San Diego Horticultural Society upcoming events

Board of Directors Application (Mon, June 01, 2026)

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Board of Directors Application

We are looking for talented members to serve on the Board of Directors.
The current open board positions:

Volunteer Coordinator
Member at large
Meeting Room Coordinator

About the Board:

The San Diego Horticultural Society is organized as a California public benefit corporation with no voting members. All planning and voting is done by the SDHS Board of Directors volunteers. The board is composed of 15 members exclusive of any ex officio (non-voting) members.
Elections for open board positions occur annually at the September board meeting or via email ballot in advance of the meeting.
Most directors serve a three-year term of office, with vacancies filled by approval of the Board until the next annual election.
Up to three directors serve a one-year term as at-large members. This is a great opportunity to learn more about serving on the board and potential become a 3-year member.
Board meetings are held the third Monday of the month in January, March, May, July, September and November. Meeting time is from 10AM to noon at the San Diego Botanic Garden. Board meeting times and dates are occasionally changed based on board member's schedules.
Board members are required to attend at least 3 of the 6 board meetings.
In addition, board members are expected to participate in as many SDHS events as possible during the year, and to volunteer whenever possible for those events.
While not a requirement, most communications between board members is done via email. We request board members have an email address and read their email on regular basis.

Application Process:

To be considered for next year's board, applications must be submitted prior to August 1st of this year.
Click here to fill out an online application. You must be an SDHS member.
After submitting your application, please use this email link to let us know you have applied.
The Nominating Committee will review your application and contact you.
If you have questions about the board or nominating process click link to send email: Nominating Committee

Julian Duval's North Vista Open Garden (Sat, November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Julian Duval (the SDHS Horticulturist of the Year in 2014) was the first President/CEO of Quail Botanical Gardens (now San Diego Botanic Garden) from 1995 until 2019, during which he grew this outstanding botanical treasure from an all-volunteer hidden gem to the bustling modern venue it is today. During his tenure at SDBG he and his wife Leslie purchased a 2/3-acre property in North Vista and Julian got busy planting exotic treasures from all over the world. The garden is open to SDHS members only for this exclusive free visit; you may join online at www.sdhs.org. This garden was previously open for us in January 2026.

This plant collector's paradise is rarely open to visitors, and is filled with uncommon succulents, potted orchids, colorful bromeliads, strangler fig trees, and much more, all planted among massive boulders which create different microclimates. Julian allows fallen leaves to create a natural mulch underfoot, and the softly covered winding paths make you feel like you're walking through a private jungle retreat. Over the years Julian has added a greenhouse to nurture his ever-growing collection of humidity-craving tropical species, and he grows many plants from seed, so be sure to look at his plant nursery. Staghorn ferns and other epiphytic plants grow along the trunks and branches of trees, and you might see blooms overhead as well as from the many flowering species planted in the ground and in decorative containers.

Learn more about the garden:

Debra Lee Baldwin's (Horticulturist of the Year in 2017) excellent write up and videos: Discover Julian

Duval's Personal Garden

Gerhart Bock's blog from his visit in April 2025

HEAVY RAIN CANCELS. Before attending please check weather for 90284.
Parking - please carpool if possible. The house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, and there is limited parking.
Julian will be personally touring groups through the garden, so please arrive on time.
No restroom facilities are available.
Parts of the property are steep and none of it is handicapped accessible. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a walking stick if possible.
No children and no pets, please.

This is a Members Only benefit and is free, but you must register to attend.

Julian Duval's North Vista Open Garden (Sat, November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Learn more about the garden:

Debra Lee Baldwin's (Horticulturist of the Year in 2017) excellent write up and videos: Discover Julian

Duval's Personal Garden

Gerhart Bock's blog from his visit in April 2025

HEAVY RAIN CANCELS. Before attending please check weather for 90284.
Parking - please carpool if possible. The house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, and there is limited parking.
Julian will be personally touring groups through the garden, so please arrive on time.
No restroom facilities are available.
Parts of the property are steep and none of it is handicapped accessible. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a walking stick if possible.
No children and no pets, please.

This is a Members Only benefit and is free, but you must register to attend.

Julian Duval's North Vista Open Garden (Sat, November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Learn more about the garden:

Debra Lee Baldwin's (Horticulturist of the Year in 2017) excellent write up and videos: Discover Julian

Duval's Personal Garden

Gerhart Bock's blog from his visit in April 2025

HEAVY RAIN CANCELS. Before attending please check weather for 90284.
Parking - please carpool if possible. The house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, and there is limited parking.
Julian will be personally touring groups through the garden, so please arrive on time.
No restroom facilities are available.
Parts of the property are steep and none of it is handicapped accessible. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a walking stick if possible.
No children and no pets, please.

This is a Members Only benefit and is free, but you must register to attend.

November 21 Meeting- Tales From a Plant Explorer and Breeder, With Jeremy Spath (Sat, November 21, 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 21:30:00 GMT

NEXT GENERAL MEETING

November 21

Tales From a Plant Explorer and Breeder,
With Jeremy Spath

In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo
1:30p -3:30p

Driven by a passion for discovering exceptional, rare, and new agave species, Jeremy Spath has spent the past 20 years exploring the natural habitats of agaves across the Americas. His journey began with a deep fascination for seeing these remarkable plants in their native environments, inspiring countless expeditions to uncover the beauty of agave habitats. His expertise extends to cultivating these plants, with a particular focus on selecting and growing exceptional clones.

Jeremy’s career took root at the San Diego Botanic Garden before he transitioned to Rancho Soledad Nursery in Rancho Santa Fe, California. There, he specialized in hybridizing agaves, creating new and stunning plants for the nursery. Today, Jeremy owns and operates Hidden Agave, his own nursery in Escondido, California, where he continues his work in growing, hybridizing, and tissue culturing agaves. His passion for these plants drives him to constantly seek out the diverse and captivating habitats where they thrive.

Jeremy is also an accomplished author, recently publishing the second edition of his book Agaves: Species, Cultivars, & Hybrids, co-authored with Jeff Moore of Solana Succulents. This comprehensive 350+ page book delves into the world of agaves, both in cultivation and in their natural habitats, featuring over 1,500 images and in-depth information on various species, cultivars, and hybrids, including many newly discovered ones. The book is available on his website, hiddenagave.com.

Note: Jeremy will have select plants and pottery available for purchase at this meeting.

Online registration required

SD Hort Member (and their guest) registration is FREE and
in-person non-member registration is $15.00

(Consider joining or renewing with the San Diego Horticultural Society for $30.00 and attend this meeting for free.)

The Plant Forum has returned! So please bring some of your plants to share with members... All you have to do is:

1) Bring a cutting or a potted plant to a meeting.

2) BEFORE you leave home, take a minute to print out a slip of paper with the common and scientific name of the plant, where it is native to (if you know that), what city it is growing in, your name, and a couple of sentences about your experience with the plant.

Online registration required
Member (and one guest) registration is FREE
Non-member - join or renew your membership for $30.00 and attend all meetings free.

Bring plants or cuttings to share at the Plant Forum before the meeting.

Social hour and Plant Forum at 1:30 PM
Presentations at 2:00 PM
Location - San Diego Oasis
17170 Bernardo Center Dr. San Diego, CA 92128
In the Innovation Center on the lower level

2027 Spring Garden Tour (Sat, March 20, 2027)

Sat, 20 Mar 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Save the Date!

We are excited to feature gardens in Kensington and North Park, some of San Diego's finest and earliest neighborhoods
Use the "Add to my calendar" link at the top of this page to save the tour date on your calendar.
Ticket sales begin in early 2027
Check back for updates

Recommend a Garden

Send an email to the tour coordinator to recommend a garden in Kensington or North Park area.

Volunteer

In exchange for working a morning or afternoon shift, volunteers receive free entry to the gardens.

TOUR DETAILS

Tour hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Ticket sales are limited this year. All tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Join San Diego Horticultural Society and save $5 on Garden Tour tickets.
Garden addresses and a map to the gardens will be emailed to registrants several days before the tour
This is a self-guided tour and is at your own pace
No pets or strollers are allowed in the gardens
Gardens are not disabled accessible
Tour is held rain or shine. Sorry, no refunds

Become a SDHS Member NOW for Member Pricing

San Diego Horticultural Society upcoming events

Board of Directors Application (Mon, June 01, 2026)

Board of Directors Application

Julian Duval's North Vista Open Garden (Sat, November 07, 2026)

Julian Duval's North Vista Open Garden (Sat, November 07, 2026)

Julian Duval's North Vista Open Garden (Sat, November 07, 2026)

November 21 Meeting- Tales From a Plant Explorer and Breeder, With Jeremy Spath (Sat, November 21, 2026)

NEXT GENERAL MEETING

November 21

Tales From a Plant Explorer and Breeder, With Jeremy Spath

In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo 1:30p -3:30p

The Plant Forum has returned! So please bring some of your plants to share with members... All you have to do is:

2027 Spring Garden Tour (Sat, March 20, 2027)

Save the Date!

Tales From a Plant Explorer and Breeder,
With Jeremy Spath

In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo
1:30p -3:30p