Touring Luther Burbank Home and Gardens in the Sonoma Valley

The Sonoma Valley is known for its wineries, fine dining, spas and, picturesque landscape. But before it became a popular tourist destination, it was home to Luther Burbank, an accomplished horticulturist who lived and worked in Santa Rosa until1926. If you're planning a trip to Sonoma County, visiting his home-turned-national park proves a pleasant addition to an itinerary otherwise packed with wineries and fine cuisine.

The best way to get to Luther Burbank Home and Gardens is by car. It's located in the city of Santa Rosa on the corner of Santa Rosa Avenue and Sonoma Avenue, just blocks from Highway 101. Street parking is available, but you might need to feed a meter, so bring change. Your visit shouldn't take more than an hour.

Viewing the Luther Burbank Garden alone is free and it's open daily from 8:00 am until dusk. Guided tours for the entire estate, which include a look at Burbank's home and greenhouse, are offered for a fee ($5 per adult, $4 for seniors 65 and over) April through October, on Tuesday - Sunday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

On my visit I opted to take the tour. My guide, a volunteer, was a Burbank enthusiast. Beginning our tour in the home, she took some time to explain the charming décor. More interesting, though, was her historical summary on Luther Burbank himself. During the course of his career, he created over 800 new plants varieties, his most famous being the Shasta daisy and the spineless cactus. She also explained that, in addition to being a brilliant scientist, Burbank was well-connected. Friends Thomas Edison and Henry Ford visited him at his Santa Rosa home.

From the Burbank home, my tour guide moved on to the greenhouse in which Burbank kept his valuable seeds. While some of his experimentation occurred here, much was conducted in nearby fields where he continually surveyed plants and isolated those chosen for further experimentation.