SLO Botanical Garden

Little Acorns 2024 Thursday Winter Session
2024-02-15 09:30 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Winter Session:
Thursdays, February 15 – April 18
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Cost: $60 per 10-week session
*Garden Membership required
Program:
Play, learn, and grow with our morning playgroup, Little Acorns! We play games, sing songs, take care of our garden, and have snacks together. Most of all, we have the opportunity to make connections with nature and with other families at the SLO Botanical Garden. This program is geared toward children 0 – 3 and their parents.
Instructions for registration:
This program is for members of SLOBG with an additional cost of $60 per 10-week session. If you would like to purchase a membership, you can do so here and then follow the instructions below to register.
We look forward to seeing you in the Garden!

Free Day at the Garden
2024-02-11 10:00 - 14:00
It’s Free Family Day! Bring your family to the Garden to explore, enjoy, and be out in nature. In the Children’s Garden, we’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a hidden heart hunt, painting rocks, and haikus. The weather looks perfect and everyone is welcome!

Orchids that Grow Outside on the Central California Coast
2024-01-27 11:00 - 12:30 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Jeff Parham and Ed Lysek of the Five Cities Orchid Society will discuss the surprisingly large range of orchids that can be grown outdoors on the Central California Coast. They will start with an overview of how to grow and re-bloom everyone’s favorite indoor orchid, the Phalaenopsis orchid. This will be followed by a brief overview of the special needs of orchids and their general cultural requirements.
Most local orchid growers will be familiar with Cymbidium orchids, and we will discuss the cultural needs of this group and a wide range of other orchids, including Laelias, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, Sarchochilus, Sobralias, and Zygopetalums.
*Members use code Member20 to receive your discount. Membership is verified at entry.

Sound Healing Meditation
2024-01-07 11:00 - 12:00 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
This will truly be a special event as attendees are “bathed” with sounds from alchemy crystal bowls, Himalayan bowls, Koshi chimes, and other sacred instruments.

Sound healing helps us let go of stress, embody happiness and peace, and work through difficult emotions. When we relax the nervous system through sound healing, we feel more ease and peace in our life.
Please bring a yoga mat if you have one.

*Members use code Member5 to receive your discount. Membership will be verified at entry.

Bird & Botany Walk
2023-11-30 08:00 - 10:00
The Garden is excited to present a quarterly bird walk series which explores the intersection of birds and botany. Many plant lovers and many bird watchers enjoy their passions without much regard to how these two realms interact. Yet the links between birds and flora are critical to each, from pollination to seed distribution to nesting and shelter.
This walk, led by Mark Mushkat and Ken Levine, studies birdlife amongst the plants of the botanical garden. The focus will be on which avian species are drawn to certain plants, what’s gained or lost in the exchange, and how this understanding can shape your own landscaping efforts to the benefit of fauna and flora. Allowing for a 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 use code “member10” to receive your Member discount. Membership will be verified.

Soul and Soil: Prenatal and Postnatal Gatherings
2023-11-28 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-10-17 10:00 - 11:30 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Studies show that digging in the dirt can uplift your spirit. The friendly bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, present in the soil stimulates serotonin production, acting as a natural antidepressant. We believe the lack of understanding around prenatal and postnatal care has resulted in isolated, overlooked, and overwhelmed mothers, and that “postnatal” is not a stage, but forever. The SLO Botanical Garden offers a safe space (and plenty of healthy soil) to help us connect to our bodies, our littles, the natural world, and each other. Including snacks, activities, and care for little ones, join us for grounding in your pregnancy and lifelong postpartum journey.
Please bring water, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, snacks and messy play clothes for your children, and an optional blanket or mat if you’d like to sit on the floor.

Chumash Ethnobotany Lecture with Jan Timbrook
2023-11-12 13:00 - 14:00 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Chumash people have used some 150 species of plants for food, medicine, raw materials for making clothing, tools and utensils, religious paraphernalia, and other items essential to existence. Equally important are the ways in which the Chumash thought about plants and were affected by them. Dr. Timbrook’s informative, illustrated talk will provide a glimpse into the fascinating plant world of the Chumash, including the complex interrelationships between the first people of our region and the environment in which they lived.
Members enter code “member10” at checkout to receive your member discount! **Using this code without an active membership will result in a non-refundable cancellation of your order.**

Fall Plant Sale
2023-11-04 10:00 - 16:00
Let our experts guide your selection of unique and drought-tolerant plants, perfect for the Central Coast climate!
Open to the public on Saturday, November 4th, 10am – 4pm.
Members enjoy early shopping from 9am-10am.

Member's Happy Hour & Plant Sale Preview
2023-11-03 16:00 - 18:00
Visit the gardens for a Member’s happy hour and get a jump on shopping for unique and drought-tolerant plants!

Bird and Butterfly Walk and Talk
2023-10-14 10:00 - 11:00 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93405, United States
Scientist Jessica Griffiths is back at the SLO Botanical Garden! This time, she will be teaching us about the remarkably similar fall migration patterns of birds and butterflies, followed by a walk in our garden to look for these animals in action.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather, as we will be both indoors and outdoors.
