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Study Groups
Learn about topics so popular that each has its own interest group.

Fruit and Vegetable Study Group
The Fruits and Vegetables Study Group kicks off the fall season with a "winter crop" workshop October 30, 2008 from 10:00 until noon at the FPUD Board Room. Topics addressed by our resident experts will include soils, seasons, daylight hours, sun intensity, cold weather crops, and critter (snail/slug, gopher, squirrel, rabbit, mouse, rat, insect, and etc.) control. An FPUD representative will present information on impending regulations to deal with water shortages and best irrigation practices. A question and answer period/information exchange will follow.

Mediterranean Study Group
With Fallbrook located in one of the world’s five mediterranean-climate zones, this group focuses on plants that thrive in these areas, characterized by rainfall limited to the winter months. Besides most of California and most countries bounding the Mediterranean Sea, these areas include Central Chile, the South African Cape, and Western and South Australia. Drought-tolerant can be beautiful, too.

This is our fourth year.  Our December 2, 2008 winery tour sold out almost immediately, suggesting that we need to repeat this in our fifth year.  We will also have a spring event planned. Watch this space for more information.

Prior years' events included a visits to the Cuyamaca Water-Conservation Garden, the Hortense Miller Garden in Laguna Beach, and Silvermink Protea Ranch as well as member gardens.  We've also enjoyed presentations by a landscape designer of mediterranean gardens and a butterfly exper and explored cooking with Mediterranean herbs.

Mediterranean gardening links

Mediterranean Garden Society: Headquartered in Greece with a world-wide membership; subscribe to its free email discussion group.

Gardening in Mediterranean Climates Worldwide: Repository for information passing through the MGS email discussion group as well as collected from various independent research and collections

Drought-Tolerant Plants:  A California water district’s extensive list and description of trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, and vines; use Google Image Search to see what they look like.

Cuyamaca Water Conservation Garden:Located in El Cajon; visit its new succulent garden.

Gardening in Mediterranean Climates Worldwide: Repository for information passing through the MGS email discussion group as well as collected from various independent research and collections

Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden: The largest botanical garden devoted exclusively to California natives; many design ideas; located in Claremont.

Theodore Payne Foundation:Operates a California natives and wildflowers garden and plant nursery in Sylmar and sponsors a spring wildflower hotline.

Santa Barbara Botanical Garden: Another large garden devoted exclusively to California natives.

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum: Public garden with sections representing the five mediterranean-climate zones; website has other resources


Mediterranean architecture and garden design links

Photos of Mediterranean Gardens

Adamson House: 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival house on the Malibu coast featuring extensive use of decorative tile, both indoors and in the garden. 

 

Sources for native and mediterranean-climate plants

California Water-Wise: Besides a nursery list, this site put together by Southern California water agencies includes step-by-step guides for designing and maintaining a mediterranean, water-wise garden.

Las Pilitas: Escondido nursery specializing in California natives

Tree of Life:  San Juan Capistrano nursery specializing in California natives

California Protea Association:  Lists protea plant sellers

Australian Native Plants Nursery: Ventura County nursery's website with beautiful photos – search for drought tolerance


Other study group listings are coming soon.

Updated 10/30/08