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.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Krystle Hickman

The ABCs of California's Native Bees 

 _{Photos courtesy of the speaker}

Krystle Hickman is a National Geographic Explorer, TEDx speaker, conservation photographer, author, and native bee expert who uses her photography to raise awareness about the decline of native bee species and their complex ecosystems. She has presented at major global and academic venues, including the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), and universities including Harvard, UCLA and UC Irvine.   

In this evening's presentation, Hickman will be talking about the threats that bee species face worldwide due to climate change and habitat loss.  With nearly 3,000 bee species native to western North America -- and over 1,600 of them residing in California -- our state is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world for bees. The number of species native to California dwarfs the variety to be found in whole countries, such as France or Argentina, and rivals the biodiversity of the entire continent of Australia. This natural abundance makes California significant terrain for entomologists, and Hickman will be profiling a handful of the species that underpin the ecologies of the Golden State, exploring how community science can support their conservation.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026 7:00pm - 9:00pm (PDT)
LIVE at Friendship Auditorium (near Griffith Park)
Doors open at 6:30 / Meeting opens 7:00 / Plant Forum at 7:15 / Lecture starts 7:30

FREE for SCHS members; entry fee $5.00 for non-members (free for students with ID)

Upcoming Events:
Thursday, April 9, 7:00 PM PDT

In Person at Friendship Auditorium near Griffith Park
Krystle Hickman will speak on native bees.

Thursday, May 14, 7:00 PM PDT

Online Zoom
Leila Darwish will speak on Soil Remediation

Saturday, May 30

Bus tour of Rancho Los Alamitos, Ricardo's Nursery and a private garden in Downey.

Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM PDT
Online Zoom
Panayoti Kelaidis will speak on Penstemons

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 Statement of Solidarity

As a horticultural nonprofit, we stand in solidarity with the agricultural and horticultural workers whose skill and daily labor sustain our gardens, green spaces, and food systems. We honor their expertise and recognize that these workers, like all people in the United States, are protected by constitutional rights that uphold equal protection under the law, freedom of speech and association, and the right to fair and lawful treatment in their workplaces and communities.

We are committed to respecting their contributions to the land and supporting safe, fair, and dignified working conditions. Our work is possible because of theirs.

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