San Marcos Growers holds an open house every few years, which we call "Field Day". Originating as a customer appreciation Halloween Party first held in 1981, the event became more educational in 1986 when we began to serve lunch, have nursery and garden tours, nursery exhibits and feature talks on diverse horticultural topics.

Our 45th Anniversary and LAST Field Day will be on October 4, 2024

This event is for our wholesale nursery customers only. It has a limited capacity and advance registration is required.

2019 (October 4) Horticulture in Santa Barbara!

Randy Baldwin - New Plants at San Marcos Growers
A roving discussion of many plants in the nursery displays!

John Greenlee - Grasses and Meadow Gardening
A discussion about many new grasses in the nursery grass displ!ay

Attendee Interviews
Open mic with the many hoticultural dignataries in attendance!

2010 (October 1) Horticultural Authors speaking about their newest books!

Carol Bornstein - Author, Garden Designer & Past Director of Horticulture at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
California Native Plants for the Garden & Reimagining the California Lawn
Both co-authored with Bart O'Brien & Dave Fross

Debra Lee Baldwin - Author & Garden Photojournalist
Succulent Container Gardens

John Greenlee - Author, Garden Designer & grass specialist
The American Meadow Garden

Robert Perry - Author, Instructor & Landscape Architect
Landscape Plants for California Gardens

Dr. Matt Ritter - Author, Botanist & College Instructor
Californian's Guide to the Trees around Us

Susan Van Atta - Author & Landscape Architect The Southern California Native Flower Garden

2005 (October 14)

Brett Hall, Manager of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
"The Adventurous Gardens & Collections at the UCSC Arboretum"

Brian Kemble, Curator of Plants, Ruth Bancroft Garden
"Agaves and Aloes for California Gardens"

Randy Baldwin, General Manager, San Marcos Growers
"What's New at San Marcos Growers"

2001 (October 19)

Mark Bartholomew, Hi-Mark Nursery, Begonia Grower
"Outstanding Begonias for the Garden"

John Greenlee, Designer, Grass Specialist
"Hot New Grasses for Southern California Gardens"

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"What's New at San Marcos Growers"

1998 (October 2)

Dennis Perry - Nurseryman and Protea Specialist "Growing Proteaceae in California Gardens"

Heidi Gildemeister, President of the Mediterranean Garden Society and Author "Mediterranean Gardening: A Waterwise Approach"

1996 (October 4)

Heather Vallier, The Crop Doctor
"Health Monitoring of Ornamental Plants"

Jake Blehm, Buena Bio-Systems (replaced by Randy Baldwin)
"Integrated Pest Management"

Ken Opiat, Gardener and Bamboo Enthusiast
"Bamboo in the Garden"

1995 (October 14 and 21)

Everyday is Field Day at San Marcos Grower

Book Signings by Nancy Goslee Powers
Book Signings by John Greenlee

1994 (October 7)

Owen Dell - Landscape Architect & Contractor
"Landscaping in High Fire Risk Areas"

Virginia Hayes - Curator of Plants, Lotusland
"Creating the Water Garden"

Jeff Chemnick - Local Cycad Grower
"Beyond Sago Palms: The Other Cycads for the Garden"

1993 (October 1)

Dave Fross, Native Sons Nursery
"Planting in and Amongst the Oaks"

Bob Perry - Author and Landscape Architect
"Plants for Western Regions"

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"The Eucalyptus Understory"

1992 (October 9)

John Greenlee, Grass Expert and Author
"Ornamental Grass"

Virginia Hayes - Curator of Plants, Lotusland
"Waterlilies - From Amabilis to Zanzibariensis"

John Goetz, San Simeon Nursery
"Cactus and Succulents in the Landscape

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"Noteworthy and Unusual New Plants"

1991 (October 4)

Carol Bornstein, Director of Horticulture, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
"The Return of the Natives!"

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"The Australian Contribution to the California Landscape"

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"To Boldly Grow What No Nursery Has Grown Before"

1990 (April 19-20)

Bob Perry - Author and Landscape Architect
"Xeriscape: The Plants, The Procedures"

John Greenlee, Grass Specialist and Designer
"Using Ornamental Grass in California Landscapes"

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"Noteworthy and Unusual Plants" (Plant Forum)

1986 (April 15)

Randy Baldwin, Horticulturist, San Marcos Growers
"New and Unusual Plants - Plant Culture and Use"

Bob Judah, Ad Net USA
"Guerrilla Marketing - Using Brains, Imagination, Energy and Dollars"