All LAVGC meetings, events and activities except allowed activities shown in the Calendar Events section to the left are CANCELLED until further notice following Alameda County Health Care Services guidance on Mar 12, 2020.

Allowed Calendar Events will follow ACHCS and CDC Guidance. Click to see ACHCS Guidance.

Monthly Meeting on Zoom
*** Monday, Apr 19, 2021 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm *** on Zoom

Please note the change of day and earlier start time for this meeting only.

Windcliff, a new sustainable garden

Speaker: Dan Hinkley, the renowned plants man and author.

We are sharing our meeting with the California Horticultural Society this month as this affords us the great opportunity to hear Dan Hinkley, the renowned plants man and author, speak to us about the creation of his new garden, Windcliff. The California Horticultural Society will be the Zoom hosts and the meeting will start at 6:30pm with a plant forum that will last for approximately 30 minutes. The presentation will start directly after that. The plant forum is where CalHort members show photographs and talk about something interesting growing in their garden that month. Please note there will not be a business meeting this month.

Dan Hinkley is an award-winning teacher, writer, lecturer, consultant, nurseryman, naturalist and gardener. His latest book, Windcliff, A Story of People, Plants and Gardens, was released just last year. Above all, he is committed to solid and sustainable horticultural practices, above average garden plants, landscapes of distinction, and raising the collective awareness of the diversity of plant life on Earth as well as the magic and mysteries of our natural world. The program will probably not be recorded so will not be available for viewing at another time.

Any questions about the meeting, please contact Barbara Stott.

We look forward to you joining us for our next Zoom meeting. We will be sending a notice prior to the meeting, but you also have the information in our recent newsletter.

If you cannot join the Zoom meeting, recordings of the monthly programs, speaker permitting, are available on this site thanks to the efforts of our Zoommasters: Grahamn Stott, Nile Runge and Len Smith.

LAVGC is inviting Members to our Monthly Meeting on Zoom

Topic: LAVGC Monthly Meeting
Time: Monday, Apr 19, 2021, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Members only will receive an email close to the meeting with meeting join details.

Members can join the meeting starting at 6:15. When you join the meeting, you will be in the "waiting room" until the host lets you into the meeting. When you are let into the meeting, your microphone will be muted. Please use the "chat" feature if you want to ask a question.

See LAVGC Zoom Instructions for tips for those new to Zoom. See LAVGC Zoom Participation Tips for tips for participating in Zoom meetings.

Members having difficulty connecting to the meeting or have technical questions, please contact Zoommasters Nile Runge or Graham Stott. See the LAVGC Yearbook for their individual contact information.

If you have any trouble getting on the meeting as it starts, call Nile Runge, 925-443-2237 for help.

If you are not a member and would like to join Zoom meetings, please complete the New Member Application Form. Members receive the monthly newsletter, annual Yearbook, access to the Members Only section of this site and Zoom meeting details each month. If you are not a member and would like to attend a specific Zoom meeting, please contact Jeri Stark, President to request Zoom meeting details.

Visitors Are Welcome!

Please join us at the monthly meeting or contact us at the Membership link below. Please take a moment to fill out the New Member Application Form for Membership Year July, 2020 through June, 2021. New members joining after Jan. 31 of the Membership Year will owe one-half of the regular dues. New members joining at or after the April Spring Plant Sale will pay dues for the following Membership Year and be complimented for the remainder of the existing Membership Year (May/June).

For more information about membership or dues, please email Wanda Finn.

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LAVGC Yearbook

We will not be creating a LAVGC 2020-2021 Yearbook. The LAVGC 2019-2020 Yearbook will continue to be used for 2020-2021. A PDF of the LAVGC 2019-2020 Yearbook and a PDF of the LAVGC Roster are available to view and print in the Members Only section.

LAVGC Roster

Beginning October, 2020, we are providing a complete list of all current LAVGC members and their contact information. The Roster includes information for all members and includes membership changes, such as, addition of new members and changes to current member contact information, since the Yearbook was published. The Roster is in Yearbook format so it can be printed and inserted in your physical Yearbook. The Yearbook Addendum has been replaced by the LAVGC Roster.

Member Alert: if you have changes to your contact information, please email Molly Fisher. See the LAVGC Yearbook for Molly's additional contact information.

Members Only section

Check out the Members Only section. Click on the 'Members Only' menu selection on any page, enter the Id and password. The Members Only section contains the club Yearbook, speaker video links, club forms, newsletter archives, meeting minutes and more. Members may email Jeri Stark, President to obtain the Id and password.

Thanks, thanks and more thanks

Thanks to all who participate in the club workshops, work parties and providing meeting refreshments. > > More

Garden Club Want Ads

...garden related wants, needs, offers, for sale

This column is for any garden related items that you have that you want to get rid of - either selling or giving away, just to get them out of your place and it's too long to wait for the Plant Sale. You can also list needs or even if you need help in the garden and wish to hire someone for a few hours a week. Or if you'd like to hire out to help someone in their garden a few hours a week. Let's share with other gardeners in the club!! Click to see Garden Club Want Ads.

Talks on Video

If you missed our meeting speakers' informative talk, you can see the video of the talk on the club website Members Only section. Most of our recent club meeting talks are on view there. Select videos are also available to the public. See LAVGC Speakers: past and future.

**The EGG Recipe book has just been added.**

Click Edible Gardening Group then look for the yellow Recipes section on the right. Thanks to Beth Clark for creating the recipe book and to many members for their contributions.

HELP NEEDED

Because of health issues, Beth Clark has had to step back from club activities and so we need a recording secretary.  If you can help by taking minutes at our meetings for the rest of the current club year which ends June 30, 2021, please contact Jeri Stark, LAVGC President. See the LAVGC Yearbook for additional contact information.

We are also looking for members to fill positions that will be vacated by other VP’s or committee chairs on June 30.  Currently that list includes:

• Vice President Community Service - currently held by Gail Bachman
• Vice President Special Interests - currently held by Lois Barber
• Recording Secretary - currently held by Beth Clark but we are looking for a temporary and a permanent replacement.

If you are interested in taking on a leadership role in the club, please notify me, Jeri Stark, LAVGC President. See the LAVGC Yearbook for additional contact information. We will appoint a nominating committee in March to help fill these positions but would like to hear from anyone interested in taking on a new role.

Grow Food the Waterwise Way Webinar

April 22, 2021, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

Sponsored by the City of Livermore, Cal Water, & Zone 7 Water Agency. Celebrate Earth Day by learning how to grow food with a waterwise approach! In this webinar, gardening expert Suzanne Bontempo will share techniques and strategies for growing an abundance of produce for a season-long harvest while using less water. This class is suited for all skill levels and is free for all Livermore residents, businesses, and organizations. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today.

Home and Garden Sale

Friday, April 23, 2021 and Saturday, April 24, 2021

We we will not be holding our annual spring plant sale this year because of the Covid constraints. On Friday, April 23 and Saturday April 24 we will be holding a sale of home and garden items and seedlings at Jeri Stark’s home. If you have items you would like to donate, let Jeri know. You can bring items you would like to donate to her home starting on Monday, April 20.

For more information contact Jeri Stark, LAVGC President. See the LAVGC Yearbook for additional contact information.

Please let her know if you can volunteer a couple of hours to price or help with the sale. Social distancing will still apply.

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Recovery of Big Basin

California Garden Club has issued a challenge to help in the Recovery of Big Basin.  They have donated $5,000 to the fund and will match dollar for dollar donations made by clubs or club members.  Information is in their newsletter March, 2021 CGCI e-news page 3. Please let Jeri Stark know if you think that this is something that you would like to see the club make a contribution.

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Tour

Bringing back the Natives is virtual again this year and they are including a Green Home Tour as well.  The tours will take place on Sundays in April, May and into June.  Check out WWW.bringingbackthenatives.net for more information.

Garden Share 2021

SAVE THE DATE!! Saturday, May 1, 2021 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Refreshments in the Suski garden 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Our willing and able gardeners are busy tidying up their flower beds and vegetable patches for this year’s Garden Share event.  You will see a little bit of everything from ornamentals to veggies, mini orchards to dryscapes and water features to compost and biochar.  Be ready to ask questions, take pictures and be inspired!  We have 5 gardens to enjoy - all of them are in Pleasanton but are a bit spread out so plan accordingly. To top off a wonderful afternoon we will gather in Michelle Suski's garden for light refreshments and to get reacquainted with your fellow gardeners after the tour.

An added bonus for this year's event is that there will hopefully be plants for purchase at each of the gardens.This will be to supplement the LAVGC's Home and Garden Sale that is being held the last weekend in April at Jeri Stark's. If after the sale you have a few extra plants that you want to display at the Garden Share, please contact Michelle Tallon Michelle Tallon, Garden Share. See the LAVGC Roster for additional contact information.

A huge thank you to our participants for 2021! Jeri Stark, Judy Matthew, Nancy Harrington, Michelle Suski, and Bruce Daggy & Anne Vincent presenting Clare's Fare.

Approximately 5-6 days prior we will send out a flyer with addresses, contact numbers, and a brief description of the gardens. Please, print this out and bring it with you as you will need it to access a gated community and this will be your 'ticket' to enter. Any questions or volunteers for the social, please contact Michelle Tallon, Garden Share. See the LAVGC Roster for additional contact information..

California Native Plant Society - Santa Clara Valley Chapter presentations

LAVGC member Bill McCormack writes: I am sharing several California Native Plant Society - Santa Clara Valley (CNPS-SCV) March-April presentations on topics that have been popular in past LAVGC meetings (pollinators, native bees) and a garden that was popular with some members who saw it a few years ago.

CNPS-SCV is a chapter of the California Native Plant Society. The CNPS-SCV meets Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. The meetings and the chapter Youtube channel are open to anyone (not just native plant society members). Past meetings have had attendees from all over the state and the Western US. .

Penny Pines for Gift Giving

With the National Forest offices closed, we are not able to get certificates for plantations until after the New Year. However, if you wish to give a gift of a Penny Pines plantation to a loved one, you can complete the form found here Penny Pines form.

Mail the form to Jeri Stark with a check for $68, made out to LAVGC. Jeri will prepare a certificate for you to give to your recipient. Our forests need our help more than ever and this is a wonderful gift.

Please contact Jeri Stark, Penny Pines for her address or see the LAVGC Yearbook for Jeri's contact information.

Click Penny Pines to learn more about the activity.

California Garden Clubs, Inc membership cards

Jeri received 2020-2021 membership cards to distribute to LAVGC members since we are also members of the California Garden Club’s Inc. The challenge is with distribution since we are not meeting in person except for work parties, it would cost $60 to $70 dollars to send out these cards individually. If you have found the card beneficial in previous years, Jeri Stark would be happy to send you one if you send her a request Jeri Stark, LAVGC President. At the California Garden Clubs web site she found that Alden Lane gives a 10% discount, East Bay Nursery in Berkeley gives a 10% discount. Many other stores and public gardens may grant a discount if you show your card.