Balboa’s Trees for Health

**CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE ON ALL THE HIDDEN GEMS IN BALBOA PARK FOR AN AMAZING DAY TRIP!**

About Balboa’s Trees for Health

Directions: Enter the Northwest corner of Balboa Park at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Upas Street. (Upas becomes Balboa Drive when it enters the park.)

Balboa Park never fails to inspire me.  Every corner you turn has the potential for something you have never seen before.  I know, because it happens to me all the time.  I’m constantly noticing new details in the architecture alone, for instance.  More recently it was a new garden that caught my eye with a sign that said “Trees For Health”..

I had walked through this pathway many times before, but for whatever reason, I had never truly realized what I was seeing.  It wasn’t until one day I noticed the “Trees for Health” sign that I began paying attention to both the placards and larger picture.

‘Trees for Health’ was originally created in 1993 as a way for the San Diego Herb Club to map and identify medicinal trees in Balboa Park. Eventually the project received a permanent space where we can now enjoy over 3 1/2 acres and 70 medicinal trees and shrubs.

While you’re in the area, make sure to check out the Marston House & Garden nearby!

The plants are maintained by volunteers and used as an educational space for the public to identify and learn about the healing power of plants.  Take note of the “5 Flavors Tour” plaques which touch on different tastes such as bitter, spicy and sour.

I found it thoroughly enjoyable to watch young olive fruits grow and learn what a cinnamon tree looks like. This is a place that you can return to time and time again throughout the year and constantly see new developments and seasonal changes with each plant.  How blessed we are to have Balboa Park!