Gardens & Preserves

SSU Botanical and Kenneth M. Stocking Native Plant Garden

A showcase of diverse California plant communities and a quiet place for education and relaxation. Located near the campus lakes, the garden includes a guided trail through woodland, marsh, and riparian ecosystems.

Native Plant & Butterfly Garden map

Sonoma State University’s Butterfly Garden

It's located on the northeast side of campus and is described as peaceful, relaxing and a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus.The garden was founded by gardener and Environmental Studies and Planning professor Karen Tillinghast in 1993, and has been maintained by the Santa Rosa Garden Club ever since. As part of the Sonoma State Botanical Gardens, the garden attracts painted ladies, swallowtails and others butterflies.The Butterfly Garden is located along the Copeland Creek Trail and is surrounded by the sounds of nature. The location is considered to be one of SSU's hidden treasures.

The Fairfield Osborn Preserve and Galbreath Wildlands Preserve 

Managed by the Center for Environmental Inquiry (CEI), SSU features two valuable off-campus learning environments. The Fairfield Osborn Preserve is a 411-acre field station atop Sonoma Mountain that provides environmental education programs and opportunities for scientific research. The Preserve is a fifteen-minute drive from campus. Galbreath Wildlands Preserve is a 3,670 acre preserve nestled in the Coast Range of northern California. The mission of the preserves is to promote environmental education and research, as well as the effective stewardship of this diverse landscape.