PSSC MARCH 2025 MEETING MARCH 15 - The Ides of March

[DoomsDave]

Everyone: 

 

Mark your calendar for the Ides of March; the PSSC's March 15, 2025 meeting is in northern San Diego County in two outstanding gardens. 

 

GARDEN NO. 1: The first garden is that of Michael and Joyce Masterson, 2038 Arborwood Pl. Escondido Ca 92029. Mike is a true plant addict who had worked at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park in horticulture for forty years.  He and his wife Joyce started started their garden in 1991 and have primarily focused on planting rare and unusual palms and other plants of distinction.  Some of the notable palms in this garden are: Allagoptera leucocalyx, Brahea nidita, B. moorei, Butia archeri, Chamandorea fragrans, Chuniophoenix nana, Livistona inermis, Ravenea,  Rhapidophyllum histrix, Rhapis multifida, Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis), Syagrus glaucescens, Trithrinax campestris, Trachycarpus nanus, Wallichia disticha and towering Coccothrinax. 

 

Michael also has a diverse non-palm plant palette and is growing many different types of plants such as orchids, aroids, bulbs, Platyceriums, Aloes, cycads and more. As you walk through the garden you will see the Tiki-themed tropical setting Mike and Joyce have created, making this garden a tropical escape in the middle of hard-core suburbia. 

 

GARDEN NO. 2: The second garden is at the Green Valley Garden and home of Lyle ("Chip") and Helen Arnold at 15638 Boulder Mountain Rd, Poway, CA 92064. 

 

The Arnolds acquired this nineteen-acre hilltop property in 1989. It has been developed into a combination botanical garden and nature preserve. The botanical garden portion of the property is a diverse collection of hundreds of tropical and subtropical plants from around the world, including palms, cycads, flowering trees, aloes, protea, orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. Elevation of the garden is 940 ft to 1200 feet with most of the touring area being walkable at 1100 feet and occupying 2.5 acres. The native plant area is approximately 16.5 acres and has paths which can be toured if one is in good condition with good hiking shoes. Unlike many parts of inland San Diego county, the Arnold garden is in a frost-free area. The overall theme of the garden and property is "in balance with nature," and careful attention has been paid to the use of the existing boulders, natural slopes, and native plants. 

 

The garden also includes a koi pond built directly into the boulders. The more recently developed portions of the garden are established according to areas of the world, including South Africa, which contains proteas, aloes, and cycads, as well as areas focused on Australasia, Madagascar, and Meso-America. Plants not to miss include mature or near mature Caryota obtusa Wodyetia bifurcata, Brahea clara, Chambeyronia macrocarpa, Dysis decipiens and Bismarkia nobilis.

 

 

POTLUCK LUNCH

 

We'll be having a potluck lunch with chicken provided. Bring your favorite dish to share; meat, vegetables, dessert, or any combination all greatly appreciated. Make it yourself, or buy and bring it - if you like it, we will too! If it's your grandma's favorite recipe, so much the better. We don't care if your grandma was from Boston, Barbados or Beijing. Cook it up and we'll eat it! Come feast on food, and the joint joys of palms and good fellowship on a glorious spring day.   

 

AUCTION

 

There will be an auction at this meeting. Donors have a choice of donating 100% of the proceeds to the PSSC (we appreciate that!) or 50% (we appreciate that, too!) The focus is on rare palms, in 1 to 5 gallon containers, though larger ones will be accepted. Also good are nice palm-themed objects d'art, and other exotic plants, including but not limited to, bromeliads, fancy Ficus, etc. We accept credit cards, checks, and good old cash, though, due to expenses relating to credit card transactions, we greatly appreciate cash and checks, if possible. 

 

Since we have a limited time in which to conduct the auction, we ask that donors provide plants that will realistically sell for at least $20. Please no Washingtonias, Phoenix canariensis, etc. We also appreciate liners and "freebie" plants as well for the plant raffle.

 

Thanks to all of our donors! 

 

 

ITINERARY:

9:30 AM Board of Directors Meeting

10:30 AM Begin Tour Masterson Garden

11:30 AM Depart Masterson Garden

11:45 AM Arrive to the Arnold Garden and begin tour

12:45 PM Potluck lunch

1:15 PM Finish tour of garden,

2:00 PM Begin Formal Meeting, Announcements

2:30 PM Plant Auction and Raffle

3:30 PM Adjourn Meeting – Clean Up Help Requested

 

REMEMBER:

Wear appropriate shoes – No heels!

Bring hot or cold dish for the Potluck

Bring donations for Auction and Raffle