Things plant lovers can make plans to do in L.A. right now
The Garden Calendar is back, with a mix of virtual meetings and in-person activities happening in and around Los Angeles. Send your event to jeanette.marantos@latimes at least three weeks in advance, and we’ll try to include it. Stay safe and keep growing!
Delight the gardening fans in your life with our plants gift guide featuring clogs, gloves, planters, and other helpful resources.
Through April 18
“Clayfornia: Ceramic Sculpture in the California Sunshine” features the clay sculptures of 14 artists from the American Museum of Ceramic Art Ceramics Studio in Pomona, installed among the native plants at California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave. in Claremont. The exhibit is free with $10 admission to the garden ($6 seniors and students, $4 children 3 to 12, members and children under 3 free). Non-members must buy their tickets online in advance. Masks required for all visitors 2 and older. calbg.org
Nov. 10
The Orange County Organic Gardening Club is meeting virtually on Zoom at 7:30 p.m. to hear Master Gardener and KUCI Garden Radio host Mark Oertel’s suggestions for planning and planting a year-round garden in Southern California. RSVP at ocogclub@gmail.com to be included in this free meeting. calorganic.org
Unemployment led her to a dream gig: Floral design that’s not afraid to get political. Alex Floro’s design studio encourages consumers to weaponize their spending power, ensuring that they’re giving their money to businesses that aim to make a difference.
Nov. 14-Jan. 10
“Reflections at Descanso” replaces Descanso Gardens’ traditional “Enchanted Forest of Light” holiday light show, canceled due to COVID-19. “Reflections” is a daytime event that features art installations, special plantings, self-guided activities and a “Wishing Tree” on the garden’s main lawn made by artist Kaz Yokou Kitajima out of a recently felled oak. Other sights include gold-burnished logs and stones at the base of trees in the oak grove, arches created by floral artists that change every two weeks, and sculptures of a family of deer created by David Lovejoy. Free with $15 admission to the garden ($11 seniors and students with school ID, $5 children ages 5-12, members and children under 5 free). Advance ticketing required for nonmembers. Open daily except Dec. 25 at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada Flintridge. descansogardens.org
Nov. 14
Taste Wild II: Savor the Fall at California Botanic Garden with a spread of savory food items made from California native plants. Participants will pick up a box of four unique savory snacks — desert seed crackers, sage pesto, saltbush seasoning condiment on popcorn and a mesquite flour baguette with tepary bean and oreganillo bruschetta — a few days before the Zoom event from 6 to 7 p.m. discussing the culinary uses of the plants, their cultural legacies and health benefits. The garden is partnering with As You Like It catering company and Abe Sanchez of the Chia Café Collective to create the snacks, and Sanchez will be one of the speakers. The collective is a group of local tribal members and collaborators that honors Indigenous people and their traditional knowledge, including the nutritional and medicinal qualities of native plants. The cost is $45 ($40 for members). calbg.org
Fall is prime planting time for Southern California, but after summer your garden soil gets depleted of the nutrients it needs to keep plants happy, so before you start your fall garden, take time to add fresh amendments to your soil, such as compost and aged manure.
Nov. 16-20
The Los Angeles Biodiversity Symposium is a five-day event (two hours each afternoon) cosponsored by Los Angeles Sanitation and the Assn. of Professional Landscape Designers in Greater L.A. to discuss ways to protect Los Angeles’ biodiversity. Topics include the Los Angeles Biodiversity Index, Nov. 16; urban wildlife, Nov. 17; wildlife and plant community, Nov. 18; urban resilience, Nov. 19; and Regeneration, Nov. 20. Tickets are $20 a day ($10 for students and educators) or $60 for the whole series ($30 for students and educators). apldca.org
Nov. 27
Black Friday Free Day at California Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave. in Claremont. Admission to nonmembers is by reservation only, with visits available in the morning and afternoon. Reserve free tickets online. Masks required for all visitors 2 and older. calbg.org
Dec. 10-22
Nights of 1,000 Lights at Sherman Library & Gardens returns this year with timed entries, limited numbers of visitors and online reservations only to try to keep visitors safe from COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses. The Christmas lighting show allows people to stroll through the botanic garden at night, surrounded by holiday lights, at 2647 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. All guests must wear face coverings. Admission is $25 for the general public, and $15 for members, free for children 3 and under. Tickets must be purchased online in advance or by calling (949) 673-2261. thesherman.org
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