All About Mediterranean Plants

Ours is a Mediterranean climate, one of only a few, as those who attend a weekend symposium called “A Mediterranean Perspective,” will find out. Beginning June 29, there will be talks on the various Mediterranean floras, including those in South America, South Africa, Australia and our own native flora, plus lectures on appropriate garden design with examples from California and other countries.

Put together by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, the speakers include Robert Ornduff, “Snappy Gums and Snottygobbles: the Marvelous Plants of Western Australia”; Regula and Douglas Campbell, “Landscape Traditions in California”; David Streatfield, “Evolution of the California Landscape”; Leo Song, “Chilean Treasures”; David Suzman, “Garden Design in South Africa,” and Walter Wisura, “Mediterranean Journey.”

On July 1, there will be a tour of Santa Barbara gardens done in the Mediterranean tradition. The cost for the two days of lectures is $140; for the complete symposium, including the tours, $200. For additional information or a brochure, call (805) 563-2521.