UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley

A trip to the 34-acre UC Botanical Garden is always a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. Organized geographically, there are California native plants and naturalistic plantings from many countries and regions of the world. There are newts and newt eggs in natural pools. There are plant conservatories, waterfalls, rock formations, paths and plant sales.

Although many trees were still bare, gigantic azaleas were ablaze with hot color on a recent visit.

Inlaid, inscribed tribute bricks are installed on the Tribute Plaza. Inscriptions commemorate founders, family members and garden donors. There are also horticultural quotes and aphorisms. Two of my favorites:

Savor roots, shoots, fruits and newts.

All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.