Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

If you envision a world where every person understands the interdependency between people and plants and you're ready to act to preserve this precious natural world, we want to hear from you. The Garden is currently hiring for five full-time positions across several departments. Explore our available positions and apply today: https://bit.ly/3Hi91zI 🌿 Applied Conservation Ecologist: In this position, you’ll work with the Conservation Director and rest of the Ecology Team to implement, communicate, and design restoration ecology projects at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. 🌿 Donor Relations Manager: $3.1M of Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s $8.2M in annual revenue comes from donations and memberships. Overseen by the Development Director and reporting to the Sr. Donor Relations Manager, this donor-focused, full-time (40 hours) exempt position is at the center of securing funds for our essential conservation mission. 🌿 Director of Finance: The Director of Finance is a strategic, hands-on accounting specialist and financial analyst, providing dynamic support and guidance to the Executive Director, department directors, managers, and the Board of Trustees. 🌿 Plant Genomics Lab Manager: In this position, you will support the Garden’s Biodiversity Team by maintaining laboratory facilities and managing their use by research scientists, staff, and volunteers. You will participate in Biodiversity Team research activities and occasionally collaborate on projects with other staff of the Conservation and Research Department. 🌿 Rare Plant Technician 1: The Rare Plant Technician is part of a close-knit team that is focused on conserving California’s rare plants. In this position, you will assist with a range of field, lab, and office work supporting the inventory, conservation, and restoration of California’s flora.

Introducing our new exhibition, "In Bloom: Embracing Resilience in California’s Native Flora," in collaboration with Slingshot/Alpha Art Studio. This exhibition is the result of a year-long collaboration with Slingshot, a progressive arts studio that facilitates the creative practice and professional interest of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In this show, several artists from Slingshot took reference material we provided, such as plant clippings, herbarium specimens, line drawings, and photographs, and created artwork based on their own interpretations of that material. "In Bloom" celebrates the plants that flourish during the dry season, a deceptively dull time in California. Clearly drawn lines and crisp media highlight the intricate beauty of some of California's remarkable dry-season species and remind us that their adaptations allow them to thrive. The pieces employ a diverse range of media, including colored pencil on paper, glazed ceramic plaques, foam prints on paper, and embroidery floss on wool. Pictured above is artist Erica Miller working on her piece "Dudleya," using embroidery floss on wool. We invite you to visit the exhibition, on view through December 1, and see how these artists brilliantly capture the beauty of California's dry season.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Forage & Feast this weekend! A special thanks to our partners, Terra @terrasantabarbara, Pali Wine Co @paliwineco, and Rock12 Distillery @rock12distillery, for creating a unique and utterly delicious garden-to-table dinner. And a huge thank you to our sponsors who made this event possible: Mark Funk & Jim Owens, The Allday Family, Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, Daniel Nash & Maia Kikerpill, Frank & Leslie Schipper, Montecito Bank & Trust, Sally & Bill Russ, and The Sommer-Belin Family. If you missed this Forage & Feast or are already longing for more, the Garden is hosting another dinner on October 19—stay tuned for more details! If you are interested in sponsoring or attending, please reach out to our Senior Donor Relations Manager, Jenny McClure at Jmcclure@sbbotanicgarden.org. Images: Carly Otness Photography, @carlyotnessphoto

The countdown is on. Our Forage & Feast Silent Auction closes tonight at 7:30 p.m. PST. With only 5 hours left, don’t miss your chance to bid on a unique Garden experience! Carrying out our mission to conserve native plants and habitats is only possible with the support of our community. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has participated in our silent auction. Place your bid here: https://bit.ly/4dmxZLZ. Follow our countdown event page on Facebook for hourly updates on the auction and a sneak peek into each of our unique experiences offered: https://bit.ly/4dkqzch

The Garden is hiring its first Director of Advocacy and Impact! We will be working to remove barriers, build incentives and enable everyone to use native plants to support biodiversity! Come join our team! https://lnkd.in/gmxaJhJ8

We're in the final countdown of our Forage & Feast silent auction, with only 3 days left to bid! [F&F Silent Auction: https://bit.ly/3zMsJTn] At the Garden, we have remained true to our founding principle - to conserve native plants and habitats for the wellbeing of people and our planet. To support this effort, we are excited to present our silent auction, featuring some very special one-of-a-kind auction items. Whether you're interested in a private full moon hike with our Director of Education or hosting an unforgettable birthday party in our Backcountry, your support is vital to our mission. With only a few days left, explore some of our favorite auction items. Place your bid today and join us in protecting our planet. Bid today: https://bit.ly/3zMsJTn

It's thought provoking, it's witty, it's engaging & educational — it's Ironwood Issue 35! The digital edition of our latest Ironwood, the Garden’s bi-annual magazine, is now available online. Issue 35 features an eclectic mix of short stories, history, scientific discovery, and even poetry. Written by our dedicated team and respected contributors, each article offers a unique perspective on why native plants are critical to the health of our planet – and ourselves! Take a peek at a few of the highlights from this issue, and stay tuned for an in-depth exploration of the rest of the edition. Whether you’re a long-time reader or newly joining us, this issue promises to delight. Read Ironwood Issue 35 here: https://lnkd.in/gbXggKCD.

From a private day trip to Santa Cruz Island to an exclusive birthday party in the Backcountry to VIP Beer Garden tickets, we’ve got something for everyone. In conjunction with our Forage & Feast fundraiser, we're offering one-of-a-kind auction items to support our Plant With Purpose initiative. This initiative is dedicated to healing and protecting the planet, ensuring a better future for generations to come. Carrying out our mission to conserve native plants and habitats is made possible only through the generosity of our supporters. We are so thankful to have such an amazing community that loves the Garden, the people behind it, and most of all, California's native plants. We can't wait to get to know more of you through these special experiences. Explore all our available experiences and place your bid here: https://bit.ly/3zMsJTn Auction ends on July 27, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. PST.

We're growing the Garden team! The Garden is looking for talented and passionate individuals to join us in advocating for native plants and habitats. We are currently seeking: Restoration Field Manager | As the Restoration Field Manager, you’ll lead the implementation of habitat restoration and research projects. You’ll work together with the rest of the Garden’s Ecology Team and our project partners to design and implement projects that help make restoration more effective. Applied Conservation Ecologist | As the Applied Conservation Ecologist, you’ll work with the Conservation Director and the rest of the Ecology Team to implement, communicate, and design restoration ecology projects. Rare Plant Technician 2 | As a Rare Plant Technician Level 2, you'll assist with a wide range of field, lab, and office work supporting the conservation of California’s rare flora. Communications Coordinator | As the Communications Coordinator, you’ll help us continue to engage and grow our community of supporters – from our staff, volunteers, members, and donors, to everyday visitors, partners, and future collaborators – using traditional and emerging channels of communication. Guest Services Associate | As the Guest Services Associate, you'll be the first point of contact for our visitors. You'll perform a variety of visitor-focused tasks to build and strengthen relationships with the public and improve understanding and support of our mission. Join our dynamic team and make a difference in a beautiful environment that fosters growth and learning. Learn more about our open positions here: https://lnkd.in/gmxaJhJ8 📷 Christopher Smee, @nativeglendalegarden

The Garden is thrilled to announce the official opening of our first 2024 Casita, "Spinning Petals," designed by Los Angeles-based writer and artist Robyn Coburn. Inspired by the wind, Coburn's dynamic collection features freestanding fabric structures resembling petals and leaves. When designing the Casita, Coburn envisioned an interactive space full of movement. She wanted a whimsical structure where wind and water could dance through, and children could play and explore. Each petal, made from hemp fabric, showcases a different artistic medium, including paint, turmeric and avocado skin dye, embroidery, beading, and more. Coburn experimented extensively to find environmentally friendly materials. The influence of California native plants is woven into each petal, with details like embroidered Latin names and stamps traced from bay leaves. We invite children and adults alike to come explore this interactive space and let their imaginations come to life. Thank you, Robyn, for creating such a colorful, dynamic, and magical structure that is sure to inspire joy and wonder. Come check it out! @Robyn Coburn