California has always been known around the world as a gardener’s paradise. The Golden State’s valleys are the fruit and veggie baskets of America; The deserts’ super blooms are a springtime phenomenon; And Mendocino’s coastal climate makes it the Shangri-La of flowering plants!
Explore the Wild Mendocino Headlands
Truly, strolling through the Mendocino Village and along the Mendocino Headlands is a blossom lover’s delight. Untamed and free of human coaxing, the Headlands’ beauty calls to the wild of heart. The meandering pathways of the Mendocino Headlands take you through oceanside prairies full of wildflowers, succulents, tall, enchanting grasses, and gnarled cypress trees. Come spring, the coastal bluffs bloom in abandon, showcasing incredible flowers of all colors and shapes.
The Curated Charm of Village Gardens
The abundant gardens of the Village, on the other hand, may entice a more prim and ordered eye, but they are still out of this world and just as brilliant and bountiful! One of our favorite wild natives is the Towers of Jewels (_Echium pininana_). These giants bud purple up to 13 feet high and are a staple of our own garden at Nicholson House.
Nicholson House: Your Eco-Friendly Garden Retreat
In reimagining Nicholson House, our Mendocino gardens were thoughtfully redesigned with drought-tolerant and native plantings. As part of our earth-friendly ethos, we worked with a local organization to choose pollinator-friendly plant species, as well. So, naturally, the flowering is abundant and the hummingbirds are, too! Our environmentally-conscious gardening style includes only hand watering and minor drip irrigation – no sprinkler systems or water wasted.
As our guest, we encourage you to pass at least a little time relaxing in the Nicholson House’s lovely garden. Our ocean view oasis on the east end of Mendocino Village is the perfect flower-filled space for taking in the peaceful, calm of Mendocino nature…. all from your very own home-away-from-home backyard.
More Floral Adventures Nearby
For those flower-lovers looking for more, the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a short ten-minute drive north. The waterfront property is “47 acres of botanical bliss fronting the Pacific Ocean.” Famous for its huge variety of rhododendrons, the gardens are well worth the trip and your time. Bring your binoculars and pup along for their gorgeous coastal trail walk with bird watching, too.
