Thanks to the beloved San Diego botanist Kate Sessions, succulent gardens have existed in various locations around Balboa Park since the early 1900s. But it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the Park’s current official cactus garden came into being.  Nowadays, the 2.5-acre Desert Garden houses over 1300 plants, including succulents and drought-resistant species from all over the world.  If you thought cacti were just boring prickly lumps, think again—the variety of plant shapes and flowers here will blow your mind.  And they’ve got cool names to boot, like Dragon Tree, Boojum Tree, Bottlebrush, Beaked Yucca, Naked Coral Tree, and Ponytail.  The peak time to view cactus flowers is January—March, but this place looks amazing all the time.  To check it out, all you have to do is cross Park Boulevard via the footbridge by the San Diego Natural History Museum.  —Photos by Matt Coors

 

In Jamaica, with Damian Marley, drinking a Red Stripe.

Our friend, Garrett, took these photos.  See more of his work here.  Enjoy.

 

Available now in the Knockaround SHOP.

An edition of 200 pairs.  Available now in the Knockaround SHOP!