- Author: Tammy Majcherek
With water rates on the rise, one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do to reduce your water bill is to ensure that your irrigation system is working properly. Use the seasonal checklist below as a guideline to performing routine maintenance on your system. Once you know everything is good to go, sit back and enjoy your savings. If not you, please be sure to share with the person that typically handles your irrigation maintenance.
- Author: Tammy Majcherek
Have you ever seen those funny looking green, pear-shaped fruit that look like it has scales at the grocery store? You didn't know whether to be intrigued and give it a try, or were just too frightened? Well, join us for the first annual taste testing at the South Coast Research and Extension Center and sample the custard like texture of this tropical delight for free. Several varieties will be available that are grown at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine.
See below for directions.
Directions to South Coast REC at 7601 Irvine Blvd, Irvine, CA, 92618......
From the North –
From I-5 South, take the Sand Canyon Ave exit
Turn left on Sand Canyon Ave
Turn right at Irvine Blvd
Arrive at 7601 Irvine Blvd
From the South –
From I-5 North, take the Sand Canyon Ave exit
Turn right on Sand Canyon Ave
Turn right at Irvine Blvd
Arrive at 7601 Irvine Blvd
- Posted By: Tammy Majcherek
- Written by: Courtesy of Tree of Life Nursery and CNPS
The CNPS Conservation Conference to be held January 10-14, 2012 (next week!) in San Diego, promises to be a great opportunity for botanists, horticulturists, native plant enthusiasts, and the general public to discuss a very important topic: Conservation of native plants. This is a major event for CNPS and it is a real privilege for us all, here in sunny southern California, to welcome this state-wide conference into San Diego. Tree of Life Native Nursery will be there as an exhibitor and we will be donating over 100 plants (custom selected, rare, endangered, unique, scarce in horticulture, of special interest) for the silent auction. Our own Mike Evans and Gene Ratcliffe will be giving talks on Saturday the 14th (part of the FREE Public Day Program!) on native plant landscaping.
Public Day
The general public is invited to attend special programming and many parts of the conference for free, on Saturday, Jan 14 from 10:30 am -3:00 pm. Activities, talks and workshops are geared for families with children, teachers, landscape professionals, and anyone with an interest in native plants and restoration. There will be Native American basket weavers and storytellers, nature journaling for children, how to start native gardens in schools and homes, how to teach nature journaling for teachers and naturalists. We will also have gardening workshops and talks on restoration projects.
Parts of the scientific conference will be open to the public as well, from 8:00 am-4:30 pm, including four conference sessions, with talks on: horticulture, tribal conservation and uses of native plants, citizen science programs and other forms of conservation education. We invite young people with an interest in the natural sciences to listen to university students talk about their research. Public Day participants may visit the photography and botanical art exhibitions, the scientific and CNPS chapter posters, and the Exhibitor Hall. Workshops and talks will last about an hour each and many are designed with the lay-person in mind.
Directions and Parking Information
Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012
Public Day Programming Schedule (subject to change) Last updated Jan 6, 2012
Native Plant Gardening Eaton |
Nature and Children Ascot |
Native Peoples Le Sommet |
Local Projects & Topics Fairfield |
Children’s Gardens Clarendon |
|
10:00 | 10:00a-10:55a Connie Beck Horticultural Consultant & Designer Native Plant Propagation Workshop A demonstration that touches on cuttings, proper media for propagation, seasonality, collecting seeds and cutting material |
10:00a-10:25a Cindy Jenson-Elliott, M.A. Science Teacher The Child's Primary School Creating Place-Based Science Projects A presentation about a place-based ecology project Cindy did with 70 students, grades 1 - 8, exploring Tecolote Canyon in San Diego over 3 months |
10:00a-11:00a Kristie Orosco San Diego’s Biodiversity as a result of Kumeyaay People |
10:00a-10:50 Paul Herzog & Julia Chunn Surfrider Foundation Pamela Berstler G3/The Green Gardens Group Morgan Vondrak San Diego Landscape Designer Susan Krzywick Ocean Friendly Gardens: applying CPR - Conservation, Permeability and Retention (c) - to revive our watersheds and oceans through hands-on, community events involving professionals, volunteers, agencies and academia. |
10:00a-1:00p Jeanne Waterford Children’s Garden Program An interactive garden area where kids (and adults) are able to participate in a number of stations: native plant planting station (with a soil mixing activity), a vermiculture area, and a beneficial bug station. Our program’s mission is that of inspiring and teaching children, their parents and educators to get into the garden and out into nature, and to understand the importance of why we should be doing so |
10:30 | 10:30a-11:00a Erika Weikel Cuyamaca Outdoor School Cuyamaca Outdoor School Nature Education Program for 6th graders |
||||
11:00 | 11:00a – 11:30a Ryan West RECON Native Plants, Inc. Choosing the Right Native Plants for your Garden and Maintaining Them |
11:00a-11:50a Chris Brennen San Diego Landscape Sciences San Diego Native Habitat Conservation Issues |
|||
11:15 | 11:15a-11:55a John Muir Laws Opening the World through Nature Journaling (for children 10 and over) |
||||
11:30 | 11:30a-12:30p Cathleen Chilcote Wallace Storytelling:"The Gift Basket" Cathleen is a storyteller, elementary school teacher and Luiseno tribal member. “The Gift Basket” is a story that deals with traditional local native gathering practices, native plants, and local native culture. It is a teaching story in the traditional sense. |
||||
11:45 | 11:45a-12:45p Mike Evans Tree of Life Native Plant Nursery Beautiful Flowering Natives for your Garden |
||||
12:00 | 12:00p-12:45p John Muir Laws USING the Opening the World through Nature Journaling (for parents, teachers, naturalists AND children 10 and over) |
12:00p-12:40p Diane Nygaard & Kasey Cinciarelli Preserve Calavera How much restoration can be done with $30K & hundreds of volunteer hours. |
|||
12:15 | |||||
12:30 | |||||
12:45 | 12:45p-1:25p Mary Ann Hawke Geodactics Engaging the Public in Science and Nature: How to Get Involved as a Citizen Scientist Whether it’s using a traditional pencil and notebook or using the latest in smart phone apps, find out how you can benefit from getting involved in citizen science projects in your community. Learn how you can contribute to the understanding of local conservation issues while enjoying your time in nature. |
||||
1:00 | 1:00p-1:45p Gene Ratcliffe Tree of Life Native Plant Nursery Attracting Wildlife to Your Native Garden |
1:00p-1:40p Anne Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative (SDCaN) Learning in Nature’s Classrooms Hands-on and multi-sensory learning in nearby nature and schoolyard habitats engages students’ natural curiosity, excitement for discovery, sense of place, and stewardship. Local resources will be highlighted: curriculum for local shrub lands, guide to nearby field trips, and writing in nature. |
|||
1:30 | 1:30p-3:00p Deborah Small & Rose Ramirez Edible, Medicinal, Material, Ceremonial: Contemporary Ethnobotany of Southern California Indians A multimedia presentation of the contemporary uses of native plants of profound importance to the intellectual, spiritual, and cultural vitality of California Indians. Basket weaving demonstrations / displays Abe Sanchez Abe Sanchez promotes the revitalization of indigenous arts. His artistic experience as a master basket weaver has given him the opportunity to assist interested tribes and individuals in the revival of this ancient craft throughout California, Arizona and Mexico. Lucy Parker Lucy Parker is a descendant of the Yosemite Miwok, Mono Lake Kutzadikaa, and Kayasha Pomo peoples. She learned traditional handiwork from her mother, a master basket weaver, and will pass on some of her knowledge in this presentation. |
1:30p-2:20p Greg Rubin California’s Own Native Landscape Design Fire Management with Native Plants |
|||
1:45 | 1:45p-2:15p Shelley Glenn Lee ScienceBridge, UCSD Citizen Science and Nearby Nature Projects – A High School Level Collaboration Strategies for collaboration will be shared during this overview of a local, nature-based high school project led by ScienceBridge at UCSD, in collaboration with San Diego Canyonlands and San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative. |
||||
2:00 | 2:00p-3:00p Kay Stewart Landscape Architect How to Design a Native Garden |
2:00p-2:30p Mike Letteriello Prisk Elementary School Prisk Elementary School Native Habitat Mr. Letteriello designed and built the native habitat at Prisk Elementary School in Long Beach over 15 years ago and has worked to ensure its success as an optimal education opportunity ever since. The habitat acts as an example of many California plant communities from desert to Oak woodland and has been cared for all through volunteer help. Mr. Letteriello will discuss the experience with building the Prisk Native Habitat including the challenges and impact on the school's campus. |
|||
2:15 | |||||
2:30 | 2:30p-3:00p Lillian Cooper - CANCELLED Affiliation Drawing and Journaling in Nature |
2:30p-3:15p Sean Telles Amigos Del Los Rios, a nonprofit that specializes in greening Los Angeles. Restoring Neglected Public Landscapes in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods with Native Plants Discussion will include the organizations vision for connecting the San Gabriel Mountains to the ocean through a gateway of connected parks utilizing the San Gabriel, Rio Hondo, and Los Angeles Rivers. |
2:30p-3:00p Taylor Parker Tidal Influence Education and Native Gardens Mr. Parker has designed, restored and maintained several native habitats in the Long Beach area including educational habitat interfaces at the Colorado Lagoon and Los Cerritos Wetlands. In addition, he has designed and built with volunteers an educational native garden at Luther Burbank Elementary School, also in Long Beach. Mr. Parker will discuss service-learning techniques and how to utilize the habitats for general public education |
||
2:45 | |||||
3:00 |
Conference Areas Open to the Public, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm:
- Botanical Art and Photography exhibitions in the Regency Tower
- Scientific and conservation posters made by researchers and CNPS chapter members in classrooms adjacent to the Regency Ballroom
- Over 25 Exhibitors in the Exhibit Hall in Garden Salons 1& 2 of the Garden Ballroom (not open to public from 9:00 am -10:00 am and from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.)
Concurrent Conference Sessions Open to the Public, 8:00 am - 11:40 am
- Session 15: Tribal Conservation and Traditional Use of Native Plants
This session brings together voices of experience from professional conservationists and Native artisans who use native plants. - Session 16: Horticulture: Part of Conservation is Growing
Native plant horticulture plays an important role in the conservation of California's rich flora—historically, currently and most importantly, in the future. - Session 17: The Vital Role of Education in the future of Conservation
Emphasis on successful educational programs with the capacity to affect the way society values the natural world. - Session 18: Student Session
University Students will present thirteen, 20 minute talks on many subjects, excellent for people of all ages interested research or in pursuing a career in the natural sciences
Directions and Parking Information
Town and Country Resort Hotel
500 HOTEL CIRCLE NORTH
SAN DIEGO, CA 92108
www.towncountry.com
Interstate 5 North or South: Exit onto Interstate 8 East (El Centro) and exit 2nd Hotel Circle exit, turn left, continuing under the overpass.
The Conference Center location is on the far east end of the resort...close to the Union Tribune building, so look for parking in that area. Register (for free) at the CNPS Registration table, and obtain your CNPS name badge. Parking charge is discounted to $5.00 with a CNPS name badge ($14.00 without).
/h4>/h4>/h4>/h4>/h3>- Author: Tammy Majcherek
The holidays are here and regardless of how you may choose to celebrate, there is one thing that we all have in common: the New Year's resolution. As the New Year approaches, we begin reflecting on all of those nasty little habits that we have and ways in which to modify our behavior as soon as January 1st hits. We always start off with the very best of intentions but more often than not, we are back to our old ways and left with nothing more than broken promises.
But wait, hope is not lost! I have a few really great goals that are easily achieved and will benefit the environment and your pocket book.
1. Decrease Your Waste-Line
- Take old pesticides to the nearest household hazardous waste collection center. Call (714) 834-6752 or visit www.oclandfills.com for directions and hours of operation.
2. Recycle Nutrients From Your Landscape
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients.
3. Increase Your Water Savings
- During the Fall and Winter months reduce the amounts of days between irrigating as plants use less water when days are shorter and weather is cooler.
- Turn off your sprinklers when it is raining.
- Mulch garden beds to reduce evaporation from bare soil.
4. Reduce Nutrient Loss
- Apply fertilizers only when plants are actively growing.
5. Reduce Weeds in Your Yard
- Reduce weeds by applying a thick mulch layer around plants.
6. Encourage Beneficial Insects in Your Yard
- Use less-toxic garden chemical alternatives whenever possible.
Becoming a better steward of the land may not have been what you had in mind as you were reflecting on changes that you might make, but how can you go wrong when it benefits everyone and saves you money at the same time? Give it some thought and hopefully you will incorporate one or two of these resolutions. For more support to a leaner and greener garden, call the UCCE Master Gardener Hotline (714) 708-1646 for free advice.
Happy Holidays!
- Author: Tammy Majcherek
Persimmon Taste Testing at the South Coast Research and Extension Center.....
The South Coast Research and Extension Center opened
up it gates to invited guests, the California Rare Fruit Growers Assoc.
and the UCCE Master Gardeners on Friday, December 2, 2011.
Attendees were treated to the first annual persimmon taste testing to
be held at the South Coast REC in Irvine.
Of the approximately 125 guests, only 54 were brave enough to taste
and evaluate the “fruit of the Gods” grown at the Center. Evaluators
were asked to rate the 14 varieties using a basic one to five scale based
on attractiveness, physical maturity, ripeness, texture, astringency,
sugar, flavor, and overall performance which was rated on a one to nine
ranking.
The persimmon collection at the Center contains various cultivars that
are not widely available and sought after by avid fans of this fruit. The
varieties that were evaluated included True Fuyu (PCNA), OC Fuyu
(PCNA), Imoto (PCNA), Matsumoto Wasa (PCNA), Meakawa Jiro (PCNA),
California Fuyu (PCNA), Gosho (PCNA), Jiro (PCNA), Suruga (PCNA),
Maru (PVNA), Kurokuma (PVNA), Dai Dai Maru (PVNA), Trible (PVNA),
and Nishimura Wase (PVA). Additionally, the softer Hachiya types were
available to taste though weren’t evaluated.
On hand to answer questions were the knowledgeable volunteers who
maintain the Center’s collection along with noted author and
persimmon grower, Jim Bathgate.
Taking advantage of the reusable bags available for purchase, the
attendees filled up with their favorite varieties, especially those that
are not widely available. Proceeds from the sale of the bags will benefit
the Urban Horticulture Extension Program at the South Coast REC
providing the general public with educational opportunities related to
edible and ornamental landscaping.
A good time was had by all experiencing this fall gem. For more
information regarding future public events at the South Coast Research
and Extension Center visit http://ucanr.org/sites/screc/ .