The Arboretum - Friends

The University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum Associates

Click here to view the Associates' Updated Constitution and Bylaws

The Arboretum Associates, a friends group devoted to assisting the development and maintenance of the UCSC Arboretum gardens, was formed in 1976 as a non-profit organization.

All Associates 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.

Founding Chancellor
Dean McHenry

Annual Fundraisers

Kids learn about a
red-legged frog

The Associates' main fundraising events are the Fall and Spring plant sales and the Dried Flower and Succulent Sale, held in November. Some Associates 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 Associates goes directly to the upkeep of the Arboretum.

The Horticulture II building was financed entirely through the efforts of the Associates. 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 Associates 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 Associates. Associates officers are elected by the membership every two years.

Norrie's Gift Shop

Become A Member!

Volunteers in the Garden

The Arboretum Associates 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 Arboretum Associates is often envied by other botanic gardens!

You are invited to join the Associates. Benefits of membership are detailed below. Click here to download our Membership Form

Below are listed the
Community of Friends Membership
levels, the yearly dues, and their respective benefits:

Poppy $35 (1 adult card)
Individual, Student, Senior

Salvia $50 (2 adult cards)
Dual, Family

"Basic" Benefits for Poppy & Salvia levels
-Discounts at local nurseries/garden centers (see list below)
-Rose Hand's book The UCSC Arboretum in Pictures
-Priority entrance to our plant sales
-Discounts on lectures and other events
-Quarterly Bulletin
-10% Discount at Norrie's (including plants)
-Invitation to Members-only events
-Invitation to new quarterly Membre orientation