TRAM TOURS ARE BACK!
Join us for a 45-minute guided tour along a one mile loop featuring historical and botanical highlights of South Coast Botanic Garden.
Tour Times: 11:00 am and 1:00 pm (Saturdays only)
Tickets: $4 per seat
Tickets can be purchased at the Admissions window (NO ticket sales on the tram)
Trams are open air and tours are subject to cancellation for safety reasons due to rain and inclement weather conditions. Please call ahead to confirm the tram schedule on the day of your visit.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Click the links below to jump to special events that month
March
April
May
MARCH
Cherry Blossom Picnic Day
Saturday, March 5
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Bring a picnic and enjoy Cherry Blossom season at the garden. Cherry Blossoms are an omen of good fortune and also an emblem of love, affection, and represents spring. Enjoy nature and celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossoms! The upper and lower meadows will be open for picnicking Saturday, March 5. Tram tours will run at 11 am, noon, 1 pm, and 2 pm and costs $4 per person.
Windy Ridge Bluegrass Band
Sunday, March 6
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
$15 per person members and non members alike
Come hear traditional and original Bluegrass music from this fun and popular local band. Concert will be held in the hall. No picnics allowed. Does not include entry to the garden.
African Violet Show and Sale
Saturday, March 12
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Show & Sale included with paid garden admission
African Violets are one of America’s most popular houseplants. Under the right growing conditions, they are able to bloom almost continuously. They are available in many colors and growth-habits. Knowledgeable society members will be on hand to answer your questions. Plants and potting mix will be available to purchase. Sponsored by the South Coast African Violet Society.
California Rare Fruit Growers Lecture
Sunday, March 13
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Lecture is included with paid garden admission
Learn about heirloom tomatoes and plant seeds in a pot to take home. There will be grafting demonstrations and society members will talk about and display their favorite gardening tools. This will be a good time to ask questions of their panel of rare fruit grower experts. Fruit tasting from member’s local gardens. Identify those pesky pests! (please make sure any pests are bagged!) Children welcome.
Master Gardener Program – Sustainable Landscaping
Saturday, March 26
9:30 am – 1:00 pm
$25 members/$35 non-members
Instructor: Elizabeth Sala – Master Gardener
Have you wondered what to do in your backyard and garden to maintain/improve the quality of our water, to lower the carbon-footprint of your household and to improve the health of planet Earth? You can learn some easy and practical ways to make your landscape sustainable from Master Gardener Experts who are trained to help you create a healthier garden and yard.
The University of California’s goal, through the Master Gardener Volunteers, is to encourage backyard gardeners to move toward improving urban water quality and conservation, using safe pest management practices, improving fertilizer efficiency, increasing recycling and composting, reducing energy and encouraging wildlife in urban areas.
APRIL
Propagation Demonstration and Lecture
Saturday, April 2
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lecture is included with paid garden admission
Instructors: Debra Bushweit Galliani & Jim Gardner – SCBG Propagation Workshop volunteers and members of the SCBGF Board of Trustees
Learn how plants are propagated at the garden! Come and learn the various ways plants are propagated. Most of the plants sold at our annual plant sales are propagated right here. Lecture will focus on plants that will be available at our Spring Plant Sale.
South Bay Orchid Society Lecture
Sunday, April 3
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lecture is included with paid garden admission
Guest speaker: Nick Braemer
Learn about the care and culture of orchids. Nick Braemer is an excellent orchid grower and former board member of the Orchid Society. He will talk about “Comprehensive Orchid Care.”
South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society Show & Sale
Saturday, April 9 & Sunday, April 10
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Show & Sale is included with paid garden admission
Did you know all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti? Come to this show and learn the difference! Cacti and succulents differ from other plants in that they have adapted to harsh arid conditions by storing water and other nourishing ingredients in their stems, roots, and leaves. Knowledgeable society members will be on hand to answer your questions. Plants and potting mix will be available to purchase. Sponsored by the South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society.
Member’s Only Spring Plant Sale Preview Night Fundraiser
Friday, April 15
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
$20 in advance/$25 at the door
This Member’s Only event has grown in popularity over the years as Foundation members are able to shop early and get the first selection of unusual landscape plants! Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while shopping with fellow gardening enthusiasts. RSVP by Friday, April 8, 2011 with your payment to the Foundation office. Make checks payable to SCBGF, or we can take your credit card payment over the phone: (310) 544-1948.
Spring Plant Sale
Saturday, April 16
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Free admission to plant sale
This plant sale is a much anticipated event. Shop early for the best selection. Come get expert advice and growing tips! This year we will be offering mini-lectures on cactus & succulents, landscaping with CA native plants, growing pelargonium and geranium, and heirloom tomatoes. Tram tours and docent guided mini-tours also available with paid garden admission.
MAY
Epiphyllum Show & Sale
Sunday, May 1
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Show & Sale is included with paid garden admission
There are not many flower shows as colorful as an Epi show. Although short lived, the inflorescence of the Epiphyllum plant is spectacular! Knowledgeable society members will be on hand to answer your questions. Plants and potting mix will be available to purchase.
National Public Garden Day
Friday, May 6
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
National Public Gardens Day was created to raise awareness of America's public gardens and the various roles they play in our lives. A day of celebration to raise awareness of America's public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education in communities nationwide.
Palos Verdes Symphonic Band – Mother’s Day Concert
Sunday, May 8
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Concert is included with paid garden admission.
Bring mom to the garden on this special day. Concert will be held in the hall. No picnics allowed. Picnic grounds are available outside the garden gates.
Wine Tasting Event – A Taste of Spain and Portugal
Saturday, May 14
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
$40 per person, member’s only. Limited to 56 guests, pre-registration required
Come and join us for A Taste of Spain and Portugal at the Garden! Board of Trustee member, Peter Olpe and his wife Susan will take you on a tour of the Iberian Peninsula’s fabulous wine regions to explore high quality wines paired with local delights. We will be sampling wines, as well as cheeses, cured meats and more from this region of the world. This is a special fundraiser for the Garden, and attendance is limited. Sign up now!
South Bay Geranium Society Show & Sale
Saturday, May 14 & Sunday May 15
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Show & Sale is included with paid garden admission
While true geranium are cold hardy, not so their close cousin, pelargonium, which are readily found in home garden centers. True geranium (also known as cranesbills) enjoy cool and mild summer climates and are good for rock gardens. Knowledgeable society members will be on hand to answer your questions. Plants will be available to purchase.
Garden Walk – Tram Tour: Walk and Talk
Thursday, May 19
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Member’s only – space limited on tram – please call the Foundation Office (310) 544-1948 for reservations
Our summer garden walks are back! Enjoy the garden after hours with a tram tour. We’ll be making occasional stops to exit the tram and get a closer look at the flora and fauna. LIMITED TO 30 ENTRIES.
South Coast Bonsai Association Show & Sale
Saturday, May 21, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, May 22, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Show & Sale is included with paid garden admission
Bonsai is the ancient art of dwarfing trees or plants by growing, pruning and training according to prescribed techniques. Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) represents a fusion of strong ancient beliefs with the philosophies of harmony between man, the soul, and nature. Come see these truly breathtaking examples of bonsai.