Join the La Jolla Garden Club on Monday February 29th, 2016 10:00 am

Barrels & Branches in Encinitas

Named “One of San Diego’s Top Ten Nurseries” by San Diego Home & Garden Magazine

•Learn how to Design Driftwood & Terrariums using Succulents

•We’ll lunch at Claire’s in Solana Beach immediately following

•Meet at Ina’s house or the Church Parking lot @ 9:30 am to car pool

You may  bring your own container and Zoey will help you find the perfect plants for it or choose from their wide selection of pottery from all over the world.

Learn how to use succulents with driftwood or in a terrarium

Class is free but we’ll pay for any purchases

They specialize in drought-tolerant, hardy plants as well as many perennials, clumping grasses, trees, shrubs and house plants.  They have a wide selection of unusual plant material, including many unique, drought-tolerant plants from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Mediterranean.  All these thrive in our climate.

They have a great gift shop, too!

Sign up at the February 16th, 2016 meeting or contact Ina Thompson at

[email protected] or 858-551-9653 or check out their website:

Barrelsandbranches

Friday, December 4th, 2015 • 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Carpools over 4 people will park free, under 4 $2.  Members are free so bring your membership  card.  Seniors are $10 – and under 61 the cost is $13.

The tour theme is water wise & native gardens.  Bring a picnic lunch there is a nice picnic area and we have reserved picnic tables.  Water & cookies are provided.  Please sign up and pay Patti G. at the November meeting.

 City Farmers Nursery – November 4 – 2015

Followed by lunch at Nate’s Garden Cafe.

Time: 9:30 – 1:00   Carpool from church or Ina’s house.

City Farmers Nursery advertises itself as a “Little Bit of Country in the Heart of San Diego and San Diego’s Largest Organic Nursery since 1972.”

Whether one is interested in a variety of plants (California natives, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, succulents, seeds, bonsai), beekeeping, ponds, chickens and cows, bird feeders or canning supplies, this place certainly has something of interest. Plus there’s a coffee shop and Nate’s Garden Cafe right on the premises!

Amiable owner Bill Tall will be happy to welcome us to his market, founded in 1972, and provide us with some of his gardening tips. Then we will be free to wander through the maze of plants, trees, pottery, “barnyard,” indoor shopping area for seeds, gifts, books, kitchen supplies, feed and fertilizer, etc.

Here’s their fun website:

www.cityfarmersnursery.com

If you would like to join us for this adventure, please RSVP to Ina Thompson at [email protected] or (858) 551-9653.

Getting to Know you and your garden…..

Jody Petersen shown above with Harvey

1. What was you biggest success in the garden?

Quimby Quail, a 30 inch tall topiary, is the success that comes to mind. He sat on my mother’s front porch and survived 50 plus years. He experienced “cardiac arrest” SEVERAL times but was revived with new soil, root trimming and replanting in same-size pot. Topiaries can survive a long time with such care!

2. What was your biggest lesson?

Sometimes you have to radically trim a plant in order for it to thrive and refurbish itself. Untrimmed plants get leggy and scrawny and overly tall. They are not healthy. Owners may find this difficult but be brave and learn to cut back.

3. What tool could you not live without?

It is one that belonged to my father, the ultimate gardener. The tool is a type of cultivator; long-handled with a single metal hook on the end. I have not seen it in any store or catalog.

4. From your home, what is your favorite garden view?

The view from my kitchen slider is one of roses in the background, a gurgling bird bath and green and white flowers. They include foxglove, pentas, angelonia and ajuga. The angelonia is amazing and comes in many colors.

As told to our President, Caroline Meade.

Caroline Meade interviews long time active member and

Master Gardener

Anne Caprioglio

What is your biggest success?

I consider my two navel orange trees my biggest success. I planted these trees many years ago and they didn’t do much. After joining the Garden Club, I learned from Peggy Magde that the most important thing for citrus was to fertilize. Thanks to her advice I fertilize four times a year. I have had lots of wonderful oranges from these trees ever since

Biggest Lesson

If you are going to spend $100 on your garden, spend $90 on the soil. If you don’t do this, the plants aren’t going to do well and you are wasting your money. And mulch, mulch, mulch.

Garden tool I can’t live without.

My trusty clippers. I keep a pair in a drawer in the entry. Every time I go outside I take them with me and clip and deadhead whatever I see.

Favorite Garden View

The best thing I can see from my house is the birds that come and splash around in my bird bath.

Linda Ryan, our immediate past President answers questions from Caroline Meade, while “Inky” runs in the wild garden that grew while Linda was away.

What was your biggest success in the garden?

There used to be a bank of tea trees shaped and boxed into a hedge.  Then Jim Stelluti pruned them and revealed their true beauty and character.

What was your biggest lesson?

Design of plantings has to take in country of origin, climate and natural habitat.  More than just sun vs shade, color texture and form.

What tool could you not live without?

Trench digger.  It is very narrow, not too deep, holds just what I can lift.  I can sink it into the earth easily and scoop out a small amount of soil.

From your window what is your favorite garden view?

From inside my garage I look through a tiny, paned door into the courtyard.  From there I see the secret garden path to the Thom Shepard designed gate with a bower over it and blooming stephanotis.

Thank you, Linda

As told to Caroline Meade

Several of our members opened up their beautiful gardens to our Club, what a fun day we had!

Our Garden Club enhances the Riford Library entrance.

Watch the Year in Review 2013-2014: