A GROWING PASSION: Botanic Garden In Your Backyard

Stream now with KPBS+ / Watch Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS 2 + Thursday, Dec. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS TV + Sunday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. on KPBS TV

In the second of our two-part series about the San Diego Botanic Garden, we focus on the Garden's work with plants native to San Diego County and Southern California. The Garden's onsite collections include three native plant displays: a landscape demonstration garden, a demonstration of plants important to the native Kumeyaay peoples, and chaparral preserve native to the site.

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Host Nan Sterman and President and CEO of the San Diego Botanic Garden, Ari Novy, walk through the New World Collection.

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Host Nan Sterman and Director of Horticulture at San Diego Botanic Garden, Tony Gurnoe, in the nursery.

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Director of Horticulture at San Diego Botanic Garden, Tony Gurnoe demonstrates cycad insemination with host Nan Sterman.

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Host Nan Sterman (right) and Director of Horticulture at San Diego Botanic Garden, Tony Gurnoe (left) visit Oak Crest Park trail. Encinitas, Calif.

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Oak Crest Park, Encinitas, Calif.

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Director of Horticulture at San Diego Botanic Garden Tony Gurnoe shows us baccharis, in Encinitas, Calif.

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Close-up photo of baccharis, Encinitas, Calif.

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Director of Horticulture at San Diego Botanic Garden, Tony Gurnoe and host Nan Sterman examine seedlings.

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San Diego Botanic Garden Managing Director, Brandi Eide and host Nan Sterman discuss dudleya, a genus of succulent perennial plants.

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The Garden's work with natives goes beyond its borders, as well, into the surrounding communities. There, the Garden's efforts combine research, science, environmental stewardship, and community involvement in local restoration projects. We'll tour those gardens and wild areas, meet the staff members who do this important work, and talk about ways viewers can emulate those efforts in our own gardens.

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