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 EVENT:

Thursday, November 13th, 2025

In-person at *special location* & Live streamed:

BLINN HOUSE in pasadena

More Bang for Your Buck: Growing Food In Small Spaces

On November 13 the Southern California Horticultural Society will meet at the Blinn House in Pasadena to hear a presentation by educator, author and podcaster Christy Wilhelmi.  She is the founder of Gardenerd, a one-stop organic gardening resource that specializes in  small-space organic vegetable garden design and consulting. In this program, she will be sharing her tried and true methods for growing vegetables and herbs in small spaces using biointensive methods, planning strategies, and planting techniques to get more bang for your buck.

Wilhelmi’s obsession with small-space gardening began in 1996 on the balcony of her Los Angeles apartment. She eventually became a member of Ocean View Farms Organic Community Garden in Mar Vista, and served on their Board of Directors from 1998-2020. Gardenerd was founded in 2005, and today Wilhelmi holds regular organic gardening classes throughout California, plus offers tips worldwide through the Gardenerd YouTube channel.  She has also written several books including High Yield, Small Space Organic Gardening and Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden.   

Wilhelmi’s mission is to empower people to grow their own food, to be more self-reliant, and to reduce pollution and waste, one garden at a time. She practices what she preaches in her own L.A. garden of less than 300 square feet, where she grows 50-70 percent of her family’s produce.  When space is at a premium, it’s important to make the most of the garden plots we’ve got, and we look forward to learning just how to achieve this from Wilhelmi.   

We hope you will be able to join us for this special evening. Please register at: www.socalhort.org.

MEETING:   In Person​​

DATE:  Thursday, November 13, 2025

VENUE:  Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland, Pasadena, CA 91101 | Parking is at rear of building.  Enter lot from Madison Avenue 

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

Members:  FREE   /   Non-Members:  $5.00

 

NOTE:  This program will be recorded, but not posted to our YouTube channel at the speaker’s request. However, a link will subsequently be made available to Society members.

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Upcoming Events:

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.

Thursday, December 11 at 7:00pm
In-person at the Canoga Park Women's Club
Annual Holiday Party with panel discussion "Gardening Tips I Wish I Knew When I Started Out"

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.