Garden Valley Ranch - Petaluma, California

Garden Valley Ranch - Petaluma, California

Most people love the look and smell of roses.  When you tour the Garden Valley Ranch you will certainly be able to see enough roses to fill the desires of nearly everyone.  There are over 10,000 rose bushes in their cutting garden filling the whole area with color, beauty and the scent of roses.

The Garden Valley Ranch began as a bed and breakfast inn in 1981.  It soon succumbed to Ray Reddell’s love of roses and he changed the focus into a rose ranch in 1998.  He took this nine-acre ranch and began selling and shipping over a quarter of million blooms throughout the country.

The ranch is located just 37 miles north of the Golden Gate Bride in Petaluma.  Petaluma is a town unequaled for its preservations of pristine Victorian homes and authentic 19th century commercial buildings.  Many communities have allowed these fabulous homes and buildings to be destroyed to make room for the newer facilities and homes but Petaluma had the vision and wisdom to retain the homes and create a beautiful town showcasing the past.  Many of the buildings at the ranch were built in 1890 and have earned the National Historical Landmark status.

Ray Reddell sold the ranch to Mark Grim and Ron Roberson in February 2005.  With the new owners there have been some changes which have not detracted from the past but added a new depth of beauty and variety.  They have added a new display border measuring 220 feet long by 14 feet wide with an edging of beautiful local stone.  In the border there are not only roses, but perennials, shrubs and annuals arranged in color sequence with the cool colors on the ends to hot colors in the center.

There is a 75 foot pond surrounded by plantings with a cascade serving the purpose of aerating the water.  You cross the pond on a beautiful bridge.  You can enjoy seeing the Koi, Shibunkin goldfish and Freshwater Smelt in the pond.

You will want to stroll through the fragrant garden featuring bay, yew, English Box and other enchantingly fragrant plants year around.  Then go on to the 7,000 roses that are in the cutting garden.  The ranch is one of only two ranches in the country that ships field-grown roses to wholesale and retail florists across the country.  They also will sell you a rose bush if you desire.  The season for roses is May through October so this is the best time to order them.

The tour consists of being able to see the long flower border, the Pond Garden, hydrangea/magnolia border of over 100 varieties of Hydrangeas and 30 varieties of Magnolia (can’t you just smell this fabulous fragrance?), the Fragrance Garden with its fountain and plantings of fragrant flowers, foliage and shrubs enclosed in formal hedging of Bay, Myrtle, Box and English Yew.  Last, but certainly not least, is the view of the cutting fields of roses!

Garden Valley Ranch is open for touring Wednesday through Sunday, events permitting. Please call 707-795-0919 for weekend event schedules.

Touring hours are 10 to 4 October through April, or 10 to 5 May through September.

Self guided tours are $5.00 per person. Docent tours are $10.00 per person and can be arranged by advanced booking (2 week notice, 10 people min, includes tour booklet).

If you have a large group, such as a garden club, call or email for special bookings. 707-795-0919 - Email: info@gardenvalley.com

Pets are not allowed, there is no picnicking at the ranch.

Restrooms and handicap access are available.
Children must be accompanied by an adult and supervised.

Cameras welcome.

Lunches at the Ranch are available for tour groups only. They offer a gourmet box lunch for a minimum of 15 people. Sample menus on request.

 

 

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