Introducing Ironwood Issue 38

Stories Rooted in Conservation, Community, and Connection

The newest digital edition of Ironwood, the Garden’s biannual magazine, has arrived, offering a journey into the world of California’s native plants and the people working every day to protect them. Issue 38 is an invitation to explore how native plants shape our landscapes, our communities, and our future, especially as we enter the Garden’s centennial year. Whether you are a longtime supporter or new to the Garden’s mission and work, this issue provides thoughtful insights, inspiring stories, and practical tools to deepen your connection to nature.

It opens with the invitation to think about growth, resilience, and the ways nature guides us forward. From scientific insights to community stories, every page highlights the people and places working together to ensure native plants, which are the foundation for all life on Earth, thrive for generations to come.

Here are a few highlights you won’t want to miss:

A conversation with Doug Tallamy, Ph.D.
The 13th Annual Conservation Symposium keynote speaker and awardee, Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., shares why every garden matters and how simple changes in our yards can rebuild biodiversity at scale. His message is clear and hopeful: each of us has the power to restore habitat right where we live.

New discoveries at Elings Park
Follow our Conservation Team as they study the return of birds, insects, and native vegetation across this restored coastal sage scrub landscape. Their findings show what happens when degraded spaces are transformed with thoughtful ecological care.

A practical guide to supporting monarch butterflies
Learn why planting native milkweed, choosing the right nectar sources, and following seasonal cues can make a real difference for western monarch recovery. These tips are accessible for gardens of all sizes.

A tour of an inspiring home garden
Take a peek inside a local native garden shaped by wildfire, resilience, and years of thoughtful stewardship. See how everyday gardeners are creating habitat that welcomes pollinators, birds, and even larger wildlife.

A first look at the Garden’s expanding ex situ tree collections
Discover how new groves of rare Catalina Island ironwoods and Santa Rosa Island torrey pines will strengthen conservation efforts and help safeguard species facing increasing pressures in the wild.

In addition to these features, Issue 38 offers horticultural guidance, updates on the Garden’s impact, and a curated mix of poetry, art, and history. Together, these pieces show how conservation thrives through science and community, and how our connection to native plants continues to grow.

Get Your Copy

Ironwood is available online and in print! As a special benefit, Garden members receive the magazine by mail. If you’re not a member yet, join us and help support native plant conservation across California — plus enjoy perks like this publication, free admission, and more.

Stay Connected

The work to conserve native plants continues after you’ve closed the cover of Ironwood. Stay updated and engaged by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, and joining us at events throughout the year. You’ll find a full calendar on our website.

Native plant conservation is our shared story, and we’re so happy to have you on this journey with us. Happy reading, and growing!