Public Gardens & Landscapes
Business Member Profiles
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
As the first botanic garden in the nation to focus exclusively on native plants, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has dedicated nearly a century of work to better understand the relationship between plants and people. Growing from 13 acres in 1926 to today’s 78 acres, the grounds now include more than 5 miles of walking trails, an herbarium, seed bank, research labs, library, and a public native plant nursery. Amid the serene beauty of the Garden, teams of scientists, educators, and horticulturists remain committed to the original spirit of the organization’s founders – conserve native plants and habitats to ensure they continue to support life on the planet and can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Specialty
Conservation, education and horticultural practices to conserve native plants and habitats
Region Served
California
In Their Own Words...
Member Spotlight
Our Mission: To conserve native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and our planet.
What is something surprising about your history?
Growing up in Texas, I remember the days of running along the local creek with my friends on hot summer days. We would explore for hours, building tree houses and catching fish, crawfish, and the occasional snake — losing all track of time. It wasn’t until one of us was hollered home for dinner that we would have to disband. It was there that I discovered the importance of identifying plants — most specifically poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) — and how that could ruin a perfect location for a tree house! But more than that, I loved discovering the abundant life in the area and trying to learn where these animals lived and what they ate. This is where my love of the natural world began to grow. I have heard from many longtime residents of Santa Barbara that the Garden was a similar place for them when they were growing up, but at some point, that carefree child-directed exploration ceased to be a component of the Garden. I have wanted to bring that back to the Garden since I arrived over 11 years ago, and with the opening of the Backcountry that dream finally became a reality in 2022 thanks to our community of donors, staff, partners, and supporters. – Steve Windhager, Executive Director
What are you most proud of?
Opened in June of 2022, the Backcountry brings together the young and young at heart to explore, play, jump, run, and learn firsthand about the power of the natural world. For more information on the Backcountry, visit https://sbbotanicgarden.org/explore/sections/backcountry
What educational resources do you share?
For more information on gardening with native plants or the work needed to conserve them, please visit: https://www.sbbotanicgarden.org/insights/