Environmental News

A curated set of environmental news stories brought to you by the Gottlieb Native Garden team.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Continues Popular Free Senior Day Starting Wednesday, Feb 19

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden invites seniors aged 60 and older to enjoy six Free Senior Days in 2025 for the 11th consecutive year.

How Do Wildfires Impact Plants?

Once ignited, wildfires can spread rapidly and cause significant destruction across large areas of land, consuming thousands of acres. This can have a wide range of effects on trees and other plants in affected areas, according to one NC State expert.

Best native plants to stop weeds – 5 ground covers, shrubs and perennials to keep unwelcome weeds out of your yard

We reveal the best native plants to stop weeds from germinating and taking over your borders

Sowing Seeds of Change

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Hosts 12th Annual Conservation Symposium on the Need for Seed

Davis Rewilding Society steps up its efforts to help native wildlife, plants

Here’s your chance to help this student-run group connect more people with nature

Botany Alumna Finds Passion in Search for California Wildflowers

In her role as a botanist with the California Botanic Garden, Fraga has researched countless varieties of plants and even discovered a rare wildflower.

UCLA becomes first California campus awarded a Green Grounds Certification

UCLA is rooted in keeping its grounds green and healthy

Examining the Environmental Impacts of the LA Fires

Urban fires cause more damage to the environment than fires in the wilderness because of the toxins created by the burning of all sorts of toxic materials, which release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into both air and water.

What trees survived in our terrible fires? And why didn’t they burn?

Certain trees survived, according to Cal Fire, because they have a natural adaptation to withstand fire, such as thick bark, a shape that sheds embers and higher moisture content than the structures that caught fire. “While trees may still be singed, they are often less flammable than structures,” according to the post.

New study reveals remarkable impact of simple gardening tool on the California landscape: ‘It’s a promising step’

“It’s a simple, low-cost method that could be a first step for restoring these systems.”