Although one county history refers to an "Agricultural and Horticultural Society" being formed in 1869, the Santa Barbara County Horticultural Society first met in April of 1880. The statement of purpose of the Society read: "It's objects shall be to collect and disseminate information in regards to Horticulture, Pomology, Floriculture and their allied branches; to hold Exhibitions and award premiums for the best products and introductions."

What would be the first of many Spring and Fall exhibitions were held that May and October in Santa Barbara. In the following years, records show that the Society participated in fairs and exhibits in Los Angeles and Sacramento and World Fairs in New Orleans (1886 & 1887), St. Louis (1904) and San Francisco's World Exposition (1939), to name a few.

In those early years the Society held four winter meetings indoors either in the G. A. R. Hall on Ortega St. or Liberty Hall in Summerland. The rest of the year, the Society held picnic lunches and meetings at various ranches and estates from Carpinteria to Goleta, including Spence's grove on Modoc Rd., Joe Sexton's ranch in Goleta, Kinton Stevens' home in Montecito, and Ellwood Cooper's ranch in Ellwood. Members and their wives arrived at meetings by wagon or on horseback. In June 1889, the Society went to Carpinteria on the morning train to P. C. Higgins place for the monthly meeting. The return that evening was in a caboose hitched to a local freight train!

In 1989 the Society established a permanent meeting place with the investment of $700.00 in the Montecito Hall and Library Association which was to have conferred the privilege of the use of the hall as needed for the following 99 years. With the exception of two brief periods in the early 1900s and during the depression, the Society has been meeting every month since then. It's membership continues to boast many prominent, local amateur and professional horticulturists.

As the annual flower shows were closed--the fall show was last held in XXXX and the July flower show was dropped from the Horse Show in XXXX--the Society supported Santa Barbara horticulture in several other ways. Annual arbor day donations and other tree planting projects continued along with the creation of a scholarship fund in 1964, annual plant sale in 1982 and major donations of volunteer labor and funds for the preservation and restoration of Franceschi Park from 1967? to the present.

Through the dedication and hard work of many members from its inception to the present the Horticultural Society has contributed much to Santa Barbara. You are invited to join this group of plant lovers. Monthly meetings are held at 7:30 PM, the first Wednesday of the month in the Louise Lowry Davis Center. Programs are varied and lively with presentations on all aspects of horticulture from composting to landscape design to travelogues of botanical destinations and more. Plant displays and raffles complete the meetings.. Membership dues are $15.00. For more information write Santa Barbara County Horticultural Society at P.O. Box 4094, Santa Barbara, CA 93140

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