News from the Garden

Issue 38 I January 2026

What we’re shaping.

January is often described as a time of beginnings, fresh starts, and resolutions. Here at Western Hills Garden, it feels more like a time of editing—a time to pay close attention to our curatorial vision, make thoughtful adjustments, and shape what already exists into a stronger form. It’s about clarity and resonance; the steady work that gives form to intention.

A major focus this month is pruning, in preparation for beautiful spring and summer growth. We’ve also begun revitalizing the Australian section—removing, thinning, and rebalancing after years of overgrowth. We’re looking closely at structure and relationship, asking how each plant and tree contributes to the whole.

At the same time, we’re assembling what’s to come—building our 2026 workshop calendar, recruiting summer interns as part of our emerging horticultural leadership program, and considering the staffing and systems needed to support our continued growth.

The story of WHG is shaped by curiosity and a willingness to learn by doing. For us, this new year feels a little different. More deliberate. More focused. Editing, in this sense, isn’t about subtraction, it’s about making space for what wants to come. Clearing just enough so the garden, and what we offer to the community, can be felt more fully.

Below is a bit more detail on what we’re up to. We hope you’ll find it as engaging as we do.

Justin’s Hort Report.

You might think winter is the slow season here in the garden, and in a way, it is. No interns, less visitors, and the weeds are (mostly) still asleep. But that just means there's more room to get other projects done. We've finally finished the cleanup from the big storm last month, and the last of the fallen leaves have been shaken from the shrubs and removed from the paths. Winter pruning is in full effect. Tool sheds are getting cleaned and organized. The garden, I feel, is just about ready for spring. And good thing, because the signs of spring are popping up all around us!

One of the behind-the-scenes tasks we completed this winter was applying to become an internationally recognized arboretum through Arbnet and the Morton Arboretum. With 750 trees of over 300 different species, we thought we had a good shot. The application is no joke, as they want to ensure an accredited arboretum is well managed, has a thoughtful plan for the tree collection, is accessible to the public, and more. I'm excited to announce that we've just been awarded Level II Arboretum status! Yahoo!  

Our tallest and oldest trees are tangible, living links to the past. They help tell the story of Western Hills. And our younger trees will continue to grow, and add their own chapters to the story. It feels good to know that the collection has been officially recognized - a nod to the thought and care of all the owners, staff, and volunteers throughout the garden's 66 year history. Now excuse me while I get back to pruning! : )

Listening back.

As part of our January focus on refinement and care, we’re sharing the first video in a new oral history series that documents and preserves the voices of those who knew the garden in its earliest years. As we tend the landscape and plan what comes next, this feels like the right moment to pause, listen, remember, and share. More episodes to come soon!

What’s taking shape.

Volunteer with us

Western Hills is sustained by a small group of dedicated volunteers who show up week after week to support the land and the life of the garden. Many work hands-on—pruning, planting, propagating, and welcoming visitors—learning alongside our horticulture team as the seasons unfold. Others contribute behind the scenes, offering skills in administration, marketing, fundraising, operations, and other essential areas that help us thrive.

Our core group meets on Tuesday mornings, with additional opportunities available at other times. Volunteering at WHG is a chance to be part of a thoughtful, collaborative effort to steward a place with intention. Along the way, we laugh a lot, break bread together, and share insider information about all the exciting things happening in the garden. Join us.

Shout outs.

This month, we want to recognize Dick Miner, who is retiring after nearly twenty years of weekly volunteer compost-making at Western Hills Garden. A retired microbiologist, Dick has been a steady presence here—driving up week after week from San Anselmo to transform garden waste into rich, living soil, and quietly modeling what long-term stewardship looks like in practice.

Dick’s impact reaches far beyond WHG. He helped establish the composting program at the Alcatraz Historic Gardens, where he’s known as the “Chief Composting Officer,” and where the island’s award-winning compost program has restored depleted soils and diverted nearly all garden biowaste. He also volunteers regularly with Bread & Roses and serves as a tour guide with the San Anselmo Historic Museum.

He has played a meaningful role in helping us document the garden’s history as well. He helped us launch our oral history project, interviewing RG Turner and several others on our Horticultural Advisory Committee to help ensure that the voices of those who remember Western Hills in its earliest years are recorded.

Dick, thank you for the knowledge, commitment, and generosity you’ve brought to WHG. Your influence is deeply embedded in the soil, the stories, and the life of the garden.

Help us thrive.

WHG is a fiscally-sponsored nonprofit with a mission to link people, plants, and place to possibility. Thank you for reading our monthly News from the Garden and for supporting our efforts to share this special place with the public. Our work is possible because of people like you, and we’re grateful for your continued support as we steward and share the garden. Below is a snapshot of the camellias in bloom right now.