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 (with registration).

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 EVENT: FIELD TRIP TO TREE OF LIFE NURSERY!
Date: Saturday, January 25

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, the upcoming Zoom meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 9th, has been postponed. We appreciate your understanding. Please check back for updates! Thank you for your continued support, and please stay safe.

California Eden: Heritage Landscapes of the Golden State

with authors Susan Chamberlin and Christine O’Hara

Millicent Harvey Photography

To usher in the new year, on January 9 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.

Christine Edstrom O’Hara is a professor of landscape architecture at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. She received her BA in English from Stanford University, a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Washington, and a PhD in Landscape Architecture from the  University of Edinburgh. O’Hara is the past president of the California Garden & Landscape History Society, on the Scholars Council for the Olmsted Network, and is passionate about education and conservation of historic places.

Susan Chamberlin, ASLA, is a landscape historian and licensed landscape architect. She holds a BA in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and an MA in Architectural History from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Additionally, she is a founding member of the California Garden & Landscape History Society, and has made contributions to its journal, Eden, Pacific Horticulture, Arts and Architecture magazine, Site Lines, historic structures reports, and other publications. Chamberlin is the author of Hedges, Screens & Espaliers, and was a contributing editor of several horticulture books. She also taught garden history at Santa Barbara City College.

There are many untold stories in our built environment, and California Eden reveals a number of them. Our presenters will be sharing a look at the history of the state through the lens of cultural landscapes; those shaped by humans who have left their imprints on the natural world. It will be fascinating to trace our state’s horticultural lineage through this inspiring program.

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

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Upcoming Events:

Saturday, January 25, 2025
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, February 13, 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, $5 entry fee requested for non-members.

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, $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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