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UCSC · Davenport · Santa Cruz · Capitola

UCSC Arboretum

Garden · Botanical · Hillside

Botanical garden on the UC Santa Cruz campus. Specialty collections of California natives, Australian, and South African plants.

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You may see a few photos from nearby locations here. Many shoots span multiple spots in the same session.

$750 – $1,650

Ready when you are

UCSC Arboretum

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Where we shoot, on a map

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From the photographer
Chris Schmauch
by Chris Schmauch, owner of GoodEye Photography

Botanical garden on the UC Santa Cruz campus.

Botanical garden on the UC Santa Cruz campus. Specialty collections of California natives, Australian, and South African plants. Open lawns, sculptural plants, and ocean views from the hilltop. For sessions, the setting works best when there's a clear plan: which light, which path in, what the weather is doing. Chris's note on this location is in the field below — every destination here gets a real, photographer-tested read rather than a glossy travel description.

What to expect

The lay of the land

Footwear
Anything works. Paved walks and well-tended paths throughout. Heels are no problem on grass-adjacent paths.
Best Time of Day
Late afternoon. Soft warm light through tree canopies and across lawns. Avoid midday in summer when the overhead sun flattens color and creates harsh shadows under hats and brims.
Best Season
Spring for peak bloom (April–May), fall for warm light and late color. Summer can be hot mid-afternoon; we'll schedule around it.
Weather
Most gardens shelter well — tree cover, walls, structures. Light rain often enhances the look. Bright overcast is ideal.
Privacy
Permit or admission-based; often near-exclusive use during your slot. Few or no other groups when scheduled mid-week.
Drive times

Getting here

Downtown Santa Cruz10 min
Capitola15 min
Aptos20 min
San Jose45 min
San Francisco1 hr 30 min
Approximate, off-peak driving.
Worth knowing

A few things about UCSC Arboretum

  • Parking is on-property and close to the photo locations.

  • Dogs typically not permitted — confirm before bringing.

  • Sheltered enough that most-weather sessions work; check the venue's bad-weather policy on confirmation.

  • Photography permit required — book through the venue. Chris handles this for clients.