Gilroy Gardens Alphabet, Chapter 5: QRS

Posted on October 2, 2026October 5, 2026 by Angelica Rodezno

Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 5: QRS

In 2026, we’re making our way through the 26 letters of the alphabet here at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Come along as we explore the letters Q, R and S!

Q is for Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster

The biggest, fastest, and most thrilling ride at Gilroy Gardens is the Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster. It’s quite exciting!

“Quicksilver” is an old term for mercury, which is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. Our rollercoaster ride was inspired by New Almaden Quicksilver Mines, which were established in 1847 and located in southern San Jose about 30 miles north of our park.

The mines are now closed, but between 1850 and 1875, miners dug up millions of pounds of red cinnabar rocks, hauled them out on rolling carts, and extracted liquid mercury from the ore. Mercury (or quicksilver) was very important during the California Gold Rush, because it forms a chemical bond with tiny gold particles so they can be separated from crushed rock or river sediment.

Our thrilling mine coaster does not contain any actual quicksilver—but it does move quite quickly as you speed through dips and turns surrounded by nearly 600 trees!

R is for Rainbow Garden Boat Ride

Ever dreamed of floating in a flower? The Rainbow Garden Boat Ride takes you on a gently rocking round boat through a spectacular annual color garden full of brightly colored blooms.

On this ride you can also spot some fun and unusual topiaries. Those are shrubs that have been carefully shaped and trimmed over years to become living sculptures. While you’re on the ride, see if you can spot a friendly deer, a cuddly teddy bear, and even some buzzing bumblebees!

What else starts with “R” at Gilroy Gardens?

Redwood Trees (found throughout the park)
Revolving Door Tree
Royelle the Garlic Bulb Mascot

S is for …Several Things!

With these ABC blogs we’ve been striving to spotlight one solo attraction for each letter, but there are just so many “S” options, it’s hard to select just one!

Which of these three “S” rides is your favorite?

Sky Trail Monorail
Enjoy sky-high views of the Monarch Garden greenhouse and Mission Plaza on this monorail ride through the western side of the park. The entrance is located near Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster.

South County Backroads
One this popular ride, you get to choose your ride: either an old-timey roadster from the 1920s or a classic Chevy sportscar from the 1950s. Either way, you’ll take a winding road trip back in time through the “Valley of the Heart’s Delight,” the way Santa Clara Valley used to look back when our founder Michael Bonfante was just a boy. Just be sure not to go too fast, or you might get pulled over for speeding!

Strawberry Sundae
Where else can you take a spin in a giant strawberry? This gentle ride is fun for all ages and makes a great place to take a family photo. Strawberries are a sweet summertime treat grown by both home gardeners and farmers in this part of California. During the summer months, local fruit stands are full of sweet, juicy, fresh-from-the farm berries that almost melt in your mouth.

Some other things that start with “S” at Gilroy Gardens:

Stay tuned for the next installment: TUV!

Natural Science Days: Powered by the Passion of our Docents

Posted on October 1, 2026October 2, 2026 by Angelica Rodezno

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Natural Science Days: Powered by the Passion of our Docents

Our incredible volunteers make learning interesting, interactive…and fun!

Natural Science Days at Gilroy Gardens

The popular Natural Science Days (NSD) field trip program at Gilroy Gardens is held on select dates every spring and provides a unique chance for elementary school-aged kids to learn more about nature and the environment while having fun in our beautiful park.

Working in groups, kids move through six interactive learning stations that spark curiosity and creativity. Every station is designed for kids to have fun while learning something new!

Plants with Funny Shapes
The Food We Grow and Eat
Food Chains
Clean Energy
Flower Anatomy
You Rock!

This event is a great experience for kids, teachers, and parent chaperones—but it requires a LOT of hard work to host each year. Our volunteer docents are the ones who donate their time, energy, and enthusiasm all year long to make the magic happen in April and May!

Learn More

Docents Do a LOT!

Each year, about 75 volunteer docents put in more than 1,000 hours of time preparing, planning, and hosting Natural Science Days, which features high-quality curriculum and immersive, hands-on learning stations.

During the event, some docents serve as greeters. They welcome classes to the park and help everyone find their way to all the different learning stations. With hundreds of kids visiting each day, that is a very important job!

Other docents serve as teachers, educating the students (and grownups!) about various topics that include renewable energy, the food chain, and flowers and plants. Many docents are retired educators or horticulture experts, and others are just passionate about science and learning. All of them know how to make each topic interesting and engaging, providing hands-on experiences that make kids excited to explore.

Making Education Exciting and Fun

Docent Diana Wright says kids are always “wowed” by the live animals at the Food Chains station. Those include not just cute and cuddly mammals, but also reptiles, birds, insects, and arachnids.

While working this station one year, a wide-eyed kid told Diana, ‘I’m going to always remember Gilroy Gardens, because it’s where I touched a snake for the very first time.” And then the girl’s friend chimed in that “It felt soft and smooth…like cold bunny fur!”

Another volunteer docent, Patty Porter, often leads the Clean Energy station, where she shows students how solar panels collect and provide energy. She loves seeing the “light bulb” (no pun intended) go off—like when one student said to her, “Now I understand how light from the sun is used to create energy!”

One of Patty’s favorite memories is when a young girl came up to her and said she was so excited about clean energy that she was going to go home and learn more about it. She hoped that she would someday become a scientist who discovers a new way to harvest resources that create clean energy.

Fueling that kind of passion for learning and nature is exactly what our docents love to do!

Group of four girls in green goggles smiling while holding rocks

Lifelong Learning…at Any Age

All our docents agree that they end up learning just as much as the kids do during Natural Science Days! The experience serves as a reminder for all ages of how important it is to appreciate the benefits and beauty of nature—and to protect it for future generations.

Volunteers also learn that there are many kids who have little, if any, contact with the natural world in their daily lives. Without experiences like NSD and beautiful spaces like Gilroy Gardens, they simply cannot appreciate the value of nature. NSD offers a safe, fun environment to introduce their minds to natural science and develop a reverence for the resources that nature provides for us all.

Patty Porter adds that one other important lesson she has learned (from working at the Food Chains station) is that “it is very difficult to catch a chicken!”

Children and man pointing up in the air while they smile

Want to Become a Volunteer Docent?

We’re always looking for more volunteers to help during Natural Science Days (and all year round) at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park!

All of our 100+ docents contribute their unique talents, perspectives, and a shared passion for creating fun educational experiences. They enrich the lives of our guests and embody the heart and soul of Gilroy Gardens.

If you are interested in volunteering for Natural Science Days, please fill out the interest form on our website at GilroyGardens.org/docents/. Once submitted, someone from our Docent Program will be in touch with you to discuss next steps.

BECOME A DOCENT

Group of guests walking across a bridge with water flowing under the bridge

Sign Up Now for Natural Science Days!

Natural Science Days at Gilroy Gardens are field trip experiences full of hands-on learning, smiles, and moments that kids remember for years. Each station helps students see how everything in nature connects, from the food they eat to the rocks beneath their feet.

K-5 teachers and home school families are encouraged to sign up now, as dates do fill up fast for this popular event that combines fun and learning in our beautifully landscaped gardens.

Natural Science Days provide a unique partnership between Gilroy Gardens and all schools in the Gilroy Unified School District. Many other California schools find our Natural Science Days program worth a longer trip to give their students the unique learning opportunity that only Gilroy Gardens provides.

The Natural Science Days program meets Next Generation Science Standards for California Schools (2015) as well as California Common Core State Standards in ELA/Literacy and Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts: Visual Arts Content Standards.

Learn more and book your learning adventure today:

NATURAL SCIENCE DAYS

Sustaining our Educational Mission

Gilroy Gardens is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a 36-acre botanical garden that provides learning experiences for thousands of children and families every year. The park is home to more than 10,000 trees, eight distinct gardens, and 19 of the last remaining “Circus Trees,” found nowhere else on earth.

Although we are known for our beloved theme park rides and attractions, we continually strive to serve our education-based mission: “To educate and inspire families, especially children, to appreciate horticulture and the importance of trees in our lives, by providing fun and memories in a beautiful garden setting.”

Sustaining our world-class educational programming—and the extraordinary “living laboratory” that makes it possible—requires year-round fundraising and a dedicated team of volunteers. If you’re interested in helping support our mission, please visit our website to learn more.

SUPPORT GILROY GARDENS

Gilroy Gardens Alphabet, Chapter 3: HIJK

Posted on March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 by Angelica Rodezno

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Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 3: HIJK

Our A-to-Z journey through Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park continues! Each month in 2026, we’re highlighting a new set of letters and sharing the rides, attractions, and experiences that make our park so special.

H is for Holly Garden

Holly Garden is one of six themed gardens at the park. It’s a charming “pathway garden” that’s a little tricky to find, as it’s hidden away on the western end of Coyote Lake (look for the entrance across from The Green Barn).

The Holly Garden is definitely worth looking for, as it features a unique collection of over 20 different varieties of holly trees, holly shrubs, and whimsical holly topiaries.

This garden was designed to show the variety in holly leaf sizes and growth habits. Did you know that hollies can range from low-growing 12-inch shrubs all the way up to full-size trees of 75 feet or more? Holly plants can be either evergreen or deciduous, but they all produce colorful berries in the fall.

One of our favorite secret places in the Holly Garden are the hidden observation decks where you can catch stunning views of the Lily Pond and waterfalls cascading into Coyote Lake. These are great places to relax, enjoy a little peace and quiet, and take some amazing family photos!

What else starts with “H” at Gilroy Gardens?

Hall’s Mercantile: The best place to shop for Gilroy Gardens souvenirs

History: Many park attractions are inspired by local history, including Sugar Plum Farm, South County Backroads, Quicksilver Express, and San Juan Grill

I is for Illions Supreme Carousel

This fan-favorite carousel, one of the most ornate ever built, was created by Marcus Charles Illions. Born in Russia c. 1871, Illions honed his woodcarving skills in Germany and England. He later moved to America and became a master carver of wooden carousel horses at Coney Island in New York. He became so good at his craft that the New York Times called him “The Michelangelo of carousel carvers.”

The Illions Supreme Carousel at Gilroy Gardens was one of three in the “Supreme Carousel Series,” built in the 1920s, and was once part of the Los Angeles County Fair. The 48 horses are fiberglass replicas of the wooden originals. The rest of the carousel includes 1,200 lights, 64 beveled glass mirrors, 96 carved figures, and 2 dragon chariots. Park staff spent more than 8,500 hours (and over 3 years!) to completely restore this carousel to its former glory.

FUN ACTIVITIES: A single original wooden horse from an M.C. Illions carousel is worth over $50,000 today!

What else starts with “I” at Gilroy Gardens?

Voyage to the Islands (an all-new event coming May 2-31)

ICEEs and ice cream (found at Oasis Bar, South County Cones, Sugar Plum Farm, and Sweet Station)

J is for Jubilee

To be more specific, the Cherry Jubilee! This award-winning festival of food and family fun is filled with cherry-infused delights, live entertainment from The Merry Cherry Bunch, CherryDome Challenges, and so much more!

Cherry Jubilee debuted at Gilroy Gardens in 2025 and won the IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Food & Beverage Event. This award celebrates innovation, originality, and impact in the global attractions industry and recognizes special events that elevate the guest experience in new and exciting ways.

Cherry Jubilee returns to Gilroy Gardens June 5 through July 5, 2026. This “cher-rific” event is included with regular park admission and is FREE for Gilroy Gardens Premium Members.

Want to learn more about the sweet fruit that inspired this event? Check out our blog: Let’s Learn About Cherries!

What else starts with “J” at Gilroy Gardens?

Japanese Maples (you’ll find over 40 of them growing in Claudia’s Garden!)

K is for Keep the Magic Growing!

More than just an amusement park, Gilroy Gardens is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational institution whose mission is to educate and inspire families, especially children, to appreciate horticulture and the importance of trees in our lives by providing fun and memories in a beautiful garden setting.

Our park is supported by park Memberships (which are tax-deductible donations) as well as public entrance fees, grants from local, regional, state and national governments, and private foundations. That vital support allows us to maintain this beautiful park and continue expanding the quantity and quality of educational projects.

Every visit and every Membership (and every kid who loves Gilroy Gardens) helps keep our gardens — and our mission — growing for generations to come.

If you’d like to join the family, learn more about becoming a Premium Member today!

What else starts with “K” at Gilroy Gardens?

Teriyaki Chicken Kebobs at Uncle John’s Grill

Kickin’ Cherry BBQ Wings – available exclusively during Cherry Jubilee

Catch up with our other Gilroy Gardens Alphabet blogs—and stay tuned for more to come!

A-B-C-D

E-F-G

The BOO is Back!

Bring the whole family for Halloween fun

The BOO is Back!

Bring the whole family for Halloween fun

The BOO is Back!

Bring the whole family for Halloween fun

Book Your 2027 Field Trip

Natural Science Days registration is now open

The BOO is Back!

Bring the whole family for Halloween fun

Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 5: QRS

Q is for Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster

R is for Rainbow Garden Boat Ride

S is for …Several Things!

Natural Science Days: Powered by the Passion of our Docents

Natural Science Days at Gilroy Gardens

Docents Do a LOT!

Making Education Exciting and Fun

Lifelong Learning…at Any Age

Want to Become a Volunteer Docent?

Sign Up Now for Natural Science Days!

Sustaining our Educational Mission

Gilroy Gardens Alphabet Chapter 3: HIJK

H is for Holly Garden

I is for Illions Supreme Carousel

J is for Jubilee

K is for Keep the Magic Growing!