News from the Garden

Issue 42 I May 2026

A living network.

Late spring in the garden is full of life. Plants leaf out into one another. Birds nest, insects emerge, and every corner seems alive with activity and exchange. It becomes harder to see anything as separate.

Many layers of relationship sustain this place: the families of plants that grow together, the volunteers and visitors who return week after week, the larger public garden community we are honored to be part of, and the next generation of horticultural leaders beginning their summer work here in the coming days.

Justin’s reflections this month reinforce the idea of interconnectedness. Nothing exists entirely on its own. Not plants, not places. Not people.

In June, we will welcome garden leaders from across the country as part of the American Public Gardens Association conference in San Francisco. We are deeply honored to serve as one of the off-site tour sites. It will be thrilling to share this place with fellow horticulturists, educators, and garden administrators. It feels meaningful, not only as recognition of the collection, but of the broader community effort that has helped steward and evolve the garden into what it is today.

That same spirit of connection extends into the future. This week, our Emerging Horticultural Leaders arrive for their summer internships. As we’ve written before, Western Hills has always been a place where knowledge is exchanged across generations. Lester Hawkins and Marshall Olbrich learned from others and shared their wisdom widley. We are happy to continue this tradition today. Investing in the next generation is one of the most important ways we can preserve not only plants and places, but the skills, curiosity, and stewardship needed to care for them.

A garden is never built by one person alone. It is shaped by founders, caretakers, students, visitors, donors, volunteers, and the many people who choose to keep showing up. More and more, that is what Western Hills Garden feels like. A living network of relationships that continues to grow.

Support next gen hort talent.

This June, all new donations to Western Hills Garden will directly support our Emerging Horticultural Leaders Program which runs from June-August each year.

In 2026, four interns will work alongside our staff and volunteers to learn plant identification, horticultural practices, stewardship, and public garden operations. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, and daily engagement with the collection, they will gain the practical experience that helps launch careers in horticulture and garden management.

The horticulture profession faces a significant challenge. Many experienced practitioners are nearing retirement and building a workforce pipeline is critical. Programs like ours help bridge that gap, creating pathways for young people while ensuring knowledge and skills continue to be passed along.

If you'd like to support our work with the next generation of plantspeople, gardeners, and public garden leaders, we invite you to make a gift this month. Your contribution will help provide housing, stipends, training, and educational opportunities for these young people exploring career options.

Justin’s Hort Report.

How are you maintaining the relationships in your life? I'm not talking about your family, or your friends, or your co-workers. I'm talking about your plants. If we accept the ideas that plants are individual living beings, that we as gardeners care for our plants, and that in return they provide us with beauty, food, medicine, and a myriad of other benefits, then we should also accept the idea that we are "in relationship" with our plants. I've been thinking a lot about this as I work with (and by "work with" I mean develop relationships with) the seemingly innumerable plants at Western Hills. 

When Anna Gatmon recently held her "Wisdom in the Wild" workshop at the garden, she asked me to say a few words about my connection to the plants here. Since I couldn't be at the workshop in person, I recorded my thoughts for her to share with the group. The words seemed to resonate with folks, so we thought we'd include the audio in this month's newsletter. I hope it helps you consider (reconsider?) your own connection to the plants in your life.

Create, wander, sip, boogie.

Shout outs.

One of the joys of living and working in West Sonoma County is being part of a community filled with creative, thoughtful people who care deeply and live intentionally.

This month (June 6 & 7 and 13 &14, 10-5pm), artists across Sonoma County will open their studios as part of Sebastopol Center for the Arts’ Art at the Source event, offering a glimpse into the different ways art is made in our region. We’re fortunate to count many artists among our friends, collaborators, volunteers, and visitors, and we love seeing the ways creativity flows through this community. Occidental is heavily represented. Click through the map below to learn more.

We're also excited to see the nursery at OAEC re-open this season. For gardeners, plant lovers, and anyone interested in ecological agriculture, the nursery is a wonderful resource.

And finally, we just heard that our CSA has a few more subscriptions available. Three Springs Community Farm is just outside of the town of Bodega and is run by long-time Sonoma folks, Willow and Lew Summer along with a team of farmers. It’s an educational, biodynamic landscape and the produce is incredible!

Just as plants thrive in relationship with one another, so do communities. We’re grateful to be part of this special this corner of the world.

Seasonal snaps.