December is upon us… just a few more days in this month and it’s here! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with plenty of yummy food, love and laughter. Here are some fun things that you can do during this very busy month of December.
As always, I want to remind you to shop local, and get the freshest produce around by heading out to the local Farmer’s Markets in Santa Clarita:
Sundays 8:00am – noon
College of The Canyons Parking Lot
Don’t forget to visit my friend Sarah from Worldwide Exotics
There is also another great Farmer’s Market:
Thursdays in Old Town Newhall from 3-7pm.
Wed. 12/1 – Friends of All Kinds 7pm Newhall Library – A Season of Diversity Event
Fri. Date: 12/3/2010 10:00 AM – Community Gardens of Santa Clarita Ground Breaking
at Central Park -27150 Bouquet Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita, California 91350
Join the Santa Clarita City Council and local gardeners for a very special groundbreaking, commemorating the City’s first Community Garden project. Please RSVP to the City at: 661.255.4939 – I hope to see you there!
Sat – 12/4/10 – 10 – 11:30 am
Around the World in 127 Acres – Frank McDonough, instructor
How Low Can They Go? A look at plants at the Arboretum that use the least amount of water. To register call 626-821-4623 or email [email protected].
$5.00 Members/$7.00 Non-Members
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Sat 12/4/10 – 10 – 12noon
Arboretum Adventures – Explore the Hugo Reid Adobe
Free with admission Kids & Families
Join your adventure guide as we explore the Arboretum. Each Saturday is new and exciting, and will have a different theme relating to nature. Come early, as space is limited to 25. Children of all ages are welcome! Family adventures will go on rain or shine so dress appropriately!
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Sat 12/4/10 – 12 – 3 pm – Bamboo Room
Organic Fruit and Vegetable Gardening Classes
$22 members/$25 non-members per class
Instructor: Jill Morganelli, Horticultural Curator
Learn to grow fruits and vegetables organically! This class focuses on seasonal production, meets quarterly, and covers a variety of different topics each session.
December offering is: The National Organic Program, Winter Crops and Companion Planting, Winter Weeds and Insects, Winter Disease ID, Treatment and Prevention, Irrigation, Soil Building, Composting and Worm Bins, Pruning Fruit Trees, Gopher-proof Your Planting Bed
For more information or to register call 626.821.4623 or email [email protected].
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
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Gifts and Greens
Sat & Sun 12/4 – 12/5 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Van de Kamp
Purchase beautiful botanical décor and greenery to bring the holiday cheer to home or office. A variety of holiday-inspired gift items hand-crafted by talented Descanso volunteers will be sold at this annual boutique. Two wreath-making classes, priced separately, are part of this event. (but open to members only)
Free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students and $3 children 5-12
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-7980
Sunday Date: 12/5/2010 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Community Tree Lighting
at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital 23845 McBean Parkway Santa Clarita, California 91355
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital will kick off the holiday season with the Community Tree Lighting Festival. The free festival includes music and entertainment provided by local school choirs, dance studios, and performance groups. Other program elements include photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating, children’s crafts, refreshments, and more. Santa will magically light the 40-foot tall tree at 5:00 pm. The Community Tree Lighting celebration is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 661-253-8089.
Tues 12/7/10 – 10:00am – 12:00pm in Ayres Hall
Old Fashioned Wreath Workshop
$25/$30 non-members (all materials included)
Instructors: Marla Carter, Esme Gibson and friends
Using fresh greens (both the traditional and the unusual) from the Arboretum grounds, make a wreath to welcome in the holidays. Please bring your own gardening gloves, clippers and wire cutters (and any decorations you may wish to add to your creation). This workshop is a very special tradition and fundraiser at The Arboretum. Pre-registration required.
For more information or to register for the class call Jill Berry at 626.821.4623 or email [email protected].
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Tuesday – 12/7/10 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Plant Information – Bamboo Room
A free class w/Arboretum admission on a variety of plant-related topics, with botanist Frank McDonough
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Tues, Wed, Thurs 12/7 –12/9/10
Holiday Open House at the Garden and Gift Shop
Visit the gift show for an exceptional selection of seasonal gifts, volunteer-made holiday trees and crafts, succulent and wreaths, jams and jelly, nature inspired ornaments, garden related books, educational children’s toys and books and much more.
Light refreshments from 1-3 pm each day
For members only: enjoy an additional 5% (15% total) on all holiday merchandise when you show your Arboretum membership card.
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Sat & Sun 12/11-12 – 9:30 & 11 am
Brunch with Santa
Enjoy a visit with the man in red and a gourmet breakfast created by the chefs of Patina Catering in Van de Kamp Hall. Bring a camera: Santa will be available for photos as well. Children will decorate cookies and go home with a goodie bag. Two seatings both days.
$50, $42 members; $19 children 4 to 12; children under 3 free. Reservations required: (818) 790-3663
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-7980
Sun 12/12/10 – 10:00am – 3pm
Queen Anne Cottage and historic circle
An Old Fashioned Holiday at the Queen Anne Cottage
Free with admission.
Stroll down memory lane and view treasures and furnishings normally seen only through the windows of this charming Victorian-era cottage. Viewing the ornate dwelling in its Christmas finery has become a southland tradition for visitors from near and far. Experienced docents will guide tours throughout the day, providing fascinating information about the history of the Queen Anne Cottage. Following a tour of the Cottage, don’t miss a visit to the Arboretum’s historic Coach Barn and the Santa Anita Depot, reminiscent of days past. No reservations required.
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Sat 12/16 – 11 am Center Circle
Enchanted Railroad Storytime
Children and parents alike will delight in imaginative, train-themed stories told live by actor and storyteller Bill Ratner. Enjoy hot cocoa from 10:30 a.m. to noon (free while supplies last) at the train station, then take a ride on the Enchanted Railroad. Train tickets are $3 each.
Meets at Center Circle, weather permitting. Storytelling is free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students and $3 children 5-12.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-7980
Sat 12/18/10 – 10:00 – 11:30
Around the World in 127 Acres
Frankenplants Manipulation the genetics of plants hasn’t always been as sophisticated as it is today, but the consequences of making a mistake has always been great. Look at the history and consequences of mankind’s genetic manipulation by specimens represented at the Arboretum.
To register call 626-821-4623 or email [email protected].
$5.00 Members/$7.00 Non-Members
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Tuesday – 12/28/10 – 6pm
Santa Clarita Valley Green Drinks Meetup
Salt Creek Grill
Towne Center
Valencia, CA 91355
Green Drinks allows for anyone concerned about environmental issues to get together over a drink. Green Drinks events are very simple, informal, unstructured, and self-organizing. We bring together the environmental community and have fun doing it! Please join
http://www.meetup.com/SCVGreenDrinks/?gj=ej5&a=tc1_lm1
I hope you like the list that I have compiled and that you can attend some of the events. The Community Garden is near and dear to my heart so if you come to the ground breaking, please come say hello!
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