Friends & Supporters
The Friends of the Arboretum (formerly the Arboretum Associates), a group devoted to assisting the development and maintenance of the UCSC Arboretum gardens, was formed in 1976 as a non-profit organization.
red-legged frog
Dean McHenry
All Friends are invited to join in the many activities offered at the Arboretum. Volunteers, acting as guides, are available throughout the year to give tours of the garden to interested botanical and garden groups and to groups of university students, schoolchildren, senior citizens, and the general public. A yearly orientation and training class is provided to those interested in becoming guides or to anyone who would like to better acquaint themselves with the workings of the Arboretum and gardening skills.
Annual Fundraisers
The Friends' main fundraising events are the Fall and Spring plant sales and the Dried Flower and Succulent Sale, held in November. Some Friends volunteer as plant propagators, others share their artistic talents, and still others use their organizational skills in order to present these extremely successful events. An annual fundraising letter is also sent out. All income earned by the Friends goes directly to the upkeep of the Arboretum.
The Horticulture II building was financed entirely through the efforts of the Friends. Completed in 1994, it has become a meeting place for many local groups involved with gardening and natural history. Volunteers also staff the Jean and Bill Lane Horticulture Library, an important source of information on gardening, horticulture, natural history, and botany.
Norrie's Gift Shop at the Arboretum
Run entirely by volunteers, Norrie's Gifts sells many beautiful, nature-related gifts, a wide selection of gardening books, and special plants propagated from the Arboretum's collections.
The Gift Shop is Open Every Day 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
The Friends sponsor a lecture series open to the public that covers a wide range of botanical and gardening-related subjects. All these events are held in the Horticulture Building and are advertised in the Bulletin, a quarterly newsletter circulated to all Friends. Friends officers are elected by the membership every two years.
Become A Member!
The Friends of the Arboretum has grown to approximately 1000 members. Manifesting in innumerable ways, their lively interest and continued support enable the Arboretum to flourish, and they learn a lot while they're at it. Indeed, the loyalty of the Friends of the Arboretum is often envied by other botanic gardens!
You are invited to join the Friends. Benefits of membership are detailed below. Click here to download our Membership Form
Benefits of Membership in the Friends of the Arboretum
California Poppy (One Adult Card) $45 Individual, Senior, Student. Non-Transferable - Free admission to the Arboretum
- Discount at Norrie's and Local Nurseries (see below)
- Priority Entrance to Plant Sales
- Discount on Admission to Lectures, etc.
- Recognition in Bulletin
- Quarterly Bulletin
- Reciprocal Admission to AHS Affiliate Gardens
- Invitation to Members Only Events
- One Garden Admission Guest Pass
- Admission of one guest accompanying each member
- One additional Garden Admission Guest Pass (two total)
- Two additional Garden Admission Guest Passes (four total)
- 2 Guest Passes for Priority Entrance to Plant Sales
- 1 Specially Propagated Plant
- Invitation to "Behind the Scenes" Event
- Invitation to Curator Events
- Invitation to Director's Dinner
Life (One or Two Cards) $2500
- Poppy and Salvia Benefits Above for Life Plus
- Protea Circle benefits for one year
Please make checks payable to
the UCSC Foundation/Arboretum and send to:
Friends of the Arboretum
Arboretum at UC Santa Cruz,
University of California
Santa Cruz CA 95064
(831) 427-2998
Show your current membership card for the Friends of the Arboretum and receive DISCOUNTS at the following nurseries!
Drought Resistant Nursery – Plants Only
850 Park Ave. Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 375-2120
Garden Company – Plants Only
2218 Mission St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-8424
Gold Rush Nursery
3625 N Main Street, Soquel, CA 95073 Call for hours:
(831) 465-0314
Golden Nursery – Plants Only
1122 Second Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401
(650) 348-5525
Hidden Gardens Nursery – Plants Only
7765 Soquel Dr., Aptos. CA 95003
(831) 688-7011
Ladera Garden Center
380 Alpine Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94028
(650) 854-3850
Native Revival Nursery – Plants Only
2600 Mar Vista Dr. Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 684-1811
NewGarden
2440 Mattison Ln., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-1610
Norrie's Gift & Garden Shop – Plants and Merchandise
Arboretum at UCSC, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 423-4977
Pot Stop – Pots Only
12360 Highway 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039,
(831) 768-7557
Pottery Planet – Pots Only
2600 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 465-9216
Probuild Garden Center 
– Plants Only
235 River St. Santa Cruz, Ave. 95060
(831) 423-0223
Sierra Azul Nursery – Plants and Merchandise
2660 East Lake Ave. Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 763-0939
Succulent Gardens – Plants Only
2133 Elkhorn Rd., Castroville, CA 95012
(831) 632-0482
Surf City Growers
1975 Cox Rd., Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-1088
Carry your Arb Card!
NewGarden 12440 Mattison Ln., Santa Cruz 95062 (831) 462-1610
