News from the Garden

Issue 26 I January 2025

Finding hope.

Happy New Year garden friends.

We launched into 2025 with some very clear mantras. A belief in humanity, kindness, and generosity. A commitment to focus energy strategically, mostly in small actions at the local level. So much is out of our control. This feels like one way to stay sane.

The garden continues to inspire awe. You can see the seasons shift in real time. Trees are starting to bud, rhododendrons and magnolias are enticing us with early color, and the spring bulb greenery is peeking out everywhere. Plan a visit soon.

Setting the tone for the new year, we see possibility everywhere. We are humbled to receive some significant recognition of late.

First, we are proud to share that Western Hills Garden was one of 23 small gardens across the country to receive a Garden Futures grant by the Garden Conservancy. This award is a testament to both our preservation and community engagement efforts. We are in great company and grateful to the Garden Conservancy for the recognition. Click the link below to read more about the grant program.

Secondly, we have invited an esteemed group of horticultural leaders and folks with a special interest in this place to serve as the inaugural Western Hills Garden Horticultural Advisory Committee. Scroll down to learn more. This group will help us build a collections policy and management plan — informing our preservation efforts and charting a course for the future of the garden. We’re excited to convene for a launch retreat in late February.

We’re still working through our permitting issue, and are waiting to organize too much new programming. That said, we’ve planned a few garden experiences for visitors as we head into spring: mandala making, egg painting, a compost demo and discussion, and a bird walk. Keep your eyes out for more details!

Holding the words of Mother Teresa, “ We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

May you lovingly find ways to do small things for yourselves and one another as we move into February.

Insider invites.

We are planning some special, intimate, invite-only celebrations in 2025. If you’d like to be on the list for these activities please fill out the form below. It may be small dinner pop-ups, special walk and talks, or creative making opportunities. Not to worry, we’ll continue to offer many public-oriented programs as well throughout the year. Click below to be in the know.

WHG Hort Advisory Committee

Western Hills is a special place in the minds of many horticulturalists. We were thrilled to recently invite some of the top names in the area to join our Horticultural Advisory Group, and they said yes! This group will help us envision the future and build a collections policy and management plan. We’ll share more updates as this group gets going. In the meantime, we offer gratitude to the following people.

• Dave Teuschler, Director of Horticulture, Devil Mountain Nursery

• Dick Turner, Editor Emeritus, Pacific Horticulture, former ED of Ruth Bancroft Gardens

• Janet Bair, Western Hills Volunteer Docent, Master Gardener, retired biologist

• Jim Salyards, Director of Horticulture, Filoli House and Garden

• Stew Winchester, Horticulture Consultant, Instructor Merritt College, Landscape Horticulture Dept.

• Merel Kennedy, Western Hills Volunteer, Graphic Designer

• Sean Hogan, Founder, Cistus Nursery, Garden Designer

• Kat Gritt, Western Hills Garden Arboriculture Fellow, Merritt College Arboriculture Program Student

• Anthony Garza, Horticulture Supervisor, UC Botanical Garden

• Jeff Wright, Nursery Facilities Manager, Flora Grubb

• Merlin Schlumberger, Founder, Merlin Arborist Group, instructor Environmental Horticulture SRJC

• Nicole Schlumberger, CA Native Plant Specialist, Associate Faculty Environmental Horticulture SRJC

Justin’s Hort Report.

“While we await the inevitable flush of spring flowers, several specimens announce their presence in winter, when most other plants are quiet. The one grabbing everyone's attention this month is Edgeworthia chrysantha (Oriental Paperbush), native to southern China and Myanmar, of which we have at least four. I'm a sucker for any plant whose blooms appear before its leaves, and the pendulous yellow disc flowers of Edgeworthia are held at the very end of stout purple-brown trichotomous-branching stems --- a striking sight. And the smell! Sometimes I'm in an entirely different part of the garden, and I'm lured back to Edgeworthia by my nose. It's one of those soft, powdery aromas that reminds me of my grandmother, evoking memories of a simpler time.” 

Shout outs.

Our friend Manny McColl is staying with us for a bit as he transitions from one thing to another. Manny is many wonderful things and very well-known for his cooking and food sensibilities. He made lunch for our volunteers recently which was a big hit. We always serve muffins on Tuesdays, but it’s nice to sit down as a group over a full meal. We had rice and beans with chicharrones, salsa, slaw, and a version of agua fresca. It was wonderful and much appreciated. Thanks Manny!

Every Tuesday from 9-1 we host Volunteer Days at WHG. Join us if you’d like to help out. We have lots of tasks that range from pruning, weeding, and propagation to building repairs, research, and administrative work. Click the link below if you’d like more info.

Morning light

This time of year the best light is in the morning. The crisp air and soft glow encourage the birds to wake up and share their song. The shadows are short and the radiance brings a calm almost ethereal atmosphere. Do you sense it? Click the link below to check in and see.