Located near Glen Ellen, at the heart of the Sonoma Valley, Quarryhill Botanical Garden boasts one of North America’s largest and most important collections of temperate-climate Asian plants.
Along with waterfalls, ponds, and photo-worthy views of Sonoma Valley, Quarryhill’s 25 acres house mature flowering Asian trees and shrubs, many of which are rare and endangered varieties. More than 90 percent of the collection was grown from seeds collected during yearly expeditions into the wild regions of the world (mainly China, Japan, Tibet, Yunnan, India, and Nepal). Other trips have collected from parts of North America.
Quarryhill dates to 1968, when Jane Davenport Jansen purchased 61 acres of land in Glen Ellen for vineyards. The property was pocked with old rock quarries, which filled with water during heavy winter rains, creating a stream with ponds and waterfalls. In 1987, Jansen started a garden on 20 hillside acres, and named it Quarryhill. That same year representatives made their first seed collecting expedition to Asia. In 1988 a nursery was established, and planting began in 1990.
Some the varieties preserved at Quarryhill are threatened with extinction in the wild due to habitat loss, which usually comes about through human actions like deforestation, agricultural expansion, and/or resource consumption. The fact that these plants grow at Quarryhill, and that their seeds are being saved, increases the chances that they will not become extinct.
One example is a magnolia tree, Acer pentaphyllum. Botanists believe that this plant will be extinct in China within a decade. Quarryhill grew several hundred from seeds in pots and then replanted them on the grounds. The ultimate goal is to produce seed from the new trees, sending them to China for reforestation.
Another example is a rose that’s endangered in the wilds of China, Rosa rugosa. It is now widely planted at Quarryhill.
In addition to rare and endangered plants, Quarryhill also includes comprehensive collections of wild Asian roses, oaks, maples, magnolias, lilies, dogwoods, and rhododendrons.
Visitors are welcome to picnic in designated areas. Dogs, bicycles, and smoking are prohibited. Both self-guided and docent-led tours are available.
Quarryhill Botanical Garden is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily. General admission is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors (65 or older); $8 age 13 to 17, students, or active military; and free for age 12 and younger. On the first Tuesday of every month, admission for self-guided tours is free for seniors, students, and active military.
The fee for docent-led tours is $17 for adults; $15 person for groups of 10 or more; and free for age 12 and younger; reservations are required at least two weeks in advance. Docent-led tours are about one and a half hours long for walking tours, or one hour for the Glen Ellen Green Tour done by cart.
Quarryhill Botanical Gardens (12841 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen, 707-996-3166); you can download a map and directions.
