Media Assets
Sonoma Botanical Garden images and media may be used to promote Sonoma Botanical Garden solely for noncommercial, editorial purposes or personal use.
All media remain © Sonoma Botanical Garden. Please credit the photographer as listed in the filename or caption. If no photographer is listed, please credit as “Courtesy of Sonoma Botanical Garden”.
Press requests and questions can email pr@sonomabg.org.
Sonoma Botanical Garden presents
Ribbit Exhibit
A fantastical, frog-filled adventure for the whole family
On view: April 5 to August 31, 2024
Glen Ellen, CA, Feb, 2024
Sonoma Botanical Garden leaps into spring with Ribbit Exhibit, a whimsical, family-friendly presentation of more than 20 larger-than-life frog characters placed in vignettes throughout the Garden. Each with their own name and story, the enchanting human-sized sculptures by artist Andy Cobb include Zenny meditating on a leaf on the Garden’s Pond, Bentley and his tortoise friend Tortuga ambling along the California Oaks Trail, dapper Floyd and his elegant partner Grace cutting the rug amongst the flowers, and many others.
“We are pleased to be bringing this delightful, nationally touring exhibit to Sonoma Botanical Garden for its west coast debut,” says Jeannie Perales, SBG Executive Director. “Ribbit Exhibit is a playful and interactive way to encourage Garden guests to explore our lovely woodland garden where paths and streams wend their way through a unique collection of Asian and California native plants. Artist Andy Cobb’s imaginative work is a singularly fun showcase of the intersection of art and nature and is sure to be a ribbet-ing experience for young and old alike!”
The 22 eye-catching sculptures, each 4 to 6 feet tall, are thoughtfully handcrafted by the North Carolina-based Cobb from copper, colored with natural patina. Visitors will find them sitting in trees, playing jazz, enjoying a cup of coffee on a garden bench, and more.
“I think the driving force behind this whole thing has been making people smile,” says Cobb. “A lot of people have, after the shows, told me how happy Ribbit makes them, how they smile, how they laugh.”
A robust roster of public programs such as guided tours, live music, family scavenger hunts, and family fun days are planned while the exhibit is on view (see below for details). “Ribbit Exhibit provides the Garden with the opportunity to engage visitors of all ages in a variety of experiences that highlight the diversity and beauty of the natural world,” says Perales. “We encourage guests to hop on to our calendar often for these special offerings throughout the spring and summer!”
Support for Ribbit Exhibit includes Early Childhood Learning Sponsor PNC Bank, Partnering Sponsor Colette Clowes, and Supporting Sponsors Maud Hallin, Carol Baker, and Bank of America. The exhibition is funded, in part, by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors/Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin. Presenting Media Sponsors are Press Democrat & Sonoma Magazine, with Supporting Media Sponsors North Bay Bohemian, KZST 100.1 & Froggy 92.9.
Public Programs
Sunday Fundays
June 9, July 14 & August 11, 2024; 1-4pm
Free for members and included with admission.
Hop on over for an afternoon of family fun in the beauty of the Garden with face painting, arts and crafts with Art Escape’s Art Van Gogh, family yoga with Sonoma Yoga, Music Time with Megan, and lawn games. Families can win prizes for completing a froggy-themed scavenger hunt, enjoy frog-tastic story time, and more.
Acoustic Sunsets
Wednesdays, May 1-October 30, 2024; 5-8pm
Free for members and included with admission.
The Garden extends its hours every Wednesday this summer with special activities for all ages including live music in the amphitheater, lawn games, and other family friendly activities. Bring a picnic and Fido too as the Garden is welcoming well behaved, leashed dogs during these special evening hours.
About Andy Cobb
What started as a hobby now keeps metal sculptor Andy Cobb hopping six days a week in his studio where frogs in tutus and tuxedos are the norm. He began by making realistic game fish out of copper sheet and learned to coax iridescent colors from the metal using heat. What started as a small show in his hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina exploded into Ribbit the Exhibit, which has been shown in more than two dozen public gardens across the country.
About Sonoma Botanical Garden
Founded in 1987, Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG) is a woodland experience where East meets West by celebrating the beauty and importance of Asian and California native plants. Situated in the picturesque Sonoma Valley, SBG’s 67 acres is home to a unique Asian woodland, a California native oak savanna, and a Cabernet vineyard. Its mission is to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the beauty and value of Asian and California native plants and to promote their conservation in natural habitats and gardens.
For more information, please visit sonomabg.org.
General Information Starting April 5, 2024, the Garden will be open daily 10am – 5pm, with extended evening hours from 5-8pm on Wednesdays, May 1-October 30, 2024, Admission prices starting April 5, 2024 are as follows: $15 adults; $12 seniors 65+; $8 youth 5-17 years old, teachers and active military; FREE for children 4 and under. The Garden is a proud participant in the Museums for All program enabling $3 admissions. Groups of 8 or more are asked to make a reservation in advance. Visit at 12841 Hwy 12, Glen Ellen, CA. Call 707-996-3166 or email info@sonomabg.org for questions.
Media Contact:
Nina Sazevich
Sonoma Botanical Garden PR Consultant
415-752-2483
pr@sonomabg.org
sonomabg.org
Sonoma Botanical Garden presents
California Native Visitor Center
Pioneering Sonoma County partnership to develop fire and water wise CA native plant demonstration garden at Sonoma Botanical Garden
January 24, 2024, Glen Ellen, CA
Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG), in partnership with Sonoma Ecology Center and Habitat Corridor Project, proudly announces a dynamic, new collaboration to design and establish a leading-edge California native plant demonstration garden at SBG. The project aims to create a learning landscape surrounding SBG’s Welcome Center to showcase the beauty and practicality of native flora in safeguarding against wildfires, promoting water conservation, and sustaining local wildlife.
The initiative represents a significant stride towards sustainable landscape design and environmental stewardship in Sonoma County.
“We are thrilled to embark on this innovative project alongside Sonoma Ecology Center and Habitat Corridor Project, generously supported, in part, by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation,” says Jeannie Perales, Executive Director, SBG. “This important collaboration leverages the expertise and resources of three esteemed regional organizations dedicated to conservation, education, and ecological resilience and builds significantly on SBG’s recently opened California Oaks Trail and the Garden’s enhanced mission to inspire an appreciation of the beauty and value of California native plants alongside its Asian plant collection.”
“The Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation is supporting Sonoma Botanical Garden’s new focus that will connect more people with nature and educate them about the beauty, resilience, and importance of our native plant species,” Says Delle Maxwell, Foundation President.
The envisioned garden, which has recently broken ground and will be unveiled to the public in stages over the next several years, will offer visitors an immersive experience to explore and understand the vital role native plants can play in the future of California gardening, demonstrating practical techniques for homeowners, landscape professionals, and community planners to create fire-resistant and water-efficient landscapes that support biodiversity. The garden will also serve as an educational hub with public programs for all ages and special tours designed to deepen the public’s appreciation of California flora.
“Botanical gardens are places of beauty, respite, and appreciation for the natural world,” says Bob Schneider, Design & Implementation Project Manager, Sonoma Ecology Center. “They can also serve as sites for biodiversity and conservation. The Sonoma Ecology Center is excited to work alongside Habitat Corridor Project in growing the Sonoma Botanical Garden’s California native plant collection. California is a biodiversity hotspot, and Sonoma Valley, in particular, is home to a lot of plant diversity. We are excited to showcase more of our region’s native plants, as well as demonstrate fire-wise landscape design principles.”
“This demonstration garden is a unique opportunity to show plant enthusiasts and the public how to use local plants to create a sense of place in the California landscape,” adds April Owens, Executive Director, Habitat Corridor Project. “We are honored to team with Sonoma Ecology Center to diversify the native plant collection at SBG with both plants that are easy to find in the nursery trade and ones that are rare and protected in the Sonoma Valley. The space will provide a substantial amount of habitat garden to support biodiversity where it has been lost in the Sonoma Valley and throughout California. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate for landowners and others the value of adding larger California native shrubs to support butterflies, bees, and birds; the benefit of swales and rain gardens to collect and filter water; and plant design for defensible space.”
About Sonoma Botanical Garden
Founded in 1987, Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG) is a woodland experience where East meets West by celebrating the beauty and importance of Asian and California native plants. Situated in the picturesque Sonoma Valley, SBG’s 67 acres is home to a unique Asian woodland, a California native oak savanna, and a Cabernet vineyard. Its mission is to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the beauty and value of Asian and California native plants and to promote their conservation in natural habitats and gardens.
sonomabg.org
About Sonoma Ecology Center
Since 1990, Sonoma Ecology Center has worked with the community to identify and lead actions that achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley.
sonomaecologycenter.org
About Habitat Corridor Project
Our mission is to create and promote California native plant restoration gardens in the urban environment. Our vision actions are to design and install California native plant focused landscapes replacing traditional water intensive landscapes and restoring wildlife habitat to support biodiversity. We also educate and inspire the public with our experience including talks, garden tours, volunteer days, signage, and downloadable free plans. habitatcorridorproject.org
About Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation
Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation powers people who explore and ask, teach and try, conserve and connect, create and captivate. Our funding supports individual scientists, teachers, conservationists, and creators whose diverse perspectives enable us to discover new things about ourselves and our world.
Maxwell-Hanrahan.org
Visiting Sonoma Botanical Garden
Open 9am – 4pm daily, closed Tuesdays and some holidays. Please check the website for current admission prices. The Garden is a proud participant in the Museums for All program with qualifying individuals receiving $3 admissions. Groups of 8 or more are asked to make a reservation in advance.
Visit at 12841 Hwy 12, Glen Ellen, CA. Call 707-996-3166 or email info@sonomabg.org for questions.
Photo by Daniel Perales Studios
Photo by Laura Bassett
Photo by Laura Bassett
Photo by Laura Bassett
Photo by Kate Rabuck
Photo by Laura Bassett
Photo by Sonoma Ecology Center and Habitat Corridor Project
Sonoma Botanical Garden’s rare magnolias at peak bloom in coming weeks!!
(March 6, 2024, Glen Ellen, CA) Sonoma Botanical Garden is home to over 40 unique species of Asian magnolias, many of which are endangered in their native habitat. In the coming two to three weeks, approximately March 11-31, more than a dozen of these spectacular trees and shrubs will erupt in a stunning riot of pink and white. With often large, saucer-shaped flowers emerging on bare branches, the winter magnolia bloom is one of the Garden’s most breathtaking highlights of the year.
“There are towering trees and diminutive shrubs with foliage that ranges from glossy to felty, and elegant flowers that nod, hiding their bright red stamens, to luscious 2 foot-wide, giant flowers pointed to the sky,” says Michael Wenzel, Living Collections Curator.
The most plentiful in March is the Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) with 15 specimens planted throughout the Garden. This smaller statured species blooms just before the leaves emerge. Its thin white to pink petals evoke a star shape, leading to its name. These plants started as wild seed collected in central Japan and have been part of several studies examining the genetics of magnolias.
Another March bloomer is the Kobus Magnolia (Magnolia kobus) with skyward facing white flowers often blooming just as the glossy new leaves are emerging from their winter buds. Native to Japan and South Korea, the specimens at the Garden are representatives of wild genetics from multiple locations across Japan.
The often fragrant, evergreen Smooth Leaf Magnolia (Magnolia laevifolia) from SW China can be quite floriferous with many two-inch flowers developing along the sides of the spreading branches. Even before the flowers open, the felty brown buds arranged along the stem are particularly eye catching.
While peak bloom is especially photo-worthy, Wenzel assures visitors that there are still wonderful opportunities to see blooming magnolias at the Garden well into spring, including the most asked about species at the Garden, the Japanese Big Leaf Magnolia (Magnolia obovata). After the enormous leaves have developed, often longer than 2 feet, the equally massive, white petaled flowers open in April.
Visitors are encouraged to follow the Garden’s social media channels for notable bloom alerts.
On Sunday, March 17 from 2-3:30pm, the Garden offers a special magnolia tour with an expert guide. Tickets are $27 and include Garden admission. More information at https://support.sonomabg.org/products/magnolia-tour.
About Sonoma Botanical Garden
Founded in 1987, Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG) is a woodland experience where East meets West by celebrating the beauty and importance of Asian and California native plants. Situated in the picturesque Sonoma Valley, SBG’s 67 acres is home to a unique Asian woodland, a California native oak savanna, and a Cabernet vineyard. Its mission is to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the beauty and value of Asian and California native plants and to promote their conservation in natural habitats and gardens.
sonomabg.org
Visiting Sonoma Botanical Garden
Open 9am – 4pm daily, closed Tuesdays and some holidays. Please check the website for current admission prices. The Garden is a proud participant in the Museums for All program with qualifying individuals receiving $3 admissions. Groups of 8 or more are asked to make a reservation in advance. Visit at 12841 Hwy 12, Glen Ellen, CA. Call 707-996-3166 or email info@sonomabg.org for questions.
###
Media Contact:
Nina Sazevich
Sonoma Botanical Garden PR Consultant
415-752-2483
pr@sonomabg.org
sonomabg.org
Photo by: Daniel Perales Studios
Photo by: Laura Bassett
Editorial Use: The primary purpose is to promote Sonoma Botanical Garden, without accruing monetary benefit to the user (i.e. news coverage).
Commercial Use: Promoting Sonoma Botanical Garden is not the primary purpose of the use, or the use will accrue financial benefit to the user.
Personal Use: Media is used for noncommercial display on personal devices, or making image prints or copies for personal use that does not result in financial benefit or any form of remuneration in any way whatsoever.
Contact Us
707-996-3166
info@sonomabg.org
PO Box 232, Glen Ellen, CA 95442