美国圣巴巴拉植物园 Santa Barbara Botanic Garden – 加州原生植物保护与科普基地

机构概况

美国圣巴巴拉植物园（Santa Barbara Botanic Garden）位于加利福尼亚州 Mission Canyon（任务峡谷），距圣巴巴拉市中心仅一步之遥，是全球首个专注于加州原生植物的植物园。园区占地78英亩（约31.5公顷），拥有超过9公里的蜿蜒步道、历史遗迹、开放实验室以及1000余种加州原生植物，常年对公众开放。

作为美国博物馆联盟（AAM）成员和认证博物馆，圣巴巴拉植物园以”活体博物馆”的身份区别于普通绿地——其科研团队、园艺专家和自然爱好者们依托六大自然历史藏库，系统研究并探索自然世界，为生物多样性保护提供切实解决方案，研究范围覆盖加州全境乃至更广区域。

历史沿革

1925年，卡内基Institution提议与圣巴巴拉自然博物馆合作，创建一座”从海边延伸至山巅、由树木花草连接”的植物园。植物生态学家 Frederic Clements 博士受命前往圣巴巴拉勘察选址。

1926年，当地慈善家 Anna Dorinda Blaksley Bliss 购入 Mission Canyon 内13英亩（约5公顷）土地，委托将其开发为纪念其父 Henry Blaksley 的植物园，并同时设立专项维护基金。园区最初以创始人之父命名Blaksley植物园，首任园长为 Elmer J. Bissell 博士。1932年前后，园区又陆续获赠11英亩土地，运营基础逐步夯实。

1928年，Lockwood de Forrest 被任命为园区植物学家。自此，园区明确了专注加州原生植物的使命。1936年，园艺重心正式收窄至加州原生植物，涵盖加州植物区系省（California Floristic Province）——包括墨西哥下加利福尼亚州西北部和俄勒冈州西南部。园区早期参照 Clements 的概念规划，按植物群落（如矮灌丛、荒漠、草原）布局，重点展示太平洋西岸北美植物。

1940年，Pritchett 步道在矮灌丛植被区建成；次年，Campbell 步道延伸至 canyon 区，游客可通达峡谷西侧林木繁茂的坡地。同年，看守者小屋（Caretaker’s Cottage）——一座从 Sears, Roebuck & Co. 订购的预制住宅——跨越一块巨石（现已被移除）迁移至现址，即Blaksley图书馆附近。

游客信息

圣巴巴拉植物园位于 Mission Canyon 内，步道难度各异，包含部分原始区域。开放时间为每日10:00至17:00（16:30为最后预约时间），会员专属时段为9:00至10:00。地址：1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105。

园区提供多种无障碍设施与服务，确保不同能力的游客均能充分体验原生植物与生态之美。园区还定期举办园艺培训课程、青少年营地、家庭活动及专题讲座，并承接团体预约与企业活动。

六大自然历史藏库

圣巴巴拉植物园的六大藏库支撑着科研与保护工作，涵盖：植物标本、种子、活体植物、动物标本、化石及地质样本，以及历史文献与档案。这些藏品为科学家提供从基因到生态系统的多尺度研究材料。

植物园还拥有 Blaksley 图书馆，馆内 SBBGPhotos 图片库存档超过50,000张图片，涵盖园区历史、文化建筑、加州原生植物、种植与自然景观以及动物图像。

保护使命

圣巴巴拉植物园的使命是从基因到生态系统各层级全面保护生物多样性。保护工作涵盖：栖息地丧失与破碎化、外来物种入侵、气候变化及传粉昆虫衰退等当代挑战。园区与合作伙伴共同推动从下加利福尼亚、海峡群岛到湾区与内华达山脉的保护行动。

植物园旗下”805 Initiative”地方遗传学苗圃项目，旨在保护圣巴巴拉特有的地方遗传种质资源，为恢复性种植提供本地原生基因材料。

官方网站

官方网站：https://sbbotanicgarden.org/

Institution Overview

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (SBBG) is situated in Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara, California—just a stone’s throw from downtown Santa Barbara. As the world’s first botanic garden dedicated exclusively to native plants, SBBG has devoted a century to understanding the relationship between plants and people. The Garden spans 78 acres (31.5 hectares) with over six miles (9+ km) of winding trails, historical landmarks, working laboratories, and more than 1,000 species of California’s native plants on display year-round.

As an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), SBBG stands apart as a living museum. Its team of scientists, horticulturists, and enthusiasts actively examines and investigates the natural world through six natural history collections, prescribing biodiversity solutions that extend across California and beyond.

History

In 1925, the Carnegie Institution proposed a cooperative botanical garden project with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Plant ecologist Dr. Frederic Clements was sent to Santa Barbara to identify suitable sites.

In 1926, local philanthropist Anna Dorinda Blaksley Bliss purchased 13 acres (5 hectares) in Mission Canyon to create a memorial botanic garden for her father, Henry Blaksley, establishing an endowment for its maintenance. The Garden was named Blaksley Botanic Garden after the founder’s father, with Dr. Elmer J. Bissell appointed as the first director. By 1932, an additional 11 acres had been donated.

In 1928, Lockwood de Forrest was appointed the Garden’s botanist. By 1936, the horticultural focus narrowed to California native plants—including those of the California Floristic Province (nw Baja California, Mexico, and sw Oregon). The Garden was laid out in plant communities such as chaparral, desert, and prairie, emphasizing Pacific slope North American flora. Experimental displays of genera like Ceanothus and Eriogonum served both research and public education.

The Caretaker’s Cottage—a prefabricated house from Sears, Roebuck & Co.—was built near the site of the current Blaksley Library. In 1941, it was moved over a large boulder (now gone) to its present location.

Visiting Information

SBBG is located at 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. General hours are daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last reservation at 4:30 p.m.), with members’ hour from 9 to 10 a.m. The Garden features trails for all endurance levels, including some primitive areas. Accessibility tools and resources are actively invested in to support guests of all abilities.

The Garden offers horticulture classes, youth camps, family programs, and special events. Private rentals and photography sessions are also available.

Six Natural History Collections

SBBG’s six natural history collections—encompassing preserved plants, seeds, living collections, zoological specimens, fossils, and historical archives—enable multi-scale research from genes to ecosystems. The on-site Blaksley Library houses the SBBGPhotos image archive with over 50,000 images documenting the Garden’s history, California native plants, and natural landscapes.

Conservation Mission

SBBG’s mission centers on comprehensive biodiversity conservation: from the (sub)microscopic level of genes to entire ecosystems. Current challenges addressed include habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, climate change, and pollinator decline. Conservation efforts span from Baja California and the Channel Islands to the Bay Area and Sierra Nevada. The “805 Initiative” Local Genetics Nursery Program preserves locally adapted genetic stock for restorative planting.

Official Website

Official website: https://sbbotanicgarden.org/