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.

UPCOMING ZOOM MEETING:

Thursday,  January 9th

ONLINE ZOOM REGISTRATION

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 online January 9 .  It will not be recorded at the speakers’ request.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Upcoming Events:

Thursday, January 9, 2025
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.

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.

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 SUPPORTS VICTIMS OF THE MOUNTAIN FIRE

Dear members and friends of the Southern California Horticultural Society,

Californians have suffered through yet another disaster with the Mountain Fire in Ventura County. This one hit close to home for SCHS, as the fire destroyed most of the nursery and ranch owned by our Board member and past President, John Schoustra. 

Anyone who has met John knows that he is a kind and generous person. I personally know that he has helped out others in times of need. It is heartbreaking to see so much of his hard work reduced to ashes.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCSrm39pW2O/?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==

SCHS has donated funds to other nurseries that have suffered fire damage, and we intend to support John as well. 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

Thankfully, no lives were lost in the Mountain Fire, but over 200 homes burned. Please consider giving to the Ventura County Community Foundation's Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund to help our neighbors rebuild their lives. 100% of donations will go to directly support individuals and non-profit organizations providing assistance. 

https://vccf.org/

If you are uncomfortable making donations online, you can send a check to SCHS and we will get your donation to John or VCCF as soon as possible. Please do not send mail to John - his mailbox is not secure. You can mail checks to:

Southern California Horticultural Society
PO Box 94476
Pasadena, CA  91109-4476

Please do not send cash, and please do not write "donation" on the envelope. Thank you for your generosity!!

- Laura Bauer, President
Southern California Horticultural Society

• Our Hort Happenings page lists events at local horticultural institutions. 
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