Oakland Botanical Gardens With Koi Ponds Beside Lake Merritt
Walk seven acres of themed plots, from succulents and a greenhouse to a palm forest, with turtles in the ponds.
🌵 A Different Patch of Oakland
Oakland has a botanical detour tucked into its lakeside park. At Gardens at Lake Merritt, the grounds spread across seven acres of themed botanical plots, with a community plot, fragrant spaces, and a succulent area changing the character of the walk. Start with the plants that catch your eye, then make room for the smaller corners.
Koi share ponds with turtles, small waterfalls add another reason to pause, and a palm tree forest brings a different scale to the grounds. There is a greenhouse and a rock formation too. Historical plaques give you something to read between the planted areas, while flowering cacti and yellow blooms add close up detail.
Keep the outing centered on the gardens rather than rushing through a single patch. The mix runs from succulents to palms, with water and planting doing equal work. Find the grounds at 666 Bellevue Ave in Oakland, and leave the pace of the walk to whatever catches your attention.
