Sonoma Botanical Gardens. Glen Ellen, California

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I am usually a very open-minded traveler. I enjoy new experiences. I rarely am judgmental about the ways in which different places present themselves. But there are times when the biases I have from living my life in the northeastern United States come through. My visit to the Sonoma Botanical Gardens was one such time.

 





When I imagine a botanical gardens, I see lush vegetation. Lots of trees, flowers, and manicured lawns. But Sonoma has a Mediterranean climate. It is hot in the summer, and averages less than one inch of rain per month from April through October. Because they are dedicated to bringing the native flora to the forefront, and because they are in California, which is constantly short of rain and ground water, these gardens are just not what I expected. My walk started through open fields that, in August, were mostly brown grass. I walked along the main path, and followed it up hill, toward a stream, with two ponds. Here the plant life changed to trees with a somewhat heavy undergrowth. The plants here are Asian in origin, representing one of the largest wild-collected presentations of Asian plants in the world. While the ground was still dry, and it was definitely hot, the plants here were able to tap a source of water underground to grow all year long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






 


My visit coincided with a show of work titled “Spirit Guides.” Set throughout the gardens, this collection of oversized fantasy animals have been created by the workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles, in Oaxaca, Mexico. They have created eight colorful chimeras inspired by the Zapotec calendar. Each statue is a mixture of two animals, and they are designed with skins that are brightly colored, with patterns reflecting different aspects of the world of nature. The chimeras are designed to act as spirit guides and astronomical embodiments of nature.

 


Camel-Eagle

Rabbot-Deer

Coyote-Fish

Coyote-Fish

Jaguar-Eagle

Armadillo-Insect

Crane

Monkey-Iguana

Monkey-Iguana

Visiting the Sonoma Botanical Gardens was an entertaining and educational experience. It was a great opportunity to explore a different biome than I am used to, and offered a wonderful trip through the artistic visions of some artists I did not previously know.

 


Deer-Butterfly


After visiting the gardens we stopped for lunch at Les Pascals Patisserie et Boulangerie, in Glen Ellen, California. Les Pascals was a delightful find of a French cafe in the middle of the Sonoma Valley. The sandwiches and pastries were excellent, and well worth the stop.

Nuts and Bolts


  • The Sonoma Botanical Gardens is located at 12841 Sonoma Highway (RT 12), Glen Ellen, California, It is open every day from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The entrance fee is $17 Adults/ $14 seniors/ $8 youth, teachers, active military.

 

  • Les Pascals Patisserie is located at 13758 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, California. It is open Thur - Tuesday from early morning until 4:30 PM. Prices range from $5 for pastry to $20 for hot dishes. 
Location: 12841 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, USA

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