The Village Garden Club of La Jolla

Thank you for visiting The Village Garden Club of La Jolla website, our online home to help keep members informed of current events of the club. Check back often to see what is happening each month, to learn of special garden tours and to see new photos.

JANUARY PROGRAM

Water Matters--Water Conservation

speaker: RICHARD RESTUCCIA

Where: Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 4321 Eastgate Mall, La Jolla
When:  Thursday, January 22, 2026
9:30 a.m.--Check in and Hospitality Hour; 10:30 a.m.--General Meeting and Presentation
Registration: Guests $30

We're kicking off the new year with a splash!  With a Master's in Agriculture, Richard Restuccia serves as the head of Husqvarna Water, where he leads the charge in smart irrigation for both landscapes and farms. He's recognized as a leader in water conservation, irrigation innovation and waterwise gardening.  But that's to the rest of the world; we know him better than that. We know Richard as Devonna Hall's husband of 34 years.
A Master Gardener, award-winning author and recipient of the Leadership in Landscape Award, Richard has dedicated his career to helping people understand how to make every drop of water count.  He's the author of Waterwise Gardening, host of the popular Water Connections webinar series, and creator of a widely read blog on gardening and sustainability..

Whether it's a room full of professional growers or weekend gardeners, he's known for bringing humor, clarity and inspiration to the conversation around water.

In his talk, "Water Matters," Richard will explain why water is the most important--and most misunderstood--resource in your garden.  Expect practical tips, surprising facts and memorable stories drawn from a life spent in the field (and in the dirt)!.

Chris Andrews and Nancy Cunningham

Club News and Updates

Meet the Masters with Lewis Miller of Lewis Miller Design

Thursday, March 12, 2026

at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Lecture, Demonstration & Luncheon. 

$200 per person

A master of floral artistry and design, and renowned for his "Flower Flash," New York's Lewis Miller crafts
signature floral events that inspire and thrill his audiences. His client list includes Tiffany, Chanel, HBO and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Before the luncheon, guests will watch Miller create masterpieces to be  auctioned off to lucky bidders. Tickets are available at this link.
Members are encouraged to pay by check at the January or February meeting. Valet parking is $25; carpools are encouraged.

Members VIP Cocktail Party. 

$500 per person
Wednesday, March 11, 5-7 p.m. at the home of  Susan and Bill Hoehn
Limited tickets available to meet Lewis and receive a personally signed book.
(includes  VIP  party, lunch, lecture and signed book)

S P O  N  S  O  R  S  H  I  P  S
Dahlia - $5,000    Marigold - $2,500   Zinnia  - $1,000

To sponsor this event please email SusanHoehn1@gmail.com or
call Cynthia Bond 858.735.0069.

VGCLJ Committee Updates

Master Gardeners

Take a deep breath. You made it through the holidays. Nothing must be done for a while, so put your feet up, grab a cuppa Earl Grey or a latte and just relax. You deserve a moment of peace.

This is the time of year to savor your hard work from seasons past.  Your camellias and azaleas are in bloom. The cymbidiums are standing tall. Your kohl (cabbage) crops are ready to harvest. You, not me. I’ll eat broccoli doused with cheese, but even a thick dollop of cheddar can’t make me swallow the dreaded Brussels sprouts.  

Succulents are in bloom.  Take a few pics and mail them to a friend who just plowed a path to her mailbox.  

If you haven’t had your fill of shopping, there are beautiful catalogs to be ogled, filled with lies about the color and size of flowers. Fun to imagine what could be. Not in my garden, of course, unless the garden fairy decides to set up an ADU.

If you are feeling guilty about having your feet propped up, you could put some To Do’s on your calendar. Not me, though. I’ll wait just a few more weeks and then let the guilt settle in.  But for those who are itching to garden right now, here’s a short list.  

Prune deciduous trees, roses, naked coral trees, and conifers (if there is anything left after your spree to finish the seasonal tablescape.)

Clean up fallen camellias. Just bend over carefully.  Ditto if you feel you really must pick dried azalea petals.  

After having fed your family for a month, switch to your other offspring:  roses, citrus trees, epiphyllums, cool season flowers and veggies, lawns if you still have them.

Water, unless, of course, we’ve received a deluge. We can only hope.

When it’s not raining, take advantage of a cool calm day to spray.  Roses, deciduous fruit trees, peach and apricot trees (for peach leaf curl), and anything that houses whiteflies need some loving spritz.

So I’ve read this through, recognized I sounded grumpy, but thought it was finished. Then my hubby, as only partners can, said “Didn’t you leave out something?”  No.  And he gave me that look. So for him I am adding the garage, tool shed, potting bench, wherever you play.  You may want to rearrange your stuff, sharpen a tool or scrub a pot. 

Or not.  Nothing that can’t be put off until you’ve finished that second cup. 

Karen and I will be at our table, with smiles on, I promise. Say hello, ask a question, pick up the newest information from the UC Master

BJ Boland

MEETING TIME:

9:30am - 10:30am: Social Hour
10:30am: Business Meeting
11:00am: Program

Meeting Location:

Good Samaritan
Episcopal Church
4321 Eastgate Mall
San Diego, CA 92121

Directions

VGCLJ MAILING ADDRESS:

1140 Wall Street, #783
La Jolla, CA  92038-7033