Lompoc Valley Botanic and Horticultural Society

Meetings & Programs

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2025

• January: presentation on the Wonderful World of Herbs by member Loretta Diaz. The program included information on the medicinal properties and the methods of preparing several different types of herbs (i.e. ointments, infusions and tinctures), a display of herbs and herbal materials, and a make-and-take activity (tussie-mussie).

• March: springtime planting advice; interactive discussion on seed starting; presentation on growing cacti on the Central Coast by member Vito Vitelli.

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2024

• January: our speaker Helga George, PhD in Plant Pathology, described the fascinating adaptations that plants have developed to protect themselves.

• March: Everything Green social get-together featuring a native plant bingo and a plant show & tell; participation in Lompoc's 2nd annual plant & seed exchange.

• May: tour of Windmill Nursery in Buellton.

• June: private tour of local gardens; participation in the 71st Lompoc Valley Flower Festival Parade.

• September: presentation and guided tour of the Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden (BMCG).

• November: plant, seed, bulb & tuber exchange.

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2023

• January: presentation on Santa Cruz Island's Flora and Ecology spanning the last 30 years. Our speaker Annie Meeder - a graduate student who has conducted statistical research of plants and animals on the island - informed us of progress in controlling certain invasive animals and plants.

• March: presentation on Composting with Worms. Our speaker, Angie Ouellette from Explore Ecology, brought a sample portable worm composting bin and explained how we could make it ourselves, what to put in it and what to feed the worms (see photo at left).

• May: presentation on Common Plant Diseases. Dr. Shashika Hewavitharana, an assistant professor in Plant Sciences and  a Strawberry Pathologist at Cal Poly in SLO, brought some of the common plant diseases we encounter in our gardens to life with animated slides.

• September: guided tour of the Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden, located on the Lompoc Campus of Allan Hancock College.

• November: plant, bulb and seed exchange, courtesy of members and guests.

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Care Days for the Gardens

In general, we remove weeds and clear overgrowth from the paths. At the city's Drought Tolerant Garden (DTG), we also spread mulch to control weeds and to conserve moisture. We install new plant identification signs as needed.

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2025

February: work at the Drought Tolerant Garden

April: work at the Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden

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2024

February & August: work at the Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden

April & October: work at the Drought Tolerant Garden

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2023

February & May: work at BMCG

March, April & October: work at DTG

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To learn more about our programs and activities, go to our Newsletter section.