“Community Free Days” Announced at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust to Sponsor First Event as Part of the Garden’s 85th Anniversary
The Garden will host its first free-admission day on Sunday, July 10. Additional free days will occur periodically throughout the year.
“We truly appreciate the support we have received from the community and want to give something back,” said Garden’s Executive Director Steve Windhager, Ph.D. “The feedback we received at community meetings earlier this year suggested that free admission would be a good way to say ‘thank you.’ I was thrilled when Santa Barbara Bank & Trust offered to partner with us to sponsor the first day and kick-off the program.”
“Santa Barbara Bank & Trust is committed to the partner organizations that make our community such a unique place to live,” said George S. Leis, President of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. “The Botanic Garden is one of our community’s greatest treasures and everyone who lives here should have the opportunity to experience all that it has to offer. We are pleased at this opportunity to assist the Garden with launching this great program, and we congratulate Steve and his team on this milestone anniversary.”
Along with free entry, visitors can participate in docent tours throughout the day, observe an authentic Japanese Tea House, and get horticultural questions answered by Master Gardeners, who will have an information table in our Garden Growers Nursery. In addition, for every Garden membership purchased, visitors will receive a free, one-gallon native plant. In the Garden Store, patrons will receive a free Garden magnet with any purchase, and a copy of the book, Alice’s Garden by Anne-Marie Castleberg, photography by Ralph A. Clevenger (a $29.95 value) free with a $50 purchase. There will be drawings to win a T-shirt in the morning and afternoon and giveaways from Santa Barbara Bank & Trust throughout the day. Visitors are invited to pack a lunch and enjoy a lovely picnic on one of the Garden’s beautiful decks overlooking stunning vistas.
As parking at the Garden is very limited, use of alternative transportation via MTD’s #22 bus line or carpooling is strongly encouraged. As attendance is limited by our Conditional Use Permit, only 205 people can be allowed into the Garden at one time.
To arrange an interview or request broadcast quality B-roll or high-res photos, please contact Joni Kelly, Communications Manager, at 805-682-4726 ext. 132 or via cell at 805-886-1869. The Garden’s ”Community Free Day” is sponsored by Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, KEYT-TV, Santa Barbara News-Press and Santa Barbara Independent.