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San Diego Gardens: Part 3

© Keith Muraoka

Last of a 3-Part Series

San Diego County is the number-one county in the U.S. for the value of floriculture, nursery, greenhouse and sod products. So is it any wonder that 400 garden communicators with the Garden Writers Association of America held their annual meeting in San Diego? While we covered the world-famous San Diego Zoo and the gardens of 1,200-acre Balboa Park in recent columns, this last of a three-part series will cover other horticultural wonders in the area.

For instance, have you ever heard of a garden center that has a "dig your own" tuberous begonia field? Weidners' Gardens (695 Normandy Road in Encinitas (760) 436-2194) has one with 25,000 begonias! Its been around for 25 years now. The begonia field is ablaze with color when the garden writers visit. Row upon row of various forms of begonias - from rose types to hanging varieties.

Evelyn Weidner, wife of the late Bob, recalls what her husband said 25 years ago. "I've worked hard all my life and, by golly, the customer is going to do the work," she says, laughing.

Today, the begonia field is open all summer. By November 1, the begonia field becomes a "dig your own" pansy field. Thousands of cyclamen and poinsettias are also available in the greenhouses.

Across the street from Weidners' is Samia Rose Topiary. There you can see how topiaries are grown and trained. Visitors can also pick their own cutting flowers to make their own bouquets.

Another garden visited by the garden writers was Quail Botanical Gardens (230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas (760) 436-3036). It got its start in 1943, and encompasses 26 acres. It is the county's only public botanical garden, hosting more than 90,000 a year. Among the notable plant collections are palms and bamboo. There are also gardens encompassing plants from the Mediterranean. Africa, Central America, South America, Australia, Madagascar and the Himalayas.

Last but not least is the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It is operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego, which also operates the San Diego Zoo. The Wild Animal Park is located 30 miles north of downtown San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley. It encompasses a remarkable 2,200 acres, which resembles the various parts of Africa where the animals originate. It is home to more than 3,200 rare and endangered animals representing more than 400 species and subspecies.

The easiest way to see the animals is on the Wgasa Bush Line Monorail, a 5-mile, 50-minute journey that takes visitors past the expansive, naturalistic African and Asian enclosures. You'll see everything from lions to elephants, rhinos and giraffes.

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