Mathias Botanical Garden

Matriarch of the Rainforest: The Adventures & Work of Mildred E. Mathias
2019-03-07 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90024, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, US
Mildred held many titles over the years: the world authority on carrots, one of the first female faculty members at UCLA, mother of four, inspired teacher, and author. Mildred’s life (1906-1995) was an adventurous one, where her curiosity and persistence moved her to shake the societal norms for women and to break into the academic world of science.

Join us during Women’s History Month for a celebration of her life. Travel the world with a slide show presentation of Mildred’s original photographs from her adventures across the globe curated by Maya Edmond, UCLA Herbarium Archivist. View items from Mildred’s life and legacy at UCLA selected by MLIS Graduate Student Rachel Poutasse. Those who knew Mildred will have an opportunity to share their memories of her. This event is free, but space is limited; please RSVP.

This project is supported by the generosity of Dr. Robert and Anne Kamansky.

March Drop-in Garden Tour
2019-03-02 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Explore our living museum featuring collections of plants from around the globe! Join a docent for a free guided tour of the garden on the first Saturday of the month at 1pm. We’ll hear the stories of a selection of plants in the garden, and their relevance to human society. All ages are welcome. See you there!We will meet at the Nest Outdoor Classroom at the northern end of the garden. Follow the driveway down from the La Kretz Garden Pavilion. Restrooms are available at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion. Follow the driveway down from the pavilion to find the Nest.

There is no parking available at the Garden. Visitors can park in UCLA Parking Structure 2 (payment required) near the Westholme Avenue entrance to campus, or at metered parking spots in Westwood. Metered street parking can also be found on Manning Ave, which can be accessed from Charles E. Young Drive or Hilgard Avenue. The address of the UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion is 707 Tiverton Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Darwin’s Birthday Party: Plant Evolution + Biodiversity Garden Tour
2019-02-12 16:00 - 17:30 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Come celebrate plant evolution & party like it’s 1809! Join us for a Garden tour celebrating plant evolution, Charles Darwin, and his famous voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. We will travel the world of plants to discover global connections and ideas about evolution. Our path will follow Darwin’s voyage and we’ll hear entries from his journals during his trip. Tours will be led by Ioana Anghel and Sarah Jacobs of the UCLA Zapata Lab of Plant Evolution Diversity. A reception will follow the tour.
The tour will follow uneven paths with steep grades. Please wear layers and dress for the weather. Tours will begin promptly, so please arrive on time.
This event is free, but space is limited–Please RSVP

February Drop-in Garden Tour
2019-02-02 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Explore our living museum featuring collections of plants from around the globe! Join a docent for a free guided tour of the garden on the first Saturday of the month at 1pm. We’ll hear the stories of a selection of plants in the garden, and their relevance to human society. All ages are welcome. See you there!We will meet at the Nest Outdoor Classroom at the northern end of the garden. Restrooms are available at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion. Follow the driveway down from the pavilion to find the Nest.

There is no parking available at the Garden. Visitors can park in UCLA Parking Structure 2 (payment required) near the Westholme Avenue entrance to campus, or at metered parking spots in Westwood. Metered street parking can also be found on Manning Ave, which can be accessed from Charles E. Young Drive or Hilgard Avenue. The address of the UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion is 707 Tiverton Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Hammer Kids Pop-up Studio: Every Plant Has a Story
2019-01-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, US
Celebrate the plants that are all around us with artist Sarita Dougherty. Observe and draw the native and non-native plants of Los Angeles, then stretch your imagination to create a plant from your memories or your dreams—many artists in the Armand Hammer Collection did both! This lively, drop-in workshop is designed for families to explore and create together. Meet in the Nimoy Studio near the Courtyard.
Recommended for ages 5+. Copresented by the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden.
Attending This Program? Ticketing: This free program is not ticketed. No RSVP is required. Parking: Parking is available under the museum. Rates are $6 for the first three hours with museum validation, and $3 for each additional 20 minutes, with a $20 daily maximum. There is a $6 flat rate after 6 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends. Cash only.
Hammer Kids is made possible through the generosity of the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation. Hammer Kids also receives support from friends of the Hammer Museum’s Kids’ Art Museum Project (K.A.M.P.), an annual family fundraiser. Additional funding is provided by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and The Winnick Family Foundation.
More details can be found on the Hammer Museum website.

Street Plants: Wild Flora of Los Angeles
2019-01-17 16:30 - 18:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Cities may seem to be solely the work of humans—right down to the urban landscape of street trees, ornamental plantings, and manicured lawns that were put in place by human hands. But wild plants spread through the landscape without any human help, forming a ubiquitous botanical backdrop that exists at the fringes of most concepts of nature. Join Evan Meyer, Assistant Director of the UCLA Botanical Garden, for a discussion of the wild flora of inner-city Los Angeles. This program is co-presented by LENS: Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies.

Everything Orchids
2019-01-09 16:30 - 18:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Join us for a fun, informative presentation by Barb Schmidt that delves into the origins of our love for orchids, how orchids grow in their native environments, and how to care for orchids in our homes. It provides fun facts and orchid care tips to pique the interest of experienced orchid collectors, as well as beginners.
Barb Schmidt published her first book, Orchid Care: For the Beginner, in 2016. She has a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry and a teaching certificate in secondary science. She’s has been raising orchids for over 14 years and is a member of the American Orchid Society’s (AOS) Education Committee and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Her orchids have won a variety of awards, including first place ribbons at the Philadelphia Flower Show. She maintains a website, www.basorchidcare.com, which provides orchid care information.
This event is free, but space is limited. RSVP at: uclabotanical.eventbrite.com

January Drop-in Garden Tour
2019-01-05 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

Botany of the Holidays
2018-12-07 16:30 - 18:30 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
The holidays are a time for rest, relaxation, family and friends. To a botanist, they are also a case study of the deeply interconnected relationship between nature and culture. Join us as we share the botanical origins of some of the most ubiquitous holiday traditions, and see just how important plants are to the spirit of the season. We’re back for 2018 with new plants to explore! A reception will follow the presentation.

This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP.

December Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-12-01 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

Nicholas Staddon: The New American Garden
2018-11-08 16:30 - 18:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Join Nicholas Staddon for an Englishman’s view of the New American Garden. “Gardens all over the United States are undergoing a measure of change” bubbles Nicholas. “No more so then here in Southern California.” He will provide us with a unique overview of new plant exploration not only here in the United States but overseas as well. Get a peek at the 2018 Chelsea Flower Show and some of the recent highlights. He will also cover the importance of the edible garden, and the next step of integrating those plants in to an existing landscape. And finally a hand-picked selection of new and underused plants for our region. This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Extension Horticulture & Gardening program. This event is free, please RSVP.

Nicholas Staddon, has been working with plant breeders, hybridizers, and professional Plant Explorers for the last 25 years. Scouring the globe for new creations and discoveries in the plant world. Born in England, Nicholas attended Otley Agricultural College where he received his credentials in Agricultural Science. Most recently working At Monrovia Nursery for nearly 27 years, 15 of which he lead the New Plant program.

November Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-11-03 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

Argentine Ants: Super colonies in the Garden
2018-11-01 16:30 - 18:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
The Botanical Garden holds more than just plants – it is home to many other life forms, and in particular, the diverse array of insects that call the Garden their home. Join Julie Miller for a talk to learn about one such insect, the Argentine Ant, that arrived in California a little over 100 years ago, and established itself along the garden trails. These unsuspecting creatures have a strange social system, not found in their native Argentina, that causes them to form Super-colonies – a single, interconnected colony that spans the length of the state of California! We’ll hear about what has led these tiny black ants to achieve such epic proportions, and what existing theories can tell us about their future. Expanding through the state as a super-colony has been bad news for native ants, and we’ll hear about their impact on California flora and fauna and what you can do to help.
This event is free, please RSVP.
Julie Miller is an NSF post-doctoral fellow in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA. She does her research on the social systems of ants to understand how they cooperate and communicate in groups. She is currently using the Argentine ant in her studies on the evolution of group size.

Autumn Garden Gathering
2018-10-25 16:30 - 19:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Autumn is here, and we welcome you to meet kindred spirits and to revel in the Garden at dusk! Find out what’s new in the Garden, meet staff, and get to know other folks that love spending time around trees.
Merriment at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion will be followed by an after-hours walk in the Garden led by Assistant Director Evan Meyer. Bring a reusable cup and a curious mind! All ages are welcome.
This event is free, please RSVP.

Botanical Origins: Natural Dyes with Next of Kin Studio
2018-10-13 11:00 - 13:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Join us for a presentation and pop-up shop featuring the creative natural dye projects of Allison Alford. Allison is a Los Angeles based artist and teacher who explores connections between art and the natural world. Her practice involves a passion for plants and the relationship she can form with them through her work. Natural dyeing is an ancient art form that has allowed Allison to relate with plants in a way that is intimate, generative and experimental. She is also the co-founder of Next of Kin Studio, a business that celebrates nature through a creative exploration of materials, process and relationships.
Allison will share about her work with natural dyes and plants and touch briefly on the history of this age old art form. There will be a small pop-up shop of a selection of her Next of Kin Studio naturally dyed pieces, some made especially for this event.
Allison received her Masters of Fine Arts from Claremont Graduate University. She co-founded Next of Kin Studio, teaches Natural Dyeing at Armory Center for the Arts and has selected experiences and exhibitions including, Landscape, Monte Vista Projects, Fig Tree and Good Medicine, Summercamp ProjectProject, Foraging & Natural Dye Workshop, Malibu Orchards, Hive Mind & Words I Know, Coachella Valley Arts Center, Memories I Don’t Have, hidden at the Downtown Los Angeles Public Library.
This event is free, but space is limited–please RSVP. The UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is free and open to the public 9am-5pm on weekends–come explore before or after this event!

October Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-10-06 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

September Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-09-01 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Explore our living museum featuring collections of plants from around the globe! Join a docent for a free guided tour of the garden on the first Saturday of the month at 1pm. We’ll hear the stories of a selection of plants in the garden, and their relevance to human society. All ages are welcome. See you there!We will meet at the Nest Outdoor Classroom at the northern end of the garden. Restrooms are available at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion. Follow the driveway down from the pavilion to find the Nest.

August Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-08-04 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

July Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-07-07 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia - Outdoor screening + Q&A with Hamilton Morris
2018-06-28 19:00 - 21:00 | The Outdoor Amphitheater, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Explore ethnobotany as Hamilton Morris digs into the history of one of his favorite psychoactive plants: peyote. Tribes and shamans have been consuming the cactus for generations, and Hamilton taps a Native American peyotist to help him trace the plant’s history—from its humble origins to the place it occupies in popular culture today. Hamilton is a Science Editor for Vice Magazine and studies chemistry and psychoactive substances in formal and clandestine labs around the world. Explore Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia to learn more about his work.
This event is free, but seating is limited–RSVP to reserve a space

June Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-06-02 13:00 - 14:00 | UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US

Native Bees in the Wild & in Gardens
2018-05-17 17:00 - 18:30 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Join us for a talk by Dylan Burge exploring the ecology and health of native bees. Native bees are diverse and ecologically important in California. In natural ecosystems, native bees are the primary pollinators of most plants. However, native bees are in decline around the world, with introduced diseases and pesticides the likely cause of the decline. Although humans as a whole are ultimately responsible for bee decline, individuals can promote bee diversity by smart native plant gardening techniques that promote pollinator diversity.

Dylan Burge is a botanical and entomological consultant based in California. He does research on native plants and insects. In his spare time, Dylan enjoys hiking, photography, free-diving, and mountaineering. He is a Post Doc in Victoria Sork’s lab at UCLA.

Native Bees in the Wild & in Gardens
2018-05-17 17:00 - 18:30 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Join us for a talk by Dylan Burge exploring the ecology and health of native bees. Native bees are diverse and ecologically important in California. In natural ecosystems, native bees are the primary pollinators of most plants. However, native bees are in decline around the world, with introduced diseases and pesticides the likely cause of the decline. Although humans as a whole are ultimately responsible for bee decline, individuals can promote bee diversity by smart native plant gardening techniques that promote pollinator diversity.
Dylan Burge is a botanical and entomological consultant based in California. He does research on native plants and insects. In his spare time, Dylan enjoys hiking, photography, free-diving, and mountaineering. He is a Post Doc in Victoria Sork’s lab at UCLA.
This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP at: uclabotanical.eventbrite.com

Ethnomusicology in the Garden: Hindustani Classical Music
2018-05-12 16:30 - 18:00 | The Nest Outdoor Classroom, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Join us at the golden hour in the garden for a concert of Hindustani (Northern Indian) classical music featuring sitar and tabla. This music takes form through a concept called raag, which contains mood, composition and improvisation, and flows through multiple movements which build up to climactic closing sections. The selected raags are Charukeshi and Yaman, which are both traditionally played or listened to in the evening. These will be performed outside in the waning hours of the day, with the hope of connecting the sonic performance with the moods of the garden at a day’s end.
Music is performed by UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Department of Ethnomusicology students Justin Inbar on sitar and Ram Kaundinya on tabla.
This event is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP here.
There is no charge for many of our programs, but donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! Please visit our website to support the Docent and Education Fund. Thank you for considering a tax-deductible donation to the Botanical Garden.

BirdLA Day: Botanical Birding for Citizen Science and Academic Research
2018-05-12 08:00 - 10:00 | The Nest Outdoor Classroom, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Held every May, Bird LA Day celebrates the birds of Southern California and LA’s amazing biodiversity. Bird and nature-themed events are held throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Bird LA Day shines the spotlight on nature, and reminds the world that Los Angeles is a lot more than just film, fashion and celebrities.
Join graduate students Andy Kleinhesselink, Samuel Bressler, and the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden staff for a morning of birding in our 7.5 acre urban oasis in Westwood! We’ll start off at the Nest Outdoor Classroom with coffee and snacks, followed by some demonstrations about how the garden is used for ornithological scientific research and how citizen scientists like you can contribute birding observations with phone-based apps. This event is free, but space is limited, so please RSVP.
Photo by Nurit Katz

Drop-in Garden Tour
2018-05-05 13:00 - 14:00 | The Nest, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Explore our living museum featuring collections of plants from around the globe! Join a docent for a free guided tour of the garden on the first Saturday of the month at 1pm. We’ll hear the stories of a selection of plants in the garden, and their relevance to human society. All ages are welcome. See you there!
We will meet at the Nest Outdoor Classroom at the northern end of the garden. Restrooms are available at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion. Follow the driveway down from the pavilion to find the Nest.

Blacklisted: A Planted Allegory (Recollections)
2018-05-03 17:30 - 18:30 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
What does it mean to be labeled invasive? To be considered the wrong kind, unwanted. Artist Jenny Yurshansky will share her work Blacklisted: A Planted Allegory (Recollections), an artist book that investigates the distinctions between native versus invasive species as determined by The California Invasive Species Advisory Counsel (CISAC). Out of the 600 blacklisted alien-invasive plants, she found 133 which are now indexed in this collection; a group that is simultaneously highly local and totally foreign.

Semantically the use of such terms as invasive and native are loaded. The direct correlation between human population shifts that occur at politically determined borders, rather than those determined by biomes, and the introduction vectors of these species is an area that warrants illumination. Come join the conversation and see Jenny’s artist book in the style of a botanical herbarium. Copies will be available for purchase, $60. Cash, check, or Venmo accepted.
This event is free, but space is limited–Please RSVP

Jenny Yurshansky is an American artist who was born in Rome. She received her MFA in Visual Art from UC Irvine. In 2017 her artist edition book, “Blacklisted: A Planted Allegory (Recollections)” was published by Pitzer College Art Galleries. She is the recipient of numerous artist and curatorial grants and has worked extensively internationally. She is the co-founder of Persbo Studio an artist residency, sculpture park, and creative space in Sweden.

Making Honey in Los Angeles County: From Flower to Jar
2018-04-26 17:30 - 19:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
How do bees create honey here in Los Angeles County? Come see inside of a hive and explore bee ecology with beekeeper Eli Lichter-Marck of Eli’s Bees. He’ll take us on an adventure following honey as it transforms from flower to jar. He’ll cover raising healthy bees, apiculture in our local ecology, and conservation and education.

The talk will be followed by a presentation of local honey varieties from main West LA nectar flows, with the opportunity to try different honeys and compare tasting notes!

This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your spot.

Eli runs a small commercial beekeeping operation in West Los Angeles County. His 200 colonies live throughout the diverse ecological zones of the Santa Monica Mountains. Eli’s background is in ecological design and architecture. Eli was drawn to beekeeping because of the unique opportunity it affords the beekeeper to witness and participate first-hand in the complex of weather dynamics, plant genetics, and insect biology that make up the world of the bees.

Dirty Gourmet: Food For Your Outdoor Adventures
2018-04-19 17:30 - 19:00 | UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, US
Sit back, relax, and learn about the basics of camp cooking as Dirty Gourmet founders Aimee and Mai-Yan discuss their newly released book, Dirty Gourmet: Food For Your Outdoor Adventures.
We’ll explore different food considerations depending on the type of trip you’ll be taking, whether it’s backpacking, car camping, or a day hike. We will also discuss our favorite gear and techniques, as well as sustainable and low impact practices. Complete with recipe demo, samples, and a book signing.
This event is free, but space is limited. Please RSVP.
Learn more about Dirty Gourmet here.
Check out the upcoming Feast and Flora Campout with UCLA Botanical Garden, Dirty Gourmet, and the Tejon Ranch Conservnacy.

From Garden Warriors to Good Seeds: Indigenous Food Sovereignty & Community Gardens
2018-04-06 16:00 - 17:00 | La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join Dr. Elizabeth Hoover as she discusses her book project “From ‘Garden Warriors’ to ‘Good Seeds;’ Indigenizing the Local Food Movement”. This work explores Native American farming and gardening projects around the country: the successes and challenges faced by these organizations, the ways in which participants define and envision concepts like food sovereignty, and the importance of heritage seeds. Dr. Hoover is the Manning Assistant Professor of American Studies at Brown University.
Rowen White in one of her corn fields on her seed saving farm in northern California. Photo by Angelo Baca.
Sponsored by:
UCLA American Indian Studies Center
UCLA Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS)
UCLA Healthy Campus Initiative Food Studies Program
UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
