The Garden is preparing for “All Things Wicked & Wonderful” to take over this fall, beginning October 1
From looking into the skeleton pasts of Diabolical and Misunderstood plantings in the Garden Graveyard to hundreds of creepy crawlers taking over our first-ever Spider Pavilion, there’s something for everyone, and every scare level. Head off on our Halloween Hunt that may just have you believing in sorcery as you search throughout our 87 acres, or bring your four-legged friend to our Howl-o-ween Costume Contest on October 30. All Things Wicked & Wonderful will be sprinkled throughout the Garden and into our regular happenings as well, including classes. This may not be your traditional Halloween outing, but it will be both wicked and wonderful… what more could you ask for?
Share your photos with us using hashtag #AllThingsWickedandWonderful
Let us know what’s wicked or wonderful by adding #WickedSCBG or #WonderfulSCBG as well!
All Things Wicked & Wonderful Schedule of Events
Please check back as additional events will be added as October nears.
Diabolical and Misunderstood Plantings in the Garden Graveyard
October 1-November 20
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
While the Garden is usually known for its beautiful pops of color, we’re going to the dark side for our Diabolical and Misunderstood plantings! Our Garden Graveyard will be located in garden beds across from the Spider Pavilion and will include plants that are not only dark in color, but have dark reputations as well. While many of these plants are maligned for being toxic or deadly, it’s not always the case. Come learn about these Diabolical and Misunderstood plants and be wowed as you truly see the Garden in a whole new way. A full guide to the plants featured can be found here. Included with General Garden Tickets, which are free for Members and up to $15 for non-members.
Spider Pavilion
October 1-November 30
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
While hundreds of butterflies have been fluttering about our pavilion for the past few years, a new arthropod will be calling the area home as hundreds of spiders take over the pavilion from October 1 through November 30. Much like SOAR, guests can purchase an additional timed ticket to enter the pavilion for 30 minutes to be surrounded by orb-weaving spiders like Trichonephila clavipes (golden silk orb-weaver), Argiope aurantia (yellow garden spider), Gasteracantha (spiny orb-weaver), Leucauge (orchard spider) and Araneus (Angulate orbweavers). While these spiders will be living freely in the pavilion, there will be some additional tarantulas inside glass cases. The Emergence Chamber will be turned into our Spider Wall that will educate guests about the brown widow, which was “discovered” in Torrance in 2003 as an invasive species on the West Coast. Tickets to the Spider Pavilion are an additional $5/Member and $7/non-member.
Halloween Hunt October 1-31
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Our October hunt is themed with our All Things Wicked & Wonderful fall offerings. This spooky hunt will lead you to four locations throughout the Garden’s 87 acres starting this Saturday. Then, beginning Saturday, October 8, you can meet a surprise Halloween visitor from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays when she will be greeting guests near the hunt’s final destination. Will she be handing out spells or prizes? Come find out! Included with General Garden Tickets, which are free for Members and up to $15 for non-members.
Howl-o-ween Costume Contest
October 30
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October’s Dog Walking Hours are happening so close to Halloween, we’ve decided to up the ante. We invite you AND your four-legged friend(s) to come to the Garden dressed in costume for our Howl-o-ween Costume Contest. Take a picture of you and/or your pup dressed in costume in the Garden on October 30 and post it on Instagram using hashtag #SCBGCostumeContest and be entered to win 2 tickets to our upcoming light exhibit (more info on that to come soon!). Tickets for dog walking hours are same as General Admission (free for Members and up to $15 for non-members), plus $5 per dog.
Potions Class: How to Grow a Cocktail Inspired Garden
October 16 & 30
2 to 4 p.m.
Whether it is eye of newt or toe of frog, Professor Snake (Terry Huang, the Director of Living Collections) will be instructing guests how to grow their own herbal ingredients for making infusions and syrups to keep their cauldrons bubbling with delicious cocktails and mocktails. Guests will also be treated to a seasonal cocktail happy hour for double trouble. Ticket includes General Garden Admission and 2 craft cocktails/mocktails. This class will be held outdoors. Price: $39 for Members, $49 for non-members.
Tarantula Meet and Greet
Saturdays, October 8 – November 19
11 a.m. to Noon
Spiders have often been cast as monsters and villains in the media we consume. They have starred as old-school horror monsters that stomp on buildings, giant demons preventing safe passage and terrifying enemies to defeat in video games. This type-casting of spiders stems from the prevalence of Arachnophobia, or the irrational fear of spiders, in our population. However, spiders are valuable parts of our ecosystem, one of the most sustainable forms of pest control and the vast majority of spiders are harmless to humans. As we learn more about our 8-legged friends, the more we understand and grow to care for them. Come meet our lovely tarantulas, talk to our team and learn more about the misunderstood perception of spiders during this short presentation and Meet and Greet. Included with General Garden Tickets, which are free for Members and up to $15 for non-members.