Irvine Garden Club Meetings: 1st Monday @ 6:30 PM (except Jan./July/Sept.) Newport Hills Garden Club EXCURSIONS AND WALKS 2008-09 Wednesday, November 5, 9:30 am Crystal Cove State Park Coastal Bluff and Beach Walk Crystal Cove State Park’s 3,000 acres extend three miles along the coast between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, and inland over the San Joaquin Hills. The land was first used by Mission San Juan Capistrano for grazing, and in 1837 the area became part of the land grant of José Sepulveda. Join us for this 1 1/2 to 2-hour easy-paced walk (length based on participants’ wishes) led by park naturalist, Winter Bonnin, as she explains the ecology of this beautiful area, its plants, coastal scrub, birds, animals, and tide-pools. The walk will end in the Historic District, where you might enjoy lunch or a beverage with fellow Club members at the Beach Comber Cafe. Parking is at Lot 2 at Pelican Point, $10 per vehicle for an all-day pass. Thursday, January 8, 10:00 am Corona del Mar Garden Walk and Sherman Gardens Tour Join us on a walking tour of old Corona Del Mar's village, led by resident and club member Missy Schweiger. See quaint old homes mixed in with new and charming gardens along the way. Meet at Sherman's Gardens, walk the village, and return for a private docent tour of 2.2-acre Sherman Gardens followed by luncheon at Café Jardin. Tuesday, February 3, 10:30 am The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is an island of serenity amid the bustle of California State University, Long Beach. The garden has been molded by the religion and philosophy of Zen Buddhism reflecting a special reverence for nature. The aesthetic values and symbolism of Buddhism became incorporated into the Japanese gardens, and the gardens eventually became an art form in and of themselves. These gardens incorporate the important natural elements of water, stone, and plants. Free food will be provided after the docent led tour to feed the Coy fish. Admission is $3 per person/$2 seniors. Lunch afterward is at Jimmy’s Seafood Restaurant nearby. Carpoolers share gas expense (approx. $3-$4 per person) Friday, March (naturalist will call with date) 9:00 am San Joaquin Nature Preserve and Marsh and the Irvine Museum Amid business centers, a university and a bustling city, the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary attracts visitors with its surprising sense of stillness in an urban setting. With its sweet smells and rustling sounds of willow, alder and cottonwoods, the sanctuary feels more like a faraway peaceful paradise than a rejuvenated wetlands near one of California's busiest freeways. The San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary encompasses over 300 acres of coastal freshwater wetlands, half of which have been restored to a natural state. The remaining acres are quality habitat and are not in need of restoration. We will walk the trails led by a naturalist knowledgeable about the native plants and wildflowers of this wetland habitat that is home to more than 200 bird species, and we will learn about its significance. Afterwards we will drive to the nearby Irvine Museum for a half hour docent led tour at 11:15 am. Those who wish to go to an early lunch afterwards have Bistango’s in walking distance of the museum. Wednesday, April 1, 10:30 am. Mission San Juan Capistrano Tour Mission San Juan Capistrano is the most historically significant site in Orange County and its only mission. Major restoration of the 232-year old site has taken place over the past several years and continues in an effort to preserve an environment whose roots and living history continue to allow for a thriving place of pilgrimage and worship. The docent led tour of the newly redesigned gardens begins at 10:30 am promptly followed by a private one-hour docent led historic tour of the Mission and its related structures. Fifteen or more participants are required for the private historic tour of the Mission. Admission fee is $7 if there are 15 or more participants; otherwise, $9/$8 seniors and an audio self-directed tour instead of the docent led historic tour. Lunch will be at a local restaurant following the tour. Carpoolers share gas expense, $3-4 per rider. (50% deposit due 30 days in advance for the group rate which includes the one-hour docent led historic Mission tour; so write your check at least four weeks in advance if you are planning to join us.) Sunday, May 3, Noon to 4:00 p.m. (Date tentative at time of printing; call Rancho next week) Rancho Los Alamitos The story of Rancho Los Alamitos reflects every era of the history of Southern California beginning around 500 A.D. Today, surrounded by modern development, the old ranch house, four acres of tranquil gardens, and barns stand as vibrant reminders of Southern California's rich historical legacy. There are five agricultural buildings, including a working blacksmith's shop, live farm animals, and a sprawling adobe ranch house dating from c.1800. Join us to celebrate the Native Garden Opening and Southern California Heritage Home and Garden Faire on this day at the Rancho. Optional seminars will focus on the implementation of garden design using California natives along with Mediterranean plants and water wise gardening practices. Enjoy on-going tours of the ranch house and gardens. Visit with representatives from Southern California public parks, gardens, historic sites, and conservancy organizations. Visit the plant sale and holiday shop for unique home and garden items. Admission is free; seminars require fee and pre-registration. (More information will follow) After the event, those interested may go to an early dinner at a nearby restaurant. (Carpoolers share gas expense of $3-$4 per person.) Saturday Plant Sale Saturday, November 15th 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UCI Arboretum, (corner of Campus and Jamboree, Irvine) Fall Clearance Sale For more information call: (714) 856-5833 Sherman Library & Gardens Volunteer Association Cordially invites you to its Twelfth Annual Garden Tour Sunday, May 18th, 2008 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tour six delightful local gardens Refreshments served at Sherman Gardens 2647 East Pacific Coast Highway Corona del Mar, CA 92625 Reserve tickets by mail or phone 949-673-2261 Advance sale$30 – Day of Tour $35 New Edition of Garden Resource Guide 2007-2008 Available The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners announce the release of their 2007-2008 Garden Resource Guide. Retail $10.00 This comprehensive, indexed guide of nurseries and public gardens in and around the Orange County area is available at the Sherman Library and Gardens, Roger’s Gardens, the Centennial Heritage Museum Gift Shop and the Fullerton Arboretum Potting Shed. Copies are also available at UCCE Master Gardener booths at home and garden shows throughout the year. Individual Master Gardeners initially visited nursery and garden-related places in 2002-2003, gathering and writing about the types of plants, services, and unique offerings they found. This led to the first edition in 2003. Since then, the publication has undergone several updates and releases and now contains indexes by plant type and by city, as well as alphabetical listings of nursery and garden supplies (70 listings), public gardens (23 listings), farmers markets (20 listings) and garden clubs (21 listings). In addition, the publication includes helpful websites and a listing of Frequently Asked Questions from the Master Gardener Hotline, a free service of the UCCE Master Gardeners. Our Guide contains useful information for experienced and novice gardeners: * Resource Index by Plant Type * Resource Index by City * Nurseries and Garden Supplies * Public Gardens * Garden Clubs * Farmer’s Markets * Frequently asked Questions from the Master Gardener telephone and e-mail hotlines. The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program provides free gardening and horticulture information to Orange County residents. They may be reached at their website at www.uccemg.com , telephone hotline at (714) 708-1646, or email hotline at ucmastergardeners@yahoo.com. California Friendly® Garden Contest 2008 Orange County homeowners with colorful and water efficient gardens are invited to enter the California Friendly® Garden Contest 2008 to help raise public awareness about smart and sustainable landscaping. The ideal garden will feature colorful and less thirsty plants, irrigation controllers and precision sprinkler heads. Grand prize winner receives $2,500, with $500 prizes awarded in five categories: Best Curb Appeal, Best Creative Use of Plants, Best Water Efficiency, Best Native Plant Garden and Best Do-It-Yourself Garden. Nominations accepted through April 4, online voting from April 4 to May 4. Winners announced May 16. For more information on eligibility, criteria and how to enter, please visit www.rogersgardens.com/gardencontest. The California Friendly® Garden Contest is sponsored by Roger’s Gardens, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, the Irvine Ranch Water District, The City of Newport Beach, UC Cooperative Extension, Surfrider Foundation, Orange County CoastKeeper, the California Native Plant Society, Monrovia Growers, WeatherTRAK, Hunter Industries, Gardner and Bloome, Dr. Earth Company, the Los Angeles Times, Orange Coast magazine and KDOC-TV.