Say Goodbye to the Chain Link Fence

This past month we tore out the old chainlink fence along the northside of the garden and replaced it with a beautiful split rail design. (See featured photo to the right top of blog). If you haven't been by lately come on over and see what a difference it makes!

Many thanks to Jim Catella for the design and installation, Ann Barklow and Julie Gonella for making it happen, Mike Garcia and his guys from Enviroscape for making the site ready and detailing the area so beautifully and to the guys in MB Parks and Rec for removing the old fence and hauling it away. Well done!

Photo by Julie Gonella

California Native Plant Lovers

You have fallen in love with California native plants - go ahead and admit it. You became a member of MBBG and cannot go back to your previous unfulfilled life of water-sucking pest-ridden tropicals. You volunteer on Fridays at the garden - but it's not enough. You need more.

A few ideas:

- Check out the events on the local South Coast Calif. Native Plant Societies Calendar Page

- Sign up for a Tree of Life Nursery Workshop (plant nursery is open!)

- Visit the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (plant nursery is open Weds-Sun)

- Visit the Theodore Payne Foundation (plant nursery is open Tues-Sat)

- Visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (plant nursery open daily)

Tree Trimming Class at the Garden

Tree Trimming Guidelines Class

Nov. 14, 10-11 am

Greg Monfette, Certified Arborist

Join certified Arborist, Greg Monfette, and take a walk through the trees in Polliwog Park and the Botanical Garden to learn about tree care. You will learn how to recognize a hazardous tree limb or tree; best pruning practices; and what you need to know about the City’s tree ordinance.

For complete information, please go to the MBBG Homepage

Murdering Your Lawn Class was Killer

Ann Barklow and Mimi Andersen of Garden Magic report that the MBBG class they taught on how to kill your lawn was a great success. After a review on the basics of murdering your lawn, the 30+ person class followed Ann and Mimi on a five minute hike over to see the Simmons native garden they designed last Fall. Questions were non-stop. Handouts of the plant names were provided which helped alot. Meredith Grenier from the Daily Breeze was there and will have an article about the class and the Simmon's garden in two weeks on Saturday the 10th so look for it. Photo by Mimi Andersen

Fall Classes at the Garden

Fun Free and Educational - Fall Class are Here!!

Getting Rid of Your Water-Guzzling Lawn

Sept. 26, 10-11 am

Mimi Andersen & Ann Barklow, Garden Magic Company

Water Saving Irrigation Technology

Oct. 3, 10-11 am

Mike Garcia, instructor, Enviroscape

How to Compost in the Garden

Oct. 10, 10-11 am

Lisa Ryder, City Authorized Instructor

Gardening with Natives

Oct. 17, 10-11 am

Tony Baker, instructor, Natural Landscapes

Attracting and Feeding Wild Birds

Oct. 24, 10-11 am

Bob Shanman, Wild Birds Unlimited

Reiki in the Garden

Oct. 31, 10-11 am

Sheri Hein, Certified Instructor

Tree Trimming Guidelines

Nov. 14, 10-11 am

Greg Monfette, Certified Arborist

Success with Succulents

Nov. 21, 10-11 am

Patrick Moore, Local Succulent Expert

Check out the MBBG Homepage for complete details and class descriptions.

Summertime in the Garden: Part Two - August

succulent

adj.

1. Full of juice or sap; juicy.
2. Botany. Having thick, fleshy, water-storing leaves or stems.
3. Highly interesting or enjoyable; delectable: a succulent bit of gossip.

n. Botany
A succulent plant, such as a sedum or cactus.

[Latin succulentus, from succus, juice.]

The new delectable succulent garden on the South hillside is getting alot of juicy attention, especially from the Friday regulars. Our happiness in finally getting succulents represented at the garden is now doubled by seeing so many people interested in keeping them alive.

Whether it was maternal instincts or the need to weed, the regulars made their way over to the baby succulents this August like butter on mashed potatoes. They watering, weeded and pampered the area - determined to make sure the things grow up well. This author feels real proud about that; kinda like a grandparent or something. Speaking of babies, Linda showed up with a bunch of giant Foxtail agave (Agave attenuata) cuttings. Just the perfect big accents we needed. Luckily for us, Jim showed up at the perfect time to help plant them - so we didn't have to hang off the side of the hill ourselves. Photo of Dudlea pulverulenta by Mimi Andersen.

Summertime in the Garden: Part One - July

Our volunteers aren't the least bit daunted by holidays or heat-waves. Much to the maintenance directors delight, they keep arriving; young and old, experienced and newbie. And we are glad for that.

On the Friday before the 4th of July, Gretchen and longtime member Jane along with Mira Costa student volunteer Selena, labeled and stuffed all the envelopes for the newsletter. Linda cleaned all the interpretive signs and helped Julie put in some new plant ids. Marilyn watered every new plant (a big job). Garen raked the paths.

The hot days bring out the fragrance of the native sages. A huge grasshopper the size of a hummingbird was the day's highlight along with the blooms of the Heartleaved Penstemon (Keckiella cordifolia) Photo by Julie Gonella.