Quail Botanical Gardens began as the 30-acre private estate of Charles and Ruth Larabee. The Larabee's landscaped the property around their modest home with exotic plants they collected during their worldwide travels, including cork oaks, palms, cycads, aloes, cacti, hibiscus and unusual subtropical fruit bearing plants and trees.

As active Scout leaders, the couple sought to personally educate local young people about nature, using the estate's gardens as their teaching site. In the spirit of continuing public environmental education, Mrs. Larabee left her private residence and its grounds to the County of San Diego in 1957. Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation was formed three years later to preserve and support this remarkable garden.

The county financially supported and managed the property for 32 years until the early 1990's when serious economic challenges drove county officials to seek alternatives. In 1993, a group of dedicated members of the Foundation signed a long-term lease from the County and privatized the Gardens as an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to actively participate in the conservation of rare, threatened and endangered plant species, to serve the botanical and horticultural needs of San Diego County and to exist as an urban retreat.

Julian Duval, Executive Director

Julian Duval was hired as Executive Director in 1995, and has served as such ever since. He originally came to the Gardens from the Indianapolis Zoo and Gardens, where he was VP of Zoological and Botanical Collections.

Over the years many important changes and additions have taken place at the Gardens and in 2005 QBG announced its "First Best Step," a significant undertaking in the growth of the Gardens.