Welcome to the Southern California Horticultural Society

PLANT LOVERS SHARINg KNOWLEDGE

On the second Thursday of each month, we invite speakers to present a talk or program about their area of expertise. We offer in-person meetings as well as live-streaming on Zoom. Everyone is welcome! In-person events are usually free for SCHS Members and students with ID; a $5 entry fee is requested for non-members. Zoom webinars are usually free, but registration is required.

Meetings may also include Plant Sales, a Raffle and expert discussion of plants brought in to the Plant Forum. Do you have an interesting plant to share? If you can't bring one in person, send in a photo and requested information on our Plant Forum Page.

For more information about the Society, please see our About SCHS page.

SCHS URGES SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF THE LOS ANGELES FIRES

Dear members and friends of the Southern California Horticultural Society,

It is still really difficult to comprehend the utter devastation brought on by the Eaton and Palisades fires this month. We know of several SCHS members who have lost their homes and this is heartbreaking.

SCHS has donated funds in the past to aid nurseries that have suffered fire damage. However, it is not our policy to support individuals. We will make a donation to Direct Relief (https://www.directrelief.org/) to assist their efforts to help everyone affected.

We also urge all of you to help as much as you can. These are resource organizations that are on the ground now helping real people:

Direct Relief
World Central Kitchen
California Community Foundation
California Fire Foundation
Pasadena Humane Society
L.A. Fire Department Foundation
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
Center for Disaster Philanthropy

We also ask you to consider giving to GoFundMe accounts, but urge you to be cautious as there are vile people trying to take advantage of this horrible situation. If you are unsure about a GoFundMe account, please reach out through verified contact avenues (direct call, text or email) to friends to make sure that their accounts are legitimate.

Our former President, John Schoustra, is still raising funds to rebuild his nursery that was damaged in the Mountain Fire in November 2024. John's friends at Apricot Lane Farms have put together a GoFundMe account to help John get back on his feet.
https://gofund.me/f1e12c5a

The recovery process will be long and difficult. We all need to help one another; only together will we be able to rebuild our beautiful neighborhoods.

- Laura Bauer, President
Southern California Horticultural Society

UPCOMING PROGRAM POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

NEW DATE: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

FRIENDSHIP AUDITORIUM

UCLA MATHIAS BOTANICAL GARDEN

WATERWORKS PROJECT

With Allison Keeney, Asst. Director of the 

Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA

The Southern California Horticultural Society will host a live program on February 13, to be presented by Allison Keeney, the assistant director of the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, who has been overseeing various aspects of the garden’s renovation. The focus of her talk will be on a large-scale waterworks project that includes a comprehensive irrigation and stream system, along with the strategic establishment of riparian plantings.  

Keeney is a third-generation Angeleno who grew up spending most of her time outdoors, fascinated by plants. This led to her working at a plant nursery during high school, where she realized that horticulture would become her career path.  Keeney earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and she has remained in the plant world ever since. For the past three years, she has been serving as the assistant director of the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden. 

In her current position, Keeney oversaw the installation of the Tongva basket weaving garden, the design and planting of high visibility areas, and the creation of Clarkia Hill, which features the Mathias garden’s signature flower, as seen on its new branding logo. Most recently, she initiated the ambitious waterworks project undergoing construction. Plans include a water-saving irrigation system, an efficient stream, and adjacent garden areas that will feature California native riparian and a wetland plants. Altogether, Keeney’s various projects are aimed at improving the garden while she concurrently maintains and curates its diverse plant collection, primarily designed for teaching and research missions at UCLA.

Please join us to learn more about this local treasure on the UCLA campus in Westwood that is free and open to the public. And, if you wish to see the garden in person, Keeney will be providing a guided tour to a limited number of SCHS members on March 22. Tour registration will be open soon at www.socalhort.org. 

All photos provided by speaker

Program will be recorded for the SCHS YouTube archive.

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MEETING:   In-person​​​

DATE:  Wednesday, February  26, 2025

LOCATION:  Friendship Auditorium, 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90027

Announcements:   7:10 p.m.   /   Plant Forum:   7:15 p.m.  /  Program:   7:30 p.m.

FREE for Members  /  $5.00 for Non-Members

UPCOMING EVENT: FIELD TRIP TO TREE OF LIFE NURSERY!
NEW DATE: Saturday, March 8

The Southern California Horticultural Society invites you to come on a Field Trip to Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano. Event tickets include round-trip bus transportation, a personalized tour by owner Mike Evans and a delicious Mexican buffet lunch, as well as plant and gift shopping.

Don’t miss a rare opportunity to visit this iconic nursery before it closes later this year!

FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION CLICK HERE.

RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 10:

In light of the current situation in Los Angeles County, our January 9th Zoom webinar has been postponed. We appreciate your understanding.

California Eden: Heritage Landscapes of the Golden State

The Southern California Horticultural Society will welcome Christine Edstrom O’Hara and Susan Chamberlin to present a Zoom talk about California Eden: Heritage Landscapes of the Golden State , the book they recently coedited. Their talk will examine how the California landscape has been transformed by its Indigenous peoples, Spanish colonizers, settlers, as well as nurserymen and women. They will also touch on some essays in the book that emphasize Southern California horticulture.

Please note: This program will only be available live.  It will not be recorded at the speakers’ request.

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Upcoming Events:

RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, February 26, 2025
IN PERSON at Friendship Auditorium 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles
Allison Keeney, Asst. Director of the Matthias Botanical Garden at UCLA will speak about the garden's recently completed stream renovation. Everyone is welcome! Free for SCHS Members and students with ID; $5 entry fee requested for non-members.

Saturday, March 8, 2025 (rescheduled from January 25)
FIELD TRIP to Tree of Life Nursery!
Join us to hear owner Mike Evans give a talk and lead a tour of the nursery, followed by a Mexican buffet lunch in a covered area – included with ticket. REGISTER HERE!

Thursday, March 13, 2025
IN PERSON at Friendship Auditorium 3201 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles
Douglas Kent will speak on his new book, Regenerating Essential Goods and Services in Urban Landscapes: Sustainability Through Ecological Design.  Everyone is welcome! Free for SCHS Members and students with ID; $5 entry fee requested for non-members.

Thursday, April 10, 2025  ** RESCHEDULED FROM JANUARY **
ONLINE ZOOM - free, but you must register ahead of time. Registration details will be available here soon. 

Authors Susan Chamberlin and Christine O'Hara will speak about their new book, California Eden. This webinar will NOT be recorded.

Visit our Past Meetings page to re-watch previously recorded in-person meetings and webinars, download each meeting write-up, and reference any materials provided by our speakers.

• Our Hort Happenings page lists events at local horticultural institutions. 
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• Want to re-watch a previous meeting, plant forum, or event? Visit our YouTube Channel for all available recordings!
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