Unique Sonoma County Flower Experiences
It’s easy to enjoy the spectacular spring flowers of Sonoma County — just visit any of the region’s parks for a brilliant display rolling across the landscape like a hand-stitched tapestry.
Flowers are so abundant in Sonoma Wine Country that restaurants not only showcase them in vases but also may proudly serve edible varieties to complement fresh and flavorful culinary dishes. So take time to stop and smell (or eat!) the flowers this season at these favorite spots.
Edible Flowers
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, Santa Rosa
You can spend an entire afternoon at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens, exploring this two-and-a-half-acre cornucopia of beauty and flavors. Sip and savor tasting from the famous label and stroll their sensory garden filled with aromas found in wine, the greenhouses, hops tent, chicken coop, culinary gardens, and more.
Check out their edible flowers — you may never look at those delicate blossoms the same after realizing how tasty they can be. Complimentary, self-guided Garden Tours are offered daily (weather permitting). Private garden tours and wine tastings are available for groups of 10 or more.
Sunflower Caffé, Sonoma
The best seats in the Sunflower Caffé, a downtown Sonoma eatery, are on the garden courtyard beneath vine-laden trellises in a cozy nook next to the fountain. Delicious shareable plates can range from cheeses with toasted almonds and bakery bread to a platter piled with salami and mortadella, greens, sourdough, sliced egg, apples, and fruit mostarda.
Whatever you order, dishes arrive with a flourish of local edible blossoms, perhaps including licorice-like anise hyssop, cucumber-kissed borage, peppery nasturtium, or sweet-tart pansy.
Self-Guided Vineyard Walking Tours
St. Francis Winery and Vineyards, Santa Rosa
Among the thriving grapes, vineyard estates are beautiful spots to take in spring flowers, like at St. Francis Winery. This gorgeous vineyard is one of many boasting a self-guided walking tour among the vines with this guide to Free Sonoma County Vineyard Walking Tours.
Beyond the lush carpets of wild mustard blooming between the vines each spring, many wineries plant roses to act as a natural (and beautiful!) barometer for pests and disease. Other wildflowers flourish beautifully in the fertile vineyard soil, and many wineries offer welcoming patios to sip amidst colorful views.
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg
The opulent Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery is beautiful and diverse, featuring Italian/French parterre style gardens, an enclosed park-like garden, and a full-acre show garden of massive flower plantings. Stroll paths and foot bridges along a rippling stream, waterfalls, and fish-filled ponds to find bronze sculptures from world-renowned artists and more than 2,000 species of trees and shrubs.
In spring, don’t miss the extraordinary sight of more than 10,000 tulips and daffodils blooming in a lavish carpet of color. Keep tabs on when these beauties bloom by calling the Tulip Hotline: 707-433-5349.
Wildflowers in the Wild
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve, Jenner
Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve is former ranch land that now thrives with trees, including second-growth redwood and a unique and dizzying array of rhododendrons that burst into bloom each year around mid-April or May.
These spectacular flowers color the forest with brilliant pink blossoms. Five miles of hiking trails weave amid the flora, past Pacific wax myrtle and California Huckleberry, while cheery rhododendrons festoon the area each spring. The park is located approximately 20 miles north of Jenner, and admission is free.
Poppies, Poppies, Poppies
Crane Creek Regional Park, Rohnert Park
It’s hard to deny the beauty of the official state flower of California, and Crane Creek Regional Park is a treasure for viewing the spectacular blossoms known as ‘California Sunlight’ or ‘Cup of Gold.’
With its broad grassy meadows and bubbling seasonal creek, the 128-acre park is a great place to picnic amid the beauty. For even more activity, trails are perfect for hiking, bikes, and horseback riding, or sporting types can try their hand at an 18-hole disc golf course.
Kunde Family Winery, Kenwood
The Kunde family has owned its ranch for some 110 years, and each spring, the hillside at Kunde Family Winery dazzles with a brilliant new crop of California poppies.
Keith Kunde loves these gorgeous flowers and cultivates thousands of red and gold beauties amid the vineyards. The effect is stunning, literally stopping traffic as cars pull to the side of the road to take in the view. Even better is to enter the winery for the best views overlooking the fields while you relax and savor this renowned wine in the inviting tasting room.
Plant Your Own
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, Santa Rosa
Viewing flowers and gardens may inspire your green thumb, so don’t miss the Spring Plant Sale each May at Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, where you can purchase flowers propagated from world-renowned gardens or seeds. Discover vegetable plants, grafted varieties of Burbank’s famous fruit trees, children’s activities, and an open house tour of the Burbank home.
Explore the beauty of this historic city park as gardens are open daily free of charge (8 a.m. to dusk) with free cellphone audio tours. Guided tours of the gardens, home, and greenhouse are offered from April to October with group and children’s tours available through advance reservations.
Find more Sonoma County things to do, restaurants, and hotels & lodging.
Together, we can protect and preserve the beauty and natural resources of Sonoma County for generations to come. Check out our page on Sustainable Travel, and look over the Leave No Trace Seven Principles.
Written by Sonoma Insider Carey Sweet
Without a doubt, Wine Country is one of the world’s most breathtaking regions to travel through whether you are looking…
Winter might be considered the off-season for many of the world’s hottest travel destinations, but a Wine Country visit between…
Springtime offers a brilliant array of things to see and do in Sonoma County, from wildflower walks to cheese crawls!…
Find hidden gems, outdoor adventures and more with tips from those who know the coast better than anyone: The locals….
The term “ghost wineries” may conjure images of restless spirits wandering winery corridors, but it doesn’t refer to haunted vineyard…
As a premier wine and food destination, Sonoma County attracts travelers seeking a getaway that feeds the senses, connects people…
It can be hard to venture off our usual retail route, which, lately has been dotted with a lot of…
Visitors travel from around the world to take in the stunning beauty of Sonoma County’s great outdoors. It’s an experience…
In a place known for both idyllic landscapes and world-class beverages, it’s only fitting to combine the two during a…
Twice each year, some 20,000 gray whales pass along the California coast as they swim south to breeding lagoons on…
This portion of our guide to the Russian River Valley follows the lazily meandering river on its journey through northern Sonoma County as…
This final portion of our guide to the Russian River Valley continues west to where the Russian River meets the coast…
This portion of our guide to the Russian River Valley follows the Russian River as it ventures into redwood country. On this leg of…
The rain can cause some of Sonoma County’s regional trails to get a bit muddy. But this doesn’t prevent you…
Sonoma County is proud to be a wildly popular destination for travelers, with some of America’s most gorgeous landscapes. Lush…
When done with intention, travel can rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit. The secret lies in the details. Take time…
We think of Sonoma County as one of the most Instagram-able areas in the whole United States, but not just…
From fields of wildflowers to views of the rugged California coast, Sonoma County offers a wealth of scenic hikes, ranging…
Unfurling along a particularly stunning stretch of Sonoma County’s rugged coastline, Bodega Bay is a favorite destination for locals and…
Sonoma County has dozens of picturesque hiking trails, and encouraging responsible recreation is key to protecting these outdoor spaces –…
THIS IS WINE COUNTRY.
Share your experience using #SonomaCounty or #LifeOpensUp