Tag: plants

Southern California Plumeria Festival in San Diego

Plumerias, also known as frangipani, are beloved around the world for their sweet fragrance and association with tropical islands. In Hawaii, they’re often woven into leis as a symbol of welcome and friendship. Seeing them in full bloom at the festival is like taking a mini vacation to the islands—without ever leaving San Diego.

Festival Details

  • Where: Balboa Park, Casa del Prado, San Diego, CA
  • When:  September 6 &7 2025 (check the official Southern California Plumeria Society website for dates)
  • Admission: Free and family-friendly

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/socalplumeriasociety/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/plumerias

Scent of Summer: A Lavender Escape in Ramona

Lavender season typically peaks from late May through early July, when the hillsides come alive with vibrant purple blooms. Farms across Ramona open their gates to visitors for a brief but beautiful window of time, offering U-pick experiences, handmade products, and peaceful strolls through aromatic rows of lavender.

One standout is the newly expanded lavender field at Oasis Camel Dairy, a unique destination where camels roam nearby and the scent of lavender fills the air. Yes—camels and lavender! It’s a pairing you didn’t know you needed.

This is the second year for the Camel Valley Lavender Farm located in Ramona, California. The 2 acre field has over 3000 lavender plants with 5 different varieties of lavender. The Lavender field is open on select Saturdays in June and July.

For more information visit https://cameldairy.com/home

Access to the lavender field is FREE on Saturday and Sunday’s June 21st through July 27th, 2025. There is gift shop that sells hand crafted lavender products as well as plant seedlings. You can pick your own bundle of lavender for $15 .

The founders of Oasis Camel Dairy Farm purchased 8 acres along the southern edge of the camel grazing pasture and have repurposed 2 acres for growing lavender. Twice a day at 11am and 2pm some of the 21 dromedary camels that live on the Oasis Camel Dairy make their way to the fence line for a snack of hay.

Balboa Botanical Building

The Botanical Building inside Balboa Park was built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, which celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. The exposition was meant to bring attention and interest to San Diego as the first United States port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward through th canal. The botanical building is one of four structures that remained permanent after the exposition. 

The building is 250 long, 75 feet wide and 60 feet tall. It is one the largest lath structures remaining in the world. Since its opening, it has served as a living museum, housing a diverse collection of plants from around the globe. 

The Botanical Building reopened in December of 2024 after a 3 year long restoration and renovation. It will take many years and decades for the plant life to grow and mature to the stature it had prior to the 2021 closing. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.