During his lifetime, Luther Burbank — perhaps the nation’s most noted horticulturist —
introduced more than 800 new varieties of plants. The most renowned is the popular Shasta
daisy, named for the lofty mountain of the same name. A tour of the Luther Burbank Home and
Gardens in Santa Rosa, California, reveals this and many other facts about the man whose
goal was to manipulate the characteristics of plants for the purpose of increasing the
world’s food supply.
More than one acre remains of the original Burbank
garden. Many unusual varieties of plants are represented in the garden,
and special areas, with interpretive signs, focus on medicinal herbs,
cutting flowers, roses, wildlife habitats and ornamental grasses.
The gardens are free and open daily, 8 a.m. to dusk. Docent-led
tours, available at a nominal charge, are offered Tuesday-Sunday, 10
a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information, call (707) 524-5445, or go to lutherburbank.org.
