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Title
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Kate Sessions (1857-1940)
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birthday
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1857-11-08
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Birthplace
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San Francisco, CA
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Death Date
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1940-03-24
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Occupation
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Botanist
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Horticulturist
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Landscape Architect
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Biographical Text
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Kate Sessions was a botanist, horticulturist, and landscape architect, frequently referenced as the "Mother of Balboa Park."
Sessions graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1881, with a degree in Natural Science. In 1883 she attended business school in San Francisco, while working as a teacher and vice principal. In 1885, Sessions purchased her own nursery in San Diego. Within the next few years, she was owner to multiple nurseries and growing fields across the state. In 1892, Sessions leased 30 acres of land in what is now Balboa Park to use as growing fields, in exchange for her to plant 100 trees in the park and 300 trees across the city. This deal led the park to be filled with a large array of trees from around the world, still located there currently. Through her career, Session would continue to introduce new plants to the city, as well as present native California plants to the horticulture trade. In 1907, Sessions co-founded the San Diego Floral Association with Alfred D. Robinson. It is now the oldest garden club in Southern California, and played an influential role in educating San Diego residents on growing and caring for plants.
Sessions passed on March 24, 1940, from pneumonia. Her grave is located in Mount Hope Cemetery, accompanied by a twisted juniper, one of her favorite trees.
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Contributor
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O'Neill, Iris
Kate Sessions, Figurative Statue and Plaque