Old Cactus Garden at Balboa Park

The Old Cactus Garden was planted in 1935 under the direction of Kate Sessions.

Some call Kate Sessions the "Mother of Balboa Park" since she was instrumental in introducing many trees and plants into Balboa Park when the park was in its infancy. As such, this garden has historical value.

This garden is not as expansive as the Desert Garden along Park Blvd. However, it does contain an array of cacti, succulents, and African & Australian Protea plants.

Not many people visit the cacti here because the garden is tucked at the far southwest end of Balboa Park: behind the Balboa Park Club. It's a nice quiet spot where some of the plants can grow tall, gnarly, and prickly.

In 2001, the California Conservation Corps connected this Garden to the Palm Canyon Trail so you can now enter or exit the Palm trail via Kate Sessions' Old Garden. Old Cactus Garden map location 40 Open all the time. Free about Balboa Park other gardens in SD SD attractions Site Map