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July 2026
Monthly Meeting
NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Saving Rare Plants - Advanced Horticulture on the California Islands, With Kevin Alison, July 18, In-Person, Oasis, Rancho Bernardo, 1:30p -3:30p
Kevin Alison The islands of California are biological hotspots for uniquely rare and endangered species. But, what do you do if traditional methods of propagation fail or are unreliable? This presentation will cover advanced horticultural techniques to overcome challenges and prevent extinction. Kevin Alison serves as the Native Plant Manager for Catalina Island, where he leverages his expertise in conservation, restoration, and horticulture to prevent extinction. Kevin s
Jul 1
Articles
HERITAGE HAUNTS: Tomatoes by Alice Lowe
Presented by Cathy Tylka, for Let's Talk Plants! July 2026. This article first appeared in June 2008, edition No. 165 of Let's Talk Plants! Wix stock photo of caprese salad. Tomatoes Here they come - large and small, round and oval, red and yellow and orange and green - ripe, freshly-picked tomatoes, grown with lots of sun and heat (my favorites come from a generous friend in Lakeside), and, whenever possible, eaten within minutes of picking. Those of us who can’t grow our ow
Jul 1
HERITAGE HAUNTS: Going Wild with Natives - Soil Health: A Radical Approach
By Susan Krzywicki, for a previous edition of Let's Talk Plants! Wix stock photo. Soil Health: A Radical Approach Our gardening world is oftentimes a mystery, especially the hidden depths of our soils. Getting to know how “dirt” works is a good place to start with plant health. Of course, as a native plant advocate, I believe in this stack: native soils with native plants with native bees, birds and butterflies; with fresh clean air and water surrounding them. But, how do you
Jun 1
HERITAGE HAUNTS: Microgreens - A Book Review And A Meeting Video On YouTube
Edited by Cathy Tylka, for Let's Talk Plants! April 2026. The book review is from the April 2015 edition of the newsletter, and the YouTube meeting video is from July 2024. BOOK REVIEW - Microgreens: A Guide to Growing Nutrient-Packed Greens by Eric Franks and Jasmine Richardson. Reviewed by Caroline McCullagh. Somehow, we’ve managed in this column to go from the highest to the lowest. We looked at redwoods in The Wild Trees by Richard Preston. Now we’re looking at some of th
May 1
FROM THE ARCHIVES: April Fool's Day Botany
By Golly, (really by Karen England), originally published in Let's Talk Plants! April 1, 2020. Reprinted April 1, 2026. WiX stock photo. APRIL FOOL'S DAY BOTANY: Echinocereus dahliaeflorus What would April be without a Prank? The Museum of Hoaxes has a page dedicated to April Fool's Day Botany. The page, dubbed "Plant life that exists only on April 1st," has 22 "species," i.e. pranks, that date from 1900 through 2019 and are some of the best April Fool's Day jokes ever p
Apr 1
HERITAGE HAUNTS: Introduction To Gasterias
By Annie Morgan, originally published in the December 2015 Let’s Talk Plants! No. 255 newsletter. Republished January 2026. From the archives: Introduction to Gasterias Though slow growing, Gasterias are a small, charming species and one of the easiest succulents to grow, thus they are an ideal starting plant for the novice. They are related to Aloes and are in the Asphodelaceae family and are named for their stomach-shaped f lowers (“gaster” is Latin for “stomac
Jan 1
HERITAGE HAUNTS: To Design Or Not To Design? Part 1 - That Is The Question & Part 2 - There Is Only One Answer.
The LTP! Archives are edited by Cathy Tylka and Karen England. These articles are by Pamela Homfelt, originally published in Let’s Talk Plants! as a part of a yearlong series called Successful Drought Tolerant Gardening edited by Cindy Sparks. Part 1 appeared in September 2009, No. 180, and Part 2 in October 2009, No. 181. Republished together November 2025. To Design Or Not To Design? That Is The Question These days almost everyone is redesigning landscapes for one reason
Nov 1, 2025
FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Long History Of Larval Host Study
By Susan Krzywicki, for Let’s Talk Plants! July 2025. Republished from Going Wild with Natives, Let’s Talk Plants! July 2015, No. 250....
Jul 1, 2025
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