Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden in winter

Refugio manzanita (Arctostaphylos refugioensis) native to Santa Barbara area

We picnicked at the Tilden Park native garden in Berkeley this morning with a couple of friends. This place is a must visit for native enthusiasts and definitely one the most peaceful places in the Bay Area. Parking can be a challenge, so it's best to arrive early to be beat the steady stream of young families in Subaru Outbacks and Toyota Priuses. It was nice to see the winter bloomers including manzanitas, chaparral currants and silk tassels. A few highlights:

Dudleya growing out of rock in the large Channel Islands section

Chaparral currant (Ribes malvaceum)

Tapestry of manzanita

Coast Silk Tassel (Garrya elliptica)

One of the many beautiful old benches sprinkled around the grounds