Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

#15, Eye Spy A tree, Flowering Cherry, Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’: This small tree is a member of the rose family and native to Japan. Its beauty is celebrated world wide. Often planted in public spaces as large masses of trees which create stunning displays. However, it is equally charming as a single specimen in a home garden. There are many varieties of this tree, double and single flowers with many shades of pink in both weeping and upright forms.

Swing by on April 4th or 5th between 8 am and dusk to see the flowering cherries put on their big show! While you are there, feel free to participate in our socially distanced scavenger hunt. Restrooms are still currently unavailable.

Thank you, Janette McClelland, for hosting a birthday fundraiser for us! And thank you to your generous friends who donated $810!

Thank you to everyone who visited the Gardens this weekend for our Plant Sale & Gift Shop. It was a great success - so wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones (and to have some income again...!) It was such a success that we've scheduled three more weekends before the end of the year. Nov 7-8, Nov 21-22, and Dec 12-13. We'll be adding new plants and new gift shop products, so look for more info closer to the next event.

#5. Eye Spy a Tree. Triadica sebifera, Chinese Tallow Tree. This graceful small, deciduous tree, grows in the gift shop courtyard. It’s dense foliage and lovely monoecious yellow flowers create a restful shade. Native to China and a source of biofuels, this specimen tree works hard for the planet.

We’re excited to be opening up, even for just a weekend.

Luther Burbank & Thomas Edison were pen-pals. When the Edisons, Fords & Firestones came out to San Francisco for the Pan-Pacific Expo, they made a special trip up to Santa Rosa to visit Luther. This week - 105 years ago.

#4. Eye Spy a Tree, Podocarpus henkelii, Long Leafed Yellowwood. Native to South Africa, is an endangered species. Surprisingly, it is a monoecious conifer with the female producing cones. Sitting in Luther’s Greenhouse courtyard, next to a Victorian fountain, this pyramidal tree with shaggy bark casts deep shade and provides protected nesting space for song birds. Artists note: The surrounding brick wall is embedded with tiles from the collection of Elizabeth Waters Burbank.

With all of the things going on this year, some of us have really lost track of time, including these two Burbank plums. Beauty and America are in full flower right now!! This may have been triggered by the smoke from our recent fires blocking sunlight, tricking our plants into thinking the days are shorter. Typically these are two of the first plums to flower in early February.

Hello friends! For those of you who aren't local, as of September 28th, one of the edges of the Glass fire is currently approximately 6 miles away from our site. Many of our volunteers have been evacuated. The Garden Curator braved the smokey air today to check on things and found these four leaves that have blown over. They are 3 species of oak (Quercus kellogii, Quercus lobata, and Quercus agrifolia) and a California Bay (Umbellularia californica). These species evolved me...chanisms to survive fire, including something called epicormic sprouting where dormant buds under the bark or at the base of the trunk are stimulated to grow by intense heat. These four trees are often found together in the mixed canopy forests of Sonoma County. The leaves likely blew from Annadel Park. Alt text: 4 charred leaves that indicate exposure to intense heat.

Eye Spy a Tree, #3 Fagus sylvatica purpurea, Copper Beech. This large magnificent tree with deep red foliage is planted on the lawn in front of the Burbank home. Artist note: Native to European forests, it was first planted on the East Coast where you can find specimens over 200 years old. The trunk has smooth gray bark and a shape that gives the impression of an elephants foot.

Since we can't offer live tours right now, we've recorded a virtual tour of Luther's Home. You *can* come and walk in the Gardens Sun/Mon/Wed, but right now this is the only way to see what's inside. If you feel so moved, we would greatly appreciate any donations. ... Enjoy!

Eye Spy a Tree, #2, Cornus florida urbiniana, Mexican Flowering Dogwood. Artists note: Unusual flowers like little folded origami lanterns, cover this tree in the spring and red berries in the winter. This charming small tree sits in a perennial garden bed on the Tupper street fence. LBH& G has many rare, uncommon shrubs and trees in its collection. I was so intrigued by this specimen and it made me look deeper into how petals are connected. l love the top down view of the flower.

Eye Spy a Tree, welcome to the Arboretum. Who knew when we started this project over a year and a half ago, our world would change much. Although, we may be stuck in our homes, let’s tour the virtual arboretum of Luther Burbank Home and Gardens. #1 Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple. In early spring the tree is covered with tiny flowers that mature into the winged fruit called Samaras. The palmate leaves resemble an open hand. Native to Japan and China this tree has spectacular fall foliage. Look for it to the left of the Tupper street entrance and along Santa Rosa Ave. Pen and ink study