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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.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENT:
Saturday, September 20th, 2025
La cañada flintridge country club
Please join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the past, present, and future of horticulture in Southern California!
Each year The Southern California Horticultural Society’s Annual Awards Banquet brings together plant lovers, professionals, and friends for a festive night honoring the remarkable individuals shaping our region’s horticultural legacy. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a gourmet meal in a beautiful setting, bid in our lively Silent Auction fundraiser, and take part in a celebration rooted in community and inspiration.
This year marks an exciting milestone for SCHS.
We’re proud to continue our long-standing tradition of recognizing excellence in horticulture with the Horticulturist of the Year Award, our most prestigious honor since the 1940s. This year, we’re thrilled to celebrate not one, but two remarkable contributors: Melanie Baer Keeley and Dr. Jon E. Keeley, whose work has made a lasting impact on Southern California horticulture.
At the same time, we’re introducing the new SCHS Pathmaker Award, created to recognize forward-thinking individuals breaking new ground in horticulture. Our inaugural honoree, Katherine Pakradouni, exemplifies innovation, commitment, and the next generation of leadership in our community.
It will be an evening to celebrate the people who’ve paved the way, and those forging new paths.
The event will be held at the beautiful La Cañada Flintridge Country Club, 5500 Godbey Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011.
Tickets are $70 per person for SCHS Members and $80 per person for Non-Members, or you can elevate your support by reserving a “Hort Support Table” for eight people at $700. This enhanced level of giving will help the Society continue offering inspiring speakers, fabulous garden visits, fun field trips, valuable internships, and much more.
As always, a silent auction of unique, hand-picked horticultural treasures will precede the dinner! We welcome donations from SCHS members. Please submit your item using the bid card link here or contact Steven Gerischer at sgerischer.schs@gmail.com or 323-397-4407. We’re happy to arrange pickup if needed. If you plan to bring an item the night of the event, please let us know by Thursday, September 18.
Honoring our Horticulturists of the Year
Melanie Baer Keeley and Dr. Jon E. Keeley
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Inaugural SCHS Pathmaker Award will be presented to Katherine Pakradouni |
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Upcoming Events:
Saturday, September 20
SPECIAL EVENT - 2025 SCHS ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
Registration is now open! Join SCHS to celebrate our 2025 Horticulturists of the Year, Melanie Baer Keeley and Dr. Jon Keeley. We are also presenting our first annual SCHS Pathmaker Award to Katherine Pakradouni. The evening will include a gourmet dinner at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club and our annual Silent Auction fundraiser. All are welcome! For more information, see our Annual Awards Page.
Thursday, October 9 at 7:30pm
Online Zoom
Linda Chalker-Scott will speak on garden myths.
Thursday, November 13 at 7:30pm
In-person at the Blinn House in Pasadena
Christy Wilhelmi will speak about maximizing edible garden productivity in a small space.
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.
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 year. 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 made 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
- Our Hort Happenings page lists events at local horticultural institutions.
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Tag @socalhort in your photos to be featured on our page!
- Want to re-watch a previous meeting, plant forum, or event? Visit our YouTube Channel for all available recordings!
- Join our mailing list to be updated with important news about SCHS via email. Your email address will not be shared with anyone, and you may unsubscribe at any time.
Join us today and receive our monthly Newsletter, free admission to regular meetings and discounts on SCHS events. We now have an Online-Only membership option for only $15/year. If you would like to support us without joining, please go to our Donate to SCHS page. |
If this is your first time to log in as a current member, please enter the email you used when you joined SCHS, then click on the “Forgot Password” link below. In the next dialog, decipher the code and click Submit. A temporary password will be emailed to you, allowing you to log in. Feel free to change the password once you log in. |
To renew your membership online, log in and go to your Profile. You will see an option to renew for another year. (Or follow the link when we send you a renewal notice.) |
You can always reach us by mail at: Southern California Horticultural Society |