History
The Sacramento Botanical Garden founding board of directors was created by Bruce Ritter and Linda Ching, two Sacramentans with a vision for a new botanical garden that will “be a community gathering place where people from all walks of life are welcome. It will be a breathtaking place where all are invited to pause and reflect on what is really important in the world, a port in a storm where connection with our highest natures can flourish.”
They worked diligently for several years with fellow volunteers Marlene Simon, staff horticulturist at the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory and Cielo Sichi, principal landscape architect at Landfour Landscape Architecture to bring the project planning to where we are today. The founding board members stepped down from their positions in 2023 to make way for a new slate of board members to guide the project through the next phases.
A Premier Botanical Garden for Residents and Tourists
The Sacramento Botanical Garden is a nonprofit corporation as defined by federal tax code 501(c)(3). The board of directors includes highly experienced civic leaders with Sacramento career experience in fields related to project development and implementation.
- We propose to create a 20- to 30-acre premier botanical garden serving the greater Sacramento region — ideally located within a 30-minute drive of the Central Business District.
- A place of community pride — a welcoming, year-round destination where Sacramento residents of all backgrounds can gather, connect, and find renewal in nature
- A place of lifelong learning — offering hands-on education for youth, adults, home gardeners, and seniors, and fostering a lasting love of plants and growing
- A celebration of Sacramento’s identity — honoring the region’s extraordinary agricultural heritage and Farm to Fork culture through gardens, exhibits, and culinary experiences
- A scientific institution — conducting research and serving as a living repository for global plant biodiversity and the preservation of threatened species
Public Gardens by the numbers
Explore some facts on botanical and public gardens in the US
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Public gardens contribute more than $2 billion annually to local economies through tourism, events, jobs, and community programming.
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Approximately 30% of plant species are at risk of extinction, and botanical gardens serve as critical conservation hubs
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Public gardens in the U.S. attract more than 150 million visitors every year
Proposed Features
Welcome Center
A welcoming arrival hub with an orientation gallery, ticketing, and concierge services for tours and programs. Indoor and outdoor classrooms and workshop spaces.
Conservatory
A solar-powered glass greenhouse showcasing tropical plants, rare specimens, and rotating seasonal floral displays.
Amphitheater and Event Space
An outdoor venue for concerts, performances, private events, and community gatherings set among the gardens.
Café and Gift Shop
A garden-inspired café serving seasonal, locally sourced fare, alongside a curated shop with plants, books, and artisan goods.
Mediterranean Gardens
Sacramento is one of only five Mediterranean climate zones on Earth. The garden will feature plants from all five regions — California, Mediterranean Basin, Chile, South Africa, and Australia — as these plants will thrive in our region.
Multicultural and Exhibit Gardens
Gardens celebrating Sacramento’s cultural heritage, featuring plants and stories from the many communities that call this region home.
Food Cultivation Garden
A working garden showcasing sustainable growing, seed-to-table cultivation, and the rich agricultural heritage of the Sacramento Valley.
Healing Garden
A tranquil garden of medicinal and therapeutic plants drawing on traditions from cultures worldwide, offering a space for reflection and wellness.
Children’s Garden
An immersive, hands-on space where young visitors dig, plant, and explore — sparking curiosity and a lifelong love of the natural world.
Water Gardens
Victoria amazonica giant waterlilies, aquatic plant collections and water features that add to the serenity of the landscape.
California Native Species Garden
A living showcase of California native plants and drought-tolerant species. This will include Valley Oak woodlands, riparian habitat, and native flora supporting local pollinators.