Balboa Park Botanical Building

During the global pandemic, I have reconnected with nature in meaningful ways. Daily strolls in my neighborhood, bird watching, and frequent visits to the park have become a part of my new life. I hadn’t realized how much peace and quiet I had been denying myself by living in such a fast-paced environment and being able to immerse my days among mother nature’s gifts was healing. Prior to Covid, I was clueless as to how much I needed an attitude change. Because I was constantly hustling from one thing to the next, I didn’t cross my mind that I should stop, survey my surroundings, and take a deep breathe, as much as I could. With much of everything on pause, I was able to see mother nature was there for me, as she always had been, only now I was at full attention.

Have you ever had an unconscious passion that had yet to be identified? I learned how much I cherished botanical gardens during the pandemic. Gardens in general, actually. I have spent many years taking photos of gardens, plants, and flowers – they had been collecting in my camera roll and hard drives. Seeking these destinations both in my city and while traveling should have been the indicator of how much joy they brought me but it never crossed my mind, it was just something I’d always ensure was on the itinerary. I have always been passionate about flowers but wildly, it just now occurred to me the kind of happiness gardens bring me.

The Balboa Park Botanical Building in San Diego is a special garden that I fondly remember. I was impressed with this unique architectural structure filled wall-to-wall with vibrant flora and fauna. Seeing the Botanical Building is a beautiful destination for anyone traveling in and around the San Diego area. It is free and open to the public.

Built for the 1915-16 Exposition, along with the adjacent Lily Pond and Lagoon, the historic building is one of the largest lath structures in the world. The Botanical Building plantings include more than 2,100 permanent plants, featuring fascinating collections of cycads, ferns, orchids, other tropical plants and palms. The Botanical Building also presents some of the Park’s vibrant seasonal flower displays. [source]

Located at Balboa Park, home to 17 unique museums, the gardens are a highlight of the area. Although it has suffered damage over the years and isn’t as kept as one would expect, it is still a remarkable sight. Thankfully there is a restoration in progress which you can learn more about at the Balboa Park Conservancy.

Location

Balboa Park Botanical Building
1549 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101-1660
Phone:+1 619 239 0512