Meeting:

February 9, 2006

Guest Presenters:

Carol Bornstein & Bart O’Brien

Topic:

California Native Plants for the Garden

Two of the three greatest experts on California native plants presented an exclusive slide illustrated talk, answered questions and signed copies of their critically acclaimed new book, California Native Plants for the Garden.

Co-authors Carol Bornstein and Bart O’Brien highlighted both familiar and unusual native plants for the garden in their highly anticipated slide presentation and offered key tips that could be applied to help make your own native garden a success.

Carol Bornstein (right) is Director of Living Collections and Nursery at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, which is devoted to the study, display, and conservation of California’s native flora. In her pioneering work with native plants, she has experimented with innovative design applications and introduced exciting new cultivars.  Through her writing and teaching she has provided a strong and persuasive voice for regionally appropriate landscaping.

Bart O’Brien (left) is, of course, the president of the Southern California Horticultural Society and our 2005 Horticulturist of the Year. As Director of Horticulture and Curator of the Living Collection at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, he is an essential resource at the educational institution dedicated to research, conservation, and horticulture of California native plants. A fifth generation Californian, he is an authority on the native flora of the state and of northern Baja California. In his spare time he is an accomplished collector, grower, photographer, lecturer, author and raconteur.

The third member of this renowned native plant trio, and co-author of California Native Plants for the Garden is David Fross (right) of longtime favorite Native Sons Nursery in Arroyo Grande – which graciously provided the meeting raffle plants.

The Plant Raffle was provided by Native Sons Nursery.

SCHS Book of the Month

It’s the comprehensive master resource, long awaited by all of us who love gardening in the Golden State. California Native Plants for the Garden is not just our book of the month for February, it’s the book all serious California gardeners will have to have. Published by Cachuma Press, and overflowing with 450 gorgeous color photos in its 280 pages, it features in-depth profiles of more than 500 of the best native plants for gardens and landscapes in the world’s Mediterranean-climate areas.  Written in a warm, appealing, instantly applicable manner the book offers specific plant  lists for a wide variety of  garden situations.

If you’d like to drill deeper into the book California Native Plants for the Garden and California native plants themselves then head for Native Sons Nursery’s fantastic website at www.nativeson.com.  In the Marketplace section, you’ll find 10 sample pages from the book and an invaluable wealth of information.