Niguel Botanical Preserve

Wish it were larger but i love how it’s nestled amongst other trees & the hillside. Been coming here since I was little & it’s still so peaceful.

I am writing this review in response to Brandie M’s review. The Niguel Botanical preserve is a «little treasure» and comparing it to the Huntington Library or the LA Arboretum is like comparing apples to pineapples. They are both good but very different. This preserve is less than ¹⁄₁₀ the size of the larger gardens. It is, however, a nice addition to a community park which includes soccer & baseball fields, a playground, a community pool, a YMCA, an outdoor amphitheater, bike paths, and a natural creek. While taxpayer dollars pay for the city park amenities, the city only provides the land and water for the preserve. It has been up to volunteers and donated funds to provide the plants, labeling, trial upkeep… I agree that more volunteer work could be used in the preserve and this would be a great place for a community service project.

Situated up a small hill inside the Community Park, this preserve is a nice little addition for the area. A great place to stroll for a walk, even decent for your pets. There is a small little creek inside, which is very placid and calming. A local girl scout troupe has taken ownership of a well and planted some artistic stones resembling the flags of all the nations.
If you decide to come here, also check out the field up above, a great place to take your dog for fetch.

I was so excited to see that Orange County had a botanical garden! I drove down in Laguna, through PCH, don’t ever do that. traffic, traffic, traffic take the toll road 73! You’ll get there quicker and not have to fight traffic. Unless you like traffic, by all means take PCH through Laguna.
Ok, so I researched online about botanical gardens in Orange County and Niguel Botanical Preserve sounded so promising! A wonderful garden over 18 acres in size! Plus it was started in 1984, this sounds great, right? Well, wrong. So sad to say that 80% of the park is undeveloped and unlabeled. So, you may be in the Palm Garden or not? The only area that seemed to have any recent or reoccurring activity is the girl scouts section. They are doing a lovely job of keeping their section maintained! Way to go girls!
As I walked through the park I did see squirrels, butterflies, dragon flys besides the typical California flora and fauna, nothing really out of the ordinary. Perhaps in another 10 years the park could be great, but it’s very disappointing. Go to the Arboretum in Arcadia or Hunting Library if you really want to see a Botanical Garden.
The money that is going into the park seems to be all at the pool and YMCA at the bottom of the hill. The money should be invested in developing a wonderful preserve which would «display garden-​worthy plants appropriate to so-​cal region.» Somehow the goal and purpose of the preserve has been lost sine 1984…
{Lace up those hiking boots}
–Take the toll road if you want to see this place for yourself
–Take water and snacks, the garden is on a hill side with very few drinking fountains
–If you are in need of fulfilling volunteering hours, this park would be a great opportunity to do so!