November Doings: The Garden Club held its annual Lobster Fest for a sold-out crowd. Members left with smiles on their faces. Master grillers Bob Borland and Jack Sweeney got rave reviews for their usual great work.
A large turnout of Garden Club members showed up for the Club’s annual “Forget Me Not” project. Many gift bags were filled to overflowing with toiletries, sundry items and other goodies. These bags were delivered to the Dana Point Senior Center for distribution to housebound seniors.
Members also signed up for the annual December Holiday Party (see below.) in our ClubHouse. This will be a pot-luck with the club providing main courses and refreshments.
The Garden Club was honored by the California Garden Clubs by receiving the Blue Ribbon Certificate of Achievement for its good works for the year 2011. 
December Meeting: Ending 2012 with a bang! The annual Holiday Party is scheduled for December 17. Attendees are requested to bring wrapped gardenrelated items for the gift exchange. Gifts should be in the $10 range. Don’t forget to wear something red!
Looking ahead to the New Year: 2013 looks to be another fun-filled and informative year for the Club. Field trips are planned to the Plant Stand in Costa Mesa; and Greystone Manor in Los Angeles, followed by lunch at the Farmers’ Market. The Club will hold its annual Plant Sale, and all members of the Shores are invited. Closing out the Club’s year will be the ever popular Beach Bluff BBQ and potluck.
Another gardening myth: Piling mulch up against the trunks of trees and shrubs helps to keep them cozy warm all winter long.
Reality: Mulching in this manner is asking for trouble, because it holds moisture against the tree or shrub bark—for months at a time in our climate.
Bark simply is not designed to be constantly wet; if it is, opportunistic pathogens may infect the plant. So: when applying mulch, think “doughnut,” not “volcano”: Keep the mulch a few inches away from the base of the shrub or tree, and pile it a few inches deep from there.
Gardener’s Glossary: Humus— Decomposed organic matter used as a soil conditioner.
Note: not to be confused with the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, hummus, a tasty dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas (garbanzo beans) blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic.
Gardener’s quotation of the month:
Valuable gardening vocabulary includes: x<~*!¢¢%@!+!*#@%#!+??**¢¢!!! — Anon
— Morry Meadow
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