2022 Past Events
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January 20, 2022: Our first event in 2022 was our visit to the San Diego Botanic Gardens on January 20th to view the “Augmented Reality Exhibition.” Club members and guests had fun experiencing the amazing virtual art via our cell phones!
February 28, 2022: Members and guests toured Coastal Roots Farms in Encinitas. We got a behind the scenes tour from Javier Guerrero, the President and CEO of the organization. They truly do amazing work in providing food for those in need, and RSFGC is proud to have supported them with grants to support their mission.
March 21, 2022: This was our first in a series of “Coffee in the Garden” speaker events, “Getting Down and Dirty: Prepping Your Soil For Planting and the Benefits of Mulching.” Mary Matava of Agri Service gave a very informational presentation on soil; how to prep it for planting, the types of soil in our County, and the benefits of mulching. Attendees were eager to learn from Mary and at the conclusion of her presentation, she stayed and answered a myriad of questions from attendees.
March 26, 2022: Our first workshop of the year was Garden Rock Painting. Natalie Kaczur, our Executive Administrator, taught this workshop and it was a great introduction to the basic principles of sketching a design on the rock, painting the design and sealing it with a weatherproof sealer. There were some fun creations that will definitely add some whimsy to a patio or garden.
April 18, 2022: Mr. Mario DeMatteo was our guest speaker at our second “Coffee in the Garden” speaker series, “How Does Your Garden Grow-Secrets to Fruitful Fruit Trees and Bountiful Harvests.” Mario is an amazing individual and has mastered the art of wheelchair accessible gardening. He is the founder of The Agrarian Institute, which has been the recipient of two grants (2021 and 2022), that will assist in furthering Mario’s vision of creating an educational garden and orchard on 23 acres in Bonsall, CA.
May 9, 2022: A tour of the Hidden Lake Ranch was the second “field trip” of the year. The gardens and historical home were amazing, and our docent was none other than Steve Anthony, landscape architect, who spoke to our club last year on plants of Gondwanaland. The owners of the home also shared their spectacular vintage car collection with us. The afternoon ended with a tasty boxed lunch from Panera.
May 16, 2022: This was our big event of the year — the Celebration of Giving grant award ceremony and the Club’s Annual Meeting. The 2022 grant recipients were in attendance and each had a table set up with a presentation describing their organization and the project(s) that were funded by the grant. View the list of recipients.
June 27, 2022: Our visit to Domain de Manion was an experience reminiscent of being in Southern France. Bonnie Jo Manion welcomed us to her little slice of paradise by the sea, complete with French Country gardens, soothing meditation and reflection areas and a vineyard that produces award-winning wine. We sampled the delicious wines and some of Bonnie’s recipes while enjoying the variety of treats presented in the lavish charcuterie spread! Who needed lunch after that! Definitely a trip to remember.
July 20, 2022: Our succulent “guru,” Jeff Moore, was in the house for our third Coffee in the Garden speaker series to give us a fantastic presentation on how to design residential succulent/waterwise landscapes. Our attendees were full of questions for Jeff and took home a wealth of information to put to use at their homes. Take a look at some of Jeff’s designs.
August 8, 2022: Stunning Summer Succulent Wreaths — and that they were! The weather was perfect, the mimosas refreshing and the attendees were full of creativity. A great time was had by all as they crafted their moss wreaths using a variety of specially curated and colorful succulent cuttings. Everyone had a living wreath to take home and adorn their favorite outside space.
August 24, 2022: Our First Farm to Table Member Dinner was a huge success! It was held at Coastal Roots Farm, one of RSFGC’s grant award recipients. Members and their guests enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared onsite with fresh fruits/vegetables grown on the farm and other locally-sourced organic ingredients. The dinner was served “family style” which was a great way for members and their guests to enjoy the company of those seated at their table. This sold-out dinner was definitely a hit and we just may have to make this an annual event!
September 14, 2022: Unfortunately, our speaker became ill and we had to cancel the event at the last minute. We hope to bring the speaker back in early 2023 to talk about Staghorn Ferns and Easy to Grow Orchids.
October 17, 2022: The Annual Succulent Pumpkin Workshop was once again a favorite of our members and their guests. The San Diego Fall weather was perfect, and everyone gathered on the patio at the Secret Garden to craft their one-of-a-kind masterpieces. It was a fun day and the best part was that each crafter had a beautiful centerpiece to take home with them.
November 14, 2022: Our Annual Brunch and New Member Welcome was a hit–and as one member commented “the best event I’ve been to.” Our speaker, Lynn Chichi, kept everyone in stitches as she showed us how to decorate for the holidays using items around the house, stowed in the attic or picked up at a resale shop. The end result was amazing! We also welcomed new 2022-23 members and, in fact, had some of our guests become members on site.
December 5, 2022: The annual Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop was enjoyed by over 60 members and their guests. It was such a fantastic event that once again, many of our guests became new RSFGC members! Maybe it was the warm mulled apple cider, the yummy cookies and breads, the holiday spirit in the air or the camaraderie that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.