The Garden's library, established in 1927, includes over 15,000 books and journals, representing an important resource for education and research. The Blaksley Library building, designed by local architect Lutah Maria Riggs and completed in 1942, provides beautiful mountain views in a courtyard setting. The Blaksley Library collections represents important botanical and horticultural works on California flora and landscape history. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden conserves California native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and the planet.
Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) are used throughout the country to monitor weather in remote locations for both fire protection and weather forecasting. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden maintains a RAWS site on its grounds (visible from the Porter Trail). Weather data is transmitted hourly to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho and are used by our local National Weather Service in Oxnard to make accurate weather forecasts. Live Fuel Moisture (LFM) is one measure of fire risk that agencies use in planning how to allocate their resources.
Deer grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) is one of the most popular choices for California native gardeners. With green blades that sway gently in the breeze, this low-maintenance large ornamental bunch grass grows quickly to three-feet round and tall.
The Garden is more than just a pretty place - we are a conservation organization. Our statewide conservation efforts have been led by our Director of Conservation & Research, Dr. Denise Knapp, for over 8 years.
Salvias like our hummingbird sage and purple sage are beginning to bloom in the Garden!
When the Spaniards saw vast displays of the California Poppy lighting up the coastal hillsides, it is said they could guide their ships by the sight. They called the California coast the “land of fire,” and the plant the “cup of gold,” (“copa de oro”).
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