Super Blooms: Must-See Flower Fields
It’s not always rainbows and butterflies—unless it’s spring. Then it’s also sunshine, birds, and lots and lots of flowers. Slow down and savor the season at the places below.
The California State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden in Sacramento
The California State Capitol World Peace Rose Garden in Sacramento was voted “7th Best Public Rose Garden in the USA” by the All-American Rose Selections—and for good reason. The Victorian-designed garden features about 650 roses in over 140 colors and fragrances. Enjoy the courtyard and fountain or catch glimpses of the Veterans Memorial Hall and the State Capitol. Additionally, 44 Inspirational Messages of Peace have been engraved on plaques throughout the garden. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. worldpeacerosegardens.org
The delightful flower, Sweet Dreams Coreopsis, was discovered at Flower Farm in Loomis. Peruse their nursery for unusual perennials and succulents. Their plants are bee-friendly, butterfly-attracting, and water-wise. flowerfarminn.com
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville is teeming with flowers and all kinds of foliage, and you can saunter through 16 individual gardens for a truly unforgettable experience. From the Butterfly, Shade, and Cottage Gardens to the Mediterranean, Native, and Rose Gardens, there’s much to see and experience. mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/demonstration_garden
UC Davis Arboretum’s Gateway Garden is full of vibrant poppies, gilia, goldfields, and yellow tarweeds come springtime. Near the teaching nursery is the Hummingbird Garden; Storer Garden has flowering shrubs, succulents, and roses; while the South African collection features unique and often strange flowers. arboretum.ucdavis.edu
Amador Flower Farm in Plymouth boasts over 1,200 daylily varieties—hardy, evergreen plants known for their attractive flowers that come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and bloom cycles. Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. amadorflowerfarm.com
With Daffodil Hill’s permanent closure, you might be wondering where to catch these beautiful blooms. Fear not—thousands of daffodils grace the hamlet of Sutter Creek in spring, and many thousands more will bloom throughout Amador County through mid-April. You can also catch a glimpse of them at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys. While you’re there, savor some food and wine or enjoy a picnic on the lush grounds. ironstonevineyards.com
High Sierra Iris & Wedding Gardens in Camino is a hillside of irises—also called the “Grand Ladies of the Garden.” There are over 2,000 varieties of colorful irises in the garden plus hundreds of daylilies, blooming shrubs, and trees. The gardens are free and open seven days a week (only in May) from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weddingsnflowers.com
The Charles C. Jensen Botanical Gardens in Carmichael exhibit flora including camellias, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons. One of the jewels of Carmichael, they also have varieties of magnolias and dogwoods, Japanese maples, and thousands of tulips. The botanical garden has a Nature Path for the Blind where visually impaired and disabled visitors can feel different textures and experience unique fragrances of various plants. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. carmichaelpark.com/jensen-botanical-garden
The Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt has magnificent vernal pools that exist only in California’s Mediterranean climate and support flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Walk through open grasslands where wildflowers carpet the landscapes and discover 230 varieties of plant species in the form of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, annuals, and more. cosumnes.org
Nearby Apple Hill is not only abundant in fall fruits but also fragrant flowers. 24Carrot Farm offers u-pick flower bouquets (think sunflower, zinnia, and marigold) during the early summer season. Bluestone Meadow hosts their Lavender Blue Festival in June (19-20 and 26-27) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. where you’ll get to make your own lavender bouquet, wreath or wand; walk the lavender labyrinth; chat with the “Lavender Answer Guy”; and purchase lavender products. You can also visit with the alpacas and llamas! 24carrotfarms.com; bluestonemeadow.com
Sweet Dreams Coreopsis, was discovered at Flower Farm in Loomis
The delightful flower, Sweet Dreams Coreopsis, was discovered at Flower Farm in Loomis. Peruse their nursery for unusual perennials and succulents. Their plants are bee-friendly, butterfly-attracting, and water-wise. flowerfarminn.com
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville
The Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville is teeming with flowers and all kinds of foliage, and you can saunter through 16 individual gardens for a truly unforgettable experience. From the Butterfly, Shade, and Cottage Gardens to the Mediterranean, Native, and Rose Gardens, there’s much to see and experience. mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/demonstration_garden
UC Davis Arboretum’s Gateway Garden
UC Davis Arboretum’s Gateway Garden is full of vibrant poppies, gilia, goldfields, and yellow tarweeds come springtime. Near the teaching nursery is the Hummingbird Garden; Storer Garden has flowering shrubs, succulents, and roses; while the South African collection features unique and often strange flowers. arboretum.ucdavis.edu
Amador Flower Farm in Plymouth
Amador Flower Farm in Plymouth boasts over 1,200 daylily varieties—hardy, evergreen plants known for their attractive flowers that come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and bloom cycles. Open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. amadorflowerfarm.com
Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys
With Daffodil Hill’s permanent closure, you might be wondering where to catch these beautiful blooms. Fear not—thousands of daffodils grace the hamlet of Sutter Creek in spring, and many thousands more will bloom throughout Amador County through mid-April. You can also catch a glimpse of them at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys. While you’re there, savor some food and wine or enjoy a picnic on the lush grounds. ironstonevineyards.com
High Sierra Iris & Wedding Gardens in Camino
High Sierra Iris & Wedding Gardens in Camino is a hillside of irises—also called the “Grand Ladies of the Garden.” There are over 2,000 varieties of colorful irises in the garden plus hundreds of daylilies, blooming shrubs, and trees. The gardens are free and open seven days a week (only in May) from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weddingsnflowers.com
The Charles C. Jensen Botanical Gardens in Carmichael
The Charles C. Jensen Botanical Gardens in Carmichael exhibit flora including camellias, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons. One of the jewels of Carmichael, they also have varieties of magnolias and dogwoods, Japanese maples, and thousands of tulips. The botanical garden has a Nature Path for the Blind where visually impaired and disabled visitors can feel different textures and experience unique fragrances of various plants. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. carmichaelpark.com/jensen-botanical-garden
The Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt
The Cosumnes River Preserve in Galt has magnificent vernal pools that exist only in California’s Mediterranean climate and support flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Walk through open grasslands where wildflowers carpet the landscapes and discover 230 varieties of plant species in the form of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, annuals, and more. cosumnes.org
Apple Hill
Nearby Apple Hill is not only abundant in fall fruits but also fragrant flowers. 24Carrot Farm offers u-pick flower bouquets (think sunflower, zinnia, and marigold) during the early summer season. Bluestone Meadow hosts their Lavender Blue Festival in June (19-20 and 26-27) from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. where you’ll get to make your own lavender bouquet, wreath or wand; walk the lavender labyrinth; chat with the “Lavender Answer Guy”; and purchase lavender products. You can also visit with the alpacas and llamas! 24carrotfarms.com; bluestonemeadow.com
by Tara Mendanha
UC Davis California Poppy photo courtesy of Ryan Deering. World Peace Garden-peace plaza photo courtesy of TJ David. Amador Flower Farm photo by @sweetvirginia1209. Jensen Botanical Garden photo by Melanie Saechao, @mellies_capture. Cosumnes River Preserve photo by Tatyana Thompson @taty_thompson. 24Carrot Farm photo by Lisette Davis. Other photos courtesy or their respective companies or organizations.