The Humboldt Botanical Garden in Eureka has plenty to offer visitors during the winter season.
“The garden is open year-round, seven days a week. We are also open when it’s raining. There’s something about the rainy days that make the garden especially beautiful. Everything looks exceptionally vibrant, fresh and colorful,” said Tammy Petitjean, the Humboldt Botanical Garden’s manager of volunteer services.
Dahlia imperialis is abloom at the Humboldt Botanical Garden. (Submitted)
She added, “There’s a lot in bloom right now, including flora that only blooms during the colder months. The many manzanitas in our Native Plant Garden are in full bloom. Our entire Heather Garden is also in bloom with heathers and ericas, and is so lovely. Blooming in the Temperate Woodland Garden are Polyspora speciosa, Camellia sasanqua (also in bloom throughout other areas of the garden) and the fragrant Luculia pinceana. Just some of the others currently blooming are the Dahlia imperialis, the budding Dahlia tenuicaulis and various orchid species on display in our greenhouse.”
The Humboldt Botanical Garden – located at 7707 Tompkins Hill Road on the College of the Redwoods campus – is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last entry is one hour before the garden closes. (The garden will be closed New Year’s Day.)
Admission is free to members, $10 for local adults, $7 for local seniors and $5 for children ages 6 to 17, students with a valid ID and for leashed dogs. (To view admission rates for those from out of the area, go to https://hbgf.org/hours-admission. For the dog policy, go to https://hbgf.org/about-bringing-your-dog.)
Hummingbirds can be viewed right now at the Humboldt Botanical Garden. (Submitted)
Petitjean says the winter season is an opportunity for people to view the beauty of the garden in a way one won’t see it at other times of the year.
“The gorgeous, autumn colors are still on display throughout the whole garden. And it’s a welcome repose to the hurried, and sometimes stressful, holiday season. It gives you a chance to de-stress and get grounded in the beauty of nature,” she said.
“The hummingbirds are everywhere in the garden right now,” Petitjean added.
The Humboldt Botanical Garden offers 44.5 acres of world-class botanical gardens, special features and attractions and about five miles of walking and hiking trails, Petitjean said.
“Another thing that makes the garden so special,” she said, “is that it’s taken care of by many groups of volunteers. The garden exists and thrives because of our volunteers.”
“Flash Dance,” group of sculptures created by artist Jack Sewell, can be found near the front entrance of the Humboldt Botanical Garden. (Submitted)
New at the garden
Right now, the Humboldt Botanical Garden also has several new projects in the works, she said.
“We’re in the process of building an additional greenhouse, which will allow us to offer even more plants at our annual spring plant sale. Speaking of our plant sale, many people aren’t aware that we also have plants for sale year-round,” Petitjean said.
“We are also currently installing a Crevice Garden and an observational platform, which will be 30 feet above the ground, with a suspension bridge. The platform will offer absolutely incredible views of the surrounding areas, near and far,” she said.
Petitjean describes the Crevice Garden as a “modern rock garden style that uses vertically placed, flat stones, which create narrow, deep soil pockets that mimic natural rocky habitats. Plants will grow out of the crevices, displaying a uniquely attractive garden style.”
Orchid species are on display in the greenhouse at the Humboldt Botanical Garden. (Submitted)
Another new feature at the garden, she noted, is a group of sculptures created by artist Jack Sewell, titled “Flash Dance.”
“The sculptures were generously donated by Jack and Amy Sewell and are on display next to the opening of the arbor, in the front gardens,” Petitjean said. “And we have plans in the works for a new restroom, which is something those of us who work here are very much looking forward to.”
The Humboldt Botanical Garden offers several different types of memberships, “everything from families to dogs, and discounted rates for seniors and students,” she said.
“Membership comes with many perks: unlimited admission to the garden, free admission to over 360 other botanical gardens throughout North America, free attendance to our monthly classes and monthly bird walk, heavily discounted rates to our Summer Music Series, discounts to many local nurseries, the opportunity to shop at our annual plant sale the day before it’s open to the public, and a subscription to our quarterly, printed newsletter, The Botanical Guardian,” Petitjean said.
Memberships can be purchased at www.hbgf.org, in person at the garden or by calling 707-442-5139.
“We encourage anyone who’s never been to the garden to come out for a visit,” Petitjean said. “You’ll be surprised to find out what’s been in your own backyard this whole time.”
Fragrant Luculia pinceana is pictured in the Moss Family Temperate Woodland Garden at the Humboldt Botanical Garden. (Submitted)
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