An ending, A beginning.

I started Urban Ecology Conservatory knowing that I have accomplished a lot, with very little.

Seventeen years ago, October 11, 2008, I photographed an Eagle Scout troop building the dry arroyo parkway along Arlington Drive, and it changed my life.

By that November, I transitioned from a role as Sr. Designer at the Museum of Contemporary Art, to landscaping. I was so inspired by what I saw happening at Arlington Garden. I began to understand, there is so much we can accomplish in healing the environment, and regenerating the soil. The next time I met Charles and Betty they talked about water sheeting off the property into the street. Because a 30 foot drop from the west to the east, we created water catchment berms and swales to keep all the water on the site, to slow it, spread it and sink it. 

In 2016, I was contacted by Betty and I became the Executive Director July 1, 2017. When I started there was no electricity, annual reports, water fountain, drinking fountain, wi-fi, photo permit booking system. I immediately put the professional gardeners to work together with the volunteers to help train them on best regenerative gardening practices. 

Over the next several years, I grew the organization’s annual budget sevenfold, diversified revenue streams, and significantly expanded community engagement, partnerships, and outreach—driving both innovate programs and broader community impact, and served as the first, and only full-time staff member of the Pasadena nonprofit for seven years.

During that time, I established and refined operations to ensure organizational compliance (developing the organization's mission, vision, strategic plan), and professionalism, while presiding over consistent annual financial surpluses. Building a strong team was central to my leadership: I recruited, and developed part-time staff and contractors, cultivating a collaborative workplace culture that encouraged creativity and supported innovative programming.

I implemented strategic campaigns that increased donations, expanded the donor base, and strengthened community loyalty, while also launching the Garden’s first social media presence. I developed initiatives that elevated public attendance—particularly during the pandemic—by positioning the Garden as a safe, accessible, and restorative open space.

Under my leadership, capital improvements enhanced both the Garden’s resources and its aesthetics, aligning with strategic plan goals. Including installing the garden's electrical system, wi-fi based irrigation controllers, Pasadena Craftsman tile fountain, drinking fountain, shed extension, monumental signage, visitor kiosk, hardscaping, entryway gate and rail (designed by James Naish), and more.

I spoke about the necessity and importance of regenerative gardening. I understood that nature was not some far away place, but everywhere we were. I was trying to help inspire people to let go of their want to control and dominate wild spaces. Neighbors would complain about weeds, during extreme heat waves and oppressive smoke-filled skies. The leaf blowers were still blowing on the first day of the nation-wide pandemic. In contrast, we practiced regenerative gardening, and had educational signage about “no mow, no blow,” and “leave the leaves.”

We were trying to help landowners understand that water thirsty lawn was not the solution for our Mediterranean climate. I tried to equate the health of ecological diversity and habitat gardens with healthy cities and healthy people. If we took care of the earth, we were taking care of ourselves. If the tree wasn’t planted, there would be no space in between the leaves. If the garden wasn’t grown, it wouldn’t have been possible to enjoy those many years later— the shade and comfort of the Sycamore trees; the birdsong; golden hour; the butterflies; the hummingbirds; the lizards; the joy of people who came to visit from all over southern California—all because we had the privilege of a beautiful garden.

In 2020, I coined the phrase, “Instead of a freeway, we built a garden.” I was so grateful, for this place that held space for all of us, and commissioned a special 15th Anniversary poster by Margaret Gallagher.

Together, these achievements carried forward the garden’s mission: to create a living model of climate-appropriate gardening while offering hands-on learning opportunities for students, volunteers, and all communities across Pasadena. I led the collaborative development of the Garden’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access statement with Diane Burbie of the Aspire Group. 

Among my most recognized contributions were innovative programs that fostered lasting stakeholder loyalty, including visitor-specific field and horticulture guides, social media campaigns, and the illustrated field guide distributed to every 5th grader in the Pasadena Unified School District in 2022. I also built educational partnerships with institutions such as USC, Cal Poly Pomona, Occidental College, Polytechnic School, and Westridge, and supported initiatives like the Climate Resilience Environmental Education Center at Hahamongna. 

I secured notable grants from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation (including the Field Guide in 2022, and the Wild Life Nature Journal in 2024, published after my tenure in 2025), the Pasadena Community Foundation, the Stanley Smith Horticultural Foundation, and the Harold and Colene Brown Family Foundation.

I collaborated with individuals such as Krystle Hickman (BeeSip), and Aaron Tupac (Exploring the Mycoverse); nonprofit partners including Jericho Road, LA Compost, and Las Fotos Project; as well as staff, volunteers, the board of directors, the advisory council, community members, donors, and City of Pasadena personnel to strengthen partnerships and optimize resources in support of the Garden’s mission. I invited Schessa Garbutt of Firebrand, to curate the first annual Octavia’s Solstice, held at the garden June, 22, 2024. Lynell George wrote “Taken together, for a moment, we were transported into a possibility. This is what collaboration and community looks like. This is what it feels like to pause and take luxurious breaths and lean into one another’s story. @xebede  such beauty! This garden is such a gift.” (Instagram, 2024) 

It was because of my vision, we were able to create a follow-up publication to our wildly successful field guide, illustrated by Margaret Gallagher (also due to my ignition).  Schessa also designed the Wild Life journal that the garden was awarded a highly competitive $20,000 grant from the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation in May of 2024, for a sixth grade nature journal I envisioned, especially geared toward students at Eliot Arts Magnet, a Title I PUSD middle school.

Many individuals generously contributed their time and expertise to the care of the garden. I also engaged leading specialists, including social ecologist Nance Klehm, who collaborated with staff on soil ecology and deep mapping—work that continued while I was caring for my mother during her final months with ALS. The award of the Tournament of Roses grant came just before my three-month, board-approved sabbatical, following the loss of both my parents—my father, Ronald Matthews, to a sudden traumatic death, and my mother, Ann Matthews, within eleven months of each other. Despite these profound losses, I remained steadfast in my commitment and carried on.

Our partnership with Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) brought their Environmental Restoration Team into the garden, working side by side with staff on hardscaping, irrigation, soil health, and plantings. Including Nick Araya of Tree Care LA, who conducted a structural pruning workshop—I involved a myriad of contractors, subject matter experts, and professionals to work closely with and train the garden staff. 

For instance, in February 2023, we observed dieback on the Coast Live Oak along Arlington Drive. I arranged for the tree to be assessed by experts, among them arborists Rebecca Latta; Alison Lancaster; Nick Araya of Tree Care LA; Dr. Christopher Shogren, UCANR Entomologist; Michael King, Forestry Program Coordinator and Staff Liaison for the City of Pasadena; and Paul Santos, Waypoint Pathologist. Their collective assessment confirmed the tree was failing and infested with thousands of wood-boring beetles. To protect the garden, we removed the oak and partnered with Jeff Perry of Angel City Lumber, who cured and milled the wood for a much-needed Oak Gathering Table.

Thanks to a $20,000 fundraising effort, the table was completed and delivered to the Garden just days after I returned from a three month sabbatical, on September 4, 2024. Around the same time, plans were underway with Katherine Pakradouni and Pasadena Beautiful to create a micro-forest at the garden’s entryway, where the oak had once stood. While the micro-forest never came to fruition, and the table tragically burned in a tool shed fire nine months later, these efforts reflected my commitment to renewal, resilience, and community collaboration.

By the conclusion of my tenure on September 10, 2024, Arlington Garden had become a financially sound, community-anchored institution with a thriving culture of innovation and care. I remain deeply grateful for the relationships and friendships I fostered there—connections that continue to sustain me today.