Concierges' Recommend May Gardens

Although our April showers were barely drizzles this year, local gardens still boast May flowers. And trees. And plants. Spring in San Diego is a perfect season to stroll among the botanicals, as five of our local hotel concierges will tell you.

If you’re visiting and meandering the first two weeks in May, don’t miss the concierges’ hands-down favorite flower fantasyland, the Carlsbad Flower Fields, open through Mother’s Day weekend.

Cathy Gomez of the Manchester Grand Hyatt could speak for everyone about the “most beautiful flower fields in Carlsbad. The ranunculas look like paper flowers arranged in rainbows,” she says. The fields hold other activities, such as picnics and hayrides, so it’s a great place to take families, Cathy says. “Photos are great there. I have friends who took a family portrait there and it was beautiful.”

“I just want to run through the fields and take photos,” echoes Sheila Colon of Barona Valley Ranch. She adds that the Armstrong Nursery Center there makes for pleasant browsing and plant shopping.

Lucky Erin Vessey of Grand Pacific Palisades can see the flower fields from her work place. For a change of scenery Erin recommends the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas for the “pretty tropical” setting complete with peaceful sounds of waterfalls, birds and the stream that runs through it. The lavender fields near Valley Center are another choice, she says. Stop there on the way to Julian for lunch or go through Temecula and enjoy that little town’s wine tasting.

Jill Moniz of Town & Country reminds us that the San Diego Zoo and its sister Wild Animal Park are both botanical gardens, as well. “And, we have tons of gardens here,” she says of her hotel. “The roses begin blooming a lot in June.” For a pretty drive and glimpses of lilacs, Julian is a great destination, she says.  “And don’t forget that the Anza Borrego desert is in full bloom. The only time to go is this time of year.” It gets too hot next month, she says.

When her visitors have a time budget, Judie Dangler of the Westin Horton Plaza sends them to nearby Balboa Park. “It has the botanical garden and the perennials throughout,” she says. “And there’s the Japanese Tea Garden, too. It’s just lovely over there.”  If you can spend more time, take in at least one of the multiple museums. For special photos, pose in front of the lily pond. 

When she has a day or two to enjoy garden browsing, Judie goes to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, about a two-hour drive from downtown. “The rose gardens have so many varieties, both older and newer hybrids,” she says. Many of them can also be admired at the Balboa Park rose garden across the footbridge from the fountain right here in San Diego.