FORT BRAGG BOTANICAL GARDENS

THESE GARDENS WERE FOUNDED BY 1961 BY RETIRED NURSERYMAN, ERNEST SCHEFER AND HIS WIFE BETTY. THEY NOTED THIS PROPERTY HAD AMPLE WATER SUPPLY AND HIGH QUALITY SOILS FOR ACID LOVING PLANTS. THERE ARE MANY LARGE RHODODENDRONS, AZALEAS, AND VARIOUS BULBS, AND CAMELLIAS. MY FAMILY HAS BEEN THERE MANY TIMES AND WE HAVE ENJOYED THE VARIOUS PERENNIAL GARDENS, THE FORESTS AND WATERFALLS, HEATHERS, AND BLOOMING NON NATIVES SUCH AS HYDRANGEAS AND MAGNOLIAS. HE HAS PLANTED 6 RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AT THIS GARDEN. THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE OCEAN AT THIS GARDEN ON A BREEZY BLUFF. THE TOTAL ACREAGE IS 47 ACRES.

THERE ARE OVER 150 BIRD SPECIES LIVING HERE. THE PARK ATTRACTS OVER 60,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. WE HAVE EVEN TAKEN MY MOM HERE IN A WHEELCHAIR OVER ITS CEMENT AND WOODEN TRAILS. THEY ALSO HAVE A VEGETABLE GARDEN THERE. THEY USE PLANT RECORD KEEPING KEEPING TECHNIQUES TO BUILD ON A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF BOTANICAL GARDENS THAT SAFEGUARD SPECIAL PLANTS. THE FOREST IS PRIMARILY MONTERREY PINE AND KNOB CONE PINE. THEY HAVE MASTER GARDENER HERE AS WELL. I HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL PLANTS FROM THEIR NURSERY GIFT STORE. IT IS A UNIQUE PARK TO VISIT. ON THE CLIFF YOU CAN WATCH PELICANS, AND SEE SEA OTTERS ON AN ISLAND AS WELL AS SEA LIONS. THEY HAVE A UNIQUE ENCLOSURE FOR WHEN THE WIND IS HIGH FOR WATCHING THE WAVES THROUGH A LARGE WINDOW.