Visiting the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
A welcome sign greets visitors as they enter the garden. Photos by Paris Barraza.
A welcome sign greets visitors as they step into the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, California. The 86-acre garden is dedicated to California native plants, serving to educate visitors on biodiversity conservation in the changing environment of today.
Fay's Wildflower Meadow, located near the entrance of the garden.
On a sunny afternoon, it is easy to catch a glimpse of the birds, lizards, squirrels and snakes that call the gardens home. For those who continue onwards in the gardens, they will quickly come across Fay's Wildflower Meadow, featuring an array of brush and blooming flowers. Along the trails are the state flower, California poppy, hummingbird sage, Jock Brydon azaleas and Refugio manzanitas.
Near the gift shop on the upper level of the gardens is the Silent Sentinel, a monument built to recognize Methuselah, one of the oldest known living trees in Inyo County, California. Nearby, visitors can sit near a small pond and watch turtles swimming in the murky waters.
A tribute to Methuselah, one of the oldest trees living in Inyo County, California.
A pond inside the botanic garden.
For locals, a botanical garden of this size serves as a great place to spend the day and take others to visit. Tour guides and audio tours are accessible to guide those new to the trails and its expansive list of vegetation. Take advantage of their free admission days with the next one on Father's Day, June 16.