2025-2026 Programs
Please join us the 3rd Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted, from September through June
In-person Meetings at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church start at 9:45 am (Business Meeting, followed by a social break at 10:30 and the Program at 11:00)
6201 E. Willow St. (Major Cross Streets: Willow & Palo Verde)
Long Beach, CA 90815
Program updates are posted on this webpage as details are finalized
Questions? email us at longbeachgc@cagardenclubs.org
September 2025
General Meeting: Wednesday September 17 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Stacey Palma
Plant of the Month: Rosalie Rowe
Program: Ground Education
At Ground Education the natural world is our classroom. We teach robust lessons in Long Beach elementary school gardens and green spaces that nurture every student’s academic, physical and emotional well-being…at Ground Education, we are rooter in the belief that natural spaces are teaching spaces where we can learn to mutually thrive on the Earth we all share.
Co-founder Holland Brown will be here with stories, descriptions of lessons and a hands-on activity.
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday September 22 at 2 p.m.
October 2025
Field Trip: Farm Lot 59 October 2
Growing a Cutting Garden in a Small Space Presented by our friend Sasha Cano, Founder of Farm Lot 59, an urban garden located in Long Beach
General Meeting: Wednesday October 15 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Linda Edgar
Plant of the Month: Jane Kaylor
Program: Eliot Freutel, California Naturalist
The UC California Naturalist Program is a certification program that educates Californians about the state’s unique ecology and encourages them to become involved in its conservation and stewardship. Eliot is a Community Education Specialist and ambassador for the UC Environmental Stewards programs.
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday October 27 at 2:00 p.m
Costa Verde District: South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula
General Member Meeting: Wednesday October 22
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Program: Gisele Schoniger, Organic Gardening Educator from Kellog Garden Products
Entry $5 per person
November 2025
General Meeting: Wednesday November 19 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Roxanne Korzeniowski
Plant of the Month: Carolyn Rubin
Program: Wreath Making with Bonnie Goldberg and Argie Grimshaw
Field Trip: Descanso Gardens with Marlita Kahn
Thursday November 20
Time TBD
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday November 24 at 2:00 p.m.
December 2025
General Meeting: Wednesday December 17 at 9:45 a.m.
Note: No Goodie Table this month
Centerpieces: Bonnie Goldberg
Plant of the Month: Cindy Kovacs
Program: Holiday Celebration and Potluck
We joyfully gather for our traditional Holiday(s) Celebration. A relaxed time for socializing, creativity, our “Paper Bag Raffle” and a scrumptious potluck lunch. It’s always great fun!
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Off this month.
Costa Verde District: South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula
Holiday Party: Wednesday December 10
10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Program: Liz Evans, Nature Center Manager and Naturalist from the Madrona Marsh
Entry $10 per person
Long Beach is hosting this meeting.
January 2026
Field Trip: Armstrong Nursery, Long Beach
Wednesday January 14 Time: TBD
Armstrong Educator, Maya, will speak on “The Secret Histories of House Plants: Origin Stories.” Bring your house plant concerns and care questions. We will have time to browse the green house and ground at one of Armstrong’s flagship nurseries.
General Meeting: Wednesday, January 21 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Open
Plant of the Month: Barbara Mais
Program: Jorge Ochoa – South America’s Aphrodisiac: Passion Fruit 🌱
Professor Ochoa is Department Head of Long Beach City College’s Horticulture Department. He is world renowned for his research, discovery and propagation of many species of passion fruit.
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday January 26 at 2:00 p.m.
February 2026
Workshop: Hypertufa Pots with Cindy Kovacs
Monday February 9 at 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Jane Kaylor’s backyard
General Meeting: Wednesday February 18 at 9:45 a.m.
Plant of the Month: Marlita Kahn
Program: Best Practices for a Healthy Garden
Teri Wohlgemuth and Stephanie Prien, University of California Master Gardener Program Leads, Harbor Region. These dynamic women will offer ideas for dealing with plant diseases and pests. Come with questions and photos of plant problems.
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday February 23 at 2:00 p.m.
March 2026
General Meeting: Wednesday March 18 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Ellyn Meikle
Plant of the Month: Ellyn Meikle
Program: Ideas for Spring Planting with Lynn Hillman
She is such a great resource! Lynn will share with us the latest in pollinator friendly, flowering perennials, and new to the nursery trade plants.
Bonnie’s Philanthropy Tea
Thursday March 19
Bonnie and Mike host this lovely event to raise funds for the Long Beach Garden Club philanthropies. Invitations are emailed to club members. RSVP please.
Field Trip: Virginia Robinson House and Gardens
Date and Time TBD. Hoping the weather will cooperate and we are able to tour this historic site in Beverly Hills!
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday March 23 at 2:00 p.m.
Costa Verde District: South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula
General Member Meeting: Wednesday March 11
10 a.m. to 1p.m.
Program: Chris Young, Catalina Island Conservancy
Entry $5 per person
April 2026
Tour: Prisk Native Garden
2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Date: TBD
This amazing school garden was started in 1996 by science teacher Candy Jennings. Mike Letteriero will serve as guide and historian for our visit.
General Meeting: Wednesday April 15 at 9:45
Centerpieces: Open
Plant of the Month: Bonnie Goldberg
Program: Succulents with Ellyn Meikle
Ellyn will share some of her extensive knowledge on succulents as a gardening hobbyist and a business owner of WaterWise Garden Center.
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday April 20 at 2 p.m.
Costa Verde District Special Event
Monday April 13
Bus Trip to Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA
Meet at South Coast Botanic Garden to travel by bus for a tour and a picnic lunch.
May 2026
General Meeting: Wednesday May 20 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Carolyn Rubin
Plant of the Month: Lorraine Graham
Program: Spring Show and Tell
Members are asked to bring a horticultural specimen
from their yard and share something about it.
Special Event: Long Beach Poly High School
Festival of Gardens and Butterflies
We host a booth at this school festival to educate students about gardens and gardening.
Wednesday, May 20 from 1:35 to 3 p.m.
Field Trip: Tour of Albert Robles Center for Water Recycling and Environmental Learning
The Water Replenishment District uses groundwater aquifers to create a locally sustainable water supply for Long Beach. Our tour guide will answer questions.
Tuesday, May 26 at 10:00 a.m.
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday June 1 at 2 p.m.
June 2026
General Meeting: Wednesday June 17 at 9:45 a.m.
Centerpieces: Open
Plant of the Month: Open
Program: Looking Back – Looking Forward & Planning for the Future. With Jane Kaylor
No Goodie Table in June
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday June 223 at 2 p.m.
Costa Verde District: South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula
General Member Meeting: Monday June 8
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Program: Carlos Prieto DeLeon from Greenpeace
Entry $5 per person
Summer Activities
El Dorado Nature Center Entrance Garden Project:
Monday July 20 at 2 p.m.
Monday August 24 at 2 p.m.