SLO Botanical Garden

Community Pack Walk with Ancestral Companions Dog Training
2026-03-14 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join Juan Luzuriaga, dog trainer and owner of Ancestral Companions, along with your fellow nature lovers and their leashed canine companions for a community gathering starting at the SLOBG’s Cypress Circle, across from the El Choro Regional Dog Park. We will begin with a group training and demonstration allowing time for questions and answers. Juan will offer guidance in how to manage reactivity, fear-based aggression, basic obedience, resource guarding, anxiety. After the group gathering, attendees have the option of joining in a pack walk on the SLO Botanical Garden’s Discovery Trail.
*SLOBG Member Discount: $5 (Use coupon code Member5)

Garden Journaling at the SLO Botanical Garden
2026-03-14 10:00 - 11:30
SLOBG welcomes you to a garden journaling group.
The session will begin with 10-15 minutes of instruction or introduction of a theme. After which, members will have the opportunity to journal independently in the garden. Sessions will conclude with a sharing of journals and experiences.
We will be using nature journaling as a tool to connect to nature and each other. No experience necessary. Please bring a blank journal and pen or pencil. Colored pencils or paints optional.
Registration includes garden admission for the day. Free to members. Enter Coupon code: 10off
Please dress in layers and bring water, snacks, sunblock as need. This activity is intended for adults and children aged 10 and older who are accompanied by an adult.

Free Family Day: Ladybug Release Day!
2026-03-15 10:00 - 14:00
Free Family Day: Ladybug Release Day – Hooray!
Come and celebrate ladybugs and their importance to the Garden. Learn some fun facts that you’re unlikely to forget and help release native ladybugs. If there are some left over, you may be able to purchase a bag to take home to your own garden. Everyone is welcome! Ladybug attire encouraged.
We’ll also have games and crafts and fun in the Children’s Garden. Food and ladybug goodies available for purchase.
Please note: Activities in the Children’s Garden will be from 10am until 2pm. Admission to the Garden is free all day. The Gift Shop & restrooms close at 2pm.
A BIG THANKS to some special people and organizations that help to make this special day free for the community including the Central Coast Funds for Children!
Please Note: El Chorro Regional Park has extended their fee season and increased their day use fee. The day use fee is now $5 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from March thru October. Please bring cash to expedite the entry process. To avoid the $5 fee, you may want to consider grabbing a bite to eat at Marcerro Restaurant and walking over from there.

3.19.26 New Moon Sound Healing and Nature Meditation at the SLO Botanical Gardens
2026-03-19 17:45 - 19:00
Enjoy an evening of connection, peace through sound vibrations, mindfulness, and nature. Immerse in harmonic tones from crystal alchemy bowls, Koshi chimes, and more. These frequencies can slow busy thoughts, steady the breath, and enhance presence, leaving you grounded, open-hearted, and inspired.
Plan on arriving a bit early if you’d like to independently explore SLOBG grounds. The Sound Healing experience will take place indoors at the Oak Glen Pavilion (across from SLOBG Gift Shop) Doors will open at 5:15 pm. Please bring a yoga mat and blanket as desired. A few extras will be available to borrow. The floor is hard so some participants choose to bring an extra thick mat or a camp pad for extra comfort. Jamie will begin by leading the group on a short mediative nature walk followed by an indoor sound experience.
Instructor Bio: Jamie, of Harmonic Holistics, is a full-time sound healing practitioner, specializing in trauma-informed stress reduction practices. With a passion for everything meditation-related, she believes everyone can meditate in their own unique way when given guidance, patience, and reassurance. When she isn’t sharing wellness activities, she is hiking, cuddling with her dog, or expressing herself through dance.
SLOBG Members – Enter Member5 for $5 off registration fee.

Astronomy Night & Stargazing at SLO Botanical Gardens with Central Coast Astronomical Society
2026-03-21 19:00 - 20:45
Join Central Coast Astronomical Society (CCAS) for an evening of stargazing at the SLO Botanical Garden. Explore the night sky with telescopes and guided viewing hosted by CCAS. Take a close-up look at star clusters, galaxies, Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, and deep-sky objects including Orion’s beautiful M42 Nebula. Whether you’re new to astronomy or a seasoned skywatcher, this is a fun and welcoming event!
We will begin with a live astronomy presentation at 7:00 pm, where CCAS will take you on a guided tour of the night sky and preview the objects we will be observing. At 7:30 pm, we head outside to the telescope area for hands-on viewing, with stargazing continuing until 8:30 pm. Our friendly astronomers will bring telescopes, you may bring binoculars and your sense of wonder.
Because the star tour sets the stage for the whole experience, we encourage guests to arrive on time. The presentation helps you know what to look for and makes the telescope viewing far more meaningful.
This is a free event, however reservations are required and a suggested $10 donation is appreciated to support the garden. This program is rain or shine. If clouds roll in, we will have engaging indoor activities, demonstrations, and astronomy exploration for attendees 7 and older. Clear skies or not, we will learn something new and enjoy an evening immersed in the wonders of the universe. Arriving at the park: We highly recommend that you arrive before start time, to allow for time to check out the telescopes, talk with astronomers, and find a good seat for the star show.
Star Party Etiquette and Guidelines
To help everyone enjoy the night sky, please avoid using white lights after dark and use only minimal red light when necessary. Alcoholic beverages, smoking, and vaping are not permitted at stargazing activities or near the telescopes. Please wear sturdy shoes, as we’ll be walking around expensive equipment in low light. To maintain a safe observing environment, please no pets or small children (under the age of 7).

*Please note: El Chorro Regional Park charges a $5 day use fee to enter the park from March thru October. Please carpool and have cash handy to expedite park entry.

Ladies Lunch Club & Private Garden Tour- Sara Corliss (private event)
2026-03-24 10:00 - 14:00 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Please join us for a potluck lunch, followed by a private Garden tour with Executive Director Janine Stillman at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. If you can’t stay for the tour, we hope you will still join us for lunch.11:30pm – Lunch / Oak Glen Pavilion1:00pm – Tour (about 45 minutes)If you plan to go on the tour, please wear / bring walking shoes.Not a member of this group? Please email ed@slobg.org to schedule your own private tour.

Founders Tour with Eve
2026-04-01 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-05-06 11:00 - 12:30
Join SLOBG founder and Mediterranean plant expert, Eve Vigil, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the SLO Botanical Garden. Eve may talk about the Garden’s history, what’s in bloom, important maintenance, interesting and unique plants, or whatever most interests the group.
Come on out and get your questions answered! Meet new people and learn great tips and tricks for having a stunning water-frugal garden.
Members can tour for free! Enter code: MemberTen
Tour fee includes admission to the Garden for non-members.

Pacific Wildlife Care Presents: Wildlife Babies ~ When to Help and When to Leave Them Be?
2026-04-02 17:30 - 19:00
Join Pacific Wildlife Care at SLO Botanical Garden’s Oak Glenn Pavilion Education Center for a public talk on the fascinating world of wildlife babies. Learn about ecology, wildlife rehabilitation, common myths, and practical tips for supporting wildlife in your backyard. After the talk, spend a few minutes meeting one of our Wildlife Ambassadors!
This program is free and open to the public. Donations to the SLO Botanical Garden are welcomed and directly support the Garden and related educational events.
Doors open: 5:30 PM | Program: 6:00–7:00 PM

Free Family Day: Learn About Our Coastal Ecosystem
2026-04-04 10:00 - 13:00
Free Family Day: Learn About Our Coastal Ecosystem
Join our friends at Sea Otter Savvy, SLO Beaver Brigade and Pacific Wildlife Care at the SLO Botanical Garden to learn about some of our favorite coastal creatures and ways to protect them. Enjoy informational booths throughout the Oak Glenn Pavilion and on the beautiful outside terrace. Be sure to stop by explore a display of local seaweeds and shells and talk to local educators.
This event is family-friendly and FREE! Garden admission is waived for the day so be sure to take a stroll and check out our Gift Shop and Garden Nursery.
Please Note:The El Chorro Regional Park day use fee is $5 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from March thru October. Please bring cash to expedite the entry process.

Birds and Bloom with Morro Coast Audubon Society
2026-04-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00
Free for Members!
The SLO Botanical Garden in collaboration with the Morro Coast Audubon Society presents a bird walk exploring the unique relationship between birds and botany. Plant lovers and bird watchers will learn about this delicate and interconnected relationship, from pollination to seed distribution to nesting and shelter. Susie Reddy and Faylla Chapman will lead the two-hour exploration, on mostly flat terrain. We expect to see and hear a wide variety of avian species as they feed, hide, nest, and defend territory in the garden’s lush habitat.
Members, please use code “FREEBIRD” to receive your complimentary ticket. Membership will be verified. Become a member today!
Enrollment special: On the day of the class, the $15 fee can be applied toward SLOBG membership.
Please note: El Chorro Regional Park charges a $5 day use fee on Friday thru Sunday and holidays from March thru October. Consider purchasing an annual pass or brining cash to expedite the entry process.

Garden Bliss- Movement & Sound Journey at the SLO Botanical Gardens
2026-04-23 17:30 - 19:30
Join us for an immersion of nature, movement and sound this Earth Day.
Jamie Nicole of Harmonic Holistics and Ana of Oceana Yoga will lead participants on an organic, electronic fusion of earth and creativity.
The evening will begin with an all-levels, slow yoga flow led by Ana to help access mobility, strength and relaxation. Then, we will move into a conscious dance amidst the SLO Botanical Garden’s array of native and blooming beauties with silent disco headphones and music by DJ Oceana. We will conclude by integrating movement, dance and nature immersion with a healing sound bath led by Jamie Nicole.
FAQ:
What kind of music?
The dance will be a mix of conscious dance and ecstatic music fused – think organic bass, deep house music, and lyrical medleys singing gratitude of our shared planet.
What if I’ve never done yoga?
Slow yoga with Ana provides accessibility, ease and invigoration from first time students to seasoned practitioners.
What is the cost of this experience?
We are offering sliding scale tickets so please choose the price that fits your budget.
SLOBG Members – Enter Member5 for $5 off registration fee.

Fused Glass Garden Stake Workshop with Ja9
2026-04-25 10:00 - 13:00
Explore the art of fused glass to create a one-of-a-kind garden stake.
You’ll learn how to cut glass and prepare your piece for firing. Bring your creativity and artistic flair and learn from our Executive Director, Janine Stillman, an internationally known fused glass instructor. Beginners are welcome!
An additional materials fee of $50 will be required, payable to the instructor on the day of the class- cash only, please.
*Members use code Member10off to receive your discount. Membership will be verified at entry.

Nature Sunday: Trees of San Luis Obispo
2026-04-26 10:00 - 12:00
Join Faylla Chapman and Kyle Nessen at the SLO Botanic Garden Pavilion for a talk on trees commemorating Arbor Day, April 24th. Faylla will do a slide show on the Heritage Trees of San Luis Obispo and Kyle will show slides of places around SLO before and after trees, highlighting their importance in the landscape. After the talks there will be a tour of the garden to see samples of some of the trees discussed.
Faylla is a retired marine biologist, a retired science and agriculture teacher at Morro Bay High School, and a former State Parks docent leading nature walks. She is currently a docent at the SLO Botanic Garden, a leader of habitat walks for Morro Coast Audubon, and a presenter of various nature walks and activities for kids and in the community.

Kyle Nessen is a lecturer at Cal Poly and instructor at Cuesta College, where he teaches Botany and Environmental Biology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in botany and recently completed his master’s work investigating how microclimate dynamics affect monarch butterfly behavior at overwintering sites. With years of experience as an environmental consultant focused on monarch habitat restoration across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, Kyle now owns Baywood Labs, a consulting firm that specializes in new approaches to monarch habitat management. Kyle serves on the board of the Morro Bay National Estuary Program and on the steering committee for the Central Coast Biological Society.

Free registration applies to participation with Nature Sunday topic and covers garden admission for the day.

Book Club at the Garden
2026-04-28 17:30 - 19:30
🌿 You’re Invited to a Book Club at the Garden! 🌿
Join us for a delightful early evening at the botanical garden as we come together to discuss Gardening with a Wild Heart by Judith Larner Lowry.
Surrounded by blooming paths, fragrant herbs, and the gentle hum of nature, we’ll explore Lowry’s passionate call to embrace native plants and cultivate gardens that truly belong to their place. This engaging discussion will delve into how gardening can be an act of restoration, connection, and wild beauty.
🌸 What to Expect:
• Thoughtful conversation about ecological gardening
• Shared reflections and favorite passages
• A peaceful garden stroll before the meeting for inspiration
• Tea & Light Refreshments (bring your own and something to share if you choose)
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or simply love being among plants, this gathering is a wonderful opportunity to connect with a small group of fellow readers and nature enthusiasts.
Bring your copy of the book, a friend, and your curiosity. Let’s celebrate gardening with heart — and just a little wildness.
*Free for Members, Use Code: Member5

We look forward to growing together! 🌱

"Busy Bees" Caregiver Participation Volunteer Team
2026-04-30 10:30 - 2026-06-18 12:00
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Family Free Day: Faerie Festival!
2026-05-09 10:00 - 14:00
Join us for our 4th annual Faerie Festival!!
This magical Family Free Day is for faeries of all ages! There will be crafts and activities, and the garden will be filled with music, storytelling, and face-painting. Faerie attire is encouraged.
Concessions will be available for purchase.
Entry and activities are free for all; your donations help our children’s programs grow, and our garden thrive.
Please note: there’s a $5 fee to enter El Chorro Park. Having cash will speed up your entry! You can avoid the $5 entry fee by taking the FREE shuttle provided by SLO Safe Ride from the Cuesta College lot.
For more information about this special day, please email: education@slobg.org or call: 805-541-1400.

Special THANKS to our sponsors!!!!

Painting Pollinators~Watercolor Workshop with Beth Ostapiuk
2026-05-25 10:00 - 13:00
Join Beth Ostapiuk at the SLO Botanical Garden for a 3 hour watercolor workshop on the step-by-step process of creating an 8×10 ready to mat/frame watercolor painting. This class is part of an ongoing series that will highlight local pollinators (birds, bees, butterflies) as the focal point.
Participants will learn basic watercolor techniques while they paint the beautiful “Rufous Hummingbird.” This class is designed for adults 18+ of all artistic abilities. No previous experience is required.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own materials (brushes, paint, water bin, paint pallet) if you have them. A limited amount of materials will be available for use or purchase.
About the Instructor Beth Ostapiuk:
Beth is an award-winning California artist with Minnesota roots. She has experience with fiber arts, ceramics, and painting/creating Ukrainian eggs. Beth teaches watercolor and botanical illustration at Allan Hancock College and has taught younger children in public schools. She is a “Signature Member” of the Central Coast Watercolor Society and a returning Art Instructor at La Romita Art school in Italy as well as a member of the Morro Bay Art Association. She has received accolades as “Best of Show” at the Santa Barbara County Fair and other exhibits throughout the country. To learn more about Beth and her artwork, please visit here.
Please Note: Rancho El Chorro Regional Park charges at $5 day use fee on Fridays-Sundays and Holidays.
Class enrollment includes SLOBG admission for the day so feel free to pack a picnic and enjoy a garden stroll before or after the class.
SLOBG Members save $5. Enter discount code “Member5” at checkout.

Family Garden Journaling at the SLO Botanical Garden
2026-05-31 10:00 - 11:30

Nature Sunday: Plants that Eat!
2026-05-31 10:00 - 12:00
Join Burke Gehrung as he gives general information about multiple different carnivorous plant species and their trapping mechanisms. Various fun facts about different plants with a focus on nepenthes pitcher plants. He will have several specimens to show and possibly sell.
From Burke:
Hi, my name is Burke Gehrung, I’m a Templeton native, I got into growing Carnivorous plants 3 years ago and have been deeply enamored by them every day since! The reason I got into them was because my grandmother was away on vacation I took care of her plants. After taking care of them, I decided to get plants of my own. When thinking about what plants to get I recalled the nature documentary seeing carnivorous plants specifically pitcher plants, and I looked up if you could buy them. Lo and behold you could! I bought some and got a right onto learning how to take care of them after they were already on their way. I still have all three of those initial plants that I got and hope to keep them forever. I look forward to talking with you all and teaching you about these wonderful plants.

Free registration applies to participation with Nature Sunday topic and covers garden admission for the day.
Please Note: El Chorro Regional Park charges a $5 day use fee from March thru October on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

Little Acorns - Summer 2026
2026-06-03 09:30 - 2026-07-08 11:30
