The historical botanical garden building is in the middle of a 21 million dollar remodel. It is supposed to be completed in summer 2023. Luckily there are plenty of other plant options within Balboa Park. There is a small pedestrian bridge that takes visitors safely across Park Blvd. to two public gardens that were waiting for us to explore.
To the right of the bridge is the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, developed in 1975. It is an award winning 180 varietal rose garden. There are thousands of roses to walk amongst, making it difficult to decide which ones to stop and smell. The prettiest ones didn’t always smell the best.
To the left of the pedestrian bridge is the cactus garden. Established in 1976, there are 1,300 plants within its 2.5 acres. We were there at sunset, as were dozens of professional photographers and their clients, taking Christmas card photos. (The garden is so large they are easy to crop out.)
Balboa Park is amazing. Even after coming here my entire life, there are still new things to discover.
We have never been to these gardens. You are so right, Balboa Park is like an unending treasure hunt. And now I have more to add to my MUST SEE list.
Balboa is an unending treasure hunt! Seemingly impossible to explore it all. There are too many nooks and crannies.
The Desert Garden and Old Cactus Garden are the two places I go to immediately when I visit Balboa Park. They’re both little pieces of heaven in my mind.
Very nice pictures. And you all still have roses! Beautiful.
I can’t believe you know of this place. It’s so obscure, a tiny stretch of land along a busy street, but impactful.
I found it by accident during my first hike in the Park. I was so impressed that it is the first garden I visit each time I visit Balboa.
What a great accident!