With everything we have planned for 2024, a Membership to the Garden is a gift that will keep on giving. Instead of being a one-time surprise during the holidays, a South Coast Botanic Garden Membership will allow the recipient to make memories all year that will be cherished for a lifetime. From events like our Lunar New Year to exhibits like SOAR – Tropical Butterflies and free-with-admission exhibits like Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans, there is something new to do and see every season. A Garden Membership is a great gift for the individual or family looking to spend time in nature and have nature-inspired experiences. Below are 5 more reasons to give the gift of a Garden Membership.

Five reasons to gift a Garden Membership

  1. Year-round access to the Garden: Garden Members have free access to the Garden 364 days out of the year. With no black-out dates, the Garden is open 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. seven days a week. The only day we are closed is December 25. That means Members are able to escape the city and enjoy the beauty of nature without having to sacrifice creature comforts. You can picnic among the flowers in spring, hike under lush canopies in summer, and jump in giant puddles during the winter. Continue the fun and use your Member discount for classes like Goat Yoga, Flower Crown Making and Holiday Wreath Making. Unlimited access to the Garden is included at all membership levels.

  2. Discounted or FREE access to exhibits and events: The Garden is constantly looking for new ways to make each visit memorable with alternating exhibits and events. Currently, Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: Save the Humans is free with admission, which means all of our Members can see our six larger-than-life Trolls for free with their memberships. Members also have access to discounted tickets to our immersive butterfly exhibit, SOAR: Tropical Butterflies, and our  weekly after-hours music event, Sunset Series. And while we can’t give away too much, we can say that there is something very special taking root in Spring 2024.

  3. Invitations to Member-exclusive events: Beginning at the Deluxe level, Members are invited to exclusive events where you’ll be able to gather with other members and experience the Garden in a new way. Learn more about nature during the Deluxe Discovery Events, celebrate Spring with the Supporter Tea Party or join us for beautiful meal at the Garden Circle Farm to Table event. These events are by invitation only and have exclusive programming, included meet-and-greets with artists, lectures by horticulturalists and activities for everyone to enjoy.

  4.  Discounted or FREE Access to other Gardens: South Coast Botanic Garden is just one member of the American Horticultural Society of the United States. With more than 300 other participating gardens, there is almost no road trip or out-of-state vacation that cannot be enhanced with a trip to the local botanic garden. Varying climates and types of soil guarantee that you will see something unique in every state. While our 90-mile radius rule means that Descanso Garden and the Los Angeles Arboretum are excluded, you still have discounted or free access to gardens in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Deigo, and beyond. To learn more about participating gardens, click here, and contact the garden you would like to visit for more details on using this reciprical membership benefit.

  5. Shopping discounts: Members receive discounts at local nurseries (see the list here) as well as a 10% discount at the Garden’s kiosk in Palm Circle. So a Garden Membership isn’t just an experiential gift, it can also be used to save some money when purchasing plants, ornaments, books and more!

Interested in giving someone (or yourself) the endless gift of a Garden Membership? Click here to purchase.