Wish I knew about this garden when I was a student at CAL. This park is part of the landscaping program at CAL. Even the door was inconspicuous and at first glance, we were not sure if the entry was the secret staff entry or an actual entryway. It was my first time here and it was hidden in a quiet Kensington neighborhood. I accidentally found this park on Yelp and didn't think much about it but my hubby and I were surprised how charming this park is. It was like a little fairyland full of ethereal cottage flowers such as wispy cosmos moving with the breeze and happy bees everywhere. There were volunteers planting Benary zinnias and other flowers. There was a clean bathroom inside their office and plants offered for a donation. I saw mothers with their babies talking as if they come here all the time. There was a group of elderly women chatting and enjoying the peaceful garden. I was there for 30 minutes before lunch and only saw about 35 percent of the garden and I look forward to another trip to this secret garden in Kensington. read more

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This garden is a bit off the beaten path, it's part of UC Berkeley but 3.5 miles north in the hills of Kensington. I was surprised because it was much bigger than I had imagined. At 10 acres it's a pretty decent size with a maze of little trails to explore and over 1,500 plant species. I wish they had more signage of what everything was, there were a few placards but for people that are really into botany it would have been more interesting. My favorite parts were the views of the bay and the redwood forest nestled near a creek. It's very calm here, probably because it's only open on the weekdays so it doesn't get too crowded. It's is ideal for a romantic stroll, or to take a meditative walk and it has many benches around to sit. read more

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This is truly a hidden jump in the area. A local friend of mine suggested this place and I visited. It's a little bit confusing on where to walk but once you park, you go through the gates and you walk down straight on the paved path. Very cute location and has plenty of area to walk around. It kind of feels like you transported in time to another location or another place in Europe. Highly recommend checking this out if you're in the area, it could be a cute spot or just a walk with friends. Ample parking available, but make sure you check the times before you go. Their hours are pretty limited, so be sure to check it out ahead of time. read more

This is truly a hidden gem and worth visiting, especially for a picnic. We enjoyed the trails through the lovely garden that was filled with birds, butterflies, art, and thoughtful paths. When we first arrived, we thought it was small, but they squeezed a lot into this space, and we could have stayed longer. There are clean bathrooms and lots of places to sit and meditate or read poetry or sketch. read more

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Surprising large estate above El Cerrito, in Kensington, owned by UC Berkeley, the landscape design program is working consistently on this location. And it is a wonderful old estate, kind of haunting how the Spanish style mansion is slowly decaying. Many interesting plants are nestled at this wellspring of Cerrito Creek, many paths lead through redwoods, Koi Ponds, beautiful lawns, and numerous benches with a view. Their nursery allows a donation to acquire some of their plants, very affordably. It's a wonderful spot, a great place for a short hike/walk, and you can even bring your dog! read more

Blake Garden - Beautiful view from up here. - Parks Near Me - Kensington, California

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Absolute gem of a location for recharging and getting away from chaos. Million stars!

Beautiful gardens and grounds with numerous hiking trails, sitting areas, and views of the bay.

Amazing free entry garden nestled in the Kensington hills. Views of San Francisco too the bridge. Parking on site. Vintage home not open to the public with koi filled ponds read more

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One of the many hidden gems in this area. Note that this garden is only open on weekdays during business hours, but boy is it MAGICAL. This garden has beautiful views of San Francisco, wonderful shaded paths, two public restrooms (!!), and plenty of open space to wander. It's really something you'll have to experience yourself. There is a small parking lot adjacent to the gated entry. read more

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I cannot believe this garden is free admission and free parking! I found this treasure of a place through Yelp so it is only fair that I write my own review of the place. Browsing through the pictures on Yelp, I had no idea how big this garden would be, so needless to say I was totally wearing the wrong type of shoes for this visit. There's some major walkways that are paved, but most walkways are dirt. I am pretty sure I ruined my favorite wedges. I thought we would only spend an hour there, but ended up spending 2 hours because it's so big and we wanted to walk on every single path. My husband and I came on a Wednesday. There's not many visitors, a couple of people walking their dogs and a photographer taking photos for a couple. From the highest part of the garden, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge. There's some little creeks with running water, I can't tell if it's natural or man-made. There's a lot of wild flowers and "easy" plants in this garden, it was fun looking around and seeing many varieties of plants that I had collected from neighbors through Buy Nothing over the years. I wish they had a gift shop for people to buy little plants. I surely would be interested! The pond in front of the house has really big Koi fishes. I wonder what they eat. The water doesn't look very clean. read more

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As others have noted, this place should really be open better hours. Because it's wonderful! An expansive botanical garden with tons of different interesting sections, great paths, twists and turns, various environments, bridges, a historic house, and a nice main greenhouse/lobby center. I learned the history of the house and the gardens only through overhearing other people talk, so I wish they had actual historic information on display too. But, despite some areas for improvement, this place is still so completely worth it. Can't be missed. read more

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I stumbled upon this place online, and asked my friend if she wanted to walk around there with me. She had been visiting there for decades. A great place to: do a walking meditation; do Yoga or Tai Chi; to catch up with an old friend; to take kids to run and play (however tree climbing, rock climbing, straying from the paths is not allowed), or arrange to volunteer in the garden. We went there in the beginning of November. Not so much blooming at this time of year, but each season brings its own beauty. By the way, this is only opened on weekdays. Next time my grandkids visit, I hope to bring them here! read more

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I never heard of, let alone visited Blake Garden until yesterday, having been inspired by a recent article about it in SF Gate. It's truly an under-the radar and hidden gem tucked away in the hills of Kensington. It's not open on weekends and the lot is rather small. When I arrived around 11 on a Friday, I snagged the last spot. The gardens are free and the property is owned by UC Berkeley, cared for by their horticulture students. Quite a lot was in bloom on this April day and while the lot was full, the guests were spread out and solitude could be had. The garden is organized in sections that range from a Redwood Canyon to Mediterranean to a small koi pond and more. There's also a home on the property that is now vacant. I'd read it used to be occupied by presidents of the whole UC system. One visitor I spoke to mentioned that the amount in bloom and the care of the garden has improved over the years. She was equally in awe after multiple visits as I was for my first. Given I have a flexible workday, I hope to be back and spend more time here as well as see the garden change over the seasons. Lots of benches and overlooks to while away an afternoon. Gates close at 4:30. Tip: while the lot was full before noon, it was emptying out once I left. If it's full, Tilden regional park is nearby as a plan B. read more

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Secret, beautiful gardens under-maintained due to lack of funds and a house that is now unoccupied. Great place for a romantic picnic or stroll with friends. read more

This is a beautiful clean small garden. In the spring it's filled with blooms. It's open on weekdays, understandably, as it is a teaching facility, not a commercial venue. It is free, and parking is free. It's pretty well maintained and an example of "together we can still have nice things if we take care of them." In the summer-time it's a lovely place to walk your dogs because they keep it largely free of foxtails, but do leash your dogs. I found the staff friendly and helpful as we tried to find our way back. It has amazing view of the bay, too. read more

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I didn't know this bucolic place existed until I was reading about the town of Kensington on Wikipedia and saw it identified as a point of interest. In fact, it's the only point of interest that was cited. As a Cal Bear, I am embarrassed to find out that this is actually a random extension of the UC Berkeley campus, but in my defense, I never took a course in landscape architecture or environmental planning. I wasn't an outdoorsy type of undergrad. Instead I went for astronomy as my elective and still can't accept the conclusion that Pluto is not a planet. But I digress as I finally visited this garden for the first time when I snuck out of work a couple of hours early. Don't you judge me as I have worked plenty of overtime. Plenty. The problem is that while the garden is free to enter, it's open only on weekdays between 8AM and 4:30PM. That basically means we working lemmings don't get to enjoy the tranquility of the garden or the panoramic view as much as students and stay-at-home moms. Maybe that's a good thing as the rest of us shouldn't take this patch of greenery for granted. A sort of mini-Hearst Castle with a hint of Tuscan villa, the Blake House is the centerpiece (photo: http://bit.ly/2EhBqac), and the university president lived there up until eight years ago. It's not open to the public, but the surrounding gardens are what you want to see anyway. Shielded from the bay winds by the mansion, the formal gardens is flanked by a dramatic reflecting pool (photo: http://bit.ly/2Egf3BT). An arresting Chinese mandarin statue holds court in this part of the grounds (photo: http://bit.ly/2BWDeQp). A Mediterranean-style garden sits at the back of the house (photo: http://bit.ly/2FH0owD), and there's a cottage garden toward the parking lot with a pond (photo: http://bit.ly/2nEH50c), a scarecrow (photo: http://bit.ly/2FLa5Kl), vegetable garden, and vividly blooming blossoms (photo: http://bit.ly/2E53QVy). However, the focal point has to be the wooden benches and stone path on the bluff (photo: http://bit.ly/2EFKzXL). The view is gorgeous on a clear day, but you may be competing with a lot of baby strollers at any given time. The Art Deco-style entrance is nice (photo: http://bit.ly/2Egzn68), but you could easily miss it as it melts effortlessly into the residential area away from Arlington Avenue. read more

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I visited this beautiful garden in April of this year and was so happy I did. The garden was in full bloom, gorgeous and lush! There was a nice variety of color, form and texture plus a grove of redwood trees representing flowers and trees we see around the bay area. I highly recommend this garden! It's only open during the week. http://flic.kr/p/25oSsEa http://flic.kr/p/H8Hz2g http://flic.kr/p/JFKs6E read more

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A true SECRET GARDEN.... appropriately located on a street named 'corner'. Family friend lives just a few blocks away in the hills, and she brought us here to look about the UC grounds. School of Environmental Design does some stuff here... and the gardens as well as the edible plants are very calming. Strolling along the paths weaving about the house give a person the time and space to center, and the small ponds and mini reflecting pool are very cool... as are the koi. Too bad that the house itself is closed. This place is only open during the weekdays. But doubtless, a treasure for those in the Berkeley/Kensington area. I dare you to hike up here from near the base at San Pablo Ave. Workout galore. read more

Brittany N's review really made me want to visit this garden. I knew about it, however, I never realized what a great place it is to walk about in. Tucked away in a residential Kensington neighborhood it really seems like a hidden place. I felt like Mary Lennox in the "Secret Garden" when I walked in. Some of the things that make this garden special: The view of the Golden Gate, the sounds of birds singing, the insects flying about, gnarly tree trunks, reflection pools and meandering paths to explore. The sweet garden smell that transported me back to my childhood. The garden is only open on weekdays. It makes it a lot less crowed, but then people who work can not enjoy his special place. I guess I'm selfish, I like having the garden almost all to myself. read more

Blake Garden - Bay view from the edge of the Blake Garden - Parks Near Me - Kensington, California

Tucked away in a Kensington neighborhood, I thought the garden was kind of run down, neglected, and old. Not a surprise given the history of the former UC President's home. It does make you think about how much money UC had to spend back in the day just to keep up the gardens. Free parking. I thought the highlight was the really nice creek that runs through the tall redwoods on the hillside of the property. A very natural setting. Worth visiting if you're in the area. if you'd like a nice walk outside. read more

I'm just going to say that it's a shame that this place isn't open on holidays - like the day after thanksgiving - and weekends. Basically, it's only open during the week at hours when most people are either working or at school. Basically making the place a haven for retired people. We have family visiting from out of town and it would be amazing to take them someplace so close and so pretty, but no. it's closed. read more

A wonderful little hideaway, a walk in the woods, sneaking into the neighbor's garden, or an escape into the wilderness, can be had within this park and much more. Local families with kids who don't want a long car ride for a nice escape for a picnic and a hike will appreciate this special garden, the redwood tree area is especially nice to explore for the little ones. read more

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I was at Blake Gardens today too! I guess I just missed Toni by a few hours. I hadn't been to Blake Gardens for years. Today I went there with my friend, M, mostly to chat since I have limited walking ability. We hiked down the trail behind the house where a bench (maybe the same one Toni sat at) dedicated to another mutual friend's late sis and brother in law. It has a perfect view of the Bay. The visibility was unlimited! We loved hanging out on the bench gossiping about co-workers, sharing stories about our favorite movies and telling tales about our past. It's fun to know someone for years and still find out a secret story about their past! The flowers, butterflies, birds and squirrels were in abundance. I ALMOST felt like Snow White or Giselle from "Enchanted." I'm sure if I broke into song I would have been surrounded by bird and animal friends. Or maybe I sat in the sun too long and was starting to hallucinate! Blake Gardens is also known as the "Secret Garden" to some of us. My friends who live nearby love to hike the trails with their kids, who feel like it is magical. read more

Blake Garden - berkeleyheritage.com - Parks Near Me - Kensington, California

This beautiful gem in the Kensington hills is my happy place. Of course the flowers are seasonal but all year round this magical place is my Zen spot it's never over populated, the trails are so nice to walk and the Panoramic view of the bay is very beautiful! I come here to get a peace of mind. Very kid friendly and a safe environment-- also has a parking lot reserved for the garden. read more

I love this place. Wish they were open on weekends. But if you get a chance to spend some quiet time here, do come and check it out.

Reason for visit: Explorations! Visit date: August 21, 2014 First time? Yes. Blake Garden has been on my to-go list for some time now, but since they are only open during regular work hours I had to plan a staycation day to visit. Today was that day. Parking was ample and the garden had just a few visitors sprinkled throughout the grounds. There weren't a lot of flowers on my visit, but I enjoyed exploring through the trails and finding koi ponds. I made sure to take in the view of the City, too. There are lots of places sit and relax, and to picnic. It's a great place to stroll; actually, it felt more like an easy hike than a garden exploration. You can probably bring the kids as long as they don't pick at the plants. There is a play/build-with-nature area (beware of splinters!) for a more hands on experience, too. read more

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I am an El Cerrito Photographer, and learned about this location from clients who requested to be photographed here. What a joy it was! Simply breathless and there is tons of gorgeous grounds here that are well cared for and developed by UCB. One could easily bring a picnic (small) a book, the kids and your pooches as long as they are on a leash (understandable as they can easily get lost here). Take a stroll through the gardens, trails, and trees it's all so beautiful! I am actually planning to bring my next clients here for their Kensington wedding photography. Happay happay happay! read more

In all of the years the family have lived in the area, we have never ventured into Blake Garden. While serving the voters in my district during the recent elections many of the poll workers would take strolls around Blake Garden for fresh air and to stretch their legs. It was reading Brittany N.'s review that I must see about checking Blake Garden out. While playing Pokémon Go, I was surprised that Blake Garden had four pokestops and a couple of gyms (Niantic has since added a third gym). However, there was only one of me and two dogs. I could not make the dogs take turns waiting in the car. I convinced La Mere to take Dolce and Bianco there for a walk. It is a win-win for the dogs that they get a walk with Maman and I get to play Pokémon Go. Well-behaved dogs on leash are allowed to roam in Blake Garden. However, their guardians are to clean up after their dogs and take the poop with them. Blake Garden was bequeathed by Anson and Anita Blake to UC Berkeley. Blake Garden was the residence of the UC Berkeley President from the mid-1960s until 2009. It is a resource for students of the College of Environmental Design. I hope someday the Blake House will be restored to its former glory or close, so that private or public events can be held there in the house. Dolce and Bianco love visiting Blake Garden, they get so excited when they see the gates. La Mere and I get some exercise while I continue collecting Pokémon Go pocket monsters. The staff are made up of students, volunteers, and paid staff. They are pretty nice. I am on a first name basis with some of them. They are very kind to Dolce when she wants to say hello to them. Blake Garden is a must and part of the family regimen. Like Lisa T., we wish Blake Garden was open on the weekends. Here is the Blake Garden website for more information: http://blakegarden.ced.berkeley.edu read more

I have been to Blake Garden a few times, each with different groups of people, and every time we have a blast! It is such a peaceful place. Being born and raised here in the Bay Area, I know the day to day can become a routine and fast paced, but coming here really gives you a peace of mind. I enjoy walking the little trials and observing Mother Nature. . . It's a peaceful place in our own backyard! read more

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A little pice of heaven tucked away in Kensington. Brilliant flowers, gorgeous views, peaceful sitting areas, pathways from sun to a shady path thru the redwoods. read more

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Shhhhhh... this is such a special place to get away without really getting away. It's quaint and romantic and peaceful on weekdays. I love to bring my well behaved pups for a stroll through the redwoods and gardens while also taking time to sit and take in the bay view all the way below. It's great alone or with a companion :) read more

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This is a review from a visit in October 2021. There are a lot of different areas to this garden. Around the house itself, I agree with Doctor G. who said it looked dry and run down. But, other regions didn't give that impression. I particularly liked their flower and vegetable beds by the entrance, which featured a shelter made of bean poles with small seats for children within. In other places around the garden, there were small wooden benches at child height-- almost as though children were welcome! But, no. Based off my single experience here, I'd say that if you plan to bring small children, don't feel that you can relax. They have a rule that you can't play with their water features-- which I think is a good rule. But best intentions aside, my 2 year old tossed a piece of gravel from the path into one of their ponds. Though we instantly told her not to do so, it wasn't until she persisted and did it a second time with a few more pieces that we actually physically guided her away from the pond, forcing an end to it. A gardener who was tending to the waterings in this region saw the whole thing and decided to accuse my husband in angry tones of waiting until he [the gardener] was coming before correcting the behavior. "Do you have to wait until I'm coming? Make her stop sooner next time!" he snapped. Ummmmmmm what? Gravel going in hand over fist might have been an emergency worth snatching her up in the first instant, but ~3-4 pieces of gravel in total, and we couldn't let her have a chance to exercise free will without being judged? I like to teach my kids respect for public places, but not on a leash *that* short. I mean, picture it-- these paths around the ponds are *filled* with gravel. Just walking along them, you could kick more gravel unintentionally into a pond than she put in. I was shocked he thought the transgression was worth expressing such an intolerant attitude. No pride in sharing the place with admiring visitors, just anger that a toddler broke a rule in the smallest of ways. We were on edge for the rest of the visit as our child gravitated gleefully to leaves and sticks that pleased her. We weren't sure if it was a safe place for her to experience nature like this, or if she would be yelled at for not staying on the path or for poking a leaf with a stick. Several picnic tables placed throughout, but I didn't see any trash can or restroom, so I doubt you're actually invited to picnic there. I also get a very gate-keeping vibe off of the fact that they're not open on the weekends. As a policy it feels ungenerous, and specifically designed to keep working families and their kids away. Tone-deaf and poor prioritization for a public garden at any time, but especially when, increasingly, young families can't afford to live in homes with yards of their own. Closed on weekends, grumbling at children, picnic tables with no facilities... overall, I don't think the managers of this property really want anyone in this garden. Maybe you'll have a better experience without the kids. Maybe if you give off rich-donor vibes you'll be more welcomed. read more

totally cool place, Dan the Icon took a few of us here, we had so much fun, the garden is nice, very serene and has a wonderful layout. Mp's take: check this place out read more

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The perfect afternoon picnic date if your into beautiful parks and relaxing while taking in the gorgeous views.

Hidden among the rustling old growth trees and quiet homes of Kensington, there is a garden. This garden hearkens back to the 1960s, when it served as the private residence and land of the President of the University of California. After 2009, the Blake House was abandoned and the gardens became a teaching ground for the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley. It is now open to the public between the hours of 8:00am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday, and is closed on the weekends and university holidays. As I strolled along the grassy path, I was immediately reminded of my childhood desire to frolic all day in a secret garden. Admittedly, I got a little giddy and my heart started beating juuust a little faster when I realized this was probably the closest thing to a secret European garden that I've ever been to! I began my self-tour of the gardens on the sharply sloped side of the Blake House. Here, the sun was ablaze with a fiery white glow off of the water facing the San Francisco Bay. My eyes scrunched up into little slits as I shaded my brow with my hand, gazing out to see the barely visible outline of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Warm, heat-loving plants soaked up the rays with unwavering zeal, while a few leafy bushes below a rocky outcrop provided shade for two foraging warblers. After watching the warblers and snapping some shots of the gorgeous red bark of a Manzanita tree, I wandered over to the more gently sloped, shadier side of the Blake House. Right outside the front door of the Blake House, there is an Italian-style grotto with bowed staircases leading down to a long, rectangular, mirror-like pool. Tiny ripples, disguised by the sun-dappled reflections of the gnarled old oaks above, gave away the presence of brightly colored koi. It was fun watching them lazily swim through the still waters. Once the koi had dispersed, I peered into the mirror pool and caught a glimpse of my own reflection. It was like looking into a pensieve! From this grotto, I found multiple other pathways that wove through other parts of the garden with new plants and meditation pools. Around 4:25pm, I realized my bucolic dream was about to end, as the gardens were about to close. I know it's an overused term, but Blake Garden is a true gem. It's gorgeous, it's not so popular (right now), and it's free. Come when you can, respect the space, and respect the quiet of the folks around you. It's totally worth it :) read more

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In late October I had the good fortune to be on my own with a few hours to spend in the Berkeley area before I picked John up from the airport. My first mission was of course to get lunch, so I headed to one of my favorite places, Zarri's in Albany. With turkey on hard sour roll in hand, I drove back up the East bay hills to the Blake House gardens. I hadn't been in quite awhile and it is always a treat for me. Parking in what felt like my own private parking lot, going thru the main gate and walking down the main drive into the grounds, I noticed a few changes. A giant White Eucalyptus was not there on the left side anymore... how sad. The hedges along the right by the Blake House were trimmed about 3-4 feet shorter than they used to [ I know, I used to do some of the trimming!] But the gorgeous smells and sights were still there. I was heading towards my favorite sitting spot on the West side of the house. But there was Allison, one of the gardeners, the one I worked with as a volunteer in 1996! We caught up on what we were doing... I was actually amazed she was still there. Just shows how prized these jobs are with the University & how hard to come by. She told me they just recently got a new garden Director, that they were all in the settling- in process and changes were forthcoming. All was not happiness apparently. So awhile later, a favorite lunch, in a favorite spot and I ambled my way back through some other garden areas, noticing that the cutting garden was still full of late summer/ fall blooms. This garden has a piece of my heart and I always feel at home and at peace here. My new Yelper friend, Toni M, sent me a link [ below ] with an article on Nov 30 about the closing of the Blake House & it's future. It is interesting reading and I sincerely hope that restoration will be possible rather than other options. Here is the website-- http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_11109896?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com read more

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Take a stroll through this gorgeous park and wnjoy the view. I grew up in the area and just went this visit...and I am by no means a spring chicken...shux, not even a summer chicken. The view is glorrrious and there are somelegend folks to chat with. All and all a beautifully kept yars worth the trip. read more

I still think this is a wonderful place to catch beautiful scenery, relax, and go on a peaceful stroll BUT please be smarter than we were and know the hours before you go. This place is NOT open on the weekends. :( From their website: Hours: Open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Closed on weekends and University holidays. read more

We had a blast here today. Many hidden areas to explore. Lots of space. Great views and many cool flowers. We saw dragonflies and enormous koi swimming in the pond near the house. Bring a snack and stay for awhile. It's well protected from the wind and also offers plenty of shade if it gets too warm. We will definitely be back. read more

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I absolutely love this hidden gem. My mum introduced this secret garden to me when I was a little girl and I've been coming here since. It's pretty magical. Take a stroll through the trails, read a book, or lay in the grass and day dream. It's a nice place to unwind, have a moment to yourself. Or bring a friend and appreciate it together. Lots of picture opportunities for photographers. Plus there's a lovely view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Such a beautiful garden, go, you won't be disappointed! read more