When I worked at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden doing horticulture outreach, people would ask me when was the best time to visit the garden. Although there is something in bloom, in fruit, or just plain beautiful at all times of the year, I would answer that if I could only visit once a year I would go in mid-April to see the irises. Throughout much of the garden Douglas irises (Iris douglasiana), Pacific Coast hybrids and a few other iris taxa are blooming. My pictures, taken on Friday, do not do the garden justice. It is magical right now, but with the recent heat wave the iris flowers may not last long. Make the time to visit, and check out the big bugs while you are there, you will not regret it.
Wow, Barbara, I hate to break the news to you, but you have a serious ant problem there.
Can you imagine living during prehistoric times when there were huge insects around? But really, the Big Bug exhibit at Rancho is something to see!