Meeting:

December 11, 2008

Annual Members Night:

A Festival of Sharing

No matter what happens with the economy, politics, climate change or in your own garden, one tradition you can always count on is the Southern California spirit of generosity and good cheer that fills our Annual Members Night each year.

Our 2008 “Cookie Night,” as it colloquially is known, was held on Thursday, December 11.

This is the one meeting each year where we skip the guest speaker and spend the time instead speaking to one another, visiting with our friends and eating way too many tasty snacks.

But don’t come just for the munchies, there’s so many other great reasons to be there. This will be our third Members Night Plant Exchange and it should be our biggest and best one yet. Another favorite returning is the Holiday Sharing Table and you can expect it to be a highlight of the evening, as well.

(Pictured right: SCHS newsletter co-editor, Joe Galliani.)

THE PLANT EXCHANGE

Members only may bring up to 10 healthy, pest-free, non-invasive plants, seed packets or bulbs to place in the Exchange. You’ll receive one ticket for each plant, seed packet and bulb you contribute.

It is important to label each item with the plant name. Bring either a Plant Forum description card or other card with culture information for each species (if all plants are the same species, you’ll need only one card).

If you don't have a Plant Forum card, your plant description card should include:

Botanical name
Common name
Country of origin
Kind of plant and size
Flowering or fruiting season
Culture (water and sun needs)
Where grown
Your name and the meeting date

Plants will be expertly described, in Plant Forum style.

The Exchange will be conducted in 10 fast-paced rounds. In each round you’ll be able to redeem one ticket for one plant, seed packet or bulb.
If you bring in more than 10 plants, please donate the extras to the Sharing Table.

HOLIDAY SHARING TABLE

Part of what makes this meeting such a special part of the season is our Holiday Sharing Table. All attendees may contribute garden ornaments, tools, books, accessories, containers and other items, garden-related or not, that are no longer used or wanted.
Some other sharing items may include your garden bounty (herbs, fruit), dried flowers and grasses, decorative seed pods, holly boughs, pots, vases and trellises. Survey your scene and you’re sure to discover something to share. Please be discriminating and be prepared to take your unwanted “treasures” back home.