For many years, we lived in an area of northern California about an forty minutes from Nevada City, California. We took countless trips to Nevada City sometimes just a day trip and occasionally staying overnight. If we were on the way to Lake Tahoe or Truckee we almost always stopped in Nevada City either going up to the lake or on the way back. Yet, in all the years we lived in this area we never knew about the fantastic beautiful place to visit until the last few years we lived in the area. There are more reasons to visit Crystal Hermitage Gardens at the Ananda Meditation Retreat Center than just the beautiful flowers but for purposes of enjoying thousands of tulips, I will just write about this for now.

Each year the gardeners at Crystal Hermitage Gardens nurture or plant new bulbs totaling approximately 17,000 Dutch bulbs and a hundred different varieties of tulips.  No, they don’t all bloom at once.  The idea is to have a continuous display of blooms.  In addition, 10,000 Forget-Me-Not plants are planted in between the bulbs.

You will enjoy a massive, and I mean massive display of tulips as well as other blooms in the garden.   There are lots of places to take photos and there is a lovely view.   You can’t help but smile while you are there.  

Ananda Retreat Center is just fourteen miles from the center of Nevada City.  It is a very easy drive from Sacramento, about sixty miles away.   A spectacular site, the gardens are open from April 1 through the 30th from 10 to 5 p.m. with the exception of April 21st when it opens at 1 p.m.   You will need to purchase your tickets ahead of time as no tickets will be sold at the door.   If your plans change after your purchase, you can change your time or even the date on line.   How nice is that?!

Get your tickets here.  You must purchase them on-line. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Tip.  While the entire garden may not be totally wheelchair accessible, enough of the garden is to make it a worthwhile visit for people who have disability issues. In addition,  there are other beautiful accessible areas of Ananda Meditation Retreat worth your time.