Fall Planting Season is Here

We are Celebrating Fall Planting Season Beginning in October with Classes, Lectures, a Family Nature Night, and More

Throughout October and November, the Garden celebrates the Fall Planting Season with activities for plant lovers and home gardeners – across skill levels – to provide the community with the tools to make changes in their own backyards.

“Native plants have evolved to manage the environmental stresses of our local climate and there is no better time to plant them than the fall season. Not only are native plants the best option to help manage your home’s water use, but they also attract beneficial insects, pollinators, and birds that are essential to a healthy ecosystem. Simply put, our community needs native plants, and the Garden is here to help.”

-Keith Nevison, Director of Horticulture and Operations

FALL PLANTING SEASON CALENDAR

Following is a calendar and information about activities during the Fall Planting Season celebration.

OCTOBER

“Pruning Native California Plants” Demo by Keith Nevison
October 1 | 8:30
Informative, hands-on, two-hour workshop on pruning native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Held outdoors in various garden locations. Led by Keith Nevison, Director of Horticulture, and Stephanie Ranes, Garden Grounds Manager.

“Bringing Nature Home to California” Talk by Kay Charter — FREE
October 5 | 4 p.m.
Multimedia presentation on how to create a more livable world for birds. Guests receive: Saving Birds Thru Habitat tote bag, a free copy of book “Nature’s Best Hope” by Dr. Doug Tallamy, and more.

WeDigBio Volunteer Days
October 13 & 14 | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 to 4 p.m.
Opportunity to volunteer to digitize data from the Garden’s collections as part of global community-science event Worldwide Engagement for Digitalizing Biocollections (WeDigBio). More information and signup at https://sbbotanicgarden.org/insight/wedigbio-community-science-day/.

Art Exhibit: “Thirteen Moons: A Book of Hours” by Connie Jenkins
October 15 through November 27
Photo realist artist records the passing of the seasons with 12 oil paintings each featuring California native flowers that bloom during a specific month, plus large painting (60” x 27”) “Fire- Followers” painted after Woolsey Fire (2018).

Family Nature Night: Celebrate Bat Month
October 21 | 6 – 8 p.m.
Costumes encouraged at this after-dark family fun, nighttime bat-themed exploration of the Garden in celebration of Bat Month. Bat-themed games, a batty-black-light station, sensory activities, eerie stories, and more. $24 adult/$14 youth (aged 12 and under) ($20 adult/$10 youth for Garden members)

Herb Walk and Book Signing by Lanny Kaufer — FREE
October 23 | Walks at 10:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. (Book Signing at noon)
Author and native plant guide leads free walking tour focused on plants featured in his book “Medicinal Herbs of California.” Event is free, but reservations are required.

“Attracting Pollinators with a Native Garden” Talk by Richard Merrill
October 30 | 3 p.m.
Led by Garden docent Richard Merrill. Attendees learn to create or enhance their native
pollination gardens, see plants that are especially effective at attracting pollinators, discuss the
importance of biodiversity, and more. $40 ($25 for Garden members)

NOVEMBER

Debut of Garden Online Plant Shopping
November 1, online
New e-commerce webpage goes live allowing for preorder and pickup of native plant orders at the Garden Nursery.

Nursery Closed
November 2-3
Nursery closed in preparation for fall planting launch.

Fall Plant Season Preview at Garden Nursery (members only)
November 4
Garden members enjoy a preview of the abundance of native plants for sale.

“How to Garden with California Native Plants”
New series of videos leads viewers through the basics of gardening with California native pants. Led by Scot Pipkin, Garden director of education. Free on the Garden’s social media platforms.

Building Habitat in Your Home Garden
November 5 | 8:30 a.m.
Hands-on, two-hour class held in various sections of the Garden that focuses on how to use native plants and natural features to better attract local animals to home gardens. Led by Stephanie Ranes, Garden grounds manager. $40 ($25 for Garden members)

Fall Planting Season KICKOFF
November 5, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Nursery officially opens for shopping, featuring largest selection of native plants on Central Coast.

Nursery Chats: Native Planting Techniques
November 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 9:30 a.m.
Retail Manager Matt Straka explores the best practices for planting with California native plants in these free, informal chats. Questions welcomed and shopping assistance available by Nursery staff. Free.

“Fall is the best time to get native plants in the ground so the rainy season can help them get established before the stresses of our hot, dry summers begin. To support our community, we stock our nursery all year but especially pack it with even more native plants and a wide variety and some unique plants for the fall so our customers can get inspired and really embrace the season.”

-Matt Straka, Retail Manager

The Garden Nursery is located just inside the Garden entrance. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Garden members receive a 10% discount. Visitors interested in shopping do not require Garden reservations; they can park in a “member” parking spot and check-in at the front kiosk to receive a shopper pass. Find a Garden Nursery Inventory List here.

Happy planting!