Open Sunrise to Sundown | 365 Days a Year

“We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.”

Andy Goldsworthy

The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Foundation is dedicated to encouraging children to explore, adults to learn, and individuals of all ages to discover the beauty, serenity and joy of our diverse natural environment and its significance in our lives.

Grow with Us!

  • Become a Member

    Your membership card comes with special discounts on our events and workshops - and at local businesses.

    join

  • Donate Your Time

    Our community garden is powered by volunteers - come help us grow!

    volunteer

  • Support the Garden

    Your tax-deductible donations fund all the plants, supplies and programs that keep our garden blooming.

    donate

Guided Nature Walk

Learn about local plants and wildlife on a walk-and-talk with Los Padres ForestWatch Conservation Director Bryant Baker, a naturalist who specializes in the area's unique chaparral and coastal sage scrub ecosystems.

Garden Map

Group Education

Outings are available for school groups, scouting groups and other organizations seeking a guided educational experience through the garden.

Virtual Classes

At the Santa Ynez Botanic Garden, we are excited to offer a variety of virtual classes designed to connect nature enthusiasts of all ages with the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Our virtual classes cover a range of topics including plant identification, gardening tips, wildlife conservation, and more. Taught by experienced instructors, these interactive classes provide participants with the opportunity to learn from the comfort of their own homes while still engaging with our knowledgeable staff and fellow nature lovers. Whether you are a seasoned botanist or just starting to explore the world of plants, our virtual classes offer something for everyone. Join us online and embark on a journey of discovery and learning with the Santa Ynez Botanic Garden.

Kids Corner

Try these fun garden activities and projects designed just for kids!

Instagram

Stunning photo from the garden sent to us by a garden visitor Karen. The fall colors are spectacular in the garden. Thank you @mrs.kq for sharing this amazing photo with us! #syvbotanicgarden #fallvibes
Fall is in full swing at the garden! 🍁 The vibrant colors are on display, with the Roger’s Red Grape arbor stealing the show, framed by the golden hues of Menzies’ Goldenbush, the striking chalk dudleya, and the soft scent and foliage of
Immersed in the moody beauty of fall on the west end of the Wilderness Trail 🍂🍁 Overlooking the Santa Ynez River and mountains, with cottonwoods and sycamores showcasing their stunning fall colors. #AutumnInNature #SantaYnezViews #FallColors #syvbo
A bit of late summer/early fall blooms in the garden. Showing the resilience of native plants blooming in the tough dry late season conditions. With no seasonal precipitation, these beauties shine bright in the garden with their stunning blooms. Pict
Sunday was all about seed collecting in the garden—a delightful twist on trick-or-treating! Participants wandered among the plants, gathering seeds and then coming together to share and sort their finds into packets to take home. We collected a
This week, we had the pleasure of hosting Dunn School student Olivia as our intern in the garden. She reached out to express her love for nature, plants, and botany, and we were thrilled to have her explore her interests here. Olivia made a significa
Help us diversify and grow our milkweed and other native plants to support our pollinators and wildlife. We will be collecting seed from within the garden to plant, give away and propagate, and you’ll be able to take some home with you as well
If you’ve been by the garden lately you might have noticed some new work being done wondering what we are up to now, we are excited that SYVBGF has reached another exciting milestone. After celebrating Labor Day on one of the most gorgeous of
Thank you to everyone who entered our Photography contest in collaboration with @calnatureartmuseum California Nature Art Museum. Such a wonderful selection of photos to choose from. Here are our winners from the contest. We will follow up with the
The stunning Humboldt’s Lily ‘Lilium humboldtii’ is currently putting on a show near the entrance of the garden. Native to Southwestern California it can grow up to 8 feet tall with showy cascading blooms dangling like a floral chan
The Family Garden is one of our most popular sections, the Woodland house is always bumbling with activity and imagination as well as all the custom made Woodland vehicles. Thank you to our wonderful supporters, donors, grantors, members and voluntee
The Serpentine Summit of the Wilderness Trail gives amazing views of the garden meadow and Santa Ynez Mountain range. Serpentine is California’s State rock and is considered by geoscientists to be the metamorphosed remains of magnesium-rich ign
Sages and clarkias and yarrows, oh my!! The garden is filled with different varieties of all these stunning flowers, currently all in bloom. Be sure to stop in and let us know which is your favorite!! #syvbotanicgarden #nativeplants
The garden is overflowing with blooms around every corner. Golden Yarrow line the pathways near the Roger’s Red grape arbor with bright yellow blooms. Accompanied by Yellow Hummingbird Sage, White Sage, Canyon Gray Sagebrush and Chalk Dudleya.