News Items Archive - Mathias Botanical Garden

A Tribute to Dr. Peter H. Raven

We honor the life and legacy of Dr. Peter H. Raven, UCLA alumnus (Ph.D. ’60), world-renowned botanist, conservationist, and one of the most influential voices for biodiversity in the modern era. Growing up in California, Dr. Raven developed…

This California wildflower is intriguing enough to headline a free festival

This May, the Clarkia Flower Festival was featured in the Los Angeles Times Plants Newsletter! Pedro Moura spoke with Director Victoria Sork about the decision to name the festival after Clarkia: "This is an opportunity to educate people about…

We often spend too much time trying to entertain our kids on vacation. This time, we prioritized no-cost experiences.

Blythe Chadim with Business Insider Africa set out to prioritize free experiences during her family's trip to Los Angeles back in April to mitigate the time and money spent planning her vacation. Chadim's research into free activities in…

One of Los Angeles’ best adapted urban creatures? Lizards.

Alison Hewitt reports that March’s record-breaking heat prompted wildlife, including the southern alligator lizard, to emerge earlier than usual. After one lizard wandered into a UCLA science building, it was safely released into the UCLA…

How UCLA is leading the way toward a healthier, more sustainable future

The UCLA Newsroom highlights how UCLA’s sustainability efforts transform campus spaces into ecologically conscious environments that support biodiversity while advancing climate solutions. The Mathias Botanical Garden is central to this vision,…

At UCLA’s botanical garden, science blooms for young students

Madeline Adamo from the UCLA Newsroom accompanied a group of fourth graders from Toluca Lake Elementary on an exciting trip to the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden. These admission-free field trips are a key part of the Garden's K-12 education…

Adapting oak trees for climate change, one acorn at a time

Alison Hewitt with the UCLA Newsroom highlighted the partnership between researchers from UCLA’s Sork Lab and The Nature Conservancy in a groundbreaking new conservation approach using gene sequencing to save oak trees, which have been threatened…

In Plain Sight: Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden staff cultivate connection, education

This past month, the Garden was featured in the In Plain Sight column at the Daily Bruin which highlights the hidden work that goes into daily life at UCLA. Alisha Hassanali spoke with several members of the Garden's staff and leadership…

In memoriam: Morton La Kretz, 100, alumnus, environmental champion and lifelong supporter of UCLA

The UCLA Newsroom published a tribute honoring the incredible life and legacy of Morton La Kretz, who served on the Garden's board. La Kretz first visited the Garden as an undergraduate student for a biology class experiment. Later, he would…

Congrats to the California Chapter Recipients of 2026 Audubon in Action and Collaborative Grants

The Bruin Birding Club is dedicated to making birding accessible both on campus and within the wider community. In collaboration with the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, the club aims to enhance the Garden's free K–12 education programs by…