SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Where passionate gardeners meet to share knowledge and learn from each other.

socalhort.org March 2012 Newsletter OUR NEXT MEETING MARCH OPPORTUNITY NEXT SHARING SECRETS IN THIS ISSUE DRAWING QUESTION Thursday, March 8 February Meeting Recap 7:30 pm Interesting and rare from Steve Gerischer has kindly by Steven Gerischer ...... 2 the Ornamental Horticulture agreed to pose our monthly Friendship Auditorium Sharing Secrets responses to : Nursery at Long Beach City Sharing Secrets questions and Name a conifer that you 3021 Riverside Drive College will be provided for his first is one that will prompt Los Angeles think would enhance a the March Opportunity an instant response from most garden and why...... 2 We meet the second Thursday Drawing. They are courtesy of members. What’s yours? former SCHS board member On-line membership services, of each month at 7:30 pm The Sharing Secrets question Jorge Ochoa, who is head of the IMGC call for speakers ...... 2 for March is: It is free to SCHS members and OH department. November Green Sheet $5 for non-members without a Which plants do you by Sula Vanderplank and guest pass, which is found on PLANTS FOR SALE TOO! grow in your garden Jorge Ochoa ...... 3 the front of your member card. Jorge and his students will be ______Society News ...... 4 selling plants along with SCHS for fragrance? WELCOME TO OUR members Matt-Dell Tufenkian You can answer on the cards Horticultural Happenings NEW MEMBER! and Gary Kamisher. Gary will we’ll supply at our March 8 by Lili Singer ...... 5 bring leucospermums that he meeting or e-mail your Upcoming Programs ...... 6 Jennifer Maurer has been growing. response to [email protected] March 8 Used Book Sale ...... 6 by Friday, March 9. The March Meeting landscape architecture as an art form. at our March 8 meeting to hear Chip Sullivan discuss his work and the unique On March 8 Chip will discuss his work, "graphic novel" format he uses to illustrate which illustrates the delicate balance historical literary sources. between humans and nature, and has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United ______States, Canada and Italy. Sullivan’s passion for landscape design and its representation MARCH SELECTED BOOKS evolved from his childhood love of model railroads, comics and motion pictures. Sullivan is the author of Drawing the Landscape and Garden and Climate, among others. He has also produced a series of comics for Landscape Architecture Magazine Chip Sullivan: titled Creative Learning. The series focuses on The Floral Imperative the creative process and the history of landscape representation. The drawings Our March meeting guest speaker, Chip were exhibited at Clemson University, a Sullivan, is an artist, landscape architect and breakthrough show of landscape comics in professor of landscape architecture at UC the U.S. Berkeley. He maintains a lifelong Two books authored by our featured Sullivan’s latest book, Illustrated History of commitment to exploring the potential of the speaker, Chip Sullivan, will be for sale at Landscape Design, co-authored with Elizabeth garden to create sustainable environments. our March 8 meeting and Chip will be Boults, uses storyboards, visual narratives He states, “Beauty and truth are my guiding pleased to autograph them. and illustrative timelines to illuminate the beliefs as I seek to create and teach history of landscape architecture. He Illustrated History of Landscape Design by landscapes of meaning.” describes it as taking “an optical sweep of Elizabeth Boults & Chip Sullivan. Early in his career, Sullivan developed a iconic landscapes constructed throughout John Wiley & Sons, February 2010 series of experimental gardens that the ages.” Soft cover, 272 pages, $55.00 reinterpreted traditional garden forms, Organized by century and geographic Drawing the Landscape by Chip Sullivan. applying classical and historical design region, this highly visual reference uses John Wiley & Sons, 3rd edition, January 2004 elements to contemporary landscapes. beautifully detailed pen and ink drawings to Paperback, 336 page, $75.00 Sullivan has devoted his career to promoting capture the eye and delight the mind. Join us 2 F E B R U A R Y M E E T I N G & M O R E SHARING SECRETS SCHS MemberLodge is open to SCHS February Meeting members only. Your personal information is In February, we posed the question, “Name protected and it is the Society's policy to Recap a conifer that you think would enhance a never sell or share our membership list. You garden and why.” Here are the "secrets" The February meeting of the Southern choose what information you want to share some members shared with us: California Horticultural Society was our with other members. introduction to the long awaited two-book I think if I had the space (and climate) I Once you log on, you can manage your set of Conifers Around the World, by Zsolt would grow a weeping Norway spruce membership online – create and update your Debreczy (photographs by Istvan Racz). (Picea abies 'Pendula'). Because I like their creepiness. They always look like they are own profile, send messages to other Zsolt Debreczy is the Research Director of sneaking up on you when you turn your members and participate in forums and the International Dendrological Research back. blogs. Our site administrators will also post Institute, and he expertly guided us through - Laura Bauer upcoming events there to make it easier to the story of how this massive reference work sign up and pay for the event all at once. Hollywood twisted juniper (Juniperus was conceived and implemented. chinensis 'Torulosa'). Drought tolerant, slow Renewing memberships will also be easier Many years of research, photography, study growing and sculptural, with cool dark online – reminder notices will be sent and field investigation were accomplished green foliage that is the best for Christmas starting a month before your membership with the help of myriad volunteers and wreaths and garlands. expires so that you can renew without supporters around the globe. - John Schoustra missing any newsletters or Pacific Horticulture issues. Our Society's own Kathy Musial, Curator of If I had the room I would a coast Living Collections at the Huntington redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). I’ve seen a With MemberLodge, you can use a credit Botanical Gardens, and SCHS board 50-year-old specimen growing in the front card (through PayPal) to purchase any of member, assisted in the English translation yard of a nearby home and it reminds me of these on-line offers: membership renewals, of the text. the magnificent redwood forests up north. special events and field trips, our annual I also like the blue atlas cedar (Cedrus banquet, donations and more. Of course, The two-volume set is beautiful – with 1,089 atlantica). The cool blue color of the needles you can still renew with a check or cash at pages and more than 3,700 color and the open structure creates a striking tree, meetings or by mail. photographs, as well as line drawings especially over time. Perhaps the weeping or indicating the distinctive details of many We know you will like the new features. Go dwarf variety would fit better in home species. to schs.memberlodge.org to set up your on-line landscapes. account. If you haven't given us your e-mail Debreczy presented an overview of the - Debra Bushweit Galliani address (or have a new one), please consider books – how they are arranged, what areas Secret contributorS joining us online. It's a great way to stay of the world are covered and how climate Dawn redwood (Metasequoia). For fall connected to the group. and environment are indicated. effects, winter geometry, spring delicacy and Please contact Joel Lichtenwalter He then went on to excerpt 11 different prehistoric atmosphere (combine with (310-908-5036 or e-mail conifers, one from each chapter of the work, ginkgo). Explore combination with riparian [email protected]) or Laura Bauer to highlight the amazing work that went California natives. (626-437-9459 or e-mail [email protected]) if into documenting the conifers of the world’s Sandarac or arar tree (Tetraclinis articulata). you have any questions or concerns. temperate zones and nearby regions. Fragrant drought-tolerant conifer from - Laura Bauer Mediterranean. Particularly interesting (and daunting) was ______the necessity to climb towering trees in ______isolated areas to bring down cone-bearing Add your response to this question on our INTERNATIONAL MASTER GARDENERS’ branches from the crown to aid in Facebook page discussion board. CONFERENCE SEEKS SPEAKERS identification. Dedication in the extreme! ______The International Master Gardeners' A memorable evening and an amazing Conference, September 7-14, 2013, invites YOU CAN RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND achievement for everyone involved. you to apply to speak at its annual SIGN UP FOR FIELD TRIPS ONLINE! conference. The 2013 conference will be held Our Opportunity Drawing plants were on a Holland America Cruise Line Alaskan provided by Jo O’Connell , at Australian Our on-line membership link is up and Cruise. Native Plants Nursery, and thanks to John running on our website. You can now renew your membership, initiate a gift membership Schoustra for bringing them. This unique event blends community, youth and also sign up for field trips. While you’re and home gardening, landscape design and Plants for sale were offered by Matt-Dell there, fill out your profile so other members horticulture presentations with cruise Tufenkian from his nursery, Dominus can get to know you. It’s simple; here’s how. excursions including on-shore visits to Plantarum and John Schoustra from national parks, community gardens and Greenwood Daylily Gardens. Welcome to SCHS MemberLodge! arboretums. Thanks to everyone who helped set up, run Our Membership Coordinator, Joel For more information, visit their website at and clean up after, our meeting. We hope to Lichtenwalter (with help from fellow board uaex.edu/imgc2013 or contact Janet Carson, see you in March for Chip Sullivan and his member, Jim Henrich, and our webmaster, Extension Horticulture Specialist, University presentation, The Floral Imperative. Trish Meyer), worked very hard to get our membership records into an on-line of Arkansas, [email protected]. - By Steven Gerischer database system and interactive community - Louisa Cardenas called MemberLodge. 3

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY socalhort.org NOVEMBER 2011 PLANT FORUM NOTES Compiled by Sula Vanderplank and Jorge Ochoa GREEN SHEET Photographs by Paul Martin

Thank you to all who brought plants to the November 2011 meeting. Everyone is encouraged to bring in plants to share with the group. Remember that you do get one free Exhibitor’s Ticket for the Opportunity Drawing if you bring in one or more plants for discussion at the Plant Forum table.

In addition to the plants discussed below, the following plants, described or listed in the Society’s Selected Plants for Southern California Gardens (2000) or previously written up for a Green Sheet, were shown. [Family names in accordance with the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group II (http://www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/) are included for your reference.]

Cyrtanthus hybrid (Amaryllidaceae), exhibited by Sheldon Lisker, grown in Temecula. Mimulus flemingii, monkey flower (Phrymaceae), exhibited by Eric Brooks, grown in Baldwin Hills. Nerine bowdenii, nerine (Amaryllidaceae), exhibited by Sheldon Lisker, grown in Temecula. Ruellia makoyana, trailing velvet plant (Acanthaceae), exhibited by Eric Brooks, grown in Baldwin Hills.

Plants that could not be fully identified: Aechmea and a persimmon flower, exhibited by Jim Jaeger. Calamintha (Lamiaceae). Rose hip (Rosaceae), exhibited by Gloria Leinbach, grown in Redondo Beach.

Information in this compilation was gleaned and condensed from the Plant Forum exhibit cards, numerous sources in our library, and a suite of internet sites.

Eremophila hygrophana, blue emu bush, (), exhibited by Ann Brooks, grown in Baldwin Hills. Blue emu bush is an evergreen shrub that combines stunning purple-blue flowers with silvery foliage. A native to the deserts of , it closely resembles a leucophyllum but with larger flowers. Nectar from the tubular flowers attracts hummingbirds to the garden all year. A full sun exposure and good drainage are preferred. Plants may grow 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Will also grow well in containers.

Photographs (left to right): Cyrtanthus hybrid, Nerine bowdenii and Calamintha. 4 H O R T I C U L T U R A L H A P P E N I N G S Contact individual locations to confirm FULLERTON 92831 SAN MARINO 91108 events and for more details; some may FULLERTON ARBORETUM HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS require a facility entry fee. 1900 Associated Rd. at Jamboree 1151 Oxford Rd. 626-405-2100; huntington.org ☎ = Registration requested or required. 657-278-3407; arboretum.fullerton.edu Thursday, March 15 Saturday, March 3 ARCADIA 91007 12:00–3:00 pm 9:00 am–3:00 pm LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM & Tomato Tips, a class with Steve Goto. Ranch Workshop: Foraging and the Living BOTANIC GARDEN Kitchen, with Nance Klehm. Fee. ☎ 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Friday–Sunday, March 16–18 626-821-4623; arboretum.org 9:00 am–4:00 pm Thursday, March 6 2:30 pm Thursday, March 8 Monster Tomato and Pepper Sale, includes 10:00 am–3:00 pm limited quantities of super-hot Bhut Jolokia Garden Talk: How to Grow Perfect and Trinidad Scorpion peppers Free with Tomatoes, with Scott Daigre. Plant sale Preventing the Introduction and Spread of garden admission. follows. Free. Invasive Weeds Workshop 2012, includes

talks, discussion and field trip. Fee. LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE 91011 SUN VALLEY 91352 DESCANSO GARDENS Saturday, March 10 THEODORE PAYNE FOUNDATION FOR 1418 Descanso Dr. 9:00 am–4:00 pm WILDFLOWERS & NATIVE PLANTS 818-949-4200; descansogardens.org 10459 Tuxford St. Going Green Together presented by the Los 818-768-1802; theodorepayne.org Angeles Environmental Education Fair, a Saturday–Sunday, March 10–11 fun-filled day for children, families and 9:00 am–5:00 pm Saturday, March 3 educators. Free with garden admission. Pacific Camellia Show and Sale. Free with 1:30–3:30 pm garden admission. Thursdays, March 15–May 3 Twelve Months of Color with CA Natives, a 9:30 am–12:00 noon Saturday, March 17 class with Melanie Baer-Keeley and Lili Three activities: Singer. Fee. Thursday Garden Talks with Lili Singer. Spring series includes Keeping Plants in 8:00 am Saturday, March 10 Containers with Steve Gerischer, 3/15; Birding Descanso a beginner class with Joe 1:30–3:30 pm Living in the Garden, CA Style with Laura Kertes. Fee. ☎ Inviting Wildlife into the Garden, a lecture by Morton; and The Native Garden: No Place Barbara Eisenstein. Fee. 11:00 am Like Home with Lili Singer, 3/29. Fee. Understanding Local Wildllife with Katherine Saturday, March 17 Saturday, March 24 Pease. Free with garden admission. 1:30–3:30 pm 10:00 am–12:00 noon The Science and Art of Native Garden 11:00 am Family Fun Class: Bird Feeder. Registration Design: A Class for Landscape closes Monday before class. Fee. California Natives Spring Walk, led by Professionals, with Bob Perry. Fee. Rachel Young. Free with garden admission. CLAREMONT 91711 Thursday, March 22 RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN Saturday–Sunday, March 24–25 8:30 am–12:00 noon 1500 N. College Ave. 9:00 am–5:00 pm Native Plant Maintenance for Landscape 909-625-8767 x200; rsabg.org Cherry Blossom Festival, includes walks, Pros, a bilingual class (Spanish/English), story time, origami and more. Free with taught by Antonio Sanchez. Fee. First Saturdays, including March 3 garden admission. 10:00 am–1:00 pm Saturday, March 31 Free Native Plant Clinic with native plant Friday–Sunday, March 31–April 1 8:30 am–4:30 pm experts. 9:00 am–5:00 pm Poppy Day Plant Sale, with discounts to all. Tomatomania!, plant sale. Free with garden First Sundays through June, including admission. TORRANCE 90503 March 4 THE MADRONA MARSH PRESERVE 8:00–9:00 am PALOS VERDES PENINSULA 90274 3201 Plaza del Amo Beginning Birdwalks with members of the SOUTH COAST BOTANIC GARDEN 310-782-3989 Pomona Valley Audubon Society. Free. 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. friendsofmadronamarsh.com/calendar.htm 310-544-1948 Saturday, March 17 southcoastbotanicgarden.org Saturday, March 3 8:00 am–5:00 pm 10:00 am–12:00 noon, repeats Saturday, March 3 Spring Open House includes free garden Tuesday, March 6 9:00 am–5:00 pm admission, welcome reception and gift shop 6:30–8:30 pm sale. Family Picnic Day: Cherry Blossoms. Free Out of the Wilds and Into Your Garden, a with garden admission. native plant class with Connie Vadheim. Friday–Saturday, March 30–31 Free. 9:00 am–5:00 pm Saturday, March 17 ______10:00–11:30 am Tomatomania! plant sales and talks. At Grow The San Diego Horticultural Society Native Nursery, Davis and Constitution Kid's Gardening Class: Planting My Seeds Where They Grow Best, a new session for meets Monday, March 12, 6:00–9:00 pm, at avenues (VA grounds), Westwood 90049. Del Mar Fairgrounds. Free. children (K-3, ages 5-8). Fee. Activities include the talk From Seed to Saturday, March 24 Saturday, March 31 Skillet, with Jimmy Williams and Susan 10:00–11:00 am 11:00 am–3:00 pm Heeger. Book-signing follows. Information: A Walk with Words, in which poets and Drought- and Fire-resistant Gardens for 760-295-7089, sdhortsoc.org. Fee. Spring, a lecture by Deborah Richie-Bray, poetry join bird song to celebrate the - Compiled by Lili Singer garden's season of renewal. Free with Free with garden admission. Send notices to [email protected] garden admission.

S O C I E T Y N E W S 5 DEDICATION SERVICE FOR JEFF KARSNER succulents, and a vast source of inspiration assemblages of plants and props. One year for his work. Jeff did underwater designs with beaded It is with deep fish, driftwood and assorted plant materials. Jeff designed low-water succulent gardens sadness that we More recently he was working with and created container gardens for businesses report the tragic loss tillandsias and creating mobiles hung from and residences. He worked on a puppet of Jeff Karsner, 50, a the ceiling. long-time supporter show that promoted low-water gardening – and often member of featuring characters made out of living Jeff was a caring, creative person and totally our Society. He succulents. Jeff worked as a story editor at loved his job at the HBG. He will be greatly passed away on PBS, CBS and Warner Brothers before missed and warmly remembered. January 30 as the becoming a plant-head. He received his Photographs: Jeff, distributed at the dedication service; result of an accident Master’s degree from New York University Jim Folsom dedicating the bench by Debra Bushweit at his home. and his Bachelor’s from University of Galliani and Jeff at the HBG by Laurel Woodley. Maryland.” On February 11, several of Jeff’s friends and ______co-workers, along with his family, attended At the service, Donna Banneker, who heads NEW BOOK BY SULA VANDERPLANK an uplifting service at the Huntington a special education center in South Los Botanical Gardens (HBG) with the Angeles, spoke of the garden that Jeff backdrop of his workplace, the Children’s designed at the center to teach moderate to Garden. severe special needs students (aged 3-22). They grew organic foods that were supplied HBG Director Jim Folsom led a service to a special school for culinary arts program. dedicating a wooden bench in Jeff’s honor, that will be placed in the garden he nurtured Jeff also developed a bas relief wall at the with a plaque stating, “In loving memory of Frances Blend School for the Blind in Jeff Karsner, for his creativity and energy,” Hollywood that depicts jungle and zoo animals for its elementary students to feel and experience. Jeff had been conducting workshops at the HBG as part of their program for children in Sula Vanderplank, SCHS board member the Teaching Greenhouse just west of the and co-author of the Green Sheet, has Children's Garden. When Jim Folsom and authored a new book entitled, Quail- Laurel Woodley spoke about doing friendly Plants of Baja California: An something to get kids interested in succulent exploration of the flora of the Santo Tomas, plants, they volunteered Jeff to assist CSSA. San Vicente, San Jacinto and San Quintin valleys, core habitat for the California quail Laurel recounts that the HBG provided all (Callipepla californica subsp. plumbea). the materials (pots, soil, plants, rocks and top dressing) for each workshop. This was It is a field guide to the plants of done during the CSSA Show & Sale in late northwestern Baja that the San Quintin quail use and share habitat with. Those who attended learned about Jeff and June or early July at the HBG. The workshop the depth of his character, talents and about lasted for one hour and at least one parent The book is Rancho Santa Ana Botanic how much people loved him. was to be with the child so in reality both Garden Occasional Publication #11, is 8 1/2 learned about potting and staging the plants. x 11 format, in full color with lots of great Jeff has attended SCHS meetings over the photos and it is 121 pages long. years and designed some special It is an exclusive publication that is only centerpieces for our annual HOTY banquets available at RSABG where it sells for $29.99. at the HBG, whether they were artfully arranged tillandsias, elegant succulent This delightfully written and well-illustrated containers or cut flowers. field guide to a variety of common and unusual plants from northwestern Baja At Jeff’s service, his bio was distributed, California will be a most welcome addition along with a gallery of photographs with to the Baja aficionado's backpack, vehicle family, friends and plants. and bookshelf. “Succulent designer Jeff Karsner has fond Multiple images of different aspects of each garden memories growing up in Maryland plant in its natural habitat will enable you to amidst his father’s bonsai collection and his quickly identify most of the plants that are mother’s rockery. But it wasn’t until he Jeff was a fine teacher and engaged the of interest to quail in the region, while moved out west that his own deep passion children. He went from table to table making revealing facts and observations about each for plants was triggered by the cacti and certain that all were following along and plant fill the brief text. succulents he found there. offering assistance where needed. It was published in December 2011 and the Jeff was Vice President of the LA Cactus & supply is very limited, with the probability Jeff was very artistic and was continually that it will soon sell out. Contact RSABG for Succulent Society and worked at the HBG creating new plant designs to display in the Library’s Desert Garden as Director of the more information and for ordering at Teaching Greenhouse. Every time Laurel rsabg.org/shop/Quail-friendly-Plants-of-Baja- Children’s Garden at the HBG – the world’s visited the greenhouse there were new most extensive collection of cacti and California. 6 UPCOMING SCHS PROGRAMS Board of Directors April 12 – Iris Forum, with panelists Dr. Richard Richards, John Steven Gerischer, President & Pacific Horticulture Board Schoustra and Bob Sussman. Opportunity Drawing plants and Jim Henrich, Vice President & Membership plants for sale will be primarily irises. Bettina Gatti, Secretary & Internship Coordinator May 10 – Lorene Edwards Forkner will be our featured speaker. Laura Bauer, Treasurer & Finance June 14 – Chris Rosmini will discuss garden design. Joel Lichtenwalter, Membership Secretary & Field Trips July 12 – Sam Watters. Debra Bushweit Galliani, Newsletter & Membership August 9 – Matthew Levesque will discuss The Revolutionary Lisa Ceazan, Website Yardscape. Book sale and signing. Sandy Masuo, Facebook September 13 – Annual Award Banquet honoring the 2012 Kathy Musial, Programs & Pacific Horticulture Board Horticulturist of the Year at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Bart O’Brien, Programs October 11 – Scott Kleinrock will tell us about The Huntington John Schoustra, Plant Sales & Opportunity Drawings Ranch Project at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Lili Singer, Selected Book Sales & Newsletter Calendar November 8 – Helen Popper, author of the forthcoming California Sula Vanderplank, Green Sheet Native Gardening; A Month-by-Month Guide, discusses her book. Jill Vig, Pacific Horticulture Board December 13 – Annual Members’ Night (aka, Cookie Night). 818-567-1496 / socalhort.org / Join us on Facebook ______FABULOUS USED BOOK SALE AT MARCH 8 MEETING Newsletter Editor: Debra Bushweit Galliani, [email protected] Associate Editor: Joe Galliani It’s time for our next sale of used books (and some not so used). How do I know? My basement is full of boxes! I need space. We Contributors to this issue: will be selling books at the March 8 meeting to benefit SCHS. A Laura Bauer, Louisa Cardenas, Lisa Ceazan, Joe Galliani, number of books were brought in from the Rancho Santa Ana Steven Gerischer, Bart O’Brien, Lili Singer, Laurel Woodley Botanic Garden library – many are Timber Press releases and and all Sharing Secrets contributors. other interesting books in great shape. If you have books to Next deadline: Friday, March 9 (for April newsletter). donate, please bring them to the March meeting, noting any that It is the Friday following our monthly membership meeting. should be priced higher for rarity or other exceptional qualities. We'll try to supply plastic bags to haul home your purchases. Please contribute an article or information of interest. Remember your cash or checkbook and get ready to buy! - Steven Gerischer

Southern California Horticultural Society PO Box 94476 Pasadena CA 91109-4476

NEWSLETTER MARCH 2012