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Calendar: Plant Days & Orchid Odyssey

At the San Diego Zoo

Plant Day

Third Friday of each month
The San Diego Zoo is the home of a world-class botanical garden. There are approximately 700,000 plants on the grounds that create the lush, peaceful landscape the Zoo is known for. During Plant Day we spotlight our collection of flora with additional plant-related activities for our guests.

• Self-guided walking tour maps are made available at the Zoo's entrance. Choose your area of interest, then check out the plants for yourself and see what's blooming, or how the Zoo's unique plant collection helps create the natural habitats for the animals.
• Botanical Bus Tours highlight the Zoo's plant collection and are offered on Friday Plant Days only. The bus tour meets at the bus unloading area at 2 p.m. and is given by different Horticulture Department staff with their own area of expertise. Botanical Bus Tours are free!
• Orchid Odyssey: The Zoo's orchid greenhouse is open from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Stroll through the greenhouse, packed from floor to ceiling with exotic orchids from around the world.
• Plant of the Month: A week prior to Plant Day, a new plant will go on exhibit, along with information about it. Look for the Plant of the Month, featured in a round planter, across from the Zoo's Reptile House.

Orchid Odyssey

Third Friday of each month, the first Sunday of March, June, and December, and the second Sunday in September
The Zoo's orchid greenhouse, home to over 3,000 orchid plants from over 800 species, varieties, and cultivars, is open to Zoo visitors during Orchid Odyssey. Our orchid expert, as well as members of the San Diego County Orchid Society, are on hand to answer questions during this "open house." The orchid greenhouse is located on the path just west of the African Kopje's meerkats. Please note: There are no Botanical Bus Tours offered on Sunday Orchid Odyssey days.

Visit our Plant and Garden section.