A Walk Through Riverside’s Living Plant Museum

A Walk in the Garden

The UCR Botanic Gardens make up one of my favorite places in all of Riverside. The 40-acre living plant museum is home to 3,500 plant species accessible through four miles of walking trails.

The gardens are made up of themed, horticultural and geographical collections, among them the Butterfly Garden, the Native American Plants Garden and my personal favorite, the Rose Garden. (Nothing beats the aroma here when the roses are in full bloom.) Within them you’ll find the familiar, like the California sycamore tree, and the not-so-familiar, like the Australian bottle tree.

I visit often, by myself or with my wife and our four-year-old daughter. I love it when I'm by myself because it's calming and peaceful—perfect for writing, reading and thinking. On a sleepier day, it’s good for just the opposite: I can sit down at one of the many benches, dedicated to those who have given a piece of their lives or their work to the gardens, and close my eyes and feel the wind, the sun, and on occasion, the rain.

I love it with my family because of its colors and its beauty, because it sparks fun conversations with my wife, and because it sparks curiosity in my daughter. We get to observe the gardens change together over time, and I get to watch her learning—a magical thing.

Regardless of who you go with or when you go, you’re bound to have a fun time exploring and zigzagging through the trails. Most of them are only moderately difficult and are paved, although you will face some pretty steep hills. You can get to the pond to see the turtles and Japanese koi fish easily, and you can see the roses and butterflies with little effort. But you can also challenge yourself and go farther up toward the highest point on the southeast corner. At 1,450 feet and reachable only through dirt trails, it’s a good workout and well worth the view. Make sure you bring some comfy shoes and plenty of water.

Friends of the Garden

The UCR Botanic Gardens host community events year-round. There are volunteer-led summer Twilight Tours, plant sales with discounts for friends of the garden, bird walks, rose pruning demonstrations and the November Art in the Gardens event, where local artists gather to show off and sell their work.

The gardens were founded in 1963, but it was not until 1980 that the membership program, Friends of the UCR Botanic Gardens, was created. Since then, it has been helping the development of the gardens with its annual membership dues. “If you appreciate the garden you probably want to be a friend,” says Barbara Gable, friend and community member.

The UCR Botanic Gardens are open to the public and admission is free, although they do appreciate donations. You can find more information on its history, community events, and volunteering or becoming a friend at gardens.ucr.edu.

A visit to the UCR Botanic Gardens is a great way to celebrate Earth Day, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Explore our Earth Day guide to find ways you can make a difference in Riverside—from volunteering to joining local events and cleanups.

Happy Earth Day, Riverside!

By Ivan Elizalde