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La Jolla, CA (Oct. 12, 2026)—Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego today unveiled new details about their upcoming exhibition, The Axolotl’s Garden/El Jardín del Ajolote presented by The Lodge at Torrey Pines. The exhibition brings guests into the world of the endangered Axolotl through animal encounters, contemporary art and conservation science inspired by Mexico’s ecological and cultural richness. With vibrant art installations and Axolotl-inspired programming, Birch Aquarium will transform into a living story-world exploring the mythology and folklore of the endangered Axolotl alongside themes of biodiversity, climate resilience, habitat loss, migration and care.
“Axolotls are everywhere — you can buy an Axolotl plushie in the potato chip aisle, and your kid probably has an Axolotl notebook,” says Megan Dickerson, Director of Exhibits. “Fewer people know that the name Axolotl comes from an Aztec god, and that Axolotls are on the brink of extinction in the only home they’ve ever known: Mexico City’s Lake Xochimilco. Our project goes beyond the hype to connect the public with the real Mexican people who are using ancestral knowledge and current science to restore Axolotl habitats.”
Guests will enter the aquarium under a canopy of giant cloth Monarch Butterflies, capturing their remarkable journey across North America, before stepping into artist Itzel Islas’ colorful, larger-than-life illustration of Lake Xochimilco for a photo opportunity unlike any other. Hand-painted graphic signage about Xochimilco, created by Oscar Ríos and David Mondragon (Grand Prestoz), brings the story of this unique ecosystem to life. Overhead, fantastical paper lanterns take the form of dozens of Axolotls, each hand-crafted by the Birch Aquarium Exhibits team. Together, they showcase the remarkable range of Axolotl colors, from golden and pink to brown and mottled gray.
At the heart of the exhibition, explore two Axolotl habitats and discover other unique Mexican species including Tequila Splitfins, Blind Cave Tetras and more, while uncovering each animal’s tale of survival and adaptation.
“This project taps into a powerful local ecosystem of San Diego-Tijuana artists who are using their skills to have an impact on public awareness of the global biodiversity crisis” Dickerson continued. “Through next spring, we are hopeful that this “garden” of exhibits and programs can be as regenerative as the Axolotl itself, turning public love of this amazing creature into inspired action for endangered species everywhere.”
Axolotl Programming
The opening kicks off six months of Axolotl-inspired programming. Beginning in October, artist Maricruz Alvarado will create two ofrendas for Día de Muertos de las Mascotas (Day of the Dead for Pets) on Oct. 27. Guests will be invited to share names of pets they have loved and lost to add to a beautiful community ofrenda, while a second ofrenda will honor endangered species including the Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, Vaquita, Loggerhead Sea Turtle and Axolotl. For the second ofrenda, Alvarado will craft alebrijes — vibrant folk-art sculptures — to honor and remember animals lost from these species while pointing toward action to help the animals that remain.
The series closes next spring with a new theatrical work by Iyari Arteaga. Created by Arteaga and performed by UC San Diego students, this immersive experience invites guests into the world of The Axolotl’s Garden. Moving between English and Spanish, the work explores themes of culture, Axolotl conservation and the stories we carry and protect.
Experience The Axolotl’s Garden During Halloween at Birch Aquarium
Guests of Birch Aquarium’s Halloween events will be among the first to explore The Axolotl’s Garden. Festivities kick off with Oceans at Night: Halloween for guests 21 and older on Oct. 22 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by family-friendly Halloween Aglow on October 23 and 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., offering three unforgettable nights of Halloween magic with a splash of science.
The Axolotl’s Garden exhibition and programming is included with aquarium general admission. Tickets for Halloween Aglow and Oceans at Night: Halloween are separate from general admission and are on sale now. For more information including the daily schedule, visit the aquarium website.
About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features the groundbreaking work of Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego scientists as well as conservation breeding programs, and interactive exhibits. Birch Aquarium’s mission is to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, which the aquarium achieves through engaging hands-on learning opportunities for more than 500,000 guests and 40,000-plus pre-K-12 students each year. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information.
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