Fallbrook Garden Club – BRINGING BEAUTY TO THE COMMUNITY FOR
90
YEARS!
by Nathalie Taylor
F
lowers generate joy! There are many residents of Fallbrook who take time to cultivate their gardens to such an extent that they bring joy to anyone who views them. Some of those people belong to the Fallbrook Garden Club. The club was established in 1931 and has been bringing joy to members and the community for 90 years. Succulent pumpkins are created during and Cacti and Succulent Workshop The objective of the club is to “create and promote with the Fallbrook Garden Club. Courtesy photos interest in horticulture, floral and landscape design, plant and bird life and encourage civic and environmental Members who are experts in herbs, roses, or native plants, responsibility.” share their knowledge and expertise through workshops. “Membership is open to anyone who is interested in The Rose Study Group is dedicated to studying the rose gardening,” Sandi LeMasters, who is co-president with with talks, classes and hands-on workshops. Judy Loser, said. “We have men and women of all ages The Cacti and Succulent Group conducts workshops in the group. I am quite sure, based on the diversity of where members are taught how to use the plants for home interests that we have within the garden club, that anyone and garden décor. They also address using succulents as would be able to find someone who shares their interests, fire breaks. or to find a workshop that helps them understand more A fun project that also benefits the community is the about those areas of interest.” group’s annual pumpkin decorating workshop. In October, The club turned to Zoom meetings during the pandemic each member decorates two pumpkins with succulents – but before then, meetings were held in the Fallbrook one to give away and one to keep for themselves. Because Community Center. Even when meeting online, however, pumpkins do not last long after they are cut and cleaned, their efforts to maintain programs of interest have been they are left intact. Hot glue is used to affix dry moss to the successful. The leadership team found speakers who were top, then the pumpkin is crowned with succulents, which comfortable with the Zoom format and can be removed and planted later. were able to share presentation slides The pumpkin decorators work in with the group. cooperation with the San Diego Sheriff’s The club hosts tours for members Department’s Senior Volunteer Patrol about four times a year. These trips who distribute the decorated pumpkins are planned visits to parks, botanical to house-bound senior citizens. In 2020, gardens or grower’s sites. due to restrictions, the volunteer patrol “We have a number of members was unable to distribute the pumpkins, who are experts in different areas of so another avenue of distribution was gardening,” LeMasters said. “It just Sign at the Fallbrook Senior Center – one of the found at Grangetto’s Farm and Garden FGC’s ongoing community projects. depends on who is available to share Supply. their knowledge in a workshop. We have a really amazing “Grangetto’s was kind enough to give us space in their group of women and men who commit a lot of time and store to sell the pumpkins, and they didn’t keep any energy to the group,” LeMasters said. proceeds for themselves,” LeMasters said. 44
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