It is difficult to overstate how important plants are to our existence. Their ability to turn the sun’s energy, water, and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen is what makes plants one of Earth’s most precious resources. This life-giving power of plants is one of the fundamental reasons why gardening is such a quintessentially human…
A unique collaboration between Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Friends of State Street (FSS), and the City of Santa Barbara has resulted in the first-ever native plant pilot project in downtown Santa Barbara. The 200 plants installed on the 1200 block of State Street support the Garden’s efforts to achieve 30% native plant cover in the places where…
Although Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s Impact and Advocacy Program is still in its infancy, the past nine months have seen our program make tremendous headway in our drive to grow the native plant movement, regenerate ecosystem health, and leave a legacy for future generations. As the Director of our Impact and Advocacy program, it’s been…
Southern California is no stranger to fire, but as we were all reminded in January 2025 with the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires, they are becoming increasingly intense, decimating wildlands and urban areas alike. Indeed, of the top 10 largest fires that have burned in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties from 1878 to 2019, five…
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