- Author: Karen Metz
The middle of March my husband and I were in Sacramento to see a concert at the Safe Credit Union Center for the Performing Arts. We had arrived just a little early and decided to walk around the block till the venue opened. As we walked, I looked across the street and saw a beautiful small tree in full bloom. As we got closer, I saw multiple blooming trees surrounded by skirts of spent blossoms.
Walking into the park I saw we were in a miniature forest of camellias in full bloom. There were red, pink, fuchsia, and mixed flowers. I've mostly had experience with shrub size camellias, so to be surrounded by camellia trees was quite enchanting.
I longed to explore further but the concert beckoned. It was also approaching dusk, never the best time to be in large city parks these days. I promised myself I would find out more about this area.
It turns out this charming spot was the Camellia Grove in the California State Capitol Park. The park began in 1860 in a 4-block area. It currently encompasses 40 acres and 12 city blocks. The Camellia Grove was funded by the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, and dedicated to their pioneer ancestors in 1953, There are over 180 varieties of camellia in the grove and more scattered elsewhere in the park. Apparently, camellias came to California during the Gold Rush era and were extremely popular. They eventually became the official flower of Sacramento.
I found the Capitol Park Tree Guide online that had been put out by the California State Capitol Museum. This organization has a wonderful website as well, capitolmuseum.ca.gov, with lovely photos and tree lists. They mentioned the park plantings and trees were in a constant flux because of having to remove trees for damage or disease. We had seen evidence of this, a huge eucalyptus that was downed and being cut into smaller pieces. We wondered if it had fallen prey to the saturated soil and high winds of recent storms.
In reviewing the Capitol Museum website, it seems the Park has much to see. In addition to the Camellia Grove there is a Native California Plant Area, and a World Peace Rose Garden that was dedicated in 2003 on the site of the original Rose Garden. There are trees from all over the world and a few remaining trees from Civil War battlefields.
In addition to trees and gardens, there are numerous war memorials ranging from the Civil War to the Vietnam War. There are memorials for first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty. There are also many commemorative plaques and statues, as well as Native American grinding rocks. I think there will be several more trips back to explore this area. I would love to go back and explore the different varieties of camellias. And later I would like to return when the roses are blooming. And to be able to visit a place that combines plants, respect, and history, is truly special.