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The Botanical Building at Balboa Park dates from the original Exposition in 1915. It is visually stunning as you approach it and the view across the Lily Pond to its facia makes a wonderful photograph. Its unusual domed shape is a result of being one of the largest wooden lath structures in the world and with its free entry it shouldn’t be missed on a visit to San Diego.
The feast for the eyes doesn’t stop as you enter the building. The building is a permanent home to over 2000 tropical plants so the colours and shapes are quite breath-taking.
Designed with a looping walkway there are plenty of plants to admire that are certainly more interesting than you will find in many botanical displays. One of the most interesting features is the Carnivorous Plant Bog which seemed to particularly appeal to children which is full of plants like huge Pitcher Plants and Venus Fly Traps.
I was particularly struck by some rarer foliage plants which were not quite a showy as some of the gloriously coloured offerings but which appealed to me in their simplicity, particularly one which had spiralling leaves which immediately brought to mind the Fibonacci sequence.
Although the Botanical Building was quite warm the high roof and wooden structure seemed to prevent it being oppressively hot which surprised me since we visited on a hot day in August. The plants seemed to absorb the noise too and it actually felt calm and quiet even though there were lots of visitors. The pathways are wide and are suitable for buggies and wheelchairs too.