Hop Into "Ribbit Exhibit" at the Sonoma Botanical Garden

The Sonoma Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen is always a great place for a family outing, but it's gotten more magical with the addition of "Ribbit Exhibit" a whimsical, family-friendly presentation of more than 20 larger-than-life frog characters placed in vignettes throughout the garden now through August 31.

Created by artist Andy Cobb, each human-sized frog sculpture has its own name and story. Characters include Zenny meditating on a leaf on the garden’s pond, Bentley and his tortoise friend Tortuga ambling along the California Oaks Trail, dapper Floyd and his elegant partner Grace cutting the rug amongst the flowers, and many others.

"Ribbit Exhibit" is free after admission to the Garden, which comprises 67 acres of California native and Asian plants. It's a really fun place to explore and spend the day, and my kids and I have been going here for years.

In addition to the regular hours, the Garden will be offering some great special programs for all ages:

• Sunday Fundays (June 9, July 14 & August 11, 2024, 1–4 pm): Hop on over for an afternoon of family fun in the beauty of the Garden with face painting, arts and crafts with Art Escape’s Art Van Gogh, family yoga with Sonoma Yoga, Music Time with Megan, and lawn games. Families can win prizes for completing a froggy-themed scavenger hunt, enjoy frog-tastic story time, and more.
• Acoustic Sunsets (Wednesdays, May 1–October 30, 2024, 5–8 pm): The Garden extends its hours every Wednesday this summer with special activities for all ages including live music in the amphitheater, lawn games, and other family friendly activities. Bring a picnic and Fido too as the Garden is welcoming well behaved, leashed dogs during these special evening hours.

Special programs are included with Garden admission.

If you go

The Sonoma Botanical Garden is open daily from 9 am–4 pm except Tuesdays. Extended evening hours, 5–8 pm on Wednesdays, are offered  May 1–October 30, 2024. 

Admission is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors 65+; $8 for teens 13–17, students, and active military; $3 for SNAP card holders with valid ID; and free for children 12 and under and members.

Picnic areas are located throughout the Garden, so feel free to bring your lunch and make a day of it (please pack out your trash, though). Bottled water can be purchased at the welcome center but no water is available in the Garden itself, so bring your own refillable water bottles.

Due to the terrain, wheelchair access is limited. No dogs, except service animals, are allowed.

Sonoma Botanical Garden is located at 12841 Highway 12, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, about 8 miles north of Sonoma. 

For more info about the exhibit, visit their website here.