SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Where passionate gardeners meet to share knowledge and learn from each other. socalhort.org May 2012 Newsletter OUR NEXT MEETING TOURS AND EVENTS NEXT SHARING SECRETS IN THIS ISSUE QUESTION Thursday, May 10 Our recent one-day tour/events April Meeting Recap 7:30 pm to Altadena with Nuccio’s The Sharing Secrets question(s) by Steven Gerischer ................ 2 Friendship Auditorium Nursery and the picnic which for May is: “What have you Sharing Secrets responses to : 3021 Riverside Drive followed, and the tour of the made to personalize your Which irises do you Los Angeles Hall garden in Pasadena were garden, or how have you re- grow ? ........................................2 successful and a lot of fun for purposed materials?” (Or We meet the second Thursday everyone involved. If you have both) On-line membership services..2 of each month at 7:30 pm any ideas of one-day tours or LA Science Fair Awards by Joan You can answer on the cards events you would like to see Citron..........................................2 It is free to SCHS members and we’ll supply at our May 10 SCHS organize, please contact $5 for non-members without a meeting or e-mail your Green Sheet by Jorge Ochoa and either Steve Gerischer at guest pass, which is found on response to Sula Vanderplank...............3 & 4 [email protected]. or Joel the front of your member card. [email protected] by Lichtenwalter at Horticultural Happenings ______________________________ Friday, May 11. [email protected]. by S. Gerischer......................... 5 Upcoming Programs ................. 6 The May Meeting considers her approach to making gardens to be rooted in childhood outdoor play. A designer’s eye for re-purposing objects and a keen sense of conservation and thrift infuse her every effort with personality, wit and sustainability. A popular speaker with a warm engaging manner, Lorene is always eager to weigh in on horticultural mysteries, landscape design, and teach DIY gardeners how to dig in and craft a personal landscape filled with an abundance of interest and delicious flavor. She blogs about gardens and the stories behind them at PlantedAtHome.com. As the new editor of Pacific Horticulture Magazine, Lorene is overseeing the exciting projects announced recently in the on-line newsletter from Pac. Hort. A timely bequest from the “Thebaum” estate means that the Our speaker for the May meeting of the resources are in place to fuel these changes. Southern California Horticultural Society We look forward to the new look of the will be author, lecturer and avid gardener/ magazine as well as a robust online presence cook, Lorene Edwards Forkner. (Lorene is and increased accessibility to the vast also the new editor of Pacific Horticulture Virgina Hand garden design. amount of “evergreen” material from the Magazine.) Her new book, Handmade Garden archives of Pacific Horticulture. Projects: step-by-step instructions for Creative Garden Features, Containers, Lighting & More, Lorene’s new book will be for sale, and The June 14 Meeting of SCHS will be the topic of discussion. she will be available to sign copies at the will be held at meeting. Handmade Garden Projects is Lorene revels in the seasonal pleasures The Los Angeles Zoo! published by Timber Press. and broad scope of gardening life in the (Details in the next newsletter) Pacific Northwest affords. Supported by a degree in fine art and years of practical experience owning and operating a small specialty nursery in Seattle, Lorene 2 MARCH MEETING & MORE Thanks to everyone who helped set up, members and participate in forums and April Meeting Recap run and clean up after, our meeting. We blogs. Our site administrators will also post The April meeting of the Southern California hope to see you in May for Lorene Edwards upcoming events there to make it easier to Horticultural Society was all about iris. A Forkner, speaking about her new book, sign up and pay for the event all at once. Handmade Garden Projects. panel of experts gathered to discuss the Renewing memberships will also be growth habits and cultural requirements of a easier online – reminder notices will be sent number of popular iris. Our panelists were SHARING SECRETS starting a month before your membership John Schoustra (SCHS board member and expires so that you can renew without In April, we asked the question, “Which iris owner of Greenwood Daylily Gardens), Bob missing any newsletters or Pacific do you grow?” Sussman (Owner of Matilija Nursery) and Horticulture issues. Dr. Richard Richards (Professor emeritus of Here are the "secrets" some members shared Cal Poly Pomona). These three iris experts with us: With MemberLodge, you can use a credit shared secrets and tips about growing a card (through PayPal) to purchase any of I grow Iris japonica, tough, easy to share, number of beautiful and interesting species these on-line offers: membership renewals, shade tolerant and has a long blooming of iris. Each would add their experiences special events and field trips, our annual season. First given to me by Cathy Ratner 20 and knowledge gained over years of banquet, donations and more. Of course, years ago and has provided surface runner growing and breeding different irises. For you can still renew with a check or cash at “giveaways” many times over the years. I example, we were told about the necessity of meetings or by mail. also grow Iris ochroleuca, a tough old plant planting Iris douglasii and PCH iris “high” so that came with the house. We know you will like the new features. they do not rot--and how to condition the Go to schs.memberlodge.org to set up your on- soil to grow these intriguing natives and the Susan Rudnicki line account. If you haven't given us your e- cultivars bred from them. Iris sibirica, mail address (or have a new one), please Louisiana iris and many more were Iris germanica, from a give away box brought in by a (SCHS) member some years consider joining us online. It's a great way to discussed with pointed insights and a lot of stay connected to the group. humor. ago. We have watched it survive full drought from April to January each year, Please contact Joel Lichtenwalter flooding, frost, freezes, heat, deep shade, (310-908-5036 or e-mail direct sun all day--and each spring it [email protected]) or Laura Bauer blooms. (626-437-9459 or e-mail [email protected]) if Catherine Pannell you have any questions or concerns. - Laura Bauer Bearded iris, Dutch iris, Pacific Coast _______________________ hybrid iris. Kathy Itomura LA Science Fair Awards Secret contributorS The yearly outpouring of young, (From left to right) Bob Sussman, John Iris ochroleuca (indestructable), scientific minds was once again on display at Schoustra and Richard Richards. (photo: ‘Grandma’s Purple Flag’, and bearded iris the Pasadena Civic Center for one hectic day Lydia Plunk) ‘Prospector’ and ‘Maid of Orange’ (Thanks Joan Citron!) in March. And this intrepid representative of Each iris under discussion was your Society was once again toiling through represented by an example plant on the Add your response to this question on our the aisles to find the mostly worthy projects lecture table. These plants were then Facebook page discussion board. _______________________ related in some way to horticulture. This donated to be the opportunity drawing year there seemed to be more such projects plants for the night. Among the plants were YOU CAN RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND tall bearded iris, PCH iris, spuria iris and Iris than has been the case in the past but, SIGN UP FOR FIELD TRIPS ONLINE! sibirica. eventually, the chosen 6 emerged. The 5 who Our on-line membership link is up and received checks for $100 each were: John Schoustra led the discussion and running on our website. You can now renew after the panelists had covered the example your membership, initiate a gift membership Alexander Michailov: How do Pine Needles plants on the table, a number of questions and also sign up for field trips. While you’re were addressed. The questions had been Affect Plant Growth. Julie Chang: Which Soil there, fill out your profile so other members submitted via e-mail before the meeting and Amendment Retains the Most Water. Nina can get to know you. It’s simple; here’s how. ranged from problem plants and inquiries Kaputis: To Grow or Not to Grow. Bridget about soil, to diseases and pests of iris. The Welcome to SCHS MemberLodge! Macmillan: An Investigation on the Effect of audience was invited to question the Different Concentrations of Gibberellic Acid panelists about iris specifics and a wealth of SCHS MemberLodge is open to SCHS interesting information was shared. members only. Your personal information is on Spinach. Carina Aguirre: Compost. protected and it is the Society's policy to We would like to thank John Schoustra never sell or share our membership list. You The recipient of the Eva Mason for setting up this wonderful panel choose what information you want to share Horticultural Award for $150 was: Lyle Lee: discussion, and also, a big thank you to Bob with other members. Cactus Growth. Sussman and Dr. Richard Richards for participating. Once you log on, you can manage your membership online – create and update your Joan Citron own profile, send messages to other 3 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY socalhort.org MARCH 2012 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 March 2012 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.