First Issue

August 2003

Temporary Editor Mary Bliss – Stella Blue

 

Newsletter for

The Southern California FUN Gardening Club or SOCALFUNG Club

 ‘One that doesn't focus on roses or orchids or anything too scientific.’

 

Wow!! The First Issue of Our Newsletter

 

Thank you GardenWeb member swilly for asking the question that got this club started (Are you a member of a garden club, etc.?) And thank you ocbird and others for expressing a desire and interest in a Garden Club. Our club is just 6 weeks old (founded July 10, 2003) and we have 41 members and growing!

 

We still need some volunteers at both the club level and each of the five branches.

Examples of volunteers needed at the club level would be for: Club President, Vice President, Secretary, Events Coordinator, and Newsletter Editor.

Examples of volunteers needed at the branch level would be for: Branch Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries, Events Coordinator, and Newsletter Branch Editors.

 

I for one am very excited to see our club logo that Skrip is designing for us. How is that going Skrip? Do you have anything that you would like to share with us?

Lovestosmellflowers – Tracy Bantel has volunteered to be a helper to anyone that would like to volunteer to be Events Coordinator.

 

If you have a review, garden or other club related story you would like to contribute to the newsletter please send to SOCALFUNG Club to be included in the next issue. Pictures can be included for the on-line edition.

 

Item of Interest:

 

            September - Plant exchange in Fontana – host Nina – watch for date

October 18, 2003  – 1st meeting of the SOCAL Fun Gardening Club, Yorba Linda, CA – Plant exchange in Norco – host Bill - watch for date

November 15 or 22, 2003 Las Pilitas Nursery located in San Diego County please cast your vote or email me which Saturday works best. The date with the most votes and emails wins and will be announced at our October 18th meeting. Plant exchange in Norco – host Bill (if not in Oct).

 

SOCALFUNG Club is looking for an editor (Temporary) Editor is Mary Bliss – Stella Blue

Los Angeles County Editor is reaggae

Orange County is looking for an editor

Riverside County Editor is fishymamas

San Bernardino County Branch is looking for an editor

San Diego County Branch is looking for an editor

 

If you have not already emailed the information requested below for our member directory please do so a reminder this will be kept private probably password protected at the website. Or if you would like to decline send an email to decline

 

Your Name

Your address – at a minimum give Your City, Zip Code and County, but it would be useful to have your complete mailing address

Phone Number

Email Address

Your Club On-Line Name

 

 

 

Newsletter for The Riverside County Branch

 

August 18, 2003

Editor fishymamas

 

 

Well, it’s that time again, the overheated, sun scorched days of August, when the gardens need weeding and watering, and it’s simply too hot to do either.  For our county, I’m visiting, buying and reviewing several of our nurseries each month (oh, the things I do for my garden), each was considered for several things, which are not available at “big box” stores:

·       ·       Availability of plants I’m looking for, this month is was named daylilies, passifloria, and lantania.

·       ·        Knowledge/helpfulness of staff.

·       ·       Willingness to provide special orders.   Here’s this months nurseries:

 

Southwest Wholesale Nursery & Supplies

36705 Briggs Rd, Murrieta, CA  92562

909-926-1827

 

  This was an exceptionally fruitful trip, the nursery not only had all 3 plants, but had several sizes in which to choose from.  I went on an incredibly hot (over 108 deg. day), and the staff was quite visible it caring for the plants during the heat.  On my first trip I discovered they did in fact have the Passifloria Incense that I’ve been looking for, but the one they did have was too tall to fit in my car (a 3 gal pot, with a 4-5ft pole the vines were trained upon), complete with popping open flower buds.  I also spied some lovely morning glories “Heavenly Blue” that would be perfect for my front porch support column.  I did the only thing possible, bought the Morning glory immediately, and returned later with my husband, and a larger car for the passion vine.  I was assured that I could get both named daylilies and rarer passiflorias special ordered.  A large collection of trees and shrubs rounded out their offerings, and I will be sure to revisit this fall as I help a friend landscape/garden her 4+ acres this fall.  The only thing that was consciously absent was water garden plants and supplies.  

 

Plants Purchased:

Heavenly blue Morning glories: $3.25 in 1 gal pot.

Incense Passion Vine : $20 in 3 gal pot, already flowering    

 

Cagliero Ranch Nursery

2700 W. Devonshire, Hemet, CA 92543

909-766-7755

 

So far this has been the smallest of our selected nurseries, at roughly 2 to 2.5 acres total.  The house specialty here seems to be roses, and annuals, with a few types of geraniums.  I saw  30-40 different roses, and if roses ever figured into my landscape, this is defiantly a place to find that special shade of yellow (I did recognize one I grew for years at a previous residence).  The prices on the annuals seemed about par as the prices for annuals at our local “big box” store that is 1 mile away, and although the plants looked healthy, nothing screamed “buy me”.

 

That’s all the room I have for this month, next month I think I’ll head north on my nursery odyssey, If you have a suggestion for one to visit, drop me a line.  In up coming months, I’m involved in both a “country” and “city” garden projects, expect lots of pics, advice, and of course, nursery orders.