Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a rare jewel, the only public garden in the continental United States fronting directly on the ocean. The Gardens offers everything from colorful displays to thunderous waves. The mild maritime climate makes it a garden for all seasons, attracting gardeners and nature lovers alike. Manicured formal gardens, a dense coastal pine forest, fern-covered canyons, diverse plant collections, and flower-filled coastal bluffs overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean are among the many attractions. Whale fanciers can take shelter in the Cliff House to watch winter and spring migrations, bird watchers will delight in the over 100 species of birds that live in or visit the Gardens annually. There is a collection of over 120 different Dahlia cultivars, blooming in a wild profusion of color from summer to early fall. Tuberous begonias fill the Mae E. Lauer Display House through the summer.

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Images below are of the garden:

Dahlia garden, 2014, Mary Sue IttnerMCBG, bluff, Mary Sue IttnerMCBG, heather garden, Bob RutemoellerMCBG, Festival of Lights, Mary Sue IttnerMCBG, perennial garden, Bob RutemoellerMCBG, succulent garden, Bob Rutemoeller

Below are some of the bulbs seen in the garden.


Agapanthus 'Mood Indigo' photographed August 2018 by Mary Sue Ittner.

Agapanthus 'Mood Indigo', Mary Sue Ittner

Alstroemeria pulchella (syn. Alstroemeria psittacina) photographed by Mary Sue Ittner August 2004.

Alstroemeria pulchella, Mary Sue IttnerAlstroemeria pulchella, Mary Sue Ittner

Alstromeria sp., probably a hybrid, was flowering on a rainy day in November 2017. Photo from Bob Rutemoeller.

Alstromeria, Bob Rutemoeller

Amaryllis belladonna is native to South Africa, but has naturalized along the Mendocino Sonoma Coast. It has been planted in the gardens and is shown flowering in different years. Photos from Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.

Amaryllis belladonna, Mary Sue IttnerAmaryllis belladonna, Bob Rutemoeller

Arum sp. shown in fruit the end of July 2014 was being admired by visitors. Photograph by Mary Sue Ittner.

Unknown Arum, possibly Arum italicum, in fruit, July 2014, Mary Sue Ittner

Begonia boliviensis is a tuberous species native to Bolivia. Photos were taken by Mary Sue Ittner of plants blooming summer 2004 in Mae E. Lauer Display House at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

Begonia boliviensis, Mary Sue IttnerBegonia boliviensis, Mary Sue Ittner

Begonia × tuberhybrida cultivars in the Mae E. Lauer Display House were photographed the end of July 2014 by Mary Sue Ittner.

tuberous Begonia cultivar, Mary Sue Ittnertuberous Begonia cultivar, Mary Sue Ittnertuberous Begonia cultivar, Mary Sue Ittnertuberous Begonia cultivar, Mary Sue Ittnertuberous Begonia cultivar, Mary Sue Ittnertuberous Begonia cultivar, Mary Sue Ittner

Crocosmia masoniorum is a species from the Eastern Cape of south Africa. The photos below could be of a named cultivar and were taken summer 2004 by Bob Rutemoeller. These plants made a come back after a deer fence was added and were thought lost in the past.

Crocosmia masoniorum, Bob RutemoellerCrocosmia masoniorum, Bob Rutemoeller

Cyclamen hederifolium has been planted next to some of the paths and was blooming the end of July 2014. Photos from Mary Sue Ittner.

Cyclamen hederifolium, Mary Sue IttnerCyclamen hederifolium, Mary Sue Ittner

Dahlia cultivars are shown below. The display area for the dahlias is one of the more popular areas to visit in summer. The first photo taken 2018 from Bob Rutemoeller. The other photos of individual flowers taken by Mary Sue Ittner August 2004.

Dahlia garden, 2018, Bob RutemoellerDahlia 'Ballerina', Mary Sue IttnerDahlia 'Barbarossa', Mary Sue IttnerDahlia 'Curly Que', Mary Sue IttnerDahlia 'Purple Joy', Mary Sue IttnerDahlia 'Summer's End', Mary Sue Ittner
Dahlia 'Swan's Sunset', Mary Sue IttnerDahlia 'Thomas Edison', Mary Sue IttnerDahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue IttnerDahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue IttnerDahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue Ittner
Dahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue IttnerDahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue IttnerDahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue IttnerPurple Dahlia cultivar, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue IttnerDahlia cultivars, Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden, Mary Sue Ittner

Dahlia imperialis is native to Central from Mexico to Panama. It is known as a tree dahlia because it can reach enormous height up to 9 m (30ft). It is a winter dormant and summer growing species. Plants in the North Coast of California, US bloom in late November. Photos 3-4 were taken by Bob Rutemoeller at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

Dahlia imperialis, Bob RutemoellerDahlia imperialis, Bob Rutemoeller

Eucomis comosa is a plant from South Africa. Photos from Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.

Eucomis comosa, Mary Sue IttnerEucomis comosa, Mary Sue IttnerEucomis comosa, Bob Rutemoeller

Gladiolus papilio is a species from the summer rainfall area of South Africa. Photos were taken by Bob Rutemoeller summer 2004.

Gladiolus papilio, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Bob RutemoellerGladiolus papilio, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Bob Rutemoeller

Hedychium flavum is native to tropical Tibet and China. Photo taken November 2017 by Bob Rutemoeller.

Hedychium flavum, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Bob Rutemoeller

Hesperantha coccinea, syn. Schizostylis coccinea, is a summer rainfall species from South Africa where it grows in wet places. Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller after it rained November 2017 and again August 2018.

Hesperantha coccinea, Bob RutemoellerHesperantha coccinea, Bob Rutemoeller

Iris 'Kimboshi' The tag next to this iris flowering June 2007 said Iris laevigata 'Kimboshi'. However, that species doesn't have yellow flowers. An internet search found Home Depot selling a Louisiana Iris 'Kimboshi' that resembles the photo and Watergarden Paradise Aquatic Nursery has a photo of a pale golden yellow flower with a darker yellow eye-zone named Iris x pseudata'Kinboshi' / Iris 'Kimboshi' (Japanese Iris / Eye Shadow Iris). It was described as one of the first crosses between Iris pseudacorus and Iris ensata. Photo by Mary Sue Ittner.

Iris 'Kimboshi', Mary Sue Ittner

Ixia viridiflora, a plant from South Africa, is shown blooming in the cactus garden. Photo taken by Kristina Van Wert in 2003.

Ixia viridiflora, Kristina Van Wert

Kniphofia 'Bees Sunset' blooming July 2004. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller.

Kniphofia 'Bees Sunset', Bob RutemoellerKniphofia 'Bees Sunset', Bob Rutemoeller

Maianthemum dilatatum (False Lily of the Valley) is found in moist shady woods in California and was photographed by Mary Sue Ittner in one of the natural areas of the gardens.

Maianthemum dilatatum, Mary Sue Ittner

Nerine bowdenii is native to the summer rainfall areas of South Africa. Photo taken November 2018 by Bob Rutemoeller.

Nerine bowdenii, Bob Rutemoeller

Nivenia stokoei is one of the woody Irids from South Africa. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller.

Nivenia stokoei, Bob RutemoellerNivenia stokoei, Bob Rutemoeller

Rigidella orthantha syn. Tigridia orthantha is a cloud forest plant from Guatemala and Mexico. The photos below were taken June 2007 by Mary Sue Ittner.

Tigridia orthantha, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Mary Sue IttnerTigridia orthantha, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Mary Sue IttnerTigridia orthantha, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Mary Sue Ittner

Tritonia disticha is a plant from South Africa. The photograph by Bob Rutemoeller shows one blooming in the August 2004 combined nicely with a clump of Agapanthus.

Tritonia disticha, Bob Rutemoeller

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