Heavy petals: Monterey County's best gardens and wildflower parks - includes Monterey Peninsula wildflowers travel planner

Sunset, March, 1999 by Lora J. Finnegan

Wildflower shows

38TH ANNUAL WILDFLOWER SHOW AT THE PACIFIC GROVE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. You'll see more than 600 species and varieties of central California wildflowers (collected by special permit). 165 Forest Ave.; 10-5 daily April 16-18; $1 donation; 648-3116.

ADOBE TOUR. The best gardens of Monterey's many historic adobes. 12-7 April 24; $10; 372-2608.

CARMEL GARDEN SHOW AT QUAIL LODGE RESORT. Seminars, tours, and gardenscapes. 8205 Valley Greens Dr.; April 30-May 2; $15; 625-1954.

Guidebooks

AN ILLUSTRATED FIELD KEY TO THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF MONTEREY COUNTY AND FERNS, FERN ALLIES, AND CONIFERS. If you're serious about flowering plants, get Mary Ann Matthews's 401-page tome. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, 1997; $25 paperback; (916) 447-2677.

A FIELD GUIDE TO PACIFIC STATES WILDFLOWERS. Part of the Peterson nature guide series, it's an excellent book for amateurs. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, 1998; $18; (800) 733-3000.