Garden Variety

Lean into spring with a visit to one of these amazing public gardens.

BY CORINNE WHITING

Desert Botanical Garden

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

SOAK UP SOUTHWEST DESERT MAGIC AMONG the gardens’ 140 acres, 55 of which are under cultivation. As you walk the property’s Sonoran Desert nature paths and hiking trails, learn about unique plants that thrive in some of the hottest and driest parts of the world. This popular Phoenix attraction has more than 50,000 plant displays and hosts happenings from art installations to summer Garden Mixtape evenings with live music and craft beer tastings.

The Living Collection features 4,482 species— including 379 rare and endangered species. Explore the Sonoran Nature Loop Trail, which boasts great views of surrounding mountains. One of the largest exhibits of its kind, the trail is dedicated to showing how Sonoran Desert plants have long been used by native communities for food, medicine, and building materials. Also experience the Center for Desert Living Trail and the Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Loop Trail, which explodes into an exquisite spectacle during blooming season. dbg.org

Bloedel Reserve

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WASHINGTON

JUST A SHORT FERRY ride from downtown Seattle, this 150-acre estate invites visitors to pause in a serene, freshair setting. Created thanks to the vision of avid nature lovers Prentice and Virginia Bloedel, the venue provides year-round opportunities to explore preserved forests and cultivated gardens. Bloedel Reserve also

merges its stunning views with art exhibits, lectures, concerts, and summer Shakespeare sessions.

Soak in quintessential Northwest scenes, like one of the country’s largest public moss gardens—a verdant wonderland where more than 40 species of mosses and lichens have transformed the two-acre site into a fantastical

fairyland. In the exquisite Japanese Garden, find a rich collection of trees, including a laceleaf maple and large katsura. Take in the beauty of the Sand and Stone Garden from the porch of the Japanese Guest House before visiting the Wishing Bench and the 200-foot-long Reflection Pool. bloedelreserve.org

Denver Botanic Gardens

DENVER, COLORADO

FIND BEAUTY BLOOMING AT ELEVATION. Denver Botanic Gardens features seven living plant collections, two natural history collections (herbaria), a library, and art collections of more than 1,200 works. You’ll find sculpture jazzing up the property’s spaces all year round, plus seasonal events such as summer concerts.

York Street’s 24 acres show off ever-expanding diversity from around the globe. Meander the 18 arid Gardens of the West, centered around plants that thrive in Colorado’s climate, and the Internationally Inspired Gardens that seek connections to Japan, China, South Africa, and the Tropics. In the vibrant Ornamental Gardens, see horticultural favorites roses, daylilies, and irises; on warmer days, find refuge in the Shady Gardens. Cruise through the Water Gardens, home to the aquatic plant collection (waterlilies, water platters, lotus, and canna) plus a system of pools that beautifies the grounds. botanicgardens.org

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

PORTLAND, OREGON

IN THE CITY OF ROSES, FIND VISUAL “POP” TO brighten any Northwest day. In this garden, the oldest rhododendron was planted prior to 1917. Today, feast your eyes on more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants, including certain varieties rarely seen in this region. While the rhododendrons are in bloom from February through July, they reach their peak between late April and early May. An added bonus? The many species of birds and waterfowl drawn to neighboring springfed Crystal Springs Lake. travelportland.com/ attractions/crystal-springs-rhododendron-garden

National Tropical Botanical Garden

HAWAI‘I

TEAR YOURSELF away from that hammock to explore the riches of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG), a notfor-profit institution dedicated to discovering, preserving, and studying global tropical plants. With locations in Hawai‘i and Florida, its network of five botanical gardens and research facilities covers nearly 2,000 acres.

The NTBG has gathered thousands of species from throughout the tropical world, leading to the largest collection of native Hawai‘ian plant species and breadfruit cultivars in existence. Because the conservation of endangered and threatened flora is NTBG’s highest priority, its collection includes many species that are nearly extinct or have already disappeared from their native habitats.

Enjoy a variety of excursions around Hawai‘i, like the Behind the Scenes Tours of the McBryde and Allerton gardens (South Shore, Kaua‘i). Or take tours around Kahanu Garden (Hāna, Maui), where you’ll learn about plants that are integral to the culture and people of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. ntbg.org

The Huntington Botanical Gardens

SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA

LOCATED ABOUT 12 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN Los Angeles, the Huntington—originally a working ranch—comprises an art museum, a library, and a 120-acre botanical garden that boasts some 15,000 varieties of plants. You can take free docent-led tours of the 16 beautiful themed areas, such as the Jungle Garden, Camellia Garden, Lily Pond, and Shakespeare Garden, or wander through them at your own pace.

In addition to the themed garden areas, The Huntington has important holdings of living botanical collections that staff members work diligently to preserve, study, and showcase. As you stroll the grounds, keep an eye out for orchids, camellias, cycads, and bonsai. Check the calendar for special events and exhibits, such as ceremonies in the Japanese teahouse, traditional music in the Chinese Garden, and sculpture installations. huntington.org/gardens