CONTACT US AT: vistagardenclub@gmail.com or carolynvgc@gmail.com
click here for: VGC Scholarship Application
The Vista Garden Club has been in existence since 1930. We are a group of 100+ men and women who love gardening. We are members of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., Pacific Region Garden Clubs, Inc., the California Garden Clubs, Inc., and the Palomar District. We have membership in the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens (Brengle Terrace Park) and the San Diego Floral Association.
We meet the first Friday of each month at the Gloria McClellan Senior Center- back building (Brengle Terrace Park, Vista) with a morning tour or workshop followed by a fingertip luncheon and the meeting starts at noon. An educational presenter follows a short business meeting. Visitors are always welcomed.
Our Meetings for the Year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
September 6: The 1:45 program will be Robert Lutticken, “Abraxas Garden”: Robert has been a teacher at Abraxas Continuation School in Poway for 25 years. He teaches biology, agriculture and aquaponics. He started the Abraxas Garden with two colleagues in 2015 and since then they’ve donated over 25,000 pounds of produce to the community. He loves working with his students and wants to keep growing the Abraxas agriculture program and teaching his students about growing food and understanding sustainability.
October 4: The 1:45 program will be Beth Van Boxtel, “Tips for Growing Roses in Extreme Weather”: Beth Van Boxtel is a San Diego native, a certified Consulting Rosarian, and a UCCE Master Gardener. She teaches and inspires home gardeners to grow the best roses in their yards. She currently maintains a large rose garden. She volunteers with the San Diego Rose Society and she has won the Rising Star Award from the American Rose Society. She is also a rose exhibitor at the San Diego County Fair, and won over 100 ribbons in 2024.
November 2: In the past 57 years, the VGC has given more than $50,000 in scholarships to local high school and community college students in horticulture, agriculture, conservation and environmental majors. This year’s Fall Fundraiser will be held Saturday, November 2 at 11 am at the Park Terrace Cafe in Brengle Terrace Park in Vista. A delicious luncheon will be served at noon. The usual entertaining auctions and raffles will follow. Tickets ($45) available at the September meeting or by calling Cheryl Cannou at 760-519-8760. To give donations to the auctions and raffles, please email dcsunset@cox.net
December 6: The 1:45 program will be Ernie Cowan, “Nature and Photos”: Ernie Cowan is a writer and photographer. For six years Ernie wrote a Backyard Birdwatching column for the San Diego Union Tribune and now writes a twice-monthly Nature and Outdoors column for the paper. He’s the author of two books, the latest being “There’s a Marmot in My Pack”. Ernie is passionate about nature and has led many photo tours including to Alaska, Japan, the Caribbean. Ernie is a recognized authority on the Anza Borrego Desert.
January 10: The 1:45 program will be Donna Payton, Insects and Beneficials: Donna is on the board of CGCI and was president of Poway Valley Garden Club for four years, where she runs an interest group called Natures Helpers, which educates the club and the public about the importance of earth friendly gardening. Her passion is for beneficial insects, bees and other pollinators and creating an oasis for wildlife in the garden. THE SENIOR CENTER IS CLOSED ON OUR REGULAR GENERAL MEETING DATE SO OUR JANUARY MEETING DATE IS THE 10TH.
February 7: The 1:45 program will be Heather Holland, “Vermicomposting”: Heather has been a UCCE Master Gardener since 2012 and is the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County President. She was county Volunteer of the Year in 2020. She gardens on her large property in Scripps Ranch where she emphasizes the importance of excellent soil. Heather became a Solana Center Master Composter to give new life to household organic discards.
March 7: The 1:45 program will be Karen England, Edgehill Herb Farm, “Growing, Enjoying, and Cooking with Edible Herb Flowers”: Our own member, Karen England (she’s a past VGC president and president and newsletter editor of the San Diego Horticultural Society) will talk about some of the world’s favorite edible flowers, such as chamomile, roses, lavender and more, how to grow and use them. She will share samples of some of her favorite edible flower foods and beverages. Recipes will be provided.
April 5: The 1:45 program will be Vista Garden Club members highlighting our May Flower Show.
May 3-4: Our 89th Annual Flower Show at Jim Porter Recreation Center, Brengle Terrace Park. This is our gift to the community. We will also sell plants members have grown all year as well as garden art created by our members. This free Flower Show event is open Saturday, May 3 at noon for our plant and garden art boutique sale. The Flower Show will open to the public after judging at 2 pm. The show closes at 5 pm. On Sunday, the Flower Show, plant and garden art boutique sale opens from 10 am – 5 pm.
June 6: The 1:45 program will be an overview of our Flower Show and presentation of awards.