Medocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Fort Bragg, California
Fort Bragg, California
The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, located on the California Coast just south of Fort Bragg, was founded in 1961 by retired nurseryman Ernest Schoefer and his wife, Betty, and opened to the public in 1966. In 1992, the MCBG was purchased through the California Coastal Conservancy and given to the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District.
It’s noted for an exceptional rhododendron collection (many of the tender ones are especially fragrant in season) as well as heaths and heathers and camellia species. Don't miss the "wonderfully weird forest of pines" on the way to the coastal prairies for the views of the Pacific Ocean. Oh... And the fuchsias.
Despite the ravages of the fuchsia gall mite (Aculops fuchsiae). This pest was somehow let loose into California from Brazil and first noted in San Francisco County in 1981. It was responsible for the disfiguration and removal of many fine old susceptible stand-bys in coastal California until effective maintenance programs were realized.
There are still lots and lots of fuchsias found planted throughout the MCBG’s collections and display areas or located in the shelter of its lath house. Many of them are even of the new fuchsia gall mite-resistant cultivars—take note if you happen to garden in fuchsia gall mite territory—hopefully pointing the way to a Fuchsia Renaissance on the California Coast!
It’s noted for an exceptional rhododendron collection (many of the tender ones are especially fragrant in season) as well as heaths and heathers and camellia species. Don't miss the "wonderfully weird forest of pines" on the way to the coastal prairies for the views of the Pacific Ocean. Oh... And the fuchsias.
Despite the ravages of the fuchsia gall mite (Aculops fuchsiae). This pest was somehow let loose into California from Brazil and first noted in San Francisco County in 1981. It was responsible for the disfiguration and removal of many fine old susceptible stand-bys in coastal California until effective maintenance programs were realized.
There are still lots and lots of fuchsias found planted throughout the MCBG’s collections and display areas or located in the shelter of its lath house. Many of them are even of the new fuchsia gall mite-resistant cultivars—take note if you happen to garden in fuchsia gall mite territory—hopefully pointing the way to a Fuchsia Renaissance on the California Coast!
