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Tuesday through Thursday, July  8 - 10

Green Buildings Camp

The Botanical Garden and the San Luis Obispo YMCA are proud to offer their first summer camp at the Garden. Green, sustainable, solar buildings are within your reach. Come see our straw bale construction center and learn about the secrets of passive solar design. Perhaps, you, too, will become a Solar Architect after taking this specialty camp.

Ages: 5-12 year olds

Location: San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, El Chorro Regional Park across from Cuesta College

Time: Session 1: 10:00am-12:00pm, 5-8 year olds
Session 2: 2:00pm-4:00pm, 9-12 year olds

Fee: $70.00, Minimum # of participants: 10, Maximum: 20

For more information please contact Katie Allison at 543-8235 x 106, Kallison@sloymca.org or Teresa Lees at 541-1400 x.304, tlees@slobg.org


Saturday, July 12

1pm to 2pm
Melinda Alvarado presents "Do you think bats are scary?  Learn the truth about bats with our Blind Bat Educational Show."
Held in the Education Center
Fee: $5 (Members $4)

Come find out that bats which get such a bad rap (as in “you have bats in your belfry” or “you are batty”) are really among our most effective pesticides. Melinda Alvarado our very own local bat expert will bring some of her bats for you to see. She will talk about the vital role they play in our environment as pollinators and for insect control.

Myths, superstitions and misconceptions about these highly beneficial mammals are discussed and replaced with factual learning about the ecological importance of bats and their roles in many ecosystems.

Let Melinda’s bats, Radar, Santa Cruz, TOIO, and Robert change your mind forever regarding these marvelous creatures of the evening sky.

You will learn why:

  • bats don't get headaches from hanging upside down and
  • you don't have to worry about bats getting stuck in your hair.
  • bats are much more closely related to humans than to rodents.

Come see for yourself first hand. This is our most popular children’s program every year, so get here early because it will be a sell out.


Monday through Friday, August 4 - 8

9 am - noon
Oak Family Camp
Fee: $140 per family of four
($120 for Members)

This botanical themed day camp involves the whole family creating summer camp memories together. Parents, Grandparents and Children garden together, do daily crafts and build a garden project together. This year families will learn about the species of oak trees that grow in California and be involved in installing the Oak Woodland landscape plan for the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Education Center. We will construct a straw bale bench underneath the canopy of Coast Live Oaks for a “kid’s circle” and

create original works of art on tiles just to name a couple of the fun-filled projects. Daily snacks are also provided. Registrations are open starting March 1, 2008 until June 30, 2008. Register by emailing Teresa Lees, Education Coordinator at tlees@slobg.org


Saturday, August 9

1pm to 2pm
Richard Halsey presents "Finding a Balance: Protecting your home from fire while still enjoying the chaparral."
Held in the Education Center
Fee: $5 (Members $4)

Of all the distinct, natural communities in California, chaparral is the only one found throughout and is the only one that can be said to represent the state’s most characteristic wildland. Yet the chaparral ecosystem remains an unknown place to most. Few are aware that it was once the home of the California grizzly bear and provides a vital natural resource to our communities.

Chaparral is also inherently flammable. Since California has one of the most fire prone environments on earth, it is important to understand how to manage fire risk around your home if you live near a wildland area. A balance can be reached between fire risk reduction and the protection of natural resources if the entire fire safety equation is properly understood.

Come join renowned writer and biologist Richard W. Halsey as he shares with us the chaparral’s unique natural history, how to best protect your home from wildfire risk, and why the chaparral represents such a vital link to nature for all Californians.

Richard W. Halsey has taught natural science for more than 30 years, conducts research and educational programs through the California Chaparral Institute, and has been trained as a wildland firefighter. His most recent book is “Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California.”

Mr. Halsey can be reached by email at www.californiachaparral.org


Past Events


Saturday, January 12, 2008

Bill Bouton

1 pm - 2 pm
Bill Bouton Presents
"The Butterflies of SLO County"
Held in the Education Center
Fee: $5 (Members $4)

Click here to see the follow-up information about this event or click here to see many of the pictures he has taken of butterflies and beautiful locations in the county.


Saturday, February 9, 2008

1 pm - 2 pm
Brian Kemble Presents
"Touring South Africa for Succulents"
Held in the Education Center
Fee: $5 (Members $4)

Click here to see the follow-up information about this event and the succulent workshop.


Saturday, March 8, 2008

1 pm - 2 pm
Helene-Carol Brown Presents
"Ancient Mediterranean Gardens"
Held in the Education Center
Fee: $5 (Members $4)

In this lecture, Helene explored the gardens of the Ancient World, from Mesopotamia through Rome.  She explained the origins of pergolas, ponds, loggias and lagoons in the garden.  From Queen Hatshepsut's garden of frankincense trees to Hadrian's gala setting for lavish evening garden parties.


Saturday, April 12, 2008

10am to 2 pm
The SLO County Master Gardeners Plant Sale and Mini Seminars
No Fee

Come one - come all!!!  To the GREEN SCENE garden event at the Botanical Garden’s green education center on April 12th.  The theme for this event is

            It is easy being . . . GREEN !


Saturday, June 14, 2008

1 pm - 2 pm
Matt Ritter Presents
"The Eucalypts - the most common non-native trees in California"
Held in the Education Center
Fee: $5 (Members $4)

Eucalypts are the most common non-native trees in California. Although all 800 different types of eucalypts are found primarily in Australia, many are prevalently planted in Mediterranean climate areas. They are the largest flowering plants in the world and the most abundantly grown plantation trees. Dr. Ritter discussed the botany, ecology, history, diversity and controversy associated with these fascinating trees.


Garden Maintenance - every Tuesday:  9 am to 11 am

  • Location: Preview Garden
  • Event Summary: Get your fingers dirty! Plant, weed, mulch, and water under the supervision of Preview Garden Manager, Eve Vigil and Assistant Manager, Ellen Dollar

Plant Sale - every Tuesday:  9 am to 11 am (weather permitting)

  • Location: Preview Garden Greenhouse
  • Event Summary:  We sell plants grown at the greenhouse to the public.  The greenhouse is located at the botanical garden. This is a great opportunity for members to enhance their own gardens and support our effort to enlarge our Garden. Exact change, checks and Master Card and Visa are welcome.

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