Southern California Horticultural Society Where passionate gardeners meet to share knowledge and learn from each other.

socalhort.org NEWSLETTER April 2018 OUR NEXT MEETING SCHS WELCOMES SHARING SECRETS IN THIS ISSUE The SCHS Sharing Secrets April Program Details ...... 1 Thursday, April 12 NEW MEMBERS question for April is: Huntington Gardens “Hello” to the following Do you know of any venues March Program Recap 1151 Oxford Road who have joined our group: we could use for our monthly and Sharing Secrets ...... 2 meetings? We are considering San Marino, CA 91108 Douglas Hart rotating locations to improve Green Sheets: Oct. & Dec. 2017, d Vicky Perez accessibility to more members. and Feb. 2018 . . . . . 3 & 4 Amanda Sigafoos Tour with Panel: 5:30 pm Respond by Monday, April 16 Horticultural Happenings . . . . . 5 Meeting begins: 7:00 pm www.socalhort.org Online at socalhort.org OR send Upcoming Programs and e-mail to [email protected] SCHS Contact info...... 6 SUCCULENTS IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE PLEASE NOTE - DIFFERENT VENUE and TIMES for APRIL MEETING !!! The SCHS April meeting will be After our held at the Huntington Library, Art private tour, TIMES, LOCATIONS, Collections, and Botanical Gardens, we will head metz and MEETING DETAILS and features a panel discussion on to the Brody succulents, as well as a private tour of Botanical 5:30 - TOUR BEGINS the Huntington’s 10-acre Desert Garden Center for a Sign in at the Entrance & Visitor Center prior to the general meeting. (Please slide show and see side panel for times and details.) discussion Leading the tour will be John Trager, on succulents 7:00 - PANEL PRESENTATION Curator of the Desert Garden and Desert and their many and SCHS MEETING To be held at the Brody Botanical

Collections at the Huntington. He will landscape Stein Sabine credit: Photo be pointing out of interest, and uses, presented jointly by panelists Center in the Ahmanson Classroom. also those he feels are deserving of wider Laurel Woodley and Steve Gerischer. d cultivation. You will see many succulents Laurel Woodley is a retired biology in full flower, including aloes, iceplants, professor from Los Angeles Harbor ENTRY FEES Crassulaceae, cacti and more. Increasing College who has been involved in Southern The Huntington is waiving admission water restrictions have upped the demand California horticulture since the mid fees for this event, but the SCHS fee of for these plants more than ever, and with 1960s. A past Director and President of the $5.00 per non-member guest will apply. 100+ years of trialing succulents in our Cactus & Succulent Society of America, she climate, the Desert Garden provides a now serves as their Advisor. She has long FOOD tremendous resource for horticulturists collected and grown succulents and is an You may bring your own food to eat and casual visitors alike. active member of the Sunset Succulent and ONLY in the Brody Center or the Trager has been at the Huntington South Coast Cactus & Succulent societies. Entrance / Visitor Center areas. Food is since 1983, and his writings have Steve Gerischer is the current not allowed on the Huntington grounds. appeared in the Cactus and Succulent president of the SCHS, a landscape Journal, the Euphorbia Journal and designer, and owner of Larkspur Garden VENDORS & PLANTS many other publications. Also known Design. He has an extensive knowledge Vendor displays and sales will take for his photography, over 2,000 of his of succulents and their myriad uses, and place during the meeting, but there will images have been published. He holds is a popular speaker on a variety of topics a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture in the local horticultural lecture circuit. be NO FORUM or RAFFLE. from Cal Poly Pomona and has traveled We invite you to attend this special globally in search of plants and insects. evening and hope you will be able to join us. Mark Your Calendars !!! u MARCH PROGRAM RECAP • COFFEE IN TARZANA • SHARING SECRETS NOTE: If you would like to at home or a local community garden obtain a downloadable PDF of instead. Sanchez presented a list of SHARING SECRETS the entire March presentation, go native edibles that can easily be grown, to the “Monthly Meetings / Past and various foods that can be derived RESPONSES Meetings” tab on our website at: from them. His top growing picks What critters are you www.socalhort.org. d included: welcoming (or discouraging) in your garden as we head In March we were treated to a • Claytonia perfoliata-Miner’s lettuce into spring? And how? program presented by native food (fresh greens, soup, pesto) d expert, educator and enthusiast, Antonio • Salvia clevelandii and hybrids Sanchez, who not only gave us a history (seasoning, pesto, beer, ice cream, My critter issue is squirrels. I can’t stop them from visiting, of California baked treats, infused in oils) • Allium unifolium - one- onion but I force them to share the native edible nectarines and plums with me plants, but (use like garlic, shallots, or chives) by protecting the larger fruit also brought • Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’ and other grapes clusters with drawstring net bags. along recipes • Ribes aureum - golden currant I purchase two or three sizes and tasty (jams, eaten fresh, cordial, medicinal) online. Unfortunately, squirrels samples. He can gnaw holes through the fabric Other plants not typically used in food when motivated, and both the has worked by: Maher Laura Photo cultivation but that should be considered fruit and bags must be monitored with California native plants and foods occasionally, but it slows them for over a decade, and was one of the for the near future were mentioned, such as various native berries, pinyon nuts, down a lot and allows me to lead organizers for the 2015 California pick a decent harvest. I intend Native Food Symposium in Claremont. purslane, and the Slim Jim bean. to experiment with other barrier He also co-founded Nopalito Native In addition to “growing our materials this season or next. own”, Sanchez also recommended Plant Nursery in Ventura. Yoav Paskowitz Sanchez began with an introduction introducing these foods through to common food crops historically community and demonstration Spring brings the flush of found throughout Mesoamerica and gardens, local farmer’s markets, and fresh new growth in our gardens. the Californias, some of which have even selling food products derived And sometimes the heartbreak been lost to us, but many of which from these plants online. of finding that fresh new growth are viable options for growing today. To wrap up the evening, Sanchez took pulled out or chewed up! audience questions and invited attendees I’m always happy to host the Among the reasons he cited to consider White-Crowned Sparrows over growing native foods are to providing to sample some of the foods he brought the winter, and am sad to see a sustainable and available supply, with him, all of which were mentioned them go in the spring. But I am cultural revitalization, commercial in the lecture. He left us intellectually glad my pea shoots will have a development of a regional resource and gastronomically satisfied, with much chance to recover. (food security) and water conservation. “food for thought” to take home to our Anonymous He strongly advocated against foraging own kitchen gardens. Thanks for sharing! in the wild and suggested growing them d Sabine Steinmetz On Sunday, March 25, 2018, the SCHS Mountains Wildfowers. They spoke of After the presentation, Wood led a hosted a special Coffee in the Garden Bill Baker’s many plant introductions, garden walk and pointed out many unusual at “Baker’s Acres,” a specialty cactus and including: Pachyphytum ‘Bill Baker’, specimens (not all succulents) growing on succulent nursery in Tarzana. Donna numerous Dyckias, such as ‘Brittlestar’, the grounds, including: Xanthorrhoea preissii, Marie Baker, the wife of late founder and ‘California’ and ‘Tarzan’, plus other plants Strelitzia juncea, Erythrina flabelliformis, plantsman Bill Baker, graciously opened like Aloe ‘Hercules.’ Brachychiton rupestris, and the Buddha’s the gates of her one-of-a-kind nursery Hand citron. Following the tour, guests and garden to us for a few hours. We browsed for plants, botanical prints and were able to explore the grounds and books that were offered for sale. enjoy refreshments provided by SCHS Many thanks again to our hosts, and board members. to the SCHS board for arranging this We heard about the history of the memorable Coffee in the Garden event. nursery in a short presentation given by d two of the Bakers’ longtime friends: Royce Sabine Steinmetz Wood, botanical illustrator and landscape designer, as well as Tim Thomas, botanist Visit our Facebook page and co-author of Southern California Steinmetz by: Sabine Photo to see more photos of this garden! v Southern California Horticultural Society GREEN SHEET Plant Forum ∙ October & December 2017 The Plant Forum is a display of plants grown by members & exhibited at our monthly general meeting.

PLANTS SHOWN at OCTOBER 12, 2017 MEETING Bouquet (cont’d) Rosa moschata (Rosaceae) Cemetery Musk rose is a shrubby rose that can be grown Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae) as a climber and has long been used in cemeteries and Coral Vine, shown by Aprille Curtis. This rampant vine church yards. Origins are uncertain, but probably from comes from Mexico. Cordate (heart-shaped) the western Himalayan region. Blooms for a long period are dark green and the from May to November with small, pale pink flowers. pendulous stems of coral-red flowers are striking. It does best PLANTS SHOWN at DECEMBER 14, 2017 MEETING in warm areas and will sulk if shaded or Salvia madrensis ‘Red Neck Girl’ (Lamiaceae) too cold. In full, hot Red-stemmed Forsythia sage, shown by Eric Brooks. A sun with moderate shrubby perennial to 8 feet for sun to part shade. Blooms water it will flower in fall and winter with yellow tubular blossoms that attract heavily. This vine has hummingbirds. The name refers to the reddish a number of common stems and leaf nodes. Spreads from the roots in most soils. names including ‘Rosa de Montana’ and “Queen’s Wreath’ - a testament to its popularity. Vitis ‘Roger’s Red’ (Vitaceae)

- shown by Gloria Leinbach Roger’s Red Grape, Bouquet of cuttings shown by Eric Brooks. (see below photo for plant descriptions) A vigorous deciduous vine grown for its red autumn foliage. DNA studies have shown it is most likely a hybrid between V. californica and V. vinifera. Fruit is attractive to wildlife and the juice is sweet, but the skin is fairly tough and somewhat bitter. Sun to part shade.

Strelitzia juncea (Strelitziaceae) Leafless Bird of Paradise, shown by Don Wood. From aequalis ‘Sensation’ () Southern Africa, this ‘leafless’ form of Bird of Paradise can be quite dramatic. Instead of the paddle-shaped leaves Cape is a shrubby South African tender perennial. of the common S. reginae, the leaf petioles grow 5 feet or ‘Sensation’ has pendulous fuchsia pink flowers and glossy more like giant green toothpicks with flower stems rising foliage. Best in part shade with regular water. above them. Clean out old material once or twice a year to keep them looking spectacular. Moderate water needs. Aster ‘Bill’s Big Blue’ (Asteraceae) This aster (now called Symphotrichum) is of North d Compiled by Steven Gerischer American origin and may have derived from Photos by Sabine Steinmetz A.oblongifolius. Selected by the late Bay Area nurseryman, Ed Carmen, this 4 foot tall aster with medium blue flowers NOTE: No plants exhibited in November 2017 blooms late in the season on vigorous, spreading plants. Bees never fail to find these late season sources of nectar. February 2018 “Green Sheet” on reverse w Southern California Horticultural Society GREEN SHEET Plant Forum Selections ∙ February 2018 The Plant Forum is a display of plants grown by members & exhibited at our monthly general meeting.

PLANTS SHOWN at FEBRUARY 8, 2018 MEETING ‘King’s Rainbow’ () Shown by Gary Kamisher. Another Cantua buxifolia new cultivar in this useful group of (Polemonaceae) landscape plants. Shrubby Qantu or Sacred Flower are tough, drought-tolerant and of the Incas, shown will grow on many types of soil by Ann Brooks. This (even clay). This cultivar, with evergreen is flattened needle-like foliage, will native to the high valleys reach 5’ to 6’ x 6’ to 8’ and blooms of the Andes in western over a long season with wands of yellow flowers with South America, and is red stamens. Hummingbirds will visit the flowers. the national flower of Peru. It will grow 4’ to Grevillea rhyolitica (Proteaceae) 8’h x 6’ to 8’w and needs a sheltered location. Grevillea Deua Flame, shown by Ann Brooks. This The pendulous flowers grevillea has rounded foliage that resembles small appear in spring. The olive leaves. Growing 3’ to 5’ x 3’ to 5’ this shrub will form usually seen in gardens here is a cultivar called tolerate some shade (unlike most grevilleas). The ‘Hot Pants’ and is vivid pink. Ann showed a species form flowers are deep red. Blooms over a long season. with softer color and more narrow tubular flowers. Plant in sun or part shade. Tabebuia chrysotricha (now Handroanthus chrysotrichus) (Bignoniaceae) Cassia artemisoides (Fabaceae) (now Senna artemisioides) Golden trumpet tree, shown Feathery cassia, shown by Aprille Curtis. This 4’-6’ tall by Ann Brooks. This 15’-25’ and wide evergreen Australian shrub prefers to grow tall briefly deciduous tree in full sun and little water, and is deer-resistant. It puts is the national tree of Brazil, on an abundant display its country of origin. It is of fragrant yellow relatively drought-tolerant blooms starting in late and in late winter to early winter into early spring, spring its broad canopy is borne above its pinnate covered in bright yellow silvery-green leaves. For trumpet-shaped blooms. Grow as a specimen at home multi-season interest, or look for groupings in public gardens. the flowers are followed by chartreuse pea-pods Also exhibited (but not pictured) that eventually turn to a deep rust. Easily kept to palmeri () shown by Gary Kamisher. a small, compact size by shearing or selectively Arctostaphylos (possibly ‘Centennial’) (Ericaceae) pruning, it can be a shown by Gary Kamisher. lovely anchor or focal point in a small garden, or massed for a stunning d Compiled by Steven Gerischer & Sabine Steinmetz display if space permits. Photos by Sabine Steinmetz x APRIL HORTICULTURAL HAPPENINGS Please contact location(s) to confirm HUNTINGTON BOTANICAL GARDENS Saturday- Monday, 4/14- 4/16, 10am-4pm. California listed events, and for a full schedule. Wildflower Show. Visit a backyard superbloom and sign up 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino 91108 for events at RSABG’s longest-running tradition. Monday, Events are free with admission 626.405.2100 huntington.org April 16, is Senior Monday: ages 65+ receive free admission. unless otherwise indicated. Every Saturday, 10am-1pm. Ranch Open House. Stop by Saturday, 4/21, 10am-12noon. Plant Lover’s Intro to this urban agriculture site (open weekly) and pick up fresh Locations are listed by Zip Code. Photography. Plants come in such diverse patterns and ______ideas for sustainable gardening. colors, and it can be a challenge to photograph them. If you Thursday, 4/12, 2:30pm, Ahmanson Room, Brody Botanical are struggling to make the best use of your camera as you LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM Center. Garden Talk: Out of Africa: Pelargoniums for explore the natural world, join botanist and photographer 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia 91007 California Landscapes with John Schoustra. California-bred Keir Morse for an introduction to digital photography, 626.821.4623 arboretum.org pelargonium hybrids derived from tough South African with an emphasis on plants. After a short talk, Morse will natives are ideal for Southern California’s climate. Nurseryman lead a walk through the garden, and you can try out new Thursday, 4/12, 9:30am-12noon. What’s Happening In John Schoustra introduces pelargoniums, from ground techniques with the native flora. Don’t forget your camera! Gardening with Patrick Craig of the Arboretum. He is in charge of covers to , that provide year-round color and fragrance. Register online or call. the Herb Garden, which contains medicinal, culinary, beverage, d a knot garden, and California native areas in one section. (1.25 Tuesday, 4/17, 7:30pm, Rothenberg Hall. East Asian Garden APLD CEU Credits), $25 per class Arboretum members & non- Lecture Series: Representations of the Garden of Solitary SAN DIEGO BOTANIC GARDEN members. Call to register or pay at class. Delight (Dule yuan) with Carol S. Brash. Some representations 230 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas 92024 of gardens in Chinese art are purportedly re-creations of Friday, 4/13, 4/20, and 4/27, 1:30-4pm. Introduction to Plant physical gardens whose original form is lost. Such images may 760-436-3036 sdbgarden.org Identification with Arboretum Botanist, Frank McDonough. or may not depict the site as it actually appeared, but they do Saturday, 4/14, 9am-12noon. Living Wall/Vertical This class looks at more than a dozen major plant families reflect the conflation of history, memory, and imagination. Garden with Mary Lou Morgan. Learn the basics of represented by specimens at the Arboretum, and discuss planting a 10”x20” wall with a variety of succulents. plant classification, how to identify a plant’s genus, family and d $30 members (code LW14), $36 non-members. Addt’l. order using both printed and digital plant keys. Learn how to THEODORE PAYNE FOUNDATION $80 per student materials fee to be paid directly to determine the most important plant structures for identifying 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley 91352 instructor at class. Register by 4/6/18. an unknown plant, strategies for using the internet to help, and 818.768.1802 theodorepayne.org Saturday, 4/14, 9am-12noon. Planting for Pollinators with other useful tools. 4 sessions: $60 Arboretum members / $70 Marianne Brettell-Vaugh. Class covers topics including: non-members (incls. admission). Call to register or pay at class. Saturday & Sunday, 4/14 & 4/15, 10am-5pm. Annual Native how to attract and support pollinators that visit your Plant Garden Tour. A 2-day, self-driven, curated tour features garden, creating good soils, plus tips on planning for a Saturday, 4/14, 10am-12noon. Keep It, Toss It, or Prune It! How To 30 inspiring private and public landscapes. On Saturday, Renovate an Existing Garden with Laramee Haynes. Old gardens healthy garden. $30 members (code Pollinator14), $36 gardens in Los Angeles and the Westside will be open and on non-members. Please register by 4/6/18. often have wonderful, mature plants. Carefully choosing what Sunday, gardens in the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel to keep, what to remove and pruning the rest can result in a Valley will be featured. Go to: www.nativeplantgardentour. Saturday, 4/28, 10am-12noon. Spring Herb Walk: with beautiful garden for less cost. This workshop will use photos org for photos and descriptions, of all participating gardens. Jano Nightingale. Learn about growing and utilizing of existing gardens to guide a group discussion about making Single tickets = $25 members and students; $30 for non- herbs in your kitchen, and explore the medicinal and garden improvements, $25 Arboretum members / $35 non- members. Pair of tickets = $40 members, $50 non-members. aromatic uses of herbs. $45 members (code Walk28), members (incls. admission). Call to register or pay at class. d $54 non-members. Additional $10 supply fee per Thursday, 4/19, 9:30am-12noon. What’s Happening In student to be paid directly to the instructor. Please Gardening: Spring Blooming Plants with Joe Brosius, Production CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY (CNPS) register by 4/20/18. Manager at Magic Growers. Brosius will bring a wide array of L.A. / Sta Monica Mtns Chapter / Sepulveda Garden Ctr d plants from his nursery for show and tell. (2.5 APLD CEU Credits) 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino 91436 $25 per class Arboretum members & non-members. Call to FULLERTON ARBORETUM register or pay at class. 818-782-9346 www.lacnps.org 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton 92831 Saturday, 4/7, 9am-4pm. Native Plant Celebration Thursday, 4/26, 9:30am-12noon. What’s Happening In and Symposium, Wildflower Show, Plant & Book Sale. 657.278.3407 fullertonarboretum.org Gardening: Madagascar Spiny Forest with Matt-Dell Symposium features speakers plus sale plants courtesy of Saturday, 4/14, 10 am. Garden Rocks. Find landscape Tufenkian. Matt will lead us on a virtual tour of the Spiny the Theodore Payne Foundation. Presentations include Forest, completed in May 2007, and the brainchild of rocks for free on Bureau of Land Management Arboretum Superintendent Tim Philips. (1.25 APLD CEU “Gottlieb Native Garden: A Closer Look” by Scott Logan, property. Speaker Nancy Bird will have handouts Credits) $25 per class Arboretum members & non-members. “Design Your Native Garden” by Carol Armour Aronson, and of rules, maps, and resources. She is Past President “Kumeyaay Ethnobotany: Shared Heritage of the Californias” Call to register or pay at class. of the Year ‘Round Garden Club in Whittier. $20/ by Michael Wilken-Robertson. More info at www.lacnps.org. members; $25 non-members. d For details or to volunteer, call Snowdy Dodson at 818-782- 9346 or email [email protected]. Saturdays, 4/14 and 4/28, 10am. Free Nature Tour. Meet DESCANSO GARDENS at Nature Center to join with a knowledgeable docent 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada 91011 d to be guided through the beautiful garden. Repeats 818.949.7980 descansogardens.org RANCHO SANTA ANA BOTANIC GARDEN 2nd and 4th Saturdays. Sunday, 4/22, 8-10:30am. Earth Day: Community 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont 91711 Saturday and Sunday, 4/21 and 4/22, 10am-4pm. 44th Service Day. An Oak Woodland volunteer opportunity Annual Green Scene Plant & Garden Expo. Purchase 909.625.8767 rsabg.org bulbs, succulents, organic vegetables, varietal plants, with instruction and supervision by Descanso Saturday, 4/14, 10am-1pm. Medicinal Plants of California horticulture staff. All experience levels welcome, garden accessories and garden products. Exhibitors Herb Walk with herbalist William Broen. Features medicinal offer a variety of beautiful and exotic plants, unique ages 16 or older. Bring gardening gloves. Space is and edible plants native to California, and both traditional limited, so RSVP to [email protected] garden art, home goods and accessories and more. $8 and modern uses of approx. 30 species, plus relevant admission, free for members; children 12 & under free. by Wednesday, April 18. folklore. $30 public | $25 members. Register on-line or call. d d Yvonne Savio y z UPCOMING SCHS PROGRAMS d BOARD OF DIRECTORS d Unless otherwise noted, meetings are regularly held at Steven Gerischer - President, Oral History Committee, PR, Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, 90027 Pacific Horticulture representative, Tech Support for meetings Laura Bauer - Treasurer, Finance Committee, Website Committee d April 12 - Succulent Panel & Program with Laurel Woodley and Steve Gerischer - PLUS tour at 5:30 guided Pat Steen - Membership Secretary, Recording Secretary, by John Trager, Curator of the Desert Garden Coffee-in-the-Garden, Greeter Carol Bornstein - Program Committee VENUE CHANGE This event will be held at the Huntington. Yoav Paskowitz - Finance Committee, Oral History Committee, Check Page 1 of this Newsletter for important times & details. Website Committee Yvonne Savio - Horticultural Happenings, Coffee-in-the-Garden, PR d May 10 - Tom Glavich, author and lecturer, speaking John Schoustra -Vice President, Field Trips, Finance Committee, on South African and Mediterranean bulbs Plant Raffle, Plant Sales at meetings Lili Singer - Book of the Month, Nomination Committee, d June 14 - Saxon Holt, garden photographer & author, presents a slide program on garden photography Program Committee, PR, Archives, Social Media Committee Jill Vig - Coffee-in-the-Garden, Oral History Committee, VENUE CHANGE This event will be held at the L.A. Zoo. Pacific Horticulture representative, Special Projects Sabine Steinmetz - Newsletter, Sharing Secrets GARDEN QUOTE OF THE MONTH Steven Ormenyi - Finance Committee Marilee Kuhlmann - Hospitality Committee, Program Committee Carol Aronson - Coffee-in-the-Garden “Spring would not be spring Aprille Curtis - Social Media Committee, Plant Forum supplies without birdsongs.” Fleur Nooyen

- Francis M. Chapman 818-567-1496 / socalhort.org / Join us on Facebook Newsletter Editor: Sabine Steinmetz Contributors to this issue: Laura Maher, Yvonne Savio

Next deadline: Monday, April 16 (for May newsletter) APRIL Please contribute an article or information of interest.

Southern California Horticultural Society P.O. Box 94476 Pasadena CA 91109-4476 NEWSLETTER April 2018