Field Trips
April promises to be an exciting month for the Garden Club, with two field trips planned. The first trip will be to the Hortense Miller Garden in Laguna Beach on Monday, April 4 at 10 a.m. The garden, established in 1959, covers over two acres on the slopes of Boat Canyon and demonstrates the range of plants that can be grown in Southern Californian coastal zones. The use of pesticides and chemicals is limited to encourage diverse flora and fauna.
The docent-led tour lasts sixty to ninety minutes on rugged trails and several sets of stairs. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Members with mobility challenges are welcome to sit on benches near the mid-century modernist house, where they can view the garden from above.
Our second April field trip trip will be a docent-led tour of the popular Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona del Mar. Lunch will follow in the gardens by reservation. The garden boasts an inspiring collection of palms, begonias, fuchsias, succulents and other beautiful plants and features.
Watch your email for details of both field trips. If you want to attend, please remember to sign up by replying to our email.
“Come forth into the light of things. Let Nature be your teacher.” — William Wordsworth
Garden Tips
In terms of gardening April is a good time to check up on your roses, which are sprouting new growth, buds and flowers. Check for any pests or diseases like aphids, mildew or rust. The organic approach involves starting by simply hosing down the plants in the early mornings. Pick any affected leaves before they fall to the ground. This is also a good time to fertilize roses and to dead- head any spent flowers.
Sue Stuart-Smith’s excellent book titled The Well Gardened Mind: the Restorative Power of Nature (2020) speaks to gardens being the best metaphor for life, and how profoundly our well-being can be affected through contact with gardening and the natural world. One doesn’t need to be a gardener to enjoy this book! The author and her husband—a garden designer—have created the wonderful Barn Garden in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, enjoying its progress and growth over thirty years’ time.
—Ann Strauss
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