UPCOMING EVENTS
As an integral part of our mission to connect people to plants, the Garden acts as a community gathering place for a wide variety of events. We host thought-provoking programs that connect people to nature, promote appreciation of plants, and explore our world through new lenses. Sign up for our newsletter below or here to be the first to receive event announcements.
Botany Brown Bag Public Lectures
Bring your lunch to the Garden and take home some fun facts about plants, people, and environments! All free public lectures will take place on Thursdays from 12-1pm.
February 29 at 12pm: Dr. Victoria L. Sork – Why Trees Go Nuts: Climate change, birds, and people
April 18 at 12pm: Dr. Felipe Zapata – Trees of Trees: Historical insights about trees in the Garden
May 30 at 12pm: Dr. Tom Gillespie – Amazing Hawaiian Plants in the Botanical Garden
We’ll see you at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion! The street address is 707 Tiverton Drive.
RSVPs are not required. This is a BYOL (bring your own lunch) event!
Clarkia Festival
Join us for the 1st annual Clarkia Festival, an all-day celebration featuring live music, educational activities, food trucks, and more! The Garden’s Clarkia Hill will be in full bloom, highlighting the diversity of the genus represented in our new logo. Stop by to see these lovely pink and purple flowers, and stick around to explore all that the Clarkia Festival has to offer!
Guided Garden Tours
Explore our living museum, featuring collections of plants from around the globe! Join a Garden Guide for a free 1-hour tour.
Drop in tours meet at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion (707 Tiverton Drive) on:
April 6 at 11 a.m.
May 4 at 10 a.m.
June 1 at 10 a.m.
Music in the Garden
Hear original music by UCLA artists in a beautiful outdoor setting!
April 27, 2024 from 2-4pm: Garden Party, Old Growth, 287vinyl at Herbert Plaza
May 23, 2024 from 5-6pm: Gabriela Acosta at the Outdoor Amphitheater
Both events are free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.
NEWS + UPDATES
Nature Day Camps – Summer 2024
Give your child a week of educational outdoor adventures this summer at our Nature Day Camps!
Weeklong camps are for 1st through 4th graders.
Register now on the UCLA Recreation website.
The UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden’s Nature Day Camp is the perfect opportunity for young campers to indulge in an exciting week full of exploration and active learning experiences in the great outdoors. Get ready for a week-long daily adventure, based out of the beautiful La Kretz Garden Pavilion at the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden. Instructors are passionate and experienced outdoor educators who are experts in their fields.
Do you make art inspired by nature or biodiversity?
The Clarkia Festival on May 18, 2024 will celebrate the diversity of the Clarkia genus. These flowers, represented in our new logo, will be in full bloom during the festival. Look forward to food trucks, activities, vendors, and all-day music!
This event will also include a showcase for nature-inspired art in any medium. Please fill out the interest form below to receive more information. Submissions are due April 19.
Fill out this form to get updates about the submission process.
Toyon Preserves Recipe
Learn all about toyon, a California native plant that’s also called the Christmas berry, and check out our recipe for two different flavors of seasonally spiced preserves!
Click here to get the recipe.
Los Angeles Landscape History Report
The Garden’s Herbarium Curator, Dr. Anthony Baniaga, contributed to a report that brought together geographers, historians, biologists, and representatives of the Chumash, Tataviam, and Gabrieleño tribes to understand historical landscapes in the LA region.
This research can shape efforts to restore and protect landscapes in LA today. Dr. Baniaga’s chapter examines spontaneously growing plants in parkways to illuminate urban biodiversity.
The Garden featured in the Daily Bruin
Thank you to UCLA’s own newspaper for featuring the Garden in two recent articles!
Daily Bruin staff covered Botany of the Holidays, where over 50 attendees gathered to learn about kumquats, toyon and cempoalxóchitl, or Aztec marigolds, while enjoying seasonal snacks including hot chocolate and homemade toyon preserves.
Read the full article about Botany of the Holidays here.
They also spotlighted the rewarding hobby of birding by showcasing how the Bruin Birding Club enjoys spending time in the Garden. Did you know that there are an estimated 141 species of birds in our Garden?
The wildest place on campus
Managing Director Dr. Andy Kleinhesselink guided our Garden staff through the trails of Sage Hill, a richly diverse outdoor learning space with myriad possibilities. Check out this recent Daily Bruin piece or learn more about Sage Hill here.
Top 5 Things to Do at UCLA
California.com named exploring the Garden one of the top 5 things to do at UCLA, describing it as “a haven for plant lovers and those seeking a peaceful retreat from campus bustle.” We’re proud to be a can’t-miss experience among all that UCLA has to offer. Read the full article here.
The highest elevation herbarium in the world?
Garden volunteers are digitizing 700 plant specimens from the White Mountains of California! Barcroft Station sits above the bristlecone pines at 12,470 feet. Inside the main quonset hut building resides a single herbarium cabinet of plant specimens collected over the past 90 years.
This unique and valuable resource will soon be accessible to all. UCLA Herbarium volunteers are creating high quality images of the specimens. These images will become online resources for scientists and researchers. Learn more about White Mountain Research Center here.
The Garden lauded as a therapeutic landscape by StatNews
In a recent article, Isabella Cueto sheds light on the healing power of gardens. She writes, “The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is one of many variations on green spaces near hospitals. Restorative gardens are meant to help patients and health care workers find relief away from difficult, fluorescent-lit health care environments.” The Garden is proud to be a source of peace for the UCLA Health community and beyond. Read the full article here.
Top 10 Best Parks for Pictures and Bird Sanctuaries
Yelp included us on their list of the Top 10 Best Parks for Pictures near Los Angeles, as well as the Top 10 Best Bird Sanctuaries near Santa Monica. The Garden provides a stunning backdrop for film and photography; explore permitting options here.
UCLA receives $1.5 million to further waterworks project at Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
See how Charlie and Peggy Norris’s donation will further promote sustainability in the garden and help move forward exciting improvements to The Stream. Read the full article here.
Garden Newsletter
Everyday the Garden is growing and changing. Subscribe below to receive updates in your inbox every month. Read our past newsletters here.
PAST EVENTS
Winter Nature Camp
December 18 – 22, 2023
Must be currently in the 2nd-3rd grade during the 2023 – 2024 academic school year and at least 7 years old by December 1, 2023.
Brighten up your child’s winter break with a week in nature!
The UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden’s Nature Day Camp provides campers with active learning experiences, exploration, and fun in the great outdoors. Campers will engage their senses and their skills of observation while learning about the plants and animals of Los Angeles. The camp begins and ends at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion but the bulk of the day will take place in “the best classroom of all – nature!”
This program runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and is based out of La Kretz Garden Pavilion at the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden (Drop off and Pick Up at La Kretz Garden Pavilion).
Botany of the Holidays
Celebrate with us on November 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and see the Garden all decked out! Learn about the histories of toyon, marigolds, and kumquats in holiday traditions around the world. De-stress in nature with snacks and a holiday hangout.
Looking for a gift for your friends and family? We’ll have a pop-up plant sale and Garden merchandise.
RSVP today!
Whole-System Gardens: Nature’s Intelligence Guiding the Future of Design
On November 18, 2023 at 11 a.m., discover how whole-system gardens are a potent approach to the challenges of a changing climate.
Shawn Maestretti, the founder and principal landscape architect of Studio Petrichor, invites us to rethink our connection with the land by tapping into Nature’s wisdom.
Shawn will delve into key concepts such as rainfall integration, soil optimization, embracing the Carbon Culture, cultivating a passion for native plants, and harnessing the power of community as a catalyst for change. With his deep-rooted passion, extensive experience, and unwavering optimism, Shawn inspires his audiences to take action.
Learn more about Studio Petrichor »
Trails & Treats: Plant Sale and Giveaway
Head to the Garden on October 27, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for our annual plant sale and giveaway!
Are you a Garden Member? Get early access to the plant sale starting at 9 a.m. Your first plant is on us! Additional plants available for purchase. Not a Garden member? Sign up here.
9am to 10am: Members Only Hour – Members get a free plant and are entered to win a water bottle and tote bag!
10am to 4pm: Open to the public – Join us for candy, photo ops, merch, music, our plant sale, and themed trails 🎃
Fowler Museum Garden Performance
A special live performance kicks off the Fowler Museum’s new exhibition. Artist and abolitionist Patrisse Cullors will lead a spiritual procession through the UCLA campus. This program is free and open to the public. The performance begins at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion and ends at the Fowler Museum.
The House Was Too Small: Yoruba Sacred Arts from Africa and Beyond features more than 100 remarkable works from Nigeria, Benin, Brazil, Cuba, and the United States. Explore the exhibition while it remains open until June 2, 2024.
After Hours in the Garden with Project Phoenix
On Thursday, October 12 from 4 to 6 p.m., Project Phoenix and the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden hosted a special edition of After Hours in the Garden. Project Phoenix leverages the power of community to learn more about how wildfire smoke impacts California birds.
Folks met at the La Kretz Garden Pavillion to learn more about Project Phoenix, the Garden, and ways to get involved in community science. Attendees enjoyed light refreshments and a guided evening bird walk through the Garden.
Mindfulness in Nature
On October 5, 2023 at 4 p.m., join us for an afternoon of re-centering and reconnecting amidst the Garden’s lush greenery.
Diana Winston, one of America’s best-known mindfulness experts, leads a walking meditation through the trees. She is the Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center.
After Hours in the Garden
Experience the Garden after hours featuring Comedian and Naturalist Tobin Mitnick! Appreciate the beauty of the Garden in a cool and relaxing atmosphere. Indulge in refreshing beverages, delectable light appetizers, and delightful music. Wrap up the evening with a Garden tour.
July 26, 2023
Check-in: 5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Talk Trees with Comedian & Naturalist Tobin Mitnick: 5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Garden Tours Departing: 5:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Ongoing: music, beverages, and light appetizers
Photo by Matt Kallish
Become a Naturalist Day
Celebrate native plants with the Garden! Create native wildflower seed bombs, embark on a garden scavenger hunt, and enjoy a complimentary garden tour!
Drop-in anytime between 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. to participate.
On-going Activities: Scavenger Hunt & Wildflower Seed Balls
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Storytime
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Guided Tour
12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Botanical Illustrations Activity
Family-friendly free public programming at the Garden
Fall Friend-raiser
October 4th, 2022
Ever wanted to adopt a plant from our Garden? Now you can! Join us for our Fall Friendraiser and grab a new plant friend (or two!) for your collection.
In exchange for vouchers, you are able to adopt plants, books, & more. Your donation goes a long way to support LA’s only free-admission botanical garden and helps us keep our living museum thriving!
Vouchers cannot be obtained in advance and must be purchased at the entrance.
You don’t want to miss out on this once-a-year event!
(Active members and active volunteers receive two vouchers. No RSVP is necessary. Supplies are limited. The line begins at 9am and entry is not guaranteed.)
Twilight Hours
August 2022
Members get exclusive access to the Garden from 5:30-7:30 PM every Thursday night in August. Why not pick something up from the Westwood Village Farmer’s Market or bring your own picnic and enjoy an enchanting summer evening amongst the trees?
Or better yet, have a picnic with a friend near the Palms Section and relax with our friendly squirrels.
Check-in begins at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion at 5:15PM. Don’t have an active membership?
Click here to purchase or renew online.
Festival of Trees
April 29, 2022
In honor of Earth Month and in collaboration with UCLA Health and the Office of Sustainability, we are celebrating all things trees this April 29th. Visit the Garden any time from 12pm – 2pm and participate in an interactive stamp rally where you’ll learn more about some of the most iconic trees in the Garden. Collect all eight stamps and you’ll have the chance to take home a special plant prize!*
Interesting Urban Insects
April 17th 2021 – Online
At the Botanical Garden, insects can be observed pollinating flowers, moving seeds, and so much more. Have you ever stopped to wonder what’s flying, crawling, and wriggling around our city? Over 3,000 species of insects have been observed in Los Angeles on the iNaturalist/Seek apps, and new species are still being discovered by scientists today! Anyone can become a community scientist and help to identify and document species living in our city. Meet your insect neighbors and get ready for the 2021 City Nature Challenge.
• Explore how to use the Seek app
• Learn about insect identification
• Interview with UCLA scientists Eva Horna Lowell & Alejandra Gamboa
• Print your very own Insect Explorer Guide
Natural History & Care of Popular Houseplants
March 6th 2021 – Online
Have you ever wondered what your Monstera deliciosa would be like in the wild? Why Tillandsia don’t require soil? Join us to learn about the unique adaptations plants have to survive in their natural habitats, and how that impacts their care in your home.
Led by Botanical Garden staff Terry Huang and Jules Cooch, this intimate conversation will cover a variety of popular houseplants and connect them to interesting specimens in the Garden. Grab your favorite warm beverage and get cozy with us on Saturday morning before caring for all your favorite fronds.
Though much of our programming is free, this special event was limited to Garden Members and was not recorded.
Plant Stories Trapped in Tar: Paleobotany at the La Brea Tar Pits
February 25th 2021 – Online
The La Brea Tar Pits in the heart of Los Angeles, California are world famous for their preservation of Ice-Age mammals, especially the iconic, extinct megafauna such as saber-tooth cats, dire wolves, mammoths and mastodons. What is less known, is that the unique asphaltic preservation of past life at La Brea includes much more than mammals, but entire ecosystems of Los Angeles from the Late Pleistocene through the Holocene spanning the last ~57,000 years. While much attention has been given to the fauna, relatively little is known about plant life during this time. Fossil plants preserved at the La Brea Tar Pits include seeds, wood, leaves, needles, cones, pollen and phytoliths. We will detail how these ancient floras reveal a rich history of climatic and environmental change in Los Angeles and Southern California over the last several millennia leading to the formation of our modern day ecosystems. Join scientists Dr. Regan Dunn, Assistant Curator at La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, and Jessie George, UCLA PhD Candidate, to explore the ancient flora of Los Angeles and learn about the fascinating field of paleobotany. Learn more about the La Brea Tar Pits at: https://tarpits.org/
Botany of the Holidays 2020
December 3rd 2020 – Online
Seasonal festivities bring together traditions, history, family and friends. To a botanist, they are also a case study of the deeply interconnected relationship between nature and culture. Join us for the 4th annual Botany of the Holidays as we travel to China and Brazil to share the botanical origins of some winter holiday traditions, and see just how important plants are to celebrations around the world. This year’s speakers include:
• Terry Huang • Assistant Director, Botanical Garden
• Xinyi Yan • UCLA Alumna, PhD Student at UT Austin
• Marcel Vaz • UCLA PhD Student, Kraft Lab
Nature Journaling Workshop
with Artist Deborah Shaw
October 10th 2020 10:00am – Online
Focused observation—drawing, sketching, and writing—changes how we look at the world around us. Nature journaling forces us to see, instead of look. Suitable for all levels and ages (including beginners) this workshop will explore various journaling techniques to enhance drawing skills, explore ideas and document our place and time. The only required supplies are pencil (a regular #2 or softer) and paper, although any other art supplies are certainly welcome. A reference sheet handout is available here. Watch the recording here.
Telluric Vibrations — ARS Electronica Festival
September 9th-13th 2020
UCLA Art Sci Center x Botanical Garden
The UCLA Art Sci Center and the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical were excited to collaborate as a site in the prestigious ARS Electronica Festival! Virtual events were recorded throughout the course of the five days. From oak genomics and interspatial communication to COVID-themed opera and fungal projections, a wide variety of topics were explored! The festival was started in 1979, and this year’s theme encompassed ecology, art, design, humanity, and the dynamic changes we have experienced related to the global pandemic. Watch more archived videos here.
