It’s January, the time for Southern Californians to prune our roses, prepare the soil in our garden, and admire the exotic camellia blooms in our botanical gardens and the camellia shows taking place this month and next.
Roses need a good winter pruning to help them bloom strongly in the spring. Just avoid trampling the garden while the soil is saturated because that compacts you. Most rose pruning classes seem to be canceled this year, but Green Thumb Nursery has a helpful video explaining how it’s done.
Winter is also a great time to replenish depleted soil in your garden by adding compost, aged ox manure, coffee grounds, and other organic amendments. Be sure to let it sit unplanted for a few weeks so the mixture can “cook” while beneficial organisms break down organic matter.
As for pleasure, is there anything more beautiful than a camellia blooming pink or creamy white against its glossy dark green leaves? The season for these delicate flowers is short in Southern California, only January and February, but most botanical gardens in the region have some type of display. And the region’s camellia societies are celebrating with a series of shows this month and next.
Camellia expert Bradford King, president of the Camellia Society of Southern California, says that two of the best exhibits are in the Huntington Library, the Museum of Art and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, and the Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, which has one of the largest collections. in the country. If you want to grow camellias, King says Nuccio’s Nursery, 3555 Chaney Trail in Altadena, has the best selection; the family business has specialized in azaleas and camellias since 1935.
Here’s our new list of camellia-heavy plant and garden events in the Los Angeles area in February. Email garden and plant related events to jeanette.marantos@latimes.com at least three weeks before they happen, and we could put them on the calendar.
January the 8th
Winter plants for sale at Fullerton Arboretum, 1900 Associated Road on the Cal State Fullerton campus in Fullerton from 9 am to 3 pm The sale includes more than 100 varieties of native California plants grown in the arboretum. Members receive a 10% discount on all plant purchases during the sale. Admission is free. fullertonarboretum.org
Until January 9
Enchanted Forest of Light by Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr. in La Cañada Flintridge, presents an interactive evening light show that stretches a mile through the grounds. This year’s exhibit includes a new “city” of stained glass buildings in the Rose Garden created by sculptor Tom Fruin, along with favorites like the field of brilliant tulips that constantly change color. Entry scheduled every half hour between 5:30 and 8:30 pm; open until 10pm every day, rain or shine. Tickets are $ 25 to $ 28 for members, $ 32 to $ 35 for non-members. restgardens.org
Los Angeles Zoo lights, 5333 Zoo Dr. in Griffith Park returns after a COVID-19 hiatus with more sparkling oversized animals, a “magical disco ball forest” and the world’s largest illuminated pop-up storybook, among other exhibits, all nights. Tickets are timed at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., and the zoo stays open until 10 p.m. Tickets are $ 22- $ 24 for ages 13 and older, $ 16- $ 17 for ages 2-12, and $ 15 for members. Children under 2 years old are free. tieo.org
January 9th
Rose Pruning Demonstration at UC Riverside Botanic Gardens, 1 Botanic Gardens Drive on the UCR campus in Riverside from 1 to 3 p.m. Garden staff, volunteers, and local experts demonstrate how to prune hybrid tea, floribunda, miniature roses, and climbing plants in a casual outdoor setting at the rose Garden. The demonstration is free, the entrance to the gardens is by donation. gardens.ucr.edu
12th of January
A talk from Sherman Library & Gardens’ new Horticultural Director, Kyle Cheesborough titled “Mother Nature’s Garden: Wild Plant Communities and Landscape Design” at 2647 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. This talk is part of the Gardens Lessons and Lunches series, with lunch served at 11: 30 am and the talk from noon. Admission is $ 45 with lunch or $ 5 just for the conference. Members pay $ 35 for lunch or are free for the conference only. thesherman.org
January 15 and 19
“That’s SO Cal: Introduction to the cultivation of our native plants”, is an outdoor class at the South Coast Botanical Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. in Rolling Hills Estates, from 2 to 3 p.m. Terry Huang, director of living collections, garden learning and engagement, will discuss SoCal’s unique climate, plant communities and tips on selecting and growing native plants. Attendees will also receive a free guide from the Theodore Payne Foundation called “From Lawn to Garden.” Admission is $ 30 or $ 25 for members. southcoastbotanicgarden.org
Until January 16
Landscape of Lights at Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, is the resumption of the arboretum’s annual nightly holiday event, which was canceled last year due to the pandemic. This year’s show is a new collection about a mile long, including a winter cathedral with white lights and a “garden of fire.” The paths are accessible for wheelchairs. General admission tickets start at $ 32 or $ 30 for adults, $ 20 or $ 18 for ages 3-12, and free for children 2 and under (weekends are more expensive). Tickets are scheduled entries every 15 minutes between 5:30 and 8:45 p.m. M., But visitors can stay until the park closes at 10 p.m. M. Members save $ 3 per ticket and advance purchase is recommended due to high demand. VIP tickets ($ 70) allow flexible, priority entry on the issued date and VIP parking. Food and drink will be available for purchase on the spot. arboretum.org
January 16
Introduction to the basics of organic gardening at Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm An introduction to the basic components of organic gardening including overviews of soil management, plants for the season, fertilization, control of plagues and diseases. The class is limited to 20 people. Participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and present a vaccination card at the door. Register online, tickets are $ 35. thecooksgardenvenice.com
Until January 17
South Coast Botanical Garden GLOW (Garden Lights & Ocean Waters) Show features thousands of lights throughout the garden designed to evoke swamps, beaches and a kelp forest. This year’s event also includes food, drink and music. Open daily between 5:30 and 8:30 pm Tickets are $ 24.95 for members and $ 34.95 for non-members. Children under 4 years old are free. southcoastbotanicgarden.org
January 22-23
Camellia Society of Southern California 72nd “Early” Camellia Show at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, from 1 to 4:30 pm on January 22 and from 9 am to 4:30 pm on January 23. The general public can enter the camellia flowers for free to judge from 7 to 10:30 am on January 22. The show is free to visitors after paying $ 15 to enter the gardens ($ 11 for people 65 and older and students with ID, $ 5 for children 5 to 12. Members and children under 5 are free .) Masks are required indoors. socalcamelliasociety.org
Baiko-En Bonsai Kenkyukai Society presents Winter Bonsai Silhouettes, the only exhibit of miniaturized deciduous trees in the United States, at the LA Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, from 10 am to 4:30 pm both days. The show is free to visitors after paying $ 15 to enter the gardens ($ 11 for seniors 65 and older and students with ID, $ 5 for children 5 to 12. Members and children under 5 years of age) they enter free). Timed entry and masks required indoors. arboretum.org
January 29-30
Camellia Society of Southern California 6th Camellia Show at the LA Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, from 1 to 4:30 pm on January 29 and from 9 am to 4:30 pm on January 30. The general public can enter the camellia flowers for free to judge from 7 to 10:30 am on January 29. The show is free to visitors after paying $ 15 to enter the gardens ($ 11 for people 65 and older and students with ID, $ 5 for children 5 to 12. Members and children under 5 are free .) Non-members must purchase their tickets online for timed entry, and masks are required inside. socalcamelliasociety.org
January 29
It’s the ground, silly! How to get the most out of your soil organically, a class at Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, from 11:30 am to 1 pm An introduction to the basic components of organic gardening that describes the secrets of good soil, such as good tillage, texture and structure of the soil, an abundance of organic matter, and tips for maintaining the biosphere, or living organisms that keep your garden healthy. The class is limited to 20 people. Participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and present a vaccination card at the door. $ 35. thecooksgardenvenice.com
February 12-13
Camellia Society of Southern California 49th Camellia Show at Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, 1511 Oxford Road, San Marino, from 1 to 5 p.m. on February 12 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. February 13. The general public can enter the camellia flowers for free to judge from 7 to 10:30 am on February 12. The show is free to visitors after $ 29 entrance to the gardens ($ 24 for seniors 65 and older, active military, and students with ID and $ 13 for ages 4-11. Members and children under 4 years of age) they enter free). are required indoors. socalcamelliasociety.org
February 19-20
Pacific Camellia Society 16th Camellia Show at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, from 1 to 4:30 pm on February 19 and from 9 am to 4:30 pm on February 20. The general public can enter the camellia flowers for free to judge from 7 to 10:30 am on January 22. The show is free to visitors after $ 15 entrance to the gardens ($ 11 for seniors 65 and older and students with ID, $ 5 for children 5 to 12. Members and children under 5 years are free) required indoors. americancamellias.com
February 26-27
Southern California Camellia Council 62nd Spring Camellia Show at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, from 1 to 4:30 pm on February 26 and from 9 am to 4:30 pm on February 27. This show is a joint event involving the four camellia societies of the region in Kern. County, San Diego County, as well as the Pacific Camellia Society and the Southern California Camellia Society. The general public can enter the camellia flowers for free to judge from 7 to 10:30 a.m. on February 26. The show is free to visitors after $ 15 admission to the gardens, ($ 11 for seniors 65 and older and students with ID, $ 5 for children ages 5 to 12. Members and children under 5 years of age They enter free.) Masks are required inside. socalcamelliasociety.org