Parks & Gardens

Forestiere Underground Gardens

5021 W. Shaw Ave. Fresno
Take a subterranean journey to the Mediterranean – in the middle of California. Beneath the hot arid surface of the San Joaquin Valley, Baldasare Forestiere (1879-1946) began sculpting a fantastic retreat in the early 1900s. Excavating the hardpan by hand, he created a unique complex of underground rooms, passageways and gardens that ramble throughout a 10-acre parcel.

Forestiere spent 40 years sculpting this amazing underground comple. The site consists of interconnecting subterranean rooms, patios and courtyards with stonework and building techniques patterned after the ancient catacombs. Explore his five-room underground home, the auto tunnel running the length of the Gardens and the multilevel aquarium. Forestiere adorned these areas with a unique variety of fruit-producing trees, including strawberry, mulberry, date palm, olive, quince, persimmon, and citrus bearing several kinds of fruit on a single tree. Guided tours of this state landmark are available Wednesday through Sunday, from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
(559} 271-0734
undergroundgardens.com

Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden

Woodward Park, Fresno
The garden features and authentic teahouse, koi pond, Ume Grove, streams and waterfall, double moon bridge and meditation areas.
(559) 621-2900
shinzenjapanesegarden.org