Calendar of Events

Free Native Plant Class at the Anstine Nature Preserve

January 27, 2012

The San Diego Audubon Society is hosting a Native Gardening Workshop on Saturday, February 4th, 11th and 18th from 10 am – 2 pm.

Learn how to design a water saving, bird friendly garden in your own yard. Work on projects that you can take home. Learn from experts that work with native plants and garden design. Experience hands on activities to develop your skills and knowledge. The workshop is free.

Participants should come in clothes if you don’t mind them getting dirty, sturdy shoes and wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats. We will provide work gloves, tools, snacks and water.

Please RSVP to Beckywilbanks@cox.netor 760-295-1548. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian.

Can’t make it Sat.? The Anstine-Audubon nature preserve is looking for tour leaders. We need a volunteer or two to help Public relations and marketing! There are other opportunities as well! Please contact Becky Wilbanks at 760-295-1548

The Anstine-Audubon nature preserve is located at 2437 Hutchison Street in Vista, CA 92084.

Tagged as: anstine nature preserve, native gardening workshop, san diego audubon society

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Native Plant Conservation Conference with Free Public Day on Saturday January 14

January 12, 2012

For the first time, the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS) state-wide Conservation Conference, is being held in San Diego this week: January 10-14, Tuesday through Saturday. This conference is the only event in California to focus exclusively on native plant issues; and without plants, there would not be any animals – including us (except in those weird pitch-dark ecosystems at deep-sea vents!)

The final day, Saturday January 14, from 10 AM to 3 PM, attendance will be FREE for the general public with a special program (see details below) for these visitors. Experts will provide talks on home and school native plant gardens, kids and plant science, hands-on art and journaling and gardening tips, and fun workshops on Native American uses of plants, including basket weaving. The Free Public Day Saturday is a unique opportunity that the local chapter of CNPS has worked hard to provide and especially looks forward to meeting everyone who comes to pick up some plant facts.

The only cost will be $5/day parking. The Conference is at the Town & Country Resort in West Mission Valley, 500 Hotel Circle North.

Details of Conservation Conference Public Day -  Saturday January 14
The public is invited to…
• Botanical Art and Photography exhibitions
• Scientific and conservation posters made by researchers and CNPS chapter members
• Over 25 Exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall, exhibitor list
• University Student Presentations -10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Thirteen, 20 minute talks on many subjects, excellent for people of all ages interested in pursuing a career in the natural sciences

The Public can attend the morning professional Conference sessions, space permitting:
• Tribal Conservation and Uses of native plants
• Horticulture: Part of Conservation is Growing
• The Vital Role of Education in Conservation

I. Native Plant Gardening: Native Plant Propagation, Care and Maintenance, Beautiful Flowering Natives for your Garden, Attracting Wildlife to your Native Garden, How to Design a Native Garden,

II. Children and Nature for Adults: Learning in Nature’s Classrooms, San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative, Creating Place-Based Science Projects, Parenting in Nature Workshop, Cuyamaca Outdoor School Nature Education Program for 6th graders.

III. Children and Nature, for Children: Drawing Native Plants, Hands-on Gardening Basics, Drawing and Journaling in Nature.

IV. Native Peoples and Plants: Basketry, Native Plant Lore, and more

V. Local Projects and Hot Topics: Regional Conservation Issues, Buena Creek Restoration, Phenology (Study of Native Plant Life Cycles); Fire Management with Native Plants, Amigos de los Rios.

The first four days of this unique event are a fee-based professional conference with field trips, workshops, and presentations on plant science, policy, and conservation. Costs to attend the full conference for non-CNPS-member adult/student $525/175; or single-day costs $190/75. Members’ costs are less and attendees can join CNPS at time of registration to reduce the registration fee.

Tagged as: botanic art, California Native Plant Society, Native plants, school gardens

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Light Brown Apple Moth Meeting – Wednesday, Sept 1

August 31, 2010

County, state and federal agriculture officials will hold a public meeting Wednesday to tell people living near where light brown apple moths were discovered earlier this month about how the pest’s infestation will be fought.

The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the North Park Recreation Center, located at 4044 Idaho St. in San Diego. Officials plan to explain that they will place twist ties infused with an odorless, synthetic insect-pheromone on trees and shrubs on private properties in the affected area. The pheromone is designed to attract male moths and confuse and cripple the pest’s ability to reproduce. About 40 pheromone twist ties will be set for every ¼ acre and left for approximately 150 days. Officials also plan to re-emphasize that people should not move plants or plant parts to ensure the infestation does not spread. State officials distributed letters to affected residences last week.

Light brown apple moths are known to damage more than 2,000 types of plants, including 250 kinds of crops. Six apple moths were discovered near Balboa Park earlier this month, which automatically triggered an “interior” state quarantine in a 1.5 mile radius around the site. It also prompted additional trapping to determine how large the official state quarantine would be. The state is expected to announce the official parameters of its quarantine this week. A federal quarantine is expected to be set in September.
Light brown apple moths damage fruit by feeding on them, creating brown areas on the fruit’s surface. Apple moth caterpillars also damage plants by eating leaves, buds, and shoots. It eats fruits and vegetables including apples, blueberries, peaches, pears, strawberries, grapes, cabbage, corn, pepper, and tomato. It’s also found in trees, including oak, willow, poplar, walnut; and ornamentals such as roses, chrysanthemums and dahlias.

Fore more information, go to San Diego County’s Agriculture, Weights and Measure’s website at: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/awm/

Tagged as: Light brown apple moth, quarantine

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BRAVO!

June 27, 2010

Yesterday was the inaugural Coronado Home Harvest event. It is a free exchange, not a commercial enterprise, for local gardeners to share their produce by donating homegrown fruits and vegetables in exchange for a bag of mixed produce grown by other home gardeners. Nicely organized by four local women, I’d say the event was a [...]

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It’s Show Time

April 16, 2010

This weekend is the Coronado Flower Show – the 85th Annual! Two days of the largest tented flower show west of the Mississippi, the Coronado Public Library Book Fair, Art In The Park, and a self-guided tour of Coronado’s most beautiful gardens. Rotary Pancake Breakfast and Motorcars on Mainstreet 400 classic and vintage cars!- will [...]

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