The 20232-2024 Meeting & Program Schedule
Co-Chairs:
Susan Geier
Katie Pelisek
***Programs start at 11:30 a.m.***
Good Samaritan Episcopal Church
4321 Eastgate Mall
San Diego, California 92122
September 26, 2024 (MEMBERS ONLY)
Garden Design
Speaker: Victoria Kastner
“Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect”
This year our VGCLJ is proud to have the famed author and former historian of Hearst Castle, Victoria Kastner, as our first speaker. Victoria has written the trilogy on the history of William Randolph Hearst’s grand estate in San Simeon. It is now in its third printing. Victoria has generously given many lectures at various garden clubs and has mesmerized audiences about Hearst Castle and many other subjects.
October 24, 2024 (Open to Guests)
Floral Design
Speaker: Steph Green
“Container Gardens for All Seasons”
Steph Green, will “wow” us with a container garden demonstration using luscious, locally-sourced plants. Her creations will be raffled off following the presentation - so be sure to purchase a ticket! As founder of Contained Creations, Steph is a designer and educator empowering others to create elegant container gardens with ease. Through her website, she provides a wealth of resources including online courses, printable planter recipes, and plenty of free advice and inspiration drawn from her extensive experience in container gardening.
As a content creator in the container gardening niche, Steph collaborates with respected businesses to showcase premium plants and products to her loyal social media community. Some of her partners include Southern Living® Plant Collection, White Flower Farm, SunPatiens®, SuperCal™ Petunias, and Monrovia®.
Steph recently served as Container Garden Designer for the Southern Living Magazine 2024 Idea House in Kiawah River, South Carolina. Visit her on Instagram @contained_creations or online at ContainedCreations.com.
November 14, 2024 (Open to Guests)
Garden/Culinary
Speaker: Loria Stern
“Eat Your Flowers”
Loria will share her inspiring story of turning passion into purpose. From her early days as a Pastry Chef, a self-taught gardener, and solo entrepreneur to her current status as a worldwide trendsetterin the baking world.
She will share how she harnesses the power of edible and medicinal plants to create stunning and delicious treats that have captured the attention of national publications and foodies alike.
Get ready to be inspired!!!!
Book signing and cookies will be available at our meeting.
December 12, 2024 (MEMBERS ONLY)
Floral Design
Speaker – René van Rems
“European Floral Holiday Arrangements”
Back by popular demand is René van Rems (!) who will once again entertain and educate us with his enchanting style as he creates one-of-a-kind holiday décor before our very eyes! All items will be auctioned to the highest bidder at the end of the presentation.
Rene is a Dutch born, world renowned, award-winning ambassador of the floral industry. His design consulting studio and floral design school is located in the Intl. Floral Trade Center in Carlsbad, CA.
Rene will host a centerpiece workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 11th where participants will each create a gorgeous centerpiece that will first be displayed on the tables at our Holiday Luncheon, before being taken home.
Rene’s design consulting studio and floral design school are located in the International Floral Trade Center in
Carlsbad, California.
Special Workshop – Wednesday, December 11
Make a Holiday Centerpiece
Presenter: René van Rems
January 23, 2025 (Open to Guests)
Horticulture/Native Plants
Speaker: Susan Gottlieb
“A California Love Story”
A dedicated environmentalist and philanthropist, Susan Gottlieb will be joining us to share stories and stunning photography from her renowned Beverly Hills Native Garden.
Many of the plants in her garden came from the Theodore Payne Foundation in North Hollywood, which Susan says is a wonderful place to visit even if you don’t buy plants there.
Susan’s native garden has been featured on Huell Howser’s California Gold PBS show, in the New York Times and on BBC. She will be accompanied by Naturalist, Scott Logan, who will further add to the presentation by showing photos of the birds, butterflies and insects that native plants attract.
Susan says, “As anyone who cares about wildlife will tell you, once you discover native plants, there’s actually no turning back. You get hooked!”
(A trip to visit Susan’s garden and the nursery is being planned.)
February 27, 2025 (Open to Guests)
Speaker: James T. Farmer III
“Celebrating Home”
James Farmer is a Southern Author, Interior Designer and Speaker who is truly a fresh voice.
For those of all generations, his natural Southern grace and warm personality light up any room.
James is the author of Wall Street Journal Best Selling Books:
A Time to Plant, Sip and Savor, Porch Living, Wreaths for All Seasons, A Time to Cook, Dinner on the Grounds
A Time to Celebrate, A Place to Call Home, Arriving Home and his most recent, Celebrating Home.
He’s an expert in design, plants, florals, entertaining and everything in between.
James enjoys signing his books, which will be available at our meeting, or if you are already a collector, feel free to bring yours.
March 27, 2025 (Open to Guests)
EXPRESSIONS IN ART AND FLOWERS
Co-Chairs:
Janet Evans
Mary Ann Driscoll
Our Expressions in Art and Flowers meeting is a much-anticipated event. This exciting biennial show has become a showcase for both experienced and beginning artists and floral designers to exhibit their creativity.
At the March meeting, Club members who have created art pieces in various media bring their artwork to display on tables and easels positioned throughout the room. Several art pieces will have been previously chosen for interpretation in flowers by some of our gifted designers. They will demonstrate on stage how they create a floral arrangement inspired by the artwork – a Master Class!
Special Interest Workshop – follows meeting
Springtime Cookie Decorating
April 24, 2025 (Open to Guests)
Horticulture
Speaker: Holly H. Shimizu, Horticulturist
“Gardening for Life - How to combine beauty and ecology for a healthy garden”
Holly is a nationally recognized horticulturist with a rich background in gardens, plants, ecological gardening and plant conservation. After working in numerous gardens in England, Germany, Holland and Belgium, Holly was the first Curator of the National Herb Garden at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.
Most recently, Holly was the Executive Director of the United States Botanic Garden on the National Mall, where she was responsible for all aspects of running the garden - which experienced a renaissance during her leadership.
Currently she is on the board of the American Horticultural Society and serves on the American Botanical Council Advisory Board.
May 22, 2025 (MEMBERS ONLY)
Horticulture/Roses
Speaker: Marilyn Dronenburg
“A Scentimental Journey”
Come along with us to discover the many paths co-president Marilyn Dronenburg has traveled through the world of plants and flowers. We will touch briefly on the commercial flower farm where she lives and grows “filler” flowers for bouquets, her love and cultivation of antique roses in the gardens around the house, how that morphed into giving garden tours and talks, and later giving cooking classes and creating three cookbooks.
Dozens of beautiful slides will accompany her talk. You will be visually transported into Marilyn’s garden – her roses would like to meet you!