Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (and Wednesday Vignette)

A couple of weekends ago, a friend and I took a drive up north.  Our first stop was the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, which I last visited in May 2015 when Southern California's drought was near its worst.  I wondered if it might look very different after the heavier-than-normal rain we received this winter; however, it looked remarkably the same.  And it's still beautiful!

We were a bit early to see a mass display of the Matilija poppies (Romneya coulteri) but the meadow area near the garden's entrance didn't disappoint.

Orange and purple blooms dominated the meadow but there were other colors mixed in here and there

There were agaves and other desert plants both near the entrance and at the outskirts of the meadow.

From left, a mass of Agave shawii,  Agave sebastiana in bloom, and noID Yucca?

It was a very warm day and we appreciated the opportunity to stroll under the shade of the redwood trees.

A mass of wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) created a pool of green below the trees

We had a great view of the chaparral area along the Campbell Trail.  One feature caught my fancy and I'm offering it as this week's Wednesday Vignette.

Mature live oaks balanced precariously on top of a massive rock formation

A closer view from another angle (For other Wednesday Vignettes, visit Anna at Flutter & Hum)

There were other interesting rocks, like this one:

I don't know why but every time I see this rock, I think it's about to speak to me

We followed Mission Creek through the canyon area.

Although our rainy season has been over for some time, I still expected to see more water in the creek but perhaps the parched soil had already absorbed it

We weren't at much risk of getting wet at the stream crossing

We hiked up the trail on the other side of the creek

and found a reminder of just how old some of the trees at this site are

What I love most about Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is that it's very natural.  Unlike many other botanic gardens that provide visitors a little bit of everything - from manicured rose gardens to stylized Asian gardens and everything in between - the Santa Barbara garden is all about plants native to Southern California.  It doesn't seek to impress so much as it tries to enfold you into the unique natural environment of this part of the world.   There are flowers but not massed flower displays - you discover blooms at intervals as you pass through the garden.

Top row: Aesculus californica, Allium unifolium?, and Collinsia heterophylla
Middle row: Datura wrightii, Iris douglasiana, and Mimulus aurantiacus
Bottom row: noID yellow daisy, yellow Mimulus/Diplacus, and Penstemon spectabilis
(Note: most of these flower IDs are my best guess)

The garden deserved a longer visit than we gave it but it was hot and we were hungry.  We also had two more stops to make before we tackled the long drive home.  I have to make it back there one day during a different season, perhaps fall, when the temperature comes down again.



All material © 2012-2017 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

A friend and I visited Santa Barbara Botanic Garden last weekend (when I should have been spreading mulch).  Although I lived in Santa Barbara for almost 4 years as a college undergrad and have visited the area at intervals over the years, I haven't been to the Botanic Garden in quite awhile.  My last visit was sometime prior to the 2009 Jesusita Fire that damaged the garden and other portions of Santa Barbara County.  Six years after the fire, I was pleased to find the garden looking beautiful and busy with visitors.

One of the first things you see upon entering the garden is the incredible meadow, currently dominated by the bright orange blooms of California poppies.

Views of the meadow from different angles

Bright yellow lupines (top row) dotted the meadow and pink flowers (Clarkia unguiculata perhaps?) provided a punch next to the orange poppies here and there but my favorite flower was the Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri).  

Although we missed the peak period of spring bloom, there were still lots of flowers.

Most of the flowering plants weren't labeled but here are my best guesses:
Top row - Aesculus californica, Aquilegia desertorum, Eriogonum grande rubescens
Middle row - Eriogonum umbellatum, Heuchera 'Old La Rochette', Iris douglasiana
Bottom row - Isomeris arborea (which died suddenly after 2 years in my garden), Opuntia littoralis, Penstemon (no ID)

There were other plants of interest too:

Clockwise from top left: Agave shawii, Asarum caudatum, Yucca whipplei (almost in bloom!), and Dudleya (no ID)

We took a walk through the Redwood forest area.

There's nothing like a Redwood to put your place in the world in perspective

Although some people clearly need a reminder not to mess with the trees; however, on the good news page, the tree shown above was the only plant we saw carved up

Views from the forest area - doesn't that rock look as though he could speak?  (Or is that just me?)

We walked the canyon area and strolled through the woodland area following the stream.

Views along the stream, which was mostly dry

My favorite view in the garden

I loved these 2 seating areas too

We didn't spend any time sitting.  I spent a good amount of time in in the native plant nursery checking out the stock.  Despite my intention to avoid any further planting until fall, I left with 5 plants: 3 Erigeron 'Ron's Pink,' a Physocarpus capitatus, and a Vaccinium ovatum.  The Physocarpus was probably a mistake as our area may not have sufficient winter cold but my fingers are crossed it'll manage the zonal stretch.

With my rule against spring/summer planting broken, you can imagine how our stops at 3 nurseries on the way home went.  But that's a story for another post.


All material © 2012-2015 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party