This is a good place to bring children, with a stream running through, bridges here and there, and plenty of plant diversity, from a rare-fruit orchard and oak grove to gardens dedicated to butterflies, a bird habitat, desert cactuses and succulents, herbs, Australian plants, colorful native salvia and a “Trail of Trees” (more than 50 varieties of trees planted in 2005 to restore a slope covered with invasive mustard weed). The Rare Fruit Orchard at the top of the hill includes 99 trees planted by the California Rare Fruit Growers, featuring 34 varieties from 19 countries as a demonstration of Southern California’s versatile growing environment.
There’s also a special garden for children open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays only. Another impressive fact: This nonprofit botanic garden was started by three local volunteers in 1973 — Ray Garcia, Fred Wilson and Jackson Granholm — after a housing developer donated the hilly, unbuildable 33 acres to the Conejo Recreation and Park District, according to botanic garden president Beverly Brune. Today, the gardens comprise 41 acres and are completely managed by volunteers and funded by money raised by grants and fundraisers such as the garden nursery, which sells plants propagated from the garden from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays in the Kids’ Adventure Garden.
Admission: Free
Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset, except July 4 and when trail conditions are wet. The Kids’ Adventure Garden is open only on Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The garden nursery sells plants on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Food: Food is not permitted in the gardens.
Other: Dogs are permitted if leashed. Restrooms are located in the parking lot, next to Conejo Community Park.