Albert's Greenhouse

There are two big-time botanical gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area. Last week, I posted some pictures from Strybing BG, which is currently considering charging for admission. This week, I'd like to put up some photos from the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, which I visited on the same day.

Unlike Strybing, it can be expensive to go to the UCBG - you have to pay for both parking and admission ( unless you're a member like me - then you just pay for parking ). Admission is $7, and parking is usually plentiful and convenient, though requiring of small bills. You'd think they'd get a credit card machine installed there - every single time I visit I hear grumbling from the people who are both mystified and annoyed by the parking ticket machine.



The UCBG is 34 acres and was established in 1890. It seems a lot bigger than 34 acres when you're walking it because it's built in a canyon and paths can be steep. They have very nice collections from Asia ( check out the Arisaema and Rhododendrons ), South America and South Africa ( great Bulbs! ), as well as a small but well-kept tropical conservatory. Their succulent collection is also very impressive and partially under glass. Unfortunately, a lot of it is behind metal fencing due to theft concerns, which makes is very difficult to take good pictures.



If you ever get a chance for a tour behind the scenes, you'll find that their research collection is actually a lot larger than what's on display in the glasshouses - as befits a university garden, I suppose. Another great thing about UCBG is that their accession database is available online - you can find out what they're theoretically growing.

Like Strybing, UCBG is very much into propagation and distribution of their collections. Unlike Strybing, they have an extensive plant sale every day of the year on their plant deck. Their selection of South American vines for sale is impressive including many rare Passiflora, named Lapageria, and Bomarea. They also carry tons of cloudforest plants, succulents, native plants, and neat stuff like Arisaema and Podophyllum. Apparently, some people have made a business of buying plants from their plant deck and selling them on E-Bay.



UCBG is having their spring plant sale in about a week - Members preview night is Friday, April 24th, and the sale runs from the 25th through the 26th. Some of the plants that will be available are listed on their website, but I figure that list is not really completist. I'll definitely be there.