Blog - San Diego Botanic Garden

SDBG playing key role in global conservation of oak trees

June 2022

by Tony Gurnoe, Director of Conservation Horticulture

SDBG’s Conservation Horticulture staff have been working to conserve endangered native oak species, both in habitat and in cultivation, since the beginning of the Garden’s Science and Conservation department. Notable examples of the impact SDBG has had on regionally native endangered species of Quercus include cultivating the first ex situ conservation accessions of Cedros Island oaks (Quercus cedrosensis) from acorns collected within the small and highly threatened U.S. population of that species. […]

children water plants with watering cans

Education updates

March 2022

by Tomoko Kuta, Senior Director for Education, Membership and Visitor Services

Last month, San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) launched Access Afternoons, a community outreach program that welcomes new audiences to the Garden through funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Recognizing the Garden’s role as a trusted community space for supporting mental health, wellbeing, and healing, the program provides free, regularly-scheduled Garden visits to populations who have suffered during the pandemic from isolation, resource scarcity, or economic hardship. […]

Horticulture & Facilities news

February 2022

by Brandi Eide, Deputy CEO and Senior Director for Horticulture and Facilities

Science & Conservation updates

January 2022

by Colin Khoury, Senior Director for Science and Conservation

Coastal prickly pear cactus: SDBG’s new logo

November 2021

by Ari Novy, PhD, President & CEO

Opuntia littoralis, the coastal prickly pear, is one of the most used native plants, both historically and currently, and it grows naturally at the Garden. Our coast prickly pear is native to Southern California and Baja California, where it grows in coastal sage scrub and our maritime chaparral.

Restoration of canyon adjacent to Ocean Knoll Elementary School

October 2021

by Ari Novy, PhD, President & CEO

Collaborative Conservation of an Exceptional Oak

April 2021

by Tony Gurnoe, Director of Conservation Horticulture

Conserving a Distinct Piece of Encinitas

January 2021

by Tony Gurnoe, Director of Conservation Horticulture

San Diego Botanic Garden has a distinctive position in not only working to conserve endangered plants where they grow naturally, but also bringing those rare species into a managed setting which enables a deeper level of study, better community engagement without compromising preservation, and for us to highlight the unique beauty such rare plants bring to a garden.

Our recent endeavor to conserve the endangered Encinitas Baccharis, Baccharis vanessae, exemplifies each of these botanical contributions. Two years ago, Encinitas was down to 26 remaining plants of this rare species and they were progressing toward extirpation. Today SDBG has a back-up population of more than 60 individuals (planted here at the Garden), with many of these plants featured prominently along the trail in our natural area. We have also distributed plants to botanical gardens around the state.

Studying the Genetics of Allen’s Hummingbirds

January 2021 | by Sarah Hood & Dillon Jones, San Diego State University Graduate Students

Restoring Encinitas Open Spaces with Native Plants

October 2020

by Tony Gurnoe, Director of Horticulture

What Makes Us a Botanic Garden?

July 2020

by Jeremy Bugarchich, Curator of Collections

Pollinator Observations at Home

July 2020

by Sarah Morgan, Education Manager

While we have not been able to see all of you at the Garden, we hope you have connected with the plants in your life and enjoyed learning at home with us through our children’s educational series, Fun at Home, with activity sheets and videos.