flowers and my favorite, the Botanical Gardens of San Francisco.

 The streets and parking garage were packed with people on the Sunday afternoon we visited. Perhaps it was the local bagpipe band that was scheduled to play at the outdoor stage that drew the crowd, but I’m pretty sure Golden Gate Park is just the place to be on a Sunday afternoon.

The ladies and I wondered through an Andean Cloud Forest, California Native Garden and the Zellerbach Garden of Perennials, but my favorite place was the Garden of Fragrances.

  

I enjoyed listening to my two California native sisters and their numerous gardening attempts. Where I live the summers are short and glorious, and my gardening attempts has mostly just contributed to the deer and wild turkey population. So it was nice to hear success stories of growing things. 

The San Francisco Botanical Gardens was a beautiful haven in the center of the city. For anyone planning a trip, I would highly recommend a stop at Golden Gate Park.

Distance: Varies

Price: $7.00 for visitors, free for San Francisco natives

Tips: Give yourself lots of time. There’s no reason to be rushed here.