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 PROGRAM:

Friday, May 9th, 2025

at the Los Angeles Zoo

SCHS welcomes author Amy Stewart

The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession

Photo credit: Scott Brown

The Southern California Horticultural Society is pleased to welcome New York Times best-selling author Amy Stewart as our 2025 speaker for the Ruth Borun Lecture Series. Her popular non-fiction titles about the natural world include The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants, as well as her latest book; The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession, which will be her featured topic for this program.

While doing research for her new book, Stewart discovered a community of tree collectors, and expected to meet horticultural fanatics driven to plant every species of oak or maple. Instead, what was revealed to her was that the urge to collect trees springs from something deeper and more profound, whether it is a longing for community, a vision for the future, or a path to healing and reconciliation. In The Tree Collectors Stewart brings us 50 vignettes of remarkable people whose lives have been transformed by their obsessive passion for trees.

Everyone is invited to join us for this talk with popular author Amy Stewart as she takes us through her fascinating new book. Attendance is either in-person at the Witherbee Auditorium at the Los Angeles Zoo or via live Zoom webinar. Free for SCHS members, $15 for non-members (either live or Zoom). Please register on our Events Page.

DATE:  Friday, May 9, 2025

LOCATION: Witherbee Auditorium at the Los Angeles Zoo or live Zoom. Please register here to receive the link

Doors open at 6:30pm for social time. We will have a limited number of books for sale and Amy has offered to sign them. Program will begin at 7:30pm.

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Upcoming Events:

SPECIAL EVENT
Friday, May 9, 2025 at 7:30pm
Hybrid Zoom and Live at the Los Angeles Zoo
Ruth Borun Lecture Series presents Amy Stewart speaking on her new book, The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.
Free for SCHS Members, $15 for non-members (live or Zoom).  REGISTER HERE!

Thursday, June 12 at 7:30pm
Online Zoom
Naturalist and environmental consultant Stefan Campbell will present a program on his plant explorations.

Thursday, July 10 at 7:30pm
Online Zoom
Co-authors Kevin Williams and Michael Guidi of the Denver Botanic Gardens will share naturalistic planting design ideas from their book “Shrouded in Light.”

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. 
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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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