Flowers are blooming, leaves are growing and the weather is finally beginning to warm up—spring is here. For residents who are looking to take advantage of the season by finding the best natural habitats that Long Beach has to offer, we’ve got you covered.
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden (Earl Warren Drive)
Located on the Cal State Long Beach campus, this garden is a peaceful 1.3-acre sanctuary for students and horticulturists alike. As scenic as it is serene, visitors can expect to see wooden bridges, Japanese Black Pines and decorative varieties of koi fish roaming the large pond. The garden is free to visit and requires a reservation. Reservations can be made Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Rd.)
Formerly a 27,000-acre settlement pre-Mexican-American War, Rancho Los Cerritos is a national landmark highlighted by the property’s historic adobe ranch house. Even more notable is the spectacular foliage that surrounds it, including a native garden brimming with yellow spring flowers and an orchard path leading to the house that’s filled with subtropical fruit trees growing citrus, guavas and avocados. Visitors can check out the site’s natural elements Wednesday through Friday and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and online reservations are recommended, however, walk-in guests are welcome if space is available.
Rancho Los Alamitos (6400 E. Bixby Hill Rd.)
Featuring giant Moreton Bay Figs towering over a historic ranch house dating back to the early 19th century, there is an impressive amount of nature to view at Rancho Los Alamitos. The 7.5 acres of land includes cactus and rose gardens as well as oleander, geranium and jacaranda plants, offering plenty of land to walk around and admire. This historic site is located on the eastern border of Cal State Long Beach and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (entry ends at 4:30 p.m.).
El Dorado Nature Center (7550 E. Spring St.)
As the largest natural habitat preservation in Long Beach, the El Dorado Nature Center covers 105 acres and is home to a variety of birds, turtles and abundant plant life. The vast habitat includes two miles of dirt trails, a paved path that guides visitors around a stream, two lakes and luscious forests. The visitor center also includes an art gallery, educational displays and a gift shop with environmental-themed gifts. The trails are open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with trail entry ending at 4:30 p.m.
Rainbow Bridge English Garden (300 East Ocean Blvd.)
Located on the Rainbow Bridge connecting the Long Beach Convention Center and the Terrace Theater, this garden is short but sweet. It can be walked through fairly quickly, but it’s recommended to slow down and appreciate the collection of roses, daisies, geraniums and much more. At night, the walkway is illuminated with LED lights and offers a more unique experience that makes it worthy of taking the scenic route.
Dominguez Gap Wetlands (286 W. Del Amo Blvd.)
A place fertile with plants and native wildlife, these wetlands originated as a flood control basin for Long Beach, but a recent project turned the area into a thriving natural habitat. Receiving sustenance from the LA River and local urban runoff, the wildlife is kept intact while the area’s open space offers an equestrian trail, bird watching, a bike path and walkways to observe the natural environment. The wetlands are open to the public all day every day as long as weather permits.
Prisk Native Garden (375 Fanwood Ave.)
Serving as a schoolyard nature center, this 7,500 square foot garden located at the rear of William F. Prisk Elementary School allows its students to learn about preservation in an immersive natural environment. Several native plant types and a variety of environments work in harmony and are maintained by volunteers. Though it is a private garden, there are occasional open house events where the public is invited to tour the garden, so keep an eye open for any announcements on their Facebook page.
Willow Springs Park (2745 Orange Ave.)
Willow Springs Park is located atop the Cherry Hill Fault, with views of nearby Signal Hill and 10 acres of native plants and trees. Along with seasonal wetlands and plenty of unique topography, Willow Springs Park has a walking loop that routes through the wetlands, a constructed spring and a water retention basin that cleans and diverts water to be reused onsite. Additionally, Longview Point gives visitors a full view of the Long Beach downtown, the Port of Long Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes and on clear days, the San Gabriel Mountains.
DeForest Park & Wetlands (6255 De Forest Ave.)
Alongside the park, the DeForest Nature trail covers nearly 35 acres of freshwater wetlands, and an abundant wildlife habitat filled with native plants and recreational trails. After much of the land consisted of overgrown non-native vegetation, plants were donated and the area was restored as a natural wetland habitat and reopened in 2018. Public uses include passive recreational activities such as bird watching, walking, horseback riding and a variety of educational tours and programs. The park and nature trail are open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour
Several of the most impressive private gardens in and around Orange County, including a few of the finest in Long Beach, will be on-display during this public event on May 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual gathering is a charitable event organized by the Mary Lou Heard Foundation with the goal of raising money for The Sheepfold, a shelter for women and children in crisis. Those who tour the gardens will be able to make donations at any of the donation jars available at each host garden.
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