California Garden Magazine

The first issue of California Garden magazine was printed in July of 1909.

The magazine specialized in information for growing plants in the San Diego area. It is the oldest horticulture magazine in continuous publication in the United States. Except for a brief two-year period, all writers, editors, and photographers have been volunteers, many of whom are well-known authorities in their fields.

Even though the organization was founded to beautify San Diego, many people wanted to grow vegetables and fruits, so California Garden expanded to offer advice on growing edible crops. Today, subscribers include readers in foreign countries with similar climatic conditions, as well as in colder areas of the United States, where the information is used for growing plants in greenhouses.

SDFA and California Garden nominated for a Forever Balboa Park 2026 sPARK Award

This nomination recognizes more than a century of horticultural education, community beautification, and service to Balboa Park. Founded in 1907 and based in the Park since 1923, San Diego Floral Association has preserved local gardening history through its long-running California Garden magazine while inspiring civic beautification and environmental stewardship through public programs, plant sharing, scholarships, garden education, and events like the Festival of Trees.

Awards are on September 18, 2026. Learn more https://foreverbalboapark.org/spark-awards/

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Current Issue

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September/October 2026 Volume 117 No. 5

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In This Issue

President's Message

SDFA Fall Quarterly Meeting

Festival of Trees

Remembering Evelyn Weidner

Plants and Shrubs of Balboa Park: Bird’s-nest Fern Asplenium nidus

SDFA 2026 Grant Recipient Sam Herrick Community Garden

Mastering Your Garden: Weird and Wonderful Carnivorous Plants

Growing Grounds: More Trees of Spreckels Park

Fat Bottom Plants

Michael Bostwick and the Olaf Wieghorst Botanical Garden

On Floral Design: Under The Sea

Julian Duval LOVES plants!

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September/October Gardening Events Calendar

From the Archives of California Garden

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Magazine Deadlines

• November December Issue 2026
  Advertising and Articles due September 20th
  Calendar of Events and Print Ads, Print Ready October 1st
  
  
• January/February Issue 2027
  Advertising and Articles due Nov 15, 2026
  Calendar of Events and Print Ads, Print Ready October 1st 
   
• March April Issue 2027
  Advertising Reservations Jan 20th
  Calendar of Events and Print Ads, Print Ready October 1st 
  
  
• May June Issue 2027
  Advertising and Articles due March 20th
  Calendar of Events and Print Ads, Print Ready October 1st 
  
  
• July August Issue 2027
  Advertising and Articles due May 20th
  Calendar of Events and Print Ads, Print Ready October 1st 
  
  
• September October Issue 2026
  Advertising and Articles due July 20th
  Calendar of Events and Print Ads, Print Ready October 1st 
  
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Editorial Team

EXECUTIVE EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Rachel Cobb

ASSOCIATE EDITOR - Nancy Carol Carter

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS
Linda Bresler, Carolyne Hultgren, Judy Kirsten, Lynn Langley, Dale Rekus

EDITORIAL BOARD
John Blocker, Nancy Carol Carter, Thea Gurns, Kay Harry, Lee Somerville