Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden

The Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden, previously known as the "Old Cactus Garden" in Balboa Park, was originally designed by horticulturist Kate Sessions for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. The garden was restored in 2019 following a donation from Joe Fisch and Joyce Axelrod to the Balboa Park Conservancy, which oversaw the project in conjunction with the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department and Urban Corps. The landscape designer Nan Sterman led the group of volunteers who contributed to the renovation. The garden contains the largest cactus and succulent specimens in the park. From the garden, there is a good view of the Cabrillo Bridge. The California Tower is also visible in the distance.

The horticulturist Kate O. Sessions originally designed the Cactus Garden in Balboa Park for the California Pacific International Exposition, a "world's fair" event that was held in the park in 1935-36. Known for containing the largest cactus and succulent specimens in the park, the garden also includes an interesting selection of African and Australian Protea plants. The Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden was previously known as the "Old Cactus Garden" and it is sometimes still referred to this way.

In a project overseen by the Balboa Park Conservancy, the garden was restored in the twenty-first century through a donation of funds from the local benefactors Joe Fisch and Joyce Axelrod. According to Joe Fisch, the intention was to restore the garden, while also showing people that well-designed arid landscapes ("dryscapes") can offer drought-tolerant, eco-friendly, and pleasing alternatives to lawns. As a result, the restoration project sought to honor the heritage of the original garden, while also updating the garden by adding a timely educational objective.

Completed in 2019, the restoration of the Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden was supervised by the Balboa Park Conservancy, along with San Diego Parks & Recreation staff and Urban Corps, comprising a team of experts and volunteers. More than 120 hours of labor were contributed to the project. The landscape designer Nan Sterman led the volunteers who donated their time and labor. A few weeks after the work began, a party was held in the Cactus Garden to celebrate the project as well as the birthday of benefactor Joe Fisch.

Schulte, Richard. Historic Old (1935) Cactus Garden Revitalized, Cool Sights San Diego. Accessed October 21st 2021. https://coolsandiegosights.com/2019/11/26/historic-old-1935-cactus-garden-revitalized/.

New Benefactor Makes Immediate Impact to Restore Old Cactus Garden, Balboa Park Conservancy. July 29th 2019. Accessed October 21st 2021. https://balboaparkconservancy.org/new-park-benefactor-makes-immediate-impact-to-restore-old-cactus-garden/.

Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden , Balboa Park Conservancy. Accessed October 21st 2021. https://www.balboapark.org/gardens/Kate%20O.%20Sessions%20Cactus%20Garden.