Every restoration project has a beginning that looks far quieter than people expect. Before the plants bloom and the critters return, there is planning and lots of it. There are conversations, calendars, and maps spread across tables, and moments of uncertainty balanced by shared excitement. For us, the early days of the Garden’s landscape transformation…
Getting started with native plants can feel overwhelming – so many species, so many choices. Should you hire a designer, or go DIY? Does that ceanothus shrub look better here, or there? If you’ve felt this way, congratulations, you’re a gardener! I recently spoke with Liz Barnitz, president and landscaping coordinator of a Santa Barbara…
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…
Once you’ve decided on the role of your lawn, evaluated your site conditions, chosen your lawn species, and planned for irrigation, now it’s time to start your installation. (If you haven’t taken these steps yet, I encourage you to read my earlier article here.) Soil preparation will be the next important step and the most…
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…
Lawns are an integral part of the landscape at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. They are a place where we host public and staff gatherings, educational classes, and personal milestone events throughout the year. Here at the Garden, we display California’s native grasses that succeed in both meadow and lawn settings. They require less water than…
The lawn at the Pritzlaff Conservation Center (PCC) sees thousands of visitors and serves as a heavily used event space every year — from personal picnics to private wedding receptions. Due to this impact, we are always striving to find a balance that is both beautiful and functional. Since its unveiling in 2016, the lawn…
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