About Us

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is to be a valuable community resource, supplying predominantly drought-tolerant plants for all types of gardeners and planting projects. From novices to experts, we are here to give meaningful, personalized help to each of our customers. We advise every level of gardener so that they can succeed with their plants, gardens, and planting projects.

We are proud to offer a wide variety of fascinating, drought-tolerant, and California-native plants for local gardens and planting projects. As a local nursery, we aim to provide the largest selection possible for climate-appropriate plants in our area.

As gardeners ourselves, we encourage enthusiasm for all types of gardeners! Along with our wide variety of drought-tolerant plants, we also offer a limited number of more “traditional” garden plants, as well as an interesting selection of succulents and other plants for indoor gardeners.

Entrance to McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens nursery with a sign, surrounded by greenery and trees, under a clear blue sky.
Yellow flowering bushes under a clear blue sky with trees and a structure in the background.

Nursery Map

Map of Turtle Bay Garden Nursery showing different sections such as shade plants, drought tolerant plants, CA nativess, greenhouses, nursery gift shop and classroom, parking, entrance, and areas for back-stock and growing grounds, with trees and a QR code at the bottom left corner.

Plant Inventory & Nursery Information

Plant inventory changes according to sales, but we regularly update the inventory list on our website.

Up to 75% of our plant inventory includes the plants that are our largest focus, climate-appropriate, drought-tolerant, and California-native plants; most California natives that we grow are drought-tolerant.

We have two annual sales in the Spring and Fall. We feature vegetables and herbs for home gardens at our Spring Plant Sale, including dozens of heirloom vegetables and perennial herbs. Our Fall Plant Sale focuses on hardy perennial plants, including California natives, grasses, unusual flowering plants, ground covers, and shrubs.

Discounts

20% off for Turtle Bay Members
25% off for Volunteers
The Public, Members, and Volunteers receive discounts during our annual sales

View Inventory
A greenhouse with people shopping for plants and gardening supplies, with colorful flags and various plants on display.

Water Conservation & Sustainability

Water conservation is still a hot-button issue, even after the unprecedented rain we received during the winter of 2022-2023. We know from experience that one year’s abundantly rainy weather does not mean that next year there won’t be a drought. Water conservation needs to remain a crucial issue, certainly, since we live in a climate with little to no summer rain. Supplemental irrigation of home landscapes accounts for up to 70% of summer residential water use.

Sustainability in our local gardens, meaning minimal summer irrigation, requires planting drought-tolerant, climate-acclimated plants. It is the heart of our nursery’s mission to supply a wide selection of these plants, all grown on-site. Most of them are also low maintenance.

A large shrub with purple flowers planted in a gravel area, with a small potted plant and a wooden planter box in the background.

Our Volunteers

Our nursery is a labor of love by the small Horticulture Department and the many nursery volunteers who propagate all the plants on-site from seed, cuttings, and divisions. Our nursery volunteers not only enjoy the work and camaraderie, but they also see the plants they helped grow thriving in gardens throughout our community!

A young person wearing a Turtle Bay Exploration Park volunteer shirt and gloves is planting a small plant into the soil at a gardening station, with gardening tools and supplies in the background.
Two people planting seedlings into soil in a garden or greenhouse, with gardening supplies and shelves in the background.
Group of people working together outdoors, dumping debris into a trash bin, with a rusted truck trailer and tree branches in the background.

Community Events

We host regular programs and events at the Nursery and in the Gardens. All upcoming programs can be found by clicking the “Events” button below.

Recurring Programs

Charlie Rabbit & Friends (1st Saturday of the month)
Guided Garden Walks (every 4th Saturday)

Events
A group of people gathered around tables in a greenhouse, participating in a gardening workshop with potted plants and gardening tools.
A person trimming branches of a leafless tree with pruning shears during daytime, standing on a ladder.