We love living next to Lake Merritt and are still discovering new things to see and visit. Our side of the lake is amazing! We live very near the gardens and Emma and I have been visiting there quite often. She likes the fountains and is always finding treasures to bring to the water. These flowers grow near this particular fountain and lucky for Em the blooms fall down to the ground for the taking. I find the garden to be the most relaxing place that I have found in Oakland and its big enough that Em can explore and feel like we are far away from it all, even though in areas we can see the lake or Fairyland through the fence. ^_^