California Ecosystems and Habitats

California Natives: Plants and People*

Pollinators in the Garden

Plants of the World

Gratis College Class

Gratis UCB Class

Plant Wonders: A Sensory Walk

Bird Walk with Chris Carmichael

Join Chris Carmichael in search of both resident and migrant birds in the Garden's many bird friendly micro habitats. Both beginning and experienced bird watchers are welcome. Rain or shine, dress in layers.

 

We suggest bringing binoculars if you have them, and layers in case it is a chilly morning. Heavy rain cancels this walk. 

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Get $5 off Registration fee when you Sign In above. Your discount will be automatically applied at check out if properly signed-in with email address displayed. Need help? Email gardenprograms@berkeley.edu

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Cancellation Policy: Notification two weeks prior to program receives full refund; less than two weeks receives a one-time credit toward another Garden program to be used within 90 days; less than 48 hours from program start, no refunds or credit will be given for cancellations or absences. In the event that the Garden has to cancel a program you will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer to another program. 

Gratis Group

Integral Taiji and Qigong

You are invited to participate in Integral Taiji & Qigong classes at the UC Botanical Garden. Our classes will focus on somatic, psycho-spiritual, ecological, and cosmological dimensions of taiji (tai chi) and qigong. We will practice standing meditation, walking meditation, the Microcosmic Orbit, Tai Chi Ruler, the Eight Treasures, cleansing the internal organs, embodying the elements, tai chi dance, push hands, the Yang style slow form, and more. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of prior experience. 

iPhoneography with Yoni Mayeri

Private Program

Zoom Program: Butterflies of the UC Botanical Garden

Group Admission

Members Only Bird Walk

Join Chris Carmichael and Krista Vossekuil in search of both resident and migrant birds in the Garden's many bird friendly micro habitats. Both beginning and experienced bird watchers are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them. Advanced registration required. Open to active members only and children over 10 years old. Rain will cancel the event; dress in layers for chilly mornings.

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Please email gardenmembership@berkeley.edu with questions. 

Access coordinator: Mary Canales, marycanales@berkeley.edu,510-643-1924

Cancellation Policy: Notification two weeks prior to program receives full refund; less than two weeks receives a one-time credit toward another Garden program to be used within 90 days; less than 48 hours from program start, no refunds or credit will be given for cancellations or absences.

In the event that the Garden has to cancel a program you will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer to another program.

Members Only Horticulturist Walking Tour

Join....

Please email gardenmembership@berkeley.edu with questions. 

Access coordinator: Mary Canales, marycanales@berkeley.edu,510-643-1924

Cancellation Policy: Notification two weeks prior to program receives full refund; less than two weeks receives a one-time credit toward another Garden program to be used within 90 days; less than 48 hours from program start, no refunds or credit will be given for cancellations or absences.

In the event that the Garden has to cancel a program you will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer to another program.

Member Only Reception

Test-Wedding

 

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Meeting Rental

Ceremony Only Wedding

Ceremony + Reception

Please ignore the "Tickets" options

Elopement

Micro Ceremony

Annual Catering Dues

Nature Journaling for Garden Enthusiasts with Kate Rutter

Observe the living world with curiosity and attention, and celebrate wonder in a lyric blend of science and art with a Nature Journal!

Bring your love of gardens to a whole new level with a nature journal. Nature journaling is the act of putting pen (or pencil) to paper to observe aspects of nature with curiosity and attention. At this in-person workshop you’ll learn about establishing (or enhancing) your nature journaling practice in the beautiful environment of the botanical gardens. The focus is on experiencing and visually expressing our curiosity about plants and nature, not about making detailed botanical or wildlife art. In this practice, “art” is the experience you have while you’re doing it.

After a brief orientation and warm-up learning activities you will have hands-on observation and drawing time in the Garden. Using words, pictures, and numbers you will capture the forms, shapes, and textures of the plants of your choice. You will practice foundational techniques such as basic drawing, annotation, and a variety of observations that prompt both deeper questions and a deeper connections to the plants. Kate will be available for questions and individual instruction during the garden journaling time. The group will reconvene toward the close of the workshop to talk about our experiences and learn from each other.

All materials will be provided; a starter Nature Journal kit (which is yours to take home) is included with the registration fee.

All skill levels welcome; no prior experience necessary. The workshop will be held rain or shine. Come enjoy the beautiful botanical garden setting!

This program is in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Per UC policy, masks are optional but recommended.

Instructor Biography:
Kate Rutter is an avid nature journaler, urban naturalist, educator, and native plant enthusiast who enlivens nature-human connection through sketching, observation, and curiosity. A lifelong sketcher, Kate has led nature journal workshops at the Ruth Bancroft Gardens, Annie's Annuals and Perennials Nursery, the Wild Wonder International Nature Journaling Conference, and for the California Native Plant Society. She has illustrated three books, and is an adjunct professor in design at the California College of the Arts. Kate holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Wellesley College.

 

Cancellation Policy: Notification two weeks prior to program receives full refund. If you find you cannot attend less than 2 weeks prior to event, you may transfer your registration to someone else by having them use your name at check-in. In the event that the Garden has to cancel a program you will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer to another program.

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Get $10 off Registration when you Sign In above. Your discount will be automatically applied at check out if properly signed-in with email address displayed. Need help? Email gardenprograms@berkeley.edu

Evening Reception - LBNL

Butterfly Walks in the Garden

Join our butterfly docent specialist Sally Levinson for a guided walk through the Garden in search of butterflies, as you learn about their plant relationships and amazing life cycle. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Registered children welcome. Pre-registration is required, space is limited. Groups larger than 6 people, please contact us to make separate arrangements for a private tour.

This walk follows uneven terrain, with areas of paved and unpaved trail. For accessibility inquiries, please email gardenprograms@berkeley.edu, or call 510-664-7606.

All program fees include same-day admission to the Garden, rain or shine.

The 34-acre UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley is a wonderful destination on any day of the year, but the guided butterfly walks held each month are pure magic.” -Featured in the Mercury News

 

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Get $4 off Registration ($14) when you Sign In above. Your discount will be automatically applied at check out if properly signed-in with email address displayed. Need help? Email gardenprograms@berkeley.edu

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Cancellation Policy: Notification two weeks prior to program receives full refund. If you find you cannot attend less than 2 weeks prior to event, you may transfer your registration to someone else by having them use your name at check-in. In the event that the Garden has to cancel a program you will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer to another program.

Native CA Foodways - Plants Illustrated Closing Reception

The Garden is pleased to host Sara Calvosa Olson (Karuk), author of the new cookbook "Chími Nu'am: Native California Foodways for the Contemporary Kitchen" at this closing reception for the 15th Annual Plants Illustrated Exhibition: Edible California Native Plants. She will be bringing tastes from her cookbook.

About the author

Sara Calvosa Olson is a Karuk asiktávaan (woman) and táat (mother) of two teenage sons, originally from Salyer & Hoopa in Northern California, currently living in Marin with her husband (who is also from Hoopa.) She is a Bay Area food writer and editor, who's writing has appeared in News from Native California and Edible Shasta-Butte.  Her work dwells at the intersection of storytelling, Indigenous food systems, security, sovereignty, reconnection, and recipe development. Calvosa Olson has spent many years connecting her family’s foodways with a growing community, and the recipes, techniques, and insights are designed as an accessible entry for people beginning their journey toward a decolonized diet. Chími Nu’am - "Let's eat!"

Event details

Event registration includes general Botanical Garden admission before the collections close at 5:00pm. The art exhibit will be closed 4pm-5pm to set-up the reception.
Book sales and light reception included.

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Accessibility: Please contact us with accessibility questions at gardenprograms@berkeley.edu or 510-664-7606.

Cancellation Policy: Notification two weeks prior to program receives full refund. If you find you cannot attend less than 2 weeks prior to event, you may transfer your registration to someone else by having them use your name at check-in. In the event that the Garden has to cancel the program (for instance due to rain) you will be offered a full refund or the option to transfer to another program.

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Get $5 off  when you Sign In above. Your discount will be automatically applied at check out if properly signed-in with email address displayed. Need help? Email gardenprograms@berkeley.edu

The Propogation Handbook: Author Event with Hilton Carter

The UC Botanical Garden is pleased to host plant and interior stylist, best-selling author, and artist, Hilton Carter for an evening conversation and plant propagation demos!  

Event registration includes Botanical Garden admission before the collections close at 5:00pm.


About the Author

Hilton Carter is a plant and interior stylist, director, and fine artist. He has a large and loyal following on Instagram (@hiltoncarter), where he shares his passion for and encyclopedic knowledge of plant care and styling. Hilton has partnered with Target on three Hilton Carter for Target collections, and released his Guide to Houseplants workshops with the Magnolia Network. A PBS-TV special, “Living Wild: Plant-spiration with Hilton Carter,” aired nationally on PBS-TV late-February through early March 2024. His previous books--all published by CICO Books--are Wild at Home (2019), Wild Interiors (2020), Wild Creations (2021), and Living Wild (2023). When not getting his hands dirty in a project, Hilton can be found cozying up in his Baltimore home with his wife, Fiona and daughter, Holland.

Member Appreciation Evening

Timed Ticket Admission

 

The selected time indicates your window for arrival. You may stay until the Garden closes at 5:00pm. If you miss your arrival time, please note that the last Garden admittance is at 4:30pm.

Click "Choose other dates" and "Choose other times" to change to your desired entry date and time above. 

We release new reservations every Thursday in 7-day blocks and schedule out 6 weeks. Check back for dates further out.

UCBG Members do not need a reservation. Want to become a UCBG Member? Click here to purchase Membership first and your admission will be instantly available, including 9am-10am UCBG Members Only Hour!


WELCOME TO THE UC BOTANICAL GARDEN!

Before you purchase your reservation, please read our Visitor Guidelines for rules, service animal policy, and a list of prohibited items.

Accessibility: We welcome all visitors and are actively working on accessibility improvements. The grounds include areas of paved pathways, as well as unpaved paths that may be narrow, rocky, uneven, or steep. View a PDF map of the Garden here. There are three accessible parking spots available in the main Garden parking lot. Trained service dogs are allowed to enter the Garden grounds but must first check in and be cleared at the Kiosk by Garden staff. For accessibility questions please contact our Visitor Experience team at 510-643-2755 (CA Relay Service) or garden@berkeley.edu.

Parking & Transportation information is here. Be green and consider carpooling, taking Uber/Lyft, or public transportation up to the Garden! Biking or walking up to the Garden is only recommended for active guests comfortable walking uphill 30+ minutes.

Limited parking is available at the UCBG parking lot. Parking is not guaranteed. The rate is $1.50/hour payable by credit card or cash (change not given) at 2 pay stations or via the Pay By Phone app. Be prepared to enter your license plate number. Parking lots are managed by UC Berkeley.

🚌 Please note: If the Garden’s parking lot is full, there is overflow parking uphill at the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Lot. Visitors to the Botanical Garden can pay for parking in this lot and then ride the Hill Shuttle to the Garden for free. Shuttle runs Monday-Friday every 30 minutes, Saturday-Sunday and holidays every 15-20 minutes. Centennial Drive will have occasional traffic delays and loud noises due to a road project through 2024.

Need help? Email garden@berkeley.edu or call 510-643-2755.

 

Redwood Grove Wedding

Redwood Grove Wedding Package Includes:

  • Rental monitor
  • Amphitheater seat cushions
  • Dressing room
  • Rehearsal time (upon availability)
  • Chairs, tables if necessary
  • Access to the Garden for wedding photos
  • Garden admission for wedding/reception guests (same day as event)
  • One year Family Membership for the married couple
  • 30 minutes of set-up time before Rental start time (clean-up time must be incorporated into Rental time)
  • All other expenses must be paid separately (e.g. parking)

Discovering Flowers and Plants*

Green Stuff Camp 2024

EARLY UCBG MEMBER REGISTRATION BEGINS ON: Tuesday, January 23 at 9:00 AM.

For early access you must have an active UCBG Membership and be registered with our online ticketing system to enable membership verification. Sign In at the top of the page with membership email and the password you created to enable registration.

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Green Stuff is a week-long summer science day-camp where children explore plants from around the world through walks and creek discoveries, hands-on investigations, crafts, journaling, animal studies, gardening, and lots more. Please make sure you are selecting the correct grade level for your child.

By registering for camp, you are agreeing to the camp information and policies for 2024 outlined on our webpage here.

***IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION***
Enter the CHILD's name as "Registrant" and use their home contact information and emergency contact email address.

This is set to automatically populate the Personal Information window at check-out on the next page. On the check-out page "Personal Information" window, please be sure to REPLACE the child's name with YOUR name and contact information as the purchaser for check-out.

Registration is limited to only 1 week per camper. This allows us to offer the camp experience to as many families as possible. Please only enroll your child in one week.

Green Stuff Camp 2024 WAITLIST

THIS IS TO SIGN UP FOR OUR WAITLIST ONLY.

YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IF A REGISTRATION SPOT BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR THIS WEEK OF CAMP.

Our Poetic Earth: a poetry workshop in the Garden with Becky Jaffe