Ironwood | Magazine of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden | Issue 35
MAGAZINE OF SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN
Editor-in-Chief: Jaime Eschette
Editor: Brie Spicer
Designer: Kathleen Kennedy
Staff Contributors: Hannah Barton; Sarah Cusser, Ph.D.; Jaime Eschette; José Flores; Denise Knapp, Ph.D.; Abraham Lizama; Keith Nevison; Zach Phillips, Ph.D.; Scot Pipkin; Christina Varnava
Ironwood is published biannually by 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, a seed bank, research labs, a 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 — to conserve native plants and habitats to ensure they continue to support life on the planet and can be enjoyed for generations to come. Visit SBBotanicGarden.org.
The Garden is a member of the American Public Gardens Association, the American Alliance of Museums, the California Association of Museums, and the American Horticultural Society.
Bibi Moezzi, treasurer Helene Schneider, vice chair Dawn Seymour Ann Steinmetz Nancy G. Weiss, secretary
Jaime Eschette, director of marketing and communications
Jill Freeland, director of human resources
Denise Knapp, Ph.D., director of conservation and research
Keith Nevison, director of horticulture and operations
Melissa G. Patrino, director of development
Scot Pipkin, director of education and engagement
Steve Windhager, Ph.D., executive director
Diane Wondolowski, director of finance
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Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
the cover: The Garden's Senior Rare Plant Conservation Scientist Heather Schneider, Ph.D. takes in the view of the evergreen island oak (Quercus tomentella) on Santa Rosa Island. (Photo: Denise Knapp, Ph.D.)
Letter From the Editor
As the editor-in-chief of Ironwood, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the latest edition, where we celebrate the connection between all living things and the timeless wisdom of the natural world. Guided by the expert voices of our dedicated team and esteemed contributors, get ready to embark on a journey through the intricate ecosystems of our beloved botanic garden and beyond.
Illuminating the profound relationship between people and the planet, these pages serve as a reminder of the resilience, importance, and beauty of native plants — from the subtle courtship rituals of wingtapping cicadas (Platypedia spp.) to the intricate dance between western monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and their beloved milkweed (Asclepias spp.). Whether you prefer the lens of scientific inquiry or the quiet contemplation of a blooming flower, we invite you to pause, to listen, and to learn from the plants themselves.
In this edition, I’m especially excited to honor the value of gardening as a practice and reaffirm the importance of native plants as we weave a narrative tracing their significance from ancient agricultural practices to modern conservation efforts. But, our journey doesn’t end there. We’ll also offer practical insights into sustainable landscaping practices, highlighting the potential of native grasses to create havens for wildlife while also conserving water in an ever-changing climate.
At the heart of the content lies a resounding call to action, reminding each of us of our collective power to effect change in the world around us. From the seeds we sow in our gardens to the conscious choices we make in our daily lives, we have a vital role as stewards of the earth and guardians of its precious biodiversity. Together, we can safeguard and preserve the natural world for generations to come — and it all begins with honoring and nurturing our native plants.
So, as you journey through these pages, I encourage you to embrace the spirit of exploration and discovery that lies at the core of our mission. May these stories inspire you to cultivate a deeper connection with nature and to join us in our unwavering commitment to forging a more sustainable and connected planet.
Let’s plant it forward!
Jaime Eschette Editor, Ironwood Director of Marketing and Communications
Aligning With Nature: The Many Reasons To Grow Native Plants
By Denise Knapp, Ph.D., Director of Conservation and Research
The native plant revolution is growing, and it seems that more and more people are realizing native plants provide vital habitat. While this is my favorite reason to grow native plants, there are a number of other important rationales which are not typically recognized. In this article, I’ll explore them — from the benefits of biodiversity and beauty to heritage and habitat. And, perhaps most importantly, I’ll explain the ability of native plants to tackle the dual threats of biodiversity loss and climate change.
These concepts aren’t new. Indigenous farmers have always operated in such ways. Techniques spread northward from Mesoamerica and became widespread throughout North America, with Indigenous farmers perfecting cultivars for their region over many generations. This regional crop diversity unfortunately began to diminish when early European settlers forced Native people out of their ancestral lands. That was the start of a terrible trend, but we can reverse it. Let’s look at the Three Sisters, for example. Many Native American tribes plant corn, beans, and squash (aka the Three Sisters) together because they each
bring something novel to the group and nurture one another. First, corn is planted, and as the seedlings grow, the soil is shaped to form small mounds. Then, beans are planted on those mounds, with the cornstalks providing “poles” for the beans to climb upon and the beans bringing nitrogen to the soil. Lastly, squash or pumpkins are planted between the rows; their large leaves shade the ground, which both holds in moisture and inhibits weed growth. Together, these “sisters” provide complementary nutrients and sustain life for the humans who grow them. To me, this Three Sisters method and story perfectly conveys the importance of biological diversity and respect for the natural world, of which native plants are the foundation. Each species has a niche to fill and a role to play, and together, they provide the things we as humans need for body and soul: food, yes, but also clean air and water, shelter, medicine, nutrients, and soil stability, not to mention beauty and meaning.
California’s Abundant Natural Beauty
Here in California, we are one of 36 globally recognized hot spots for biological diversity. Nearly one-third of the world’s flora is found only here! With so much native beauty all around, where do we start?
Opposite: Wouldn’t you rather gaze upon stretches of diverse wildflowers, like what you can find in Carrizo Plain National Monument, than a sea of a weedy monoculture? (Photo: Denise Knapp, Ph.D.)
One of my favorites are elegant, red-barked manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.), of which we have almost 60 different kinds. These “little apples” (the Spanish origin of the name) have adapted over millennia to the different climate, soils, and creatures found throughout the state. In my hometown of Lompoc alone, there are two endemic manzanitas that thrive in the fog, wind, and sandy soils of the Burton Mesa. Similarly, two endemic lilacs (Ceanothus spp.) grace the hills there with their sprays of blue flowers in early spring. In the bare sandy openings in between these shrubs, you might come across the rare annual Vandenberg monkeyflower (Diplacus vandenbergensis), with happy lemon-yellow flowers that dwarf their little leaves. Or you might see the floriferous endemic wallflower (Erysimumcapitatum var. lompocense) with petals like tangerine honey. Maybe you’ll catch the intoxicating sweet mint smell of curlyleaf monardella (Monardella undulata) before you see their royal purple flowers, but you’ll fall in love either way. Both on their own and together, these plants are sensational. This bounty of beauty is just one of the reasons to conserve and restore our native flora.
The Three Sisters planting method is a traditional agricultural practice used by Native people where corn, beans, and squash are planted in a symbiotic triad to enhance soil fertility and plant growth. (Graphic: Grace Rodgers/USFWS)
California’s Landscapes Give Us a Sense of Place
California’s botanical diversity is also our heritage, which is reflected in place names throughout the state — particularly for plants that provide food, water, and shade. According to Erwin G. Gudde’s book “California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names,” more than 50 locations are named for the native wild strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis spp.), one of two ancestors of our modern food plant. A favorite food of original Californians, the hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), is called “islay,” which is a name that also appears in several San Luis Obispo County locations. And because their presence usually means that there is water present, cottonwoods (Populus spp.), willows (Salix spp.), and sycamores (Platanus spp.) are California place name favorites. What’s almost as important as food and water? Shade and firewood to regulate our temperature. So, it’s no surprise that “pine” (or the Spanish equivalent, “pinos”) and “oak” (Spanish equivalent, “encino” or “roble”) are some of the most popular place names in the state. For example, Encino and Encinitas are named for the evergreen coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), while Paso Robles is named for deciduous types like blue oak (Q. douglasii) and valley oak (Q. lobata). And what’s even better than food, water, and shade? All three at once! The California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) has inspired many names and was so important to early settlers that the number of trees often became a part of the name (e.g., Lone Palm, Dos Palmas, Twentynine Palms, Thousand Palms, and more).
California’s Flora Sustains Life, Including Our Own
Because native plants have evolved with the creatures around them, they are better able to provide habitat and support entire food webs. Plant-eating insects (herbivores), for instance, can typically only eat a small group of related native plants — so it takes a lot of different plants to support a lot of different insects. Research by Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., from the University of Delaware has shown that native woody plants used
This western monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillar was found enjoying native milkweed (Asclepias spp.) in Santa Barbara.
(Photo: Valerie Hoffman)
A potter wasp (Genus Stenodynerous) is on California’s native and endangered Gaviota tarplant (Deinandra increscens ssp. villosa).
(Photo: Kylie Etter)
California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) is California’s only native palm and provides food, shade, and homes for many desert animals.
as ornamentals support 14-fold more caterpillars (butterfly and moth larvae) than nonnatives! Even for pollinators, which aren’t as tightly tied to their host plants, many species are specialists whose life cycles are centered around the flowering of specific groups of species. In the lab of Gordon Frankie, Ph.D., from University of California, Berkeley, native plants were found to be four times more likely than nonnative plants to attract native bees. Furthermore, other research shows that the web of interactions between nonnative plants and insect visitors is much less connected, making those systems more vulnerable to collapse.
If you zoom out to look at all of these connections between native herbivores and pollinators, you see how they, in turn, support rich layers of parasites and predators. Together, these insects feed reptiles and amphibians, birds, and small mammals, which then feed larger organisms like foxes, mountain lions, and on up the food chain. Again, Tallamy’s lab illustrates this point by finding that bird species of regional conservation concern were eight times more abundant and significantly more diverse on native properties, and even a small proportion of nonnative plants reduced the breeding success and population growth of the Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis). There’s proof all around us that ultimately indicates the value of California’s native plants.
California’s Natural Benefits Make Us Resilient
It gets even better. Not only do native plants support more life, but they can also mitigate the top three threats to biological diversity: development, climate change, and nonnative invasive species.
Development not only has direct impacts to biological diversity but also indirect impacts via the fragmentation of remaining habitat. When large areas of natural habitat are reduced to smaller patches, those areas may be too small to support the same number of species and are more susceptible to nonnative invasion. This fragmentation also hinders the necessary dispersal of both plants and animals. Planting native species where we live, work, and play is one of the best ways that we can soften the impacts of development. Research shows if we converted 15% of our urban spaces to favorable habitats, it would provide plants and animals with suitable living areas and even help them migrate in response to climate change. However, with our urban spaces covered with more and more hardscapes, we need our open spaces to work harder in support of biodiversity. With this in mind, the Garden aims to achieve 30% native plant coverage across the central coast.
Below: Evergreen oaks like island oak (Quercus tomentella) and others have inspired many place names in California, like Encino and Encinitas. (Photo: Denise Knapp, Ph.D.)
from
(Photo: Denise Knapp, Ph.D.)
The sweet mint smell of curlyleaf monardella (Monardella undulata) intoxicates you before you even see its lovely purple flowers.
(Photo: Denise Knapp, Ph.D.)
The happy lemon-yellow flowers of the endangered Vandenberg monkeyflower (Diplacus vandenbergensis) light up the bare sandy habitat on the Burton Mesa in Lompoc.
(Photo: Denise Knapp, Ph.D.)
Planting natives helps to both avoid the worst climate changes and to adapt to changes that are already in motion. Restoration of diverse habitat and reforestation are important natural climate solutions which cumulatively can compensate for more than 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The benefits are especially significant when replacing lawn grasses, which demand high water and chemical inputs (not to mention the fossil fuel use and emissions involved in mowing those lawns). California is already experiencing increased drought, so the fact that native plants typically require less water than nonnatives is key. The facts are there: Retaining and supporting California’s biological diversity will provide resilience to all of the climate change effects that we are experiencing, including increases in extreme drought, heat, flooding, and frequency of fire.
Choose Native Plants and Stop Invasives
Invasive species play a key role in 60% of plant and animal extinctions globally, and their global cost is estimated at $423 billion annually, or nearly 5% of the world’s economy. While some nonnative plant seeds
are spread unwittingly through boots, bags, and boat ballast, many others are spread very intentionally — when we buy and plant them. Plants from similar climate regions like South Africa and Australia can look so exotic and exciting, and do well in our gardens, but they have also been brought here without their natural pests. With nothing to keep them in check, the invasive bullies can (and do) run amok. When you grow a native plant, you know you’re not planting California’s next invasive species.
Are You Ready To Grow?
Today, one in eight of the world’s species (and 40% of the world’s plant species) are at risk of extinction. While this is startling, we can reverse this reality by conserving and cultivating native plants and habitats. You can always think of the Three Sisters, growing and supporting one another. We can do the same, as individuals and a community. By conserving California’s diverse plant species in the wild and nurturing them in our built spaces, we can ensure that our ecosystems are resilient to change, and that nature continues to keep us and other creatures healthy and happy. O
Clockwise
top: Planting a diversity of natives in our home landscapes, like my husband and I have done at our home, can help mitigate the triple threats to biodiversity: development, climate change, and nonnative invasive species.
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From Data to Action: Mapping Milkweed for Monarch Recovery
By Sarah Cusser, Ph.D., Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist
Western monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are beloved for their beauty, extraordinary migration feats, ecological importance, and cultural significance. Despite their special place in our hearts, it’s not easy being a monarch out in the world. Western monarchs have dropped in population size by 99% in the last 20 years. While researchers don’t know exactly why this has happened, we do think that the monarch’s dependent relationship on milkweed (Asclepias spp.) may be the key to figuring it out.
In 2023, ecologists at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden partnered with the Los Padres National Forest and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to check in on four of the species of milkweed that grow in the Santa Barbara area. We have two years to figure out where milkweeds are growing in the forest and how they are doing. But with one year of sampling behind us, and a lot of unexpected road closures, we found ourselves needing to pivot.
Got Milkweed?
To understand the journey of our research plan, first you need to understand some basics about the monarchs’ lifecycle as it relates to milkweed. Monarch butterflies will only lay their eggs on milkweed. Milkweed leaves contain compounds that, while poisonous to most other animals, are tasty to developing monarchs and make the caterpillars (and eventually the adults) unpalatable to predators. How’s that for a superpower? And it’s all thanks to milkweed — the singular host for this iconic butterfly, which makes it possible for them to avoid getting eaten!
The Monarch Migration Cycle
The migration of the western monarch is truly epic. In the fall, monarchs arrive in groves along the California coast where they cluster together to conserve energy and camp out for the coldest part of the year. Come spring, the monarchs mate and then set out in search of early emerging milkweed species, where they lay their eggs. Once the year’s first generation has metamorphized in these edible nurseries, the butterflies begin their migration northward. Though we don’t know exactly how or why, this is a generational migration. That means, by the end of the summer, the great-great-great-grandchildren of the
butterflies born here in Santa Barbara will eventually make it to Oregon, Washington, and Canada. Come fall, adult monarchs, fat with northern nectar, will gear up to make the epic flight back to groves along the California coast, including Ellwood Mesa here in Santa Barbara.
Early-Season Milkweed Is a Must, But Is There Enough?
The first part of the migratory cycle can be a doozie. When western monarch moms leave the protection of the coastal groves in February and March, they need to find early-season milkweed plants with enough leaves to support their young. This can be difficult so early in the year. Most milkweed species don’t emerge, let alone get large enough to support hungry caterpillars, until much later in the summer. Only a few species of milkweed start growing early
This diagram depicts the yearly western monarch (Danaus plexippus) migration cycle. The map was adapted from the California State Parks Foundation.
Opposite: This western monarch (Danaus plexippus) was spotted in Santa Barbara Botanic Garden on giant coreopsis (Leptosyne gigantea) (Photo: Kevin Spracher)
enough to be helpful to western monarch moms in the early spring. These include California milkweed (Asclepias californica), woollypod milkweed (A. eriocarpa), desert milkweed (A. erosa), and woolly milkweed (A. vestita). If there aren’t enough milkweeds to serve early spring monarch moms, it has a cascading impact on the exponential growth of monarch populations over the course of a year. The size of the first clutch of early spring butterflies largely determines monarch breeding success for the entire year. Put another way, if this one step in the journey goes poorly, the whole year’s a bust. So, where are these critical, elusive native milkweeds and how well are they serving butterflies? This is where the Garden comes in.
The Garden’s location, directly between coastal overwintering sites and the first generation’s milkweed habitat, is an ideal spot to investigate how the butterflies are making this first tremulous step in their long migratory journey. Like all conservation efforts, we need basic information about how the plants are doing before we can help.
Hunting for Milkweed Populations
To figure out where these species of milkweed are, ecologists here at the Garden first gathered as much information as we could from the milkweed scouts of yesteryear. Using publicly available online data from Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper, Calflora, and iNaturalist (along with personal communication with friends and collaborators), we amassed nearly 1,000 potential milkweed populations to visit. During summer
2023, with historic points in hand, we surveyed 286 miles (460 kilometers) of trails and roads in search of milkweed populations. That’s roughly the width of Iceland!
Not All Research Goes According To Plan
Due to extreme weather events during winter 2022, many of the forest roads throughout the Los Padres National Forest were closed. Combined with the limitations of our mere human bodies, we were only able to make it to about one-third of the historic points on our list. While we did manage to locate 167 milkweed populations, recording detailed information about their location, habitat type, slope, aspect, and other environmental variables, this was just a drop in the bucket of what we wanted to accomplish during our two-year project.
We needed a better-informed plan. We needed the data we collected in 2023 to help us narrow our focus on the more-than-600 remaining historic points. We needed to focus on only the most promising and accessible populations. We needed species distribution modeling!
In late 2023, we started talking with University of California, Santa Barbara, students in the master of environmental data science degree program at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. Thanks to all our walking and driving, we were able to provide the students with information on the environmental variables important to the 167 early-season milkweed populations we’d found so far. With this data, students Sam Muir, Amanda Herbst, Melissa Widas, and Anna Ramji are working currently to produce two types of maps to inform our second year of survey efforts.
First, the group is using species distribution models to figure out the exact habitat types that milkweeds prefer. Specifically, they are investigating slopes, aspects, elevations, and vegetation communities where we would expect to find milkweed plants. With this, the team can look for those types of habitats in parts of the forest we haven’t visited yet. In this way, they are producing a heat map that predicts the likelihood of finding milkweed at any given location, anywhere throughout the national forest. Second, students are considering obstacles like road and trail closures, steep treacherous slopes, and private property boundaries to produce an accessibility map. By combining the species distribution and accessibility maps, the group is creating what we’re calling a “priority index,” which will be essential in literally prioritizing our 2024 surveys. The priority index will be key to completing our research.
Can you find the newly laid egg of the western monarch (Danaus plexippus) on the leaf underside of this California milkweed (Asclepias californica)? Hint: It’s a tiny white dot. (Photo: Kylie Etter)
Once complete, the Garden will be sharing these models via a user-friendly, interactive web application on its website. This tool will allow website visitors to explore both the species distribution and accessibility maps to find milkweed populations near them!
This is a species distribution model created for California milkweed (Asclepias californica). Black dots indicate data points collected by Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, red areas (values close to 1) are places we are likely to find milkweed in the future, and blue areas (values close to 0) are places not likely suitable for milkweed. Right: This species distribution model was adjusted for accessibility. Red areas are places we are likely to find milkweed and that are relatively accessible. Blue areas are places not only unsuitable for milkweed but also very difficult to reach. Both types of maps will be helpful in planning our surveys in 2024. Maps were
We believe that all data collected as part of this project will provide significant information on the distribution and quality of early-season breeding habitat for the western monarch butterflies in Los Padres National Forest. Not only will this inform forest management, but it will also help protect early breeding habitat and restoration efforts. The project is a meaningful step toward western monarch population recovery, and we’re excited to see it through for the beautiful, cultural, and ecological significance these creatures provide. O
Get Involved To Help Monarchs
If you want to help early-season western monarch (Danaus plexippus) populations, record your milkweed sightings on iNaturalist. That includes California milkweed (Asclepias californica), woollypod milkweed (A. eriocarpa), desert milkweed (A. erosa), and woolly milkweed (A. vestita). Bonus points if you find monarch eggs or larvae snacking on the leaves and stems!
You can also plant native milkweeds and nectar plants in your yard to help western monarchs. While California milkweed and woollypod milkweed can be hard to find in some nurseries, the Garden Nursery tries to keep them in stock. Also, there’s currently a major push to increase the availability of these seeds and plugs. Even though it comes up a little later in the season, narrowleaf milkweed (A. fascicularis) can also be a good plant to consider.
We recommend that you avoid planting the nonnative milkweed (tropical milkweed, A. curassavica), which does not die back during the winter, and unfortunately provides great, year-round habitat for the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) that can negatively impact monarch larvae.
If you live within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of a monarch overwintering site, like Ellwood Mesa or More Mesa, we recommend that you avoid planting milkweed at all. Because milkweeds do not historically occur along the coast, their presence may confuse overwintering monarchs and cause the monarchs to breed during our California winter and settle here permanently, instead of maintaining their migratory life cycle. The transition from migratory to resident butterflies has been seen in Florida and the Caribbean, as well as parts of Australia, where monarchs have been introduced. The risk in having a large winter breeding population is that the resident, winter breeding monarchs typically become a breeding ground for parasites and disease.
If you live close to an overwintering site, consider introducing nectar plants for adult butterflies. Good choices for adult monarchs looking for a snack include many of California’s native plants: native buckthorn (Ceanothus spp.), coast sunflower (Encelia spp.), buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), California poppies (Eschscholzia spp.), goldenbrush (Hazardia spp.), California horkelia (Horkelia spp.), goldenweed (Isocoma spp.), goldfields (Lasthenia spp.), and vervain (Verbena spp.), among others.
Left:
created by Sam Muir, Amanda Herbst, Melissa Widas, and Anna Ramj
This western monarch larva (Danaus plexippus) was spotted on Tunnel Road on narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). (Photo: Steve Junak)
Grassroots Conservation: Reinventing the Lawn With California Native Grasses
By Keith Nevison, Director of Horticulture and Facilities
During wet years, we Californians breath a sigh of relief when winter’s rains fill our creeks and reservoirs, greening up hillsides and hydrating our thirsty plants and grasses. But as we all know, weather patterns change dramatically in our notoriously unpredictable state, especially in the era of climate change. For this reason, it's important we tune in to the dry years as well. Regardless of what the weather is like today, we need to prepare our landscapes and lawns for the impact fluctuating weather has on our home and community spaces. Our ability to sustain multipurpose landscapes requires that they use less water while still being welcoming to native fauna and humans. Enter native grasses and lawns.
Grass Knowing and Growing
Having evolved in the Golden State, native grasses are typically adapted to use less water than conventional turfgrasses — a huge plus. Nonnative grasses (first imported from Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa) are often water guzzlers, using up much precious irrigation that is sometimes delivered from hundreds of miles away via the California system. What often overrides that deficiency is that nonnatives can handle heavy foot traffic better than natives, leading them to be favored as recreational turf surfaces in parks, schools, commercial areas, and residential yards. But residential yards have different use
Renovation of our lawn at the Pritzlaff Conservation Center took place in June 2023. (Photo: Keith Nevison)
patterns than public spaces. Native grasses certainly can be a great addition to the home landscape, where small patches of grass are desired for pets and kids, occasional picnics, or framing out planting beds to showcase California’s beautiful native perennials, annuals, trees, and shrubs.
Experimenting With Native Lawns
Well aware of the copious need for supplemental irrigation to be applied to nonnative turf, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden decided to plant three distinct lawn zones in our Island View Section in front of the Pritzlaff Conservation Center (PCC), just after its construction in 2016. Since this time, two of our “lawns” have performed rather well: blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) and clustered field sedge (Carex praegracilis). Both have held up decently to numerous pets and humans, yoga classes, weddings, Summer Serenades, and other events held throughout the year, though both have required occasional (sometimes frequent) interventions of heavy compost applications, reseeding, and weeding out dandelions and other weedy interlopers. Our third "grass" section has been more of a journey. In the past, it supported a low-growing perennial groundcover, kurapia (Phyla nodiflora), which is rather oddly listed as being native to both the United States and Brazil. When our kurapia section ultimately failed under persistent foot traffic, it opened up an opportunity to test a native, cool-season seashore dunegrass (Agrostis pallens). This grass species has limited evaluation in the landscape and nursery trade, but so far, we are seeing okay results, after its first full growing season. It reemerged this spring with the promise of a strong second growing season after its planting in June 2023.
The PCC isn’t the only place where you’ll find a native-grass lawn. The south side of Caretaker’s Cottage sports a blue grama grass patch for the Home Demonstration Section. This lawn display was installed in 1991, and has performed admirably well, being less subjected to foot traffic. In this instance, one can see the true longevity of a native lawn, with lighter daily use.
All in all, our results at a busy, public-facing garden open 362 days a year are a bit lackluster. However, it does hold up well enough to regrow year after year, and it provides guests with a soft surface on which to walk their dogs or hold a downward dog pose. What one might expect on their less-heavily-traversed home turf could be even more encouraging.
Could a Rare Grass Redefine the Everyday?
While we would be fine tending only to our three distinct graminoid zones (fun fact: a graminoid is a grass or grass-like plant, which includes sedges and rushes), we at the Garden are always curious to study native plants for novel applications. In pursuit of this, the Garden applied and was awarded a 2023–24 Saratoga Horticultural Research Endowment grant to collect, plant, and evaluate a state-listed rare grass species, Hoover’s bentgrass (Agrostis hooveri), for its potential for introduction into the landscaping and horticultural trades. In the wild, Hoover’s bentgrass is very rare and moderately threatened (1B.2 statelisted), isolated to just Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, with fewer than 20 known
Our native grasses endure in front of the Pritzlaff Conservation Center in February 2024. Later this year, we will be renovating this main blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) section with new seed and more compost. Then, we’ll rope it off to let the blue grama establish, so it can support people and events for many seasons to come. (Photo: Keith Nevison)
populations, and apparently still declining. As a rare plant, not much is known about how to successfully propagate and establish this grass in landscapes. This led the Garden to choose it as an experimental species to see how it performs in nursery pots and in ground, and we will potentially subject it to foot traffic, pets, and recreational activities to test whether it could be recommended as a turfgrass alternative species. As already noted, it is typically held that native grasses don’t perform as well as nonnatives under heavy foot traffic and that native grasses and sedges can be a good substitute for areas with only light foot traffic; however, I’d like to highlight an additional overlooked point that native grasses and
sedges support more native wildlife species than their nonnative counterparts! For example, Hoover’s bentgrass is suspected of supporting four species of native moths and skippers. Commonly planted and/or escaped nonnative Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) or ripgut brome (Bromus diandrus) haven’t been observed supporting any native lepidopteran insects, key to supporting the diet of local songbirds. In fact, the spread of nonnative grass and other plant species into natural areas can easily lead them to outcompete and suppress native plants, contributing to a worsening state of invasion in our natural ecosystems. Let’s steer clear of these nonnative grasses!
The native blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis) at Caretaker’s Cottage has been growing for over 30 years. (Photo: Keith Nevison)
The More Graminoids and Forbs, the Merrier
While the Garden has historically opted to grow singlespecies lawn monocultures to test how well they establish and perform, an alternative approach could involve a lawn polyculture. This would feature a mix of graminoids and low-growing forbs (herbaceous, flowering, non-grass plants) to form a tight-knit planting that functions similarly to turf, providing recreation with a promise of habitat. Colleagues at Cornell Botanic Gardens have had success with this approach, albeit with a significantly different climate in Ithaca, New York, versus Santa Barbara, California.
If you are still leaning toward single-species options, the California Native Plant Society has a nice article by Audrey Pongs describing “Native Grass Alternatives to Lawns.” She offers two different approaches of working with meadow plants versus installing lawn replacements.
How Water Usage Weighs In
Water usage is a hot topic in California — and all this talk of turfs and lawns can’t help but circle back to water. An estimated half of all water use in California’s
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homes currently goes to irrigate landscaping. From a commercial standpoint, the recent 2023 passing of Assembly Bill 1572 declares that “the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf is wasteful and incompatible with state policy relating to climate change, water conservation, and reduced reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.” I believe pressure will mount to convert more nonnative residential lawns to landscapes that require less water, and it seems logical that commercial landscapes will follow suit.
Gracias, Native Grasses
Let’s look to native grasses to help ease these transitions. For residences, they can provide soft, pervious walkways that frame planting beds and allow for human and pet traffic. For higher-traffic areas, the Garden will continue pursuing, studying, and experimenting with native grasses, in search of the hardiest native turf options. You can look to us to keep educating guests and promoting the conversion of nonnative turf to spaces that are beautiful, functional, and beneficial. O
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Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Botanic Garden
From people to plants, Garden donors help us make meaningful differences and discoveries involving native plants across California’s central coast.
While our native plant research continues to grow, we’re also offering more nature-centered learning opportunities and avenues for professional growth.
Together, we can achieve our goal of at least 30% native plant coverage in the places where we live, work, and play. And with your continued support, we will keep pushing onward. Here are some recent milestones!
89 Strong
The Garden has dedicated professionals, including 10 Ph.D.-level scientists, working with the community and local and national partners to ensure biodiversity thrives.
300+ Kids
Reconnect with nature in our Summer Camp program with 58 scholarships providing access to families at no cost.
484 Visitors
Hundreds explored the Garden by checking out a membership for free from our local libraries.
70% Energy
Pritzlaff Conservation Center’s rooftop solar panels furnish the majority of the building’s energy needs.
6
Sites
In 6 locations in Cuyama Valley, we are planting native species to support beneficial insects that pollinate crops and provide natural pest control, while also reducing groundwater use. Demonstration
30 Graduates
Our first cohort of California Native Plant Landscaper Certification grads are ready to serve our community and more will graduate in June.
286 Miles (460 kilometers)
Hundreds of miles of trails and roads were traversed in search of native milkweed (Asclepias spp.) populations in the Los Padres National Forest to support western monarch (Danaus plexippus) migration.
24 Dudleya
Our new display features 24 of about 65 species and subspecies of this charismatic succulent plant, with more growing in our Living Collection Nursery for future addition to the Garden.
1,600+
Seniors
Visited the Garden to enjoy our Free Senior Days thanks to our sponsoring partner.
180,000 Gallons (681,374 Liters)
This past season, tanks below our Pritzlaff Conservation Center sidewalks collected and provided rainwater runoff to support our irrigation needs.
50 + Species
California has almost 60 different kinds of manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp.) and our Manzanita Section features more than 50 of them.
Wing-Tapping Cicadas: A Bug of Musical Restraint
By Zach Phillips, Ph.D., Terrestrial Invertebrate Conservation Ecologist
It is a banner year for cicadas in North America. The 13- and 17-year broods of periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) are emerging en masse through early summer in the eastern United States, inundating the landscape in a cacophony of mating calls. The total solar eclipse was 2024’s eye-protection event of the year, and this is undoubtedly the year’s earprotection event. If you haven’t heard the cicadas yourself, you’ve at least heard about them in the news or on social media. Or perhaps you’ve read about them in the Evanston North Shore Bird Club newsletter that your mom mailed to you, because she knows that you can’t get enough cicada gossip — even if it’s long-distance, Chicago-area cicada gossip — and that you need reading material for the bus (thanks, Mom).
For those who missed the ENSBC newsletter, it describes the cicada emergence as “cicada-mania,” and a raucous kind of natural “alarm clock” (Lundy, 2024). This is an apt description for periodical cicadas in Illinois, but not all cicadas make such a big production out of reproduction. The courtship of some species is quiet (at least to our ears), and more like a windup watch than an alarm clock. California, which is not home to any periodical cicadas, is a diversity hot spot for one of the quietest groups, the wing-tapping cicadas (Platypedia spp.). Unlike periodical cicadas, wing-tappers emerge annually, and do so with little noise and even less fanfare. They don’t need the attention. They don’t want it. In fact, they’re miffed that this article is even being published. A predator might read it and get ideas. Sorry, wing-tapping cicadas. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think our readers will hunt you down and eat you. No promises, though — people have a thing for eating cicadas. The ENSBC newsletter even includes the following recommendation for consuming your more famous relatives: “Periodical cicadas are best [eaten] when they are still white; they taste like canned asparagus.” Regarding Ironwood readers, all I can promise is that they will be strongly advised to read this article on a full stomach. Hopefully, a few folks will simply be inspired to tune into your song and appreciate the subtle insect acoustics of our soundscape.
A male Platypedia similis, a species of wing-tapping cicada, at Cachuma Saddle (Photo: Jeffrey Cole, Ph.D.)
An unidentified wing-tapping cicada (Platypedia spp.) at Lake Piru (Photo: José Flores)
Wings of Desire: Crepitation
Most cicadas, including periodical ones, use a drumlike organ in their abdomen, called a tymbal, to produce courtship calls. People are generally familiar with these cicada calls, which can sound like a raspy bike chain or a utility pole buzzing in the rain.
Wing-tapping cicadas court each other to the beat of a different drum, and it’s not a tymbal. Instead, they produce “clicking” courtship calls by tapping their wings together or by banging their wings against their own body or the surface of a plant. This behavior is termed “crepitation,” and the resulting sounds have been described as “snapping the thumb nails one off the other,” and “exactly like some one [sic] winding a watch,” and, if many cicadas are calling at once, resembling “a shower of hail” (Davis, 1943, 187–188). Professor Sherman C. Bishop once claimed that the calls “can be closely imitated by tapping a dime on a nickel” (Davis, 1943, 187). For shame, Professor Bishop! It isn’t right to nickel-anddime anyone, not even a cicada. Other researchers have successfully mimicked wing-tapping cicadas by clapping and snapping to the rhythm of their calls, drawing them in to collect and study (Cole, n.d.).
When not being tricked by biologists, female and male wing-tapping cicadas use crepitation to find each other. Males produce a series of multiple clicks, and relatively stationary females respond with fewer clicks, acting as beacons for the mobile males. After they mate and the female lays her eggs, the immature cicadas, called nymphs, feed on plant roots and develop underground, eventually emerging and molting into adults. The season of courtship then begins again.
Tracking Cicadas in Santa Barbara
If you see me clapping around Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, I’m not just applauding the work of our gardeners — I’m trying to seduce the cicadas. So far, no luck. As a jilted entomologist, I must go to them, and wing-tappers can be a challenge to locate. Throughout spring, you can hear them at the Garden and around Santa Barbara, but they’re often too high
in the canopy to get a good look at. If you hear one in a lower shrub, approach cautiously. They have large eyes and a prey’s vigilance, and readily go silent, spin around a branch, or hop or fly away.
Fortunately, the Garden is full of bug-curious folks that report their encounters to me (Thanks Steph, Adam, Christina, Scot, and Sophie). A couple highlights this year include a nymph found attached to the outer wall of the Entrance Kiosk, and a freshly molted adult resting on a post, waiting for its wings to inflate and expand before flying away.
Bird Food and a Fungal End
The lives of wing-tappers are still a mystery. They have not been studied as thoroughly as periodical cicadas, and we don’t know much about wing-tapper interactions with other creatures or the impact they might have on ecosystems. For instance, we don’t know what plant species they feed on as nymphs.
As food themselves, it’s possible wing-tapping cicadas are a substantial resource for birds. In Montecito, I’ve seen a Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii), which was identified by local birder Conor McMahon, moving through a coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and liquid amber (Liquidambar styraciflua sp.) canopy, apparently picking off wingtapping cicadas that were broadcasting their calls. If you, the reader, spend any time watching birds, cicadas, or trees, please keep an eye out for any similar predation events, and post your observations online
An unidentified species of freshly molted wingtapping cicada (Platypedia spp.) at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Photo: Zach Phillips, Ph.D.)
An unidentified species of wing-tapping cicada (Platypedia spp.) midmolt on the Entrance Kiosk at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (Photo: Zach Phillips, Ph.D.)
(e.g., on iNaturalist or eBird), or email me directly. If you, the reader, are my mom, snail mail is still much appreciated. Don’t underestimate the value of such observations, which, especially when accumulated, can help us better understand these animals and their ecological roles.
There is at least one creature whose dependence on wing-tapping cicadas is well documented: Massospora, a fungal parasite that “effectively hijacks cicadas, turning them into efficient vectors” of fungal transmission (Boyce et al., 2019, 5). Periodical cicadas are also infected by Massospora but by a different species. The fungus can manipulate its wing-tapper hosts by manipulating males to sound more like females, which produce fewer clicks. Since females — and fungal-infected female-sounding males — are beacons to courting males, this can increase encounters with other cicadas and thus increase host transmission opportunities for the fungus.
It isn’t clear exactly how Massospora chemically hijacks the cicadas, but psilocybin, a compound also found in “magic mushrooms,” seems to play a part (Boyce et al., 2019, 41). If you’re wondering, “Will eating a Massospora-infected cicada get someone high?”
or “Is there a market for ‘cicadibles’?,” you should know that other great minds have pondered the same deep questions (at least the first one). And the answer is no (Shetlar, 2021). So don’t eat the wing-tapping cicadas. Stick to canned asparagus. But do watch the cicadas, listen to them, appreciate and celebrate them, and take notes. Let me know what you discover at zphillips@SBBotanicGarden.org.
Boyce, G. R., Gluck-Thaler, E., Slot, J. C., Stajich, J. E., Davis, W. J., James, T. Y., Cooley, J. R., Panaccione, D. G., Eilenberg, J., De Fine Licht, H. H., Macias, A. M., Berger, M. C., Wickert, K. L., Stauder, C., Spahr, E. J., Maust, M. D., Metheny, A. M., Simon, C., Kritsky, G., … Kasson, M. T. (2019, October). Psychoactive Plant- and Mushroom-Associated Alkaloids from Two Behavior Modifying Cicada Pathogens. Fungal Ecology, 41, 147–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. funeco.2019.06.002
Cole, J. (n.d.).
Davis, W. T. (1943). Two Ways of Song Communication Among Our North American Cicadas. Journal of New York Entomological Society, 51, 185–190.
Lundy, M. (2024, April). Cicada-Mania!! Evanston North Shore Bird Club. https://www.ensbc.org/ sites/default/files/Bird%20Calls%20April%202024.pdf
Rosi, C. (2021, June 7). Will eating cicadas get me high? Myths debunked with OSU's BugDoc. NBC4. https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/will-eating-cicadas-get-me-high-mythsdebunked-with-osus-bugdoc/
A special thanks to wing-tapping cicada biologists Elliott Smeds and Jeffrey Cole, Ph.D., for generously answering my questions and providing photos. And thank you to Nava.
A periodical cicada (Magicicada spp.) from Brood IV (the Kansan Brood) in 2015 (Photo: Jeffrey Cole, Ph.D.)
A Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) in Montecito, spotted eating wingtapping cicadas (Platypedia spp.) (Photo: Conor McMahon, taken with a phone through binoculars)
Welcome, Seniors
We invite those 60 and better to enjoy a day in the Garden — for free — thanks to our generous sponsor. Join us on one of our upcoming 2024 dates. Reservation are required.
June 26 | August 14 | October 9 | December 11
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Let the Plants Be Your Teacher
By Scot Pipkin, Director of Education and Engagement
As these words are being written, spring has taken hold of Santa Barbara. The sweet, musky scents of ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.) that began wafting through my office window in February have given way to clouds of pollen drifting from oak (Quercus spp.) catkins. Matilija poppies (Romneya spp.) are waking from dormancy and soon their white blooms will accompany the sage green foliage that is currently growing rapidly. Almost every color imaginable is on display somewhere in Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Several times a day, I find myself pausing to examine the minute structures that allow for pollen exchange, fertilization, and, ultimately, production of fruits and seeds that will ensure the next generation of plants. This ritual serves multiple purposes. My intellectual curiosity is satisfied as I push myself to recognize the pollen-bearing flower parts, their fruit-bearing counterparts, and the creatures that are attracted to these structures, and, in turn, I think about the ecological pressures that affect future generations. It’s also an opportunity for me to engage in a mindfulness practice, where I ask less empirical but no less important questions about what personal lessons I can glean from the plants: “What can I do to attract compatible collaborators?” Or, “Can I hold this feeling of serenity in my heart for future reference?”
The Plants Are the Teachers
What I love about working in a garden is that it occupies that precious liminal space between the rigors of plant science/ecology and the poetry of design, art, and expression for the sake of sharing something beautiful with the world. I think this is why the Garden resonates with others, as well. For some, this is a place to take a morning stroll, bring friends from out of town for a picnic, or marvel at the scale of a coast redwood tree (Sequoia sempervirens). For others, the Garden’s efforts to understand, protect, and restore native plant populations and habitats are what make this institution worthy of their trust and support. For many, it is a mix of science, imagination, and possibility that make the Garden so precious. Whatever the reason, I’d wager that our commitment to honoring the plants of California’s flora and fighting to protect native plant habitats are driving the groundswell of support that is growing for the Garden and other native plant institutions.
This spirit has informed a central principle that drives our educational and outreach programs: The plants are the teachers. As an environmental educator, this is simultaneously an easy concept to embody and a challenge. Naturally, the outdoor classroom invites ample opportunity to connect people with native plants in powerful ways. The challenge comes from making the invitation and then getting out of the way. The most powerful, transformative moments come when a student or participant can make a discovery themselves. Rather than emphasize the instructors’ knowledge about plants and deposit information in people’s brain banks for future withdrawal (as in, a test), the “content” we teach should be related to genuine curiosity, which often comes from direct experience.
Learning Through Observation and Curiosity
With plants as teachers, the learning environment transforms. Whereas not knowing the answer to a question can feel like a deficiency when 15 expectant faces look to you for clear direction, shifting oneself from the clearly defined role of “teacher” and placing it back onto the plants allows us to model a process of inquiry and enthusiasm. Not knowing is an opportunity to learn. I love when people ask a question I don’t know the answer to, which is often. That’s a perfect opening to look more closely and work through the possible answers as a group.
Opposite: The Redwood Section after a spring rain (Photo: Michael Wittman)
Young naturalists stop to examine hidden treasures in the Backcountry Section. (Photo: Andrea Russell)
Together, we can model practices of observation and inquiry that go beyond a simple response.
This very principle is central to the increasing number of forest-therapy and nature-immersion programs the Garden has been hosting. Participants are guided through a series of invitations, where they are asked to be present in the natural world around them and connect with nonhuman life. The results can be remarkable, and the approach is somewhat radical. Rather than tell participants what they should notice or understand about a place, they are given an opportunity to discover for themselves.
The Garden has also been working to feature our plant teachers in other ways. The Backcountry Section is a perfect illustration of how we are encouraging visitors of all ages to be curious, explore, ask questions, and build a personal relationship with plants and the natural world at large. This is evident in the design of the Backcountry and the programs we are building in the space. An example is our Pathfinder curriculum, which provides opportunities for youth aged 8 to 11 to develop skills in horticulture and plant identification — and skills with making practical tools, such as cordage with native plants. While we’ve deliberately planned learning outcomes and themes to these activities, our intention is to facilitate moments where young people are developing a relationship with the nonhuman world. So far, the activity from
which we’ve received the most positive feedback is when we invite participants to find a “sit spot” and quietly observe the world around them, listening to nature’s messages.
For landscape professionals, home gardeners, and designers, we’ve started the California Native Plant Landscaper Certification program. This 19hour course prepares people to effectively specify and care for California’s native plants in home, commercial, and institutional settings. Here, the intended outcome is clear: transfer horticultural know-how that the Garden has pioneered and practiced for nearly a century into the minds and hands of those who will grow biodiversity and native plant habitat in our communities. Using plants as teachers has greatly influenced how we deliver the curriculum. We emphasize hands-on activities and encourage students to share their personal knowledge and experiences of growing California’s native plants. With the plants as teachers, we can facilitate a community of practice, rather than a hierarchy of knowledge (i.e., teacher knows best/ most, students listen, content is static). It keeps the class fun, encourages greater interaction, and allows us to bask in the joy of caring for native plants. Instructors are free to celebrate others’ knowledge and spread joy and appreciation, while remaining knowledgeable, reliable resources who advance the conversation.
Summer Campers never stop exploring! (Photo: Randy Wright)
A tiny frog is discovered in the Backcountry Section. (Photo: Andrea Russell)
Inspiring Our Communities
In late February, the Garden hosted 175 eighth graders over the course of two days. The stated goal was to discuss evolution through the lens of California’s Channel Islands and provide students the opportunity to compare island plants with some of their closely related mainland counterparts. This was the second year working with eighth graders from this school, and we incorporated some adjustments that seemed to improve the program. Still, I felt we could be doing more to connect the students with our plant teachers. So, after the first small-group rotation, I decided to take a different tack with my other groups. I began by asking the students if they had a definition for “unconditional love.” Some groups required more coaxing than others, but eventually we would arrive at an answer that felt reasonable. I’d then ask the kids to consider the fact that no matter whether we trample, cut down, tear, deface, or otherwise mistreat plants, they continue to provide oxygen for us to breathe and food for us to eat. If that’s not unconditional love, I don’t know what is. While I can’t quantify the impact that exercise had, the awkward silence that would usually follow indicated that it got the students thinking. That’s a win, especially in my experience with middle schoolers.
More recently, some colleagues and I visited Montecito Union School District, where Superintendent Anthony
Ranii shared the district’s outdoor learning space, the Nature Lab. It includes a slick outdoor classroom with integrated technology, cleverly named housing for their flock of chickens (Cluckingham Palace), and tower gardens for food production. I was especially excited about the space featuring fallen logs, ropes to climb, and stumps to jump on. We were told that the inspiration for these features was the Backcountry at the Garden. Another win! I asked Anthony what the most significant change has been as a result of inviting students to connect more with the natural world and use the plants as teachers. After a thoughtful pause, he noted a shift in students’ attitudes toward “science” and what it means to be a scientist. Instead of equating science with lab coats, sterile conditions, and abstract concepts, Anthony said the students are now seeing the world around them with joyful curiosity and value the everyday observations they can make in the schoolyard. My heart swelled. In Montecito, the plant teachers and influence of the Garden are instilling confidence and inviting connection to the natural world.
Find Your Plant Buddy
If the concept of plant teachers seems a bit iffy to you still, you could try an activity I call plant buddies. It’s a way to connect with the plants around us and with each other. First, find your plant buddy. This may be a family member, a friend, or perhaps visitors
Growing the future (Photo: Randy Wright)
you regularly see on your trips to the Garden but with whom you’ve never conversed. Here’s your chance to connect with them. Just invoke this article and ask to be plant buddies.
Once you’ve established a buddy or two, you can start connecting. When you encounter a plant that strikes you, share it with your plant buddy via email, text, conversation, or another communique. I recommend you include a few key features, such as a description of what you noticed about the plant’s structures, habit, or context. Also take a moment to reflect on how that encounter with your plant teacher left a lasting impression on you.
Dear Plant Buddy,
I saw a plant the other day, and it made me think of you. I was in the Manzanita Section at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, on a trail I don’t usually take, and this plant caught my eye. The sign told me that it is Styrax redivivus, or California snowdrop bush. It’s almost twice as tall as me, spindly, and has the most gloriously soft leaves. It also happened to be in bloom (early April). I leaned in to give the pure white flowers a whiff and was rewarded with a most delicious scent. It made me ask myself, “How do I ensure that my own sweetness is broadcast to the world?” When I got home, I looked it up and these plants grow in the wild in the Santa Ynez Mountains. I’m going to look for them next spring!
Photosynthetically, Scot
Turning Anxiety Into Actions
Looking to the plants as teachers has provided me with a helpful perspective on so many things. In an age that many are calling the Anthropocene (the geologic era in which human activity has dominated the planet’s processes), it’s no wonder that many of us are suffering from “eco-anxiety.” The unprecedented rapid loss of biodiversity on our planet summons deep feelings of grief and powerlessness. Yet, I have been able to disrupt those feedback cycles and reverse feelings of despair by looking to plants as teachers. It’s an invitation to celebrate the abundance of strategies for survival that I encounter each day. Of course, this approach does not change the statistical models suggesting, for example, that coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) habitat will be significantly reduced by climate change in the coming decades. It does shift my perspective around that reality though. I’m more inspired to learn from the wisdom of oak woodlands while I have the chance to celebrate and give back to them. It’s why experiments like the Garden’s oak fuel break have been installed. Oaks might help protect our communities from fire in the Wildland Urban Interface. In turn, perhaps our homes can provide a small refuge for oak trees, where our care perpetuates biodiversity. I’m heartened by the path to this type of progress.
The Garden and its mission to conserve native plants for the health and well-being of people and the planet beg us to examine our relationship with nonhuman life. Seeing the plants as teachers is an opportunity to do so with open hearts and curious minds. Thank you for supporting these efforts and being part of the change. O
Strolling through the Redwood Section
Protecting Our Dudleya, California’s Star Succulent
By Christina Varnava, Living Collections Curator
If you’ve visited Santa Barbara Botanic Garden recently, you may have noticed we have a fresh display in our Arroyo Section, just south of the Entrance Kiosk. This is our new Dudleya Display, featuring 24 types of this charismatic succulent plant, with more growing in our Living Collection Nursery. Our collection of this genus has 53 taxa and is accredited by the American Public Gardens Association. To commemorate our brand new Dudleya Display and the history of our Dudleya collection, I’d like to do a deeper dive and introduce readers to a favorite genus of California succulent.
Adaptations
Dudleya spp., sometimes commonly called liveforevers, is a genus of about 65 combined species and subspecies of succulent plants. Dudleya species can be found as far west as Arizona and from southern Oregon to the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico, but most are found in California and northern Baja California. These different types of Dudleya come in different colors, sizes, and shapes, with flowers in white, red, orange, and yellow. As members of the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae), these plants are closely related to succulent garden staples like tree aeonium (Aeonium arboreum) or hens and chicks (Echeveria spp.). However, unlike tree aeonium or hens and chicks, which are native to other parts of the world, Dudleya are closely tied to the habitats and places of California — and have lots of special adaptations that allow them to thrive in the dry Mediterranean-climate summers.
Dudleya plants have incredible diversity in size and form. Some are tiny and can be difficult to spot unless they are in flower, while others are massive. For example, the Santa Cruz Island live-forever (Dudleya nesiotica) is just a few centimeters tall and is found on the coastal bluffs of its namesake island. With small yellow-green leaves that turn deep red in sunny areas, it is camouflaged well until its bursts of white flowers emerge. These flower stalks can be even bigger than the plant itself. On the other end of the size scale, there’s the giant chalk dudleya (Dudleya brittonii), which grows a massive rosette of flat, pale, gray-green leaves up to 1.5 feet (.5 meters) wide.
Dudleya are generally found in what are called “marginal habitats.” These marginal habitats are areas that are difficult for other plants to grow in, such as the edges of steep cliffs or cracks in boulders. These rugged places have very little to offer plants in the way of nutrients or access to water, but Dudleya plants have a variety of adaptations that make them perfectly suited for these conditions. The succulent leaves of Dudleya are a Swiss Army knife of drought adaptability: They can store extra water, reflect excess sunlight, combat free radicals, and keep the plant cooler.
Sunlight is vital for plants, but in dry conditions it can easily be too much of a good thing. Too much sunlight may cause the plant to lose excess water or damage plant tissues, so Dudleya have adapted many ways to protect themselves. The variable color of Dudleya leaves is not only beautiful, but also it can reveal some of these special adaptations. Many species of Dudleya turn a reddish tinge when they are grown in sunnier conditions; this red pigment is a form of sun protection. The pigment is called “anthocyanin,” and it is a type of antioxidant that helps plants to mitigate some of the harmful effects of UV exposure. Anthocyanins work to attract and capture free radicals which could otherwise cause damage to the plant’s DNA. Another form of sun protection can be seen on the very palest species of Dudleya. These striking silvery plants have leaves that are covered in a waxy substance called a “cuticle.” Their cuticle is very thick, pale, and chalky, and it functions as a powerful sunscreen. The leaves of giant chalk dudleya coated in this wax have been measured to reflect up to 83% of UV radiation they are exposed to, which helps prevent sun damage and dehydration. For comparison, leaves on the same species that do not produce this wax only reflect 10% of UV radiation.
In addition to these adaptations to protect their leaves from the sun, all Dudleya species have a special water-conserving trick up their sleeves. Dudleya can use a special process for photosynthesis to help them conserve water, called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis. To learn what makes this special, you’ll need a Botany 101 crash course: As part of the process of photosynthesis, all plants must open pores on their leaves (called “stomata”) in order
Opposite: This giant chalk dudleya (Dudleya brittonii) loves its sunny spot in Island View Section of the Garden." (Photo: Kaylee Tu)
to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen (figure 1). Opening these pores to allow this gas exchange is critical, but it also allows some water to escape. This process of gas exchange generally happens during the day, but when faced with drought conditions, Dudleya can shift to using CAM photosynthesis. This process is a little less efficient, but it allows them to open these pores at night when less evaporation will occur, saving precious water. Another adaptation some Dudleya have to protect against water loss is even more dramatic. One subgenus, Dudleya subg. Hasseanthus, features species that actually lose their leaves entirely in the heat of the summer. These plants have a “corm,” a type of storage organ that survives underground, even when all the above ground leaves have died off. Species in this subgenus can ditch their leaves when faced with drought conditions and lie in wait underground until the rains come to revive them and kick photosynthesis back into gear.
Ecology and Threats
Although they are uncommon, Dudleya plants are a vital part of their ecosystems. Dudleya leaves are an important food source for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other animals. For example, the Sonoran blue butterfly (Philotes sonorensis) lays its eggs exclusively on leaves of the low canyon dudleya (Dudleya cymosa ssp. pumila), which serve as a delectable meal for the newly hatched caterpillars. Dudleya flowers have almost as much variation in form as the leaves. For example, the flowers of the
chalk dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta) are narrow, bright pink, and tube shaped, with lots of nectar. All of these features are very attractive to hummingbirds. Other Dudleya have flower shapes that are more spread open. These flowers are often yellow or white and generally are more appealing to bees and other types of insects. Dudleya flowers come in a sunsettoned palette of colors that can be anything from shocking red-pink to creamy white. The flowers are held high up above the plant by an elegant arching stalk (botanists call this a “peduncle”). These sprays of colorful flowers waving high are meant to be big, bold neon signs to attract pollinators to otherwise inconspicuous Dudleya plants. The stalks are also often brightly colored as well, giving the flowers extra visibility.
One of the reasons there are so many different species and subspecies of Dudleya is because these plants tend to be tied to a very specific set of environmental conditions, which can cause populations to become isolated from one another. Once they become separate and don’t intermix with other members of the population, “genetic drift” may cause new species or subspecies to form over time. Genetic drift is the process of random mutations changing an organism’s DNA over time, which is one way new species are formed. This leads to all the marvelous differences in size, shape, form, and color that Dudleya display. Restrictions to certain types of soil, or special habitat types like cliff faces, mean that the population of a subspecies can be restricted to a very
Figure 1: Here you can see surface detail on a leaf of a kalanchoe plant (Kalanchoe spp.), a relative of Dudleya. Three stomata, or leaf pores, are visible in this image as dense, mouth-shaped sets of cells. (Photo: John Adds )
Chalk dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta) flowers are attractive to hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae). (Photo: Elizabeth Collins)
The stark white leaves of giant chalk dudleya (Dudleya brittonii) reflect lots of light. (Photo: Carol Bornstein)
Santa Cruz Island live-forever (Dudleya nesiotica) is in full bloom on its namesake island. (Photo: Katelin Davis)
Greene’s live-forever (Dudleya greenei) shows off striking pink peduncles and bright yellow flowers. (Photo: Katelin Davis)
small area. This small geographic range means that Dudleya species and subspecies are more vulnerable to being wiped out by disasters both natural and anthropogenic (or, involving humans). A wildfire or a poaching operation can, of course, damage the genetic health of a species that is widespread, but with a type of plant that has a very small population, it can cause a catastrophic genetic bottleneck. These bottlenecks can reduce the ability of a species or subspecies to adapt to new environmental conditions by destroying genetic variation. Nearly half of the species and subspecies of Dudleya in California are considered rare or threatened by the California Native Plant Society. These plants are both beautiful and vital to the wild places where they grow, and we all have a part to play in their continued survival.
Help advocate for the protection of wild plants and places. The more habitat we leave intact, the more space there is for these plants to grow. You can also support legislation like California AB 223, which specifically helps address Dudleya plant poaching. You can also cultivate responsibly sourced Dudleya and encourage others to do the same. O
Growing Dudleya at Home
If you want to grow Dudleya at home, you absolutely should! Be sure to buy from a trusted nursery and avoid online sellers on sites like eBay or Etsy, where poached plants may be sold. Many species are available, especially the striking and beautiful chalk dudleya (Dudleya pulverulenta). Other species that you might find include sand lettuce (Dudleya caespitosa), lanceleaf live-forever (Dudleya lanceolata), and fingertips (Dudleya edulis). To learn more about availability, check our Garden Nursery, or visit your local nursery. Another great source for both plants and information is your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
When you have your new, responsibly sourced Dudleya in hand, here are a few growing tips to help you succeed in keeping it happy:
• Good drainage is key Plant yours on a slope or in a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining potting soil. Water only if the soil is very dry rather than on a specific schedule, since the weather can change how much water the plant needs.
• Just the right angle When planting, set the Dudleya at a slight angle to help keep water from pooling at the top of the rosette. Stagnant water at the top of the rosette can cause disease. Be sure to also water the soil directly at the plants’ roots.
• Made in the shade
Most Dudleya plants like at least a little bit of shade, so plant yours where they can get some shelter from the sun in the hottest part of the afternoon. Some exceptions are the chalk dudleya which can handle full sun thanks to their special sunscreen.
• No touching!
Handling Dudleya leaves can remove the cuticle, that powdery coating that acts as plant sunscreen. Avoid touching the leaves and watering from the top down.
• Enjoy
Watch your new Dudleya friend thrive and check out the insects and birds that come to visit!
These lanceleaf live-forever (Dudleya lanceolata) flowers are in bloom. (Photo: Christina Varnava)
The Value of Gardening
By Abraham Lizama, Gardener Lead
The activity of gardening is an ancient practice. We could trace our evolution as a species in direct correlation with the cultural practice of environmental modification. The earliest human civilizations were successful because of their relationships to land and interactions with diverse ecosystems. These connections to terrestrial life have been crucial in forming the foundation for the world we live in today.
Let’s Renew Our Natural Bond
In current times, we have lost our way. We find ourselves dealing with a host of environmental consequences due to our climate crises: unmitigated pollution, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and species extinctions. In addition, we face disappearing wildlands due to over-development — and high demand for access to more. Also to be considered are
Gardener Lead Abraham Lizama takes time to inspire the next generation of land stewards. (Photo: Stephanie Ranes)
the effects environmental harm has on public health. And, less contact with the outdoors makes people less inclined to preserve it, most critically affecting young people — the future stewards of the natural world.
But there’s a better way forward if we shift our focus back to plants. Plants have been essential to the people who have inhabited these lands for millennia. Indigenous and ancient cultures have lived with these plants and appropriately modified them, practicing forms of gardening through their land tending. They have used native plants for food, medicine, and utility. Human evolution is in direct affiliation with nature. We are inherently dependent on living organisms and nonliving matter for our survival, just as we always have been.
Bringing Nature Back Through Gardens
We need to change course, but there are challenges developed over generations. The introduction of foreign land-tending techniques and nonnative plants and animals bypassed cultural knowledge. As perceptions of land changed and as people moved away from nature, gardens became associated with spatial design and less with ecological services. And more than half the world’s population now lives in urban areas where true nature is nonexistent. In areas where there is potential for human-nature interaction, there is a lack of resources, infrastructure, and environmental policy. For some people, the only time they spend engaged with nature is in their travel between destinations, passively experiencing local environments. Through human desires, we have designed, landscaped, and
progressed ourselves into a dilemma that puts the health of our whole ecosystem at risk.
Why is this distinction important? Because living systems exist outside of human desires. We are guests living in a global garden. Every single thing we do depends on an exchange with nature, whether it be extracting resources for food, fuel, or functions. This is why we need to align. This is where gardening unites the world.
Gardening provides effective ecological solutions and environmental benefits while protecting and sustaining multispecies health. Plants provide essential ecosystem services that cannot be replicated artificially. In fact, plants colonized the surface of the planet hundreds of millions of years before animals, establishing the necessary environmental attributes to support life on Earth. They form networks for food systems, decomposition, and nutrient cycling; provide and protect viable habitats; and, most importantly, store and use carbon dioxide. The presence of plants helps regulate the temperature of the environment at both the micro- and macro-levels. Plants prevent soil erosion and improve water management. Plants act as the bridge between surface and sky, between humans and everything else. Even the smallest garden can have expansive benefits.
The Practice of Gardening as Human Praxis
For humans, it’s also a way to think about how our bodies are holistically engaged with nature. Regular interactions with nature have been proven to reduce
Gardener Lead Abraham Lizama is in his element. Lending a green thumb in the Backcountry Section (Photo: Melissa G. Patrino)
stress, inflammation, illness, and fatigue, as well as increase immunity, stabilize body functions, and aid in regulating our biological rhythms. And spending time outdoors, specifically gardening, is an equitable and accessible form of therapy.
Gardening is intentional, and being intentional can help change your perspective. It puts responsibility on humans to learn from nonhumans about cycles, patterns, differences, causes, and effects of the natural world. It puts you in a community of biodiversity. We breathe oxygen produced by plants. We drink water held by the soils. And when you’re working in natural habitats, you see this in progress. The interactions between species have been occurring for much longer than humans have been around. Ecosystems tell the story, and plants bear the weight. Plants show us life and death, in a simple and beautiful way. They teach us to witness life as it occurs. Wherever the garden is, is where we can be too.
The human body was designed to move relative to the environment. In gardening, we continue exploring this trait. It is a physical activity that requires organic contact and regular intimacy with nature, exposure to elements, and experiencing mind-body stimulation. Our bodies move with real purpose when working with plants, our bodies grounded, limbs moving, and senses activated. A gardener is someone aware of their touch, of the reciprocal relationship between themselves and their environment. I am conscious of the dynamics occurring in the places where my body is in proximity to other living things. I am conscious of my body’s ability to move and think. The opportunity is there to change levels and see things from beneath the soils and up into the canopies, to maintain homeostasis and cognitive equilibrium while engaging in active labor, and to perceive time as continuous and anticipate the future based on observations and knowledge, all while taking into consideration the different experiences of other humans and animals.
An Open Invitation: Let’s Garden Together!
Gardeners are actively working to make the world a better place. I encourage you to find opportunities to garden at home or in your community: You can plant food crops, you can renovate a landscape using natives, and/or you can do local restoration work. Here at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, we offer classes for aspiring or professional gardeners, volunteer opportunities, a native plant nursery, summer camps, family activities, and tours and talks year-round. However you choose to garden, make sure it is done with intention. I especially encourage adults to model behavior for younger generations to include gardening in their methods and use it as a nature-bonding experience. The sooner
humans understand their connection to nature, the longer their love for it will last.
My perspective has emerged from appreciation, understanding, and curious observation of the natural world around me. As someone who has spent my life on and about these lands — first as a child accompanying my father to work as a gardener, exploring the oaks (Quercus spp.) and creek banks, and eventually as a student studying how different cultures used gardens for so many different purposes — I find myself embraced by, woven into, and devoted to the soils, waters, plants, and animals that make this such a beautiful place. I think of a garden as sacred, where my actions are ceremonial and for a much greater purpose. It is in this affectionate, powerful relationship that gardening has value for me and where I hope you can find value also. O
A local Girl Scout troop came together to help us grow.
(Photo: Melissa G. Patrino)
From the Archives: Honoring Dr. Katherine K. Muller
By Hannah Barton, Garden Archivist
In March of this year, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden had the honor of rededicating our Education Building to Dr. Katherine K. Muller, the Garden’s longesttenured director and enthusiastic champion of the organization’s education and conservation efforts. Dr. Muller served as director from 1950 to 1973 and remained involved with the Garden until her death in 1995. Given her many invaluable contributions to the Garden, we see her as being responsible for putting us on the path to becoming the renowned research- and education-focused organization we know and love today.
During her 47-year association with the Garden, some of her most notable contributions include the introduction of new programs and publications, the hiring of influential staff members, and important institutional expansions. While Dr. Muller led the Garden, the grounds expanded to 64 acres (nearly 26 hectares) and membership doubled. In addition to her many responsibilities as director, Dr. Muller also managed to remain heavily involved in research efforts. She wrote regular newspaper articles on wildflowers of the region, co-authored books such as the updated edition of “Trees of Santa Barbara” with Richard E. Broder and Will Beittel and the new “Wildflowers of the Santa Barbara Region” with Campbell Grant. She
Dr. Katherine K. Muller was Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s director from 1950 to 1973.
Dr. Katherine K. Muller leads a field trip to the Santa Ynez Mountains in 1956.
In our new Reading Room, members can peruse “Wildflowers of the Santa Barbara Region,” co-authored by Dr. Katherine K. Muller and Campbell Grant.
also oversaw the production of Clifton Smith’s book “A Flora of the Santa Barbara Region, California.” Dr. Muller started her tenure at the Garden as education associate in 1948, becoming the Garden’s director in 1950, where she remained heavily involved in the Education program. During this time, she initiated a docent program, led field trips for the public, gave lectures, and taught classes. She also had the fortitude to implement staff-directed designs and displays on the Garden grounds — and led the Garden to win a succession of blue ribbons for drought-tolerant design in 1951, 1954, 1955, and 1957. In addition to her research and educational involvement, she directed many institutional expansions, including the additions of the east and west wings to the Blaksley Library (1959 and 1961) and construction of the north wing (1964, initially the research wing and now the Garden Shop); the Propagation Unit (1973); and finally the Herbarium Building (1974), now the Katherine K. Muller Education Building.
The Katherine K. Muller Education Building houses our Education and Engagement Team offices, as well as the recently completed Reading Room. Our Reading Room has been reconfigured to safely and securely house our institutional archives, special collections, artwork, and object collections, as well as serve as a dedicated space where staff, volunteers, and guests can consult our collections by appointment. Since it was previously the Herbarium Building, the lower half
of the building was constructed to be as fire-safe and climate-controlled as possible, making it the perfect spot to establish a stable environment for our nonliving, institutional collections.
The process to convert this space began in early 2022 with a very generous donation by a patron who wishes to remain anonymous. With this donation, we embarked on a months-long renovation of the building’s basement: cleaning, organizing, and painting the collections, education materials, and furniture. We were able to expand and relocate compact shelving, which now houses our rare books, photography, and manuscript collections. We were also able to increase our art storage capacity and add more space to display this collection on a rotating basis. Some longtime members may remember the large library table, original to the 1942 Blaksley Library. That table has been preserved and now serves as the Reading Room table, open for research use on a byappointment basis.
We’re so pleased to honor former Garden Director Dr. Katherine K. Muller and all she contributed. The refreshed Katherine K. Muller Education Building makes it doubly exciting! Garden members can make an appointment to visit the new Reading Room space and access our amazing collection for their next research project. To make an appointment, visit SBBotanicGarden.org/explore/collections/library/. O
Our new Reading Room is available to members doing research, by appointment.
(Photo: Hannah Barton)
Originally built for the Garden’s Herbarium and Research teams, the building is now a hub for the Education and Engagement Team.
(Photo: 1973, Ralph Philbrick, Ph.D.)
Field Notes: Poetry Inspired by Nature
By David Starkey, Founding Director of Santa Barbara City College’s Creative Writing Program
Chryss Yost served as the Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara from 2013 to 2015. She was awarded the 2013 Patricia Dobler Poetry Award, and received many other honors, including multiple Pushcart Prize nominations.
Chryss is the co-editor of Gunpowder Press, where she founded the Shoreline Voices Project. Regarding her poem, “Forest Metaphorist,” Chryss says, “This poem reflects the energy, the tension of the Garden. In its own balance between cultivated and wild, the Garden helps me recalibrate my place, and my own seasons. Our earliest metaphors are gardens. It grounds me to spend time as a living thing in the company of other living things.” O
Forest Metaphorist
Wild, but like wild ginger is wild: coddled in acidic shag beneath redwoods, flood of tender green hearts over needles. The arrowhead leaves labeled hummingbird sage, each stem a fuse bursting to bloom. You. Seen beneath ceanothus, sworls of blue-white beesound arch over the path you follow as seasons sing in you, too. Beloved here. Belonging.
— Chryss Yost
This issue's featured poet, Chryss Yost, enjoys the Redwood Section. (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum) found in the understory of the Redwood Section. (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Donor Story: Leaving a Lasting Legacy
By Valerie Hoffman, Garden Member and Former Board of Trustees Chair
Hello, my name is Valerie Hoffman, and I’ve been a member of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden for the last 11 years. I have served on committees, been a trustee, and served as board chair, and I am currently on the Development Committee, from which the Garden’s planned giving program is managed.
I understand that the circumstances around planned giving are something many people would rather not talk or think about. However, I invite you to consider reframing this conversation through the lens of financial planning. I personally find this approach more motivating; it’s about deciding where my assets could grow and benefit the people and causes I care about.
Many of us give money to support causes we believe in, provided family and essential needs are already met. After those family needs, according to my way of thinking, there is another fundamental and foundational priority: the essential needs of nature that support human life. The Garden plays a crucial role in this endeavor by advocating for the preservation of native plants and the biodiversity they sustain. Through innovative educational initiatives and scientific research, the Garden has been instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of native flora and its impact on our ecosystem.
Not only is the Garden a conservation powerhouse, but it is also an incredibly beautiful space. You may have brought young ones to play in the Backcountry Section, hiked with your dog, engaged in forest bathing in the Redwood Section, taken classes in native plant gardening, or taken photos of your friends and family in the Meadow Section during the gorgeous spring superbloom. We hope you have learned about the depth and importance of the Garden’s scientific research and conservation carried out by a staff with more than 86 scientific professionals, including 10 Ph.D.-level scientists.
Reflecting on my own financial-planning journey, I’ve come to appreciate the significance of translating
my values into tangible plans and actions. I want to be clear about what I stand up for, now and into the future, and about the values I hold near to my heart and want to support in a meaningful way. The joy and peace I experience in nature helps keep my life calm and thoughtful. I appreciate that the Garden founders had the foresight 98 years ago to begin educating us about why native plants are the centerpiece to a consciously healthy and sound environment. That’s remarkable, and I honor that.
When you take a moment to think about what you support, now and in the future, I invite you to consider the Garden. Whether through a direct contribution, a planned gift, or other creative financial instrument, there are lots of ways to ensure your intentions are realized in a manner that aligns with your values and preferences. The Garden would love to join your journey with ideas and options for making your intentions come true. If you have any questions, you can reach out directly to Jenny McClure, 805.690.1689 or jmcclure@SBBotanicGarden.org, or contact your professional financial advisor.
For me, giving is more than planning for this year, next year, or after my passing; it’s about my enduring intention. Let’s talk about your intention, whenever and however it works for you. Thank you for considering these thoughts, and I look forward to you joining me in support of the Garden. O
In awe of the California goldfields (Lasthenia californica) at Carrizo Plain National Monument (Photo: Valerie Hoffman)
The Giving Guide
At Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, we know everyone has different priorities and different ways they choose to give back to their community, which is why we have a variety of opportunities for you to make an impact.
Beyond traditional cash donations, here are a few popular giving options to consider that are mutually beneficial. This means, by choosing one of these giving methods, you can make your gift go even further than with cash alone. We encourage you to consult with your financial advisor or tax professional to better understand the benefits specific to your circumstances.
Gifts of Stocks or Appreciated Assets:
If you own securities or other assets that have appreciated in value, gifting these to the Garden can provide significant tax advantages. When you transfer stocks or assets, you may avoid capital gains taxes and receive a charitable deduction for the full, fair market value of your gift.
Grants from Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs):
If you have a DAF, you can recommend a grant to the Garden. This allows you to receive an immediate tax deduction when you contribute to the DAF and then grant funds to the Garden over time. This is an efficient, sustained way to both manage your giving and support the Garden’s mission to conserve native plants and habitats.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs):
If you are 70½ years old or older, you can give up to $100,000 from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) directly to a qualified charity such as the Garden without paying income taxes on the contribution. This method, also known as a QCD, can satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year.
Every gift, be it big or small, supports the Garden’s ongoing conservation, education, and horticulture programs. With your support, we’re creating a world where nature thrives and our children and grandchildren can revel in the wonders of a rich and diverse ecosystem.
As a cherished member of the Garden community, we are grateful for your generosity in whatever form it takes. Thank you for considering the Garden in your planned annual giving.
Please hold on to this as a guide for your future giving. For more details on how you can help further our mission, please visit us at SBBotanicGarden.org/ support/. O
Iris 'Canyon Velvet' showing off after the rains (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Below: One Garden visitor greets another along the path. (Photo: Greg Trainor)
Below:
A ladybeetle spotted at the Garden's entrance (Photo: Kaylee Tu)
The Book Nook
“Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a Nation” | Tiya Miles Connection to the land, understanding the natural cycles, and spending time working, playing, and dreaming in fresh air or under the stars shapes human character for the better. This is the premise of “Wild Girls” by Tiya Miles. This lovely, short book shows that trailblazing women throughout history drew strength and knowledge from their time outside — in play and in study of the natural world. Nature became their ally and, as Tiya proposes, their experiences outdoors expanded their imaginations, tested their talents, and readied them for brave social courage and bold political action. “If going outside exercised the imagination and strengthened skills for girls of the past, who as women accomplished extraordinary feats that helped change the nation,” Tiya asks, “how can we foster outside equity, inviting all into the wild to watch the sky, climb a tree, and dream the future?”
Recommended by Sharyn Main, Policy and Advocacy Consultant O
“Garden Futurist” Podcast
Sarah Beck, Adriana LópezVillalobos, and Adrienne St. Claire
“Garden Futurist” is a podcast that was launched in mid-2021 by Pacific Horticulture, an organization that has worked since 1968 to promote horticultural literacy throughout the Pacific region. With more than 30 episodes, the breadth of topics covered makes for very engaging listening, from the impact of artificial lighting on nighttime wildlife to readying urban forests for climate realities. Hosts Sarah Beck, Adriana López-Villalobos, and Adrienne St. Claire have crafted a stellar format, with each episode lasting between 25 to 45 minutes, featuring compelling subject-matter experts. It’s similar to a longer audio version of TEDx for gardeners and environmentalists. I look forward to each new episode since I know I’ll hear an intriguing new idea that opens my mind even more to nature’s beauty and intricacies.
Recommended by Keith Nevison, Director of Horticulture and Operations O
“Medicinal & Poisonous Plants of the California Central and South Coasts: An Insightful Review of the Literature” | Sue Reinhart
Sue Reinhart’s book is a wealth of information about native plants in California’s central and south coasts. She touches on taxonomy, plant anatomy, and chemistry, as well as historical and cultural perspectives on herbs and healing for groups throughout history. It features comprehensive descriptions of medicinal and poisonous plants in our region (using colored margin tabs for quick reference). Each of the monographs includes information about toxicity, systemic effects, and uses of the plant for a variety of conditions. For example, the description of elderberry (Sambucus spp.) covers uses for cancer, injuries and skin conditions, oral sores, musculoskeletal pain, constipation, treatment of anemia, and six more conditions. The book concludes with helpful sections on medical terminology, a glossary, a name index and a bibliography. I highly recommend it, and it’s easy to find in our Garden Shop.
Recommended by Carolyn Chaney, Garden Volunteer O
“American Imperialist: Cruelty and Consequence in the Scramble for Africa”
Arwen P. Mohun
This is a well-researched biography of Richard Dorsey Mohun, a participant in Belgium’s King Leopold II’s brutal exploitation of the natural resources of the Congo Free State between 1885 and 1906. Dorsey, as he was known, was an intriguing character and the long-romanticized great-grandfather of author Arwen P. Mohun. She describes harrowing travel into the continent, lives of Black porters, a sense of entitlement and moral superiority held by investors, corruption of some early missionary efforts, jungle diseases, family sacrifices, media manipulation, and moral crises. “This book in no way aims to excuse what he did but only to explain it,” cites Arwen. It’s a fascinating account. Just ask Arwen’s stepmother and long-time Garden volunteer Susan Mohun!.
Recommended by Carolyn Pidduck, Garden Volunteer O
The Budding Botanist: The Essential Ladybeetle
By José Flores, Invertebrate Biodiversity Technician
From pollination to decomposition, all insects play a vital role in our ecosystem. Although most of the work that insects do is too small and hidden to notice, paying even a little bit of attention to the insects in your environment will give you a glimpse into their world. Ladybeetles (more popularly known as ladybugs) are a fitting example of this, and they are a common sight in California. They can typically be found on plants. Despite their seemingly calm nature, the main job of a ladybeetle in nature is to eat things that can damage plants. Ladybeetles usually feast on other insects such as aphids and scale insects, both of which harmfully feed off the sap that keeps plants functioning.
A shiny red body that is sometimes decorated with black spots is the most common ladybeetle to see, but there are many more species. From red with black spots to black with red spots, and from a shiny blue to a pale white, ladybeetles are diverse critters. In fact, Southern California is home to over 50 native species of ladybeetles! Most are difficult to see without a microscope, but there are still a vast variety of charismatic ladybeetle species that you can easily spot. Below is a list of ladybeetles that you can use to keep track of the many common species in Southern California. In addition, use the guide on these two pages to learn some of the differences between similar looking ladybeetles. A lot of them do look very alike, so study the differences carefully. O
five-spotted
The convergent ladybeetle (Hippodamia convergens) has two slash marks on their pronotum and may or may not have spots. You can tell them apart from the Pacific five-spotted ladybeetle (H. quinquesignata ambigua) by their pronotum. This beetle has white markings on part of the edge of their pronotum rather than the entire edge and does not have slash marks in the middle of it.
A spotted convergent ladybeetle (Hippodamia convergens)
A spotless convergent ladybeetle (Hippodamia convergens)
Pacific
ladybeetle (Hippodamia quinquesignata ambigua)
Western spotless ladybeetle (
Blood-red ladybeetle (Cycloneda sanguinea)
While spotless ladybeetles (Cycloneda ssp.) live up to their name and have no spots, they can be recognized in other ways. The western spotless ladybeetle (C. polita) has two white rings on its pronotum compared to the two dots on the blood-red ladybeetle (C. sanguinea).
The California ladybeetle (Coccinella californica) also has no spot but a black stripe down its forewings and has trapezoidal markings on its pronotum.
Both of these species have a trapezoidal marking on their pronotum, but the California ladybeetle (Coccinella californica) is spotless while the seven-spotted ladybeetle (C. septempunctata) lives up to its name with seven spots. When most people think of “ladybugs,” they’re thinking of the seven-spotted one.
Steelblue ladybeetle (Halmus chalybeus)
Ladybeetles aren’t always red and black. The ashy gray ladybeetle (Olla v-nigrum) is typically grayish in color with three rows of black spots on their forewings. The twenty-spotted ladybeetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata) is white with large brown splotches and distinctive black spots on their forewings while the steelblue ladybeetle (Halmus chalybeus) is blue and shiny.
Harlequin ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis)
ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Harlequin ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Harlequin ladybeetles (Harmonia axyridis) are a heavily invasive species in California, and in most of the world. They can include red, orange, and black colors and have many varieties of forewing patterns. However, all have a large spot on the edge of their pronotum.
Become a member today to support the Garden’s mission to conserve native plants and habitats throughout California.
Membership Benefits
– Digital membership card to expedite check-in at the Garden and for reserved parking.
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– Reciprocal benefits to over 345 gardens and arboreta nationwide.
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– 10% discount at the Garden Nursery and Shop, as well as at other participating local nurseries.
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BECOME A GARDEN ADVOCATE
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Philanthropic Tiers
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Wildflower: $200
Includes all of the benefits of a membership, plus admission for one guest each visit. Also get six one-time-use guest passes, branded Garden tote bag, and free 1-gallon native plant from our Nursery.
Ironwood: $500
Includes the benefits listed under Wildflower, plus eight one-time-use guest passes and one free education class for two.
CIRCLE Manzanita: $1,000
Includes all benefits listed above, plus 10 one-time-use guest passes, two free guests per visit, physical cards sent in the mail, and invitations to Circle exclusive events.
Sycamore: $2,500
Includes all benefits listed above, plus 15 one-time-use guest passes.
Redwood: $5,000
Includes all benefits listed above, plus 20 one-time-use guest passes.
CORPORATE
Spending time in nature improves productivity and promotes improved mental health — even a few minutes a day can make a big difference.
Give your employees access to the Garden while supporting the conservation of native plants and habitats. We have several tiers of corporate membership available starting at $2,500. For more information, please email our membership office at membership@SBBotanicGarden.org.
Give Today
Whether you are a home gardener, hiker, teacher, or busy professional, the Garden’s programs help deepen connections to nature, ultimately ensuring its protection for the future. Will you join us in championing a better future for us all?
Leave a Legacy
Connect with us to learn how to include the Garden in your will and explore more resources to help you and your family plan for the future.
Make a Tribute or Memorial Gift
Honor a loved one with a plant tribute or memorial bench.
Volunteer
Whatever your motivation, we welcome your talent and enthusiasm.
