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January 9th @ 10 a.m. : Tom Spellman on pruning deciduous fruit trees!

What a way to start off the year with a bang!  The irrepressible, irreplaceable and enormously  experienced Tom Spellman of Dave Wilson Nursery will be answering your questions about how to handle this winter’s pruning chores.  First, we will be showing a couple of his videos so you can see exactly how he handles both the pruning of young trees and those of more advanced years (like yours truly).  Then he will be taking the mic to help you resolve your specific issues.

If you have a  particularly unusual problem, take a photo of it and put it on your computer or phone so you can “share” it with us at the appropriate time.

All members will be receiving Zoom links in your newsletter ASAP

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RIP Plant Sale

The West LA Chapter plant sale is now over.  It was a success beyond our wildest dreams.  Many thanks to our propagators as well as to our buyers who picked up from all over the state.  We are already growing new plants for next year.

In the meantime, why not join the chapter for early notification of all sales? Plus you will get to participate in our wonderful and informative Zoom lectures and field trips.  Click on Membership up in the Main Menu.  We hope to see you soon.

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Our first virtual field trip July11 @ 10 am

After two highly successful Zoom meetings — with Dr. Matt Daughtery on Invasive Insects and Jorge Ochoa on Botanical Blunders –, the chapter is going to attempt a video tour of a member’s garden.  If you are a chapter member, you should have received a newsletter with the Zoom links.  If not, please let us know.

Our host moved into his house in Cheviot Hills in early 2011. After removing several overgrown trees on the property, he started his collection with a few citrus and stone fruit trees. Growing fruit trees for the first time, he found that there was a lot to learn and over time it became a serious part of his life.   For nine years now, he has been adding trees and learning more about the best practices for fruit tree gardening.  Many of his trees are grafted or started from rooted cuttings. The garden is watered with drip irrigation.

Our host is a member of both the West LA and the LA chapters.  Holding degrees in economics, business, finance, and IT, he began gardening as an amateur, like most of us.  Another of his hobbies is as a volunteer scuba instructor for LA County Department of Parks and Recreation.

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ZOOM MEETING with Jorge Ochoa: Saturday June 13, 2020 @ 10 am

 Topic: Botanical Blunders

Plants have a reputation for being misrepresented in advertisement, movies, and media.  Come and learn the truth behind the many errors that people make about plants, fruits, and veggies!

Jorge has academic credentials from both Cal Poly Pomona and Long Beach City College.  He is currently the Horticulture Department Chair of Long Beach City College and a frequent guest lecturer throughout Southern California. Jorge is that rare instructor – one with the uncanny ability to make any subject interesting and easily understood.

Jorge last spoke to us about passionfruit, one of his favorite topics.  Many of you probably have a vine from his cuttings.

If you are a chapter member, you will receive an email reminder  about  the meeting on June 12.        In that reminder, you will receive a duplicate of the Zoom invitation that went out with your newsletter.

If you are not yet a member but are interested in attending, please let us know and we will give you the login info.

 

 

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Free Screening of the Biggest Little Farm

If you haven’t seen this, it is a fantastic way to spend Earth Day. Members of the LA Chapter were heavily involved in helping this farm get off the ground, so you may well see some familiar faces.

Thanks to the City of Santa Monica, a free online screening will take place on April 22nd. Sign up here

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Field Trip to a Member Garden,  Saturday January 11, 2020 @ 10 to noon

Members Only will meet at Jane’s in Cheviot Hills  for a winter field trip.  We will see pruning, mulching, composting and composting equipment. We will have a question-and-answer session among the members, which we didn’t have time for at our December Holiday Party.  Jane has a Mission fig that could use pruning, and she would be happy to share the cuttings with members. Several mulberry varieties and Wonderful and Fleishman pomegranates, all of which are easily rooted, will be pruned and shared. Winter means that Jane has an abundance of self-seeding annuals including Cerinthe and Nigella, which she will share with us.  She notes that these are pollinator magnets!

Jane’s front yard is flat, but the back has three levels and is not as easily accessible, so wear garden shoes.  Weather and other factors permitting, we may walk around the neighborhood to observe other fruit trees.  There will be coffee and tea; Jane requests that you please bring your reusable cup if you can.  Light rain will not cancel the field trip, but saturated ground from heavy rain will cancel it as walking on saturated clay compacts it.

Jane notes that there is plenty of unrestricted parking.

 

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Natural Beekeeping Conference – January 18th & 19th – 8 am to 5 pm

Another non-CRFG activity but I attended the last HoneyLove conference a couple of years ago and if you are keeping bees or are interested in the girls pollinating your trees, it should definitely NOT be missed.

SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Michael Bush
• Les Crowder
• Dr. May Berenbaum
• Robin Jones
• Michael Thiele
• Sam Comfort
• Laura Bee Ferguson
• Kate Franzman
• Solomon Parker
• Sarah Red-Laird
• Amanda Shaw
• Jacqueline Freeman
• Anna Marie Despiris
• Fonta Molyneauxis
• Matt Reed
• Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen
• Rob and Chelsea McFarland
…plus a stellar lineup of your local favorites in our Breakout Room!
Stay tuned… new speakers are being added daily!! 

 

Natural Beekeeping Conference

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