inBloom Fall 2022

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Water Conservation Garden is to educate and inspire through excellent exhibits and programs that promote water conservation and the sustainable use of related natural resources.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022

President

Patrick Pilz

Vice President

Jan Tubiolo

Secretary

Dr. Michael Hager, Ph.D.

Treasurer Chris Coughlan

Liza Alia Tom Allingham Cheryl Minshew Francisco Morales

Dr. Jessica Robinson, MSW Ed Woodruff

STAFF

Executive Director Jennifer Pillsbury

Director of Operations & Programs Pam Meisner

Director of Development & Memberships

Janelle Wallace

Jenny Bauman

Angelina Byrd

Ria Custodio

Lauren Gagliano-Saline

Heather Hayes-Haigh

Jocelyn Herrera Robert Hillman

Amelia Knezevich Lauren Magnuson

Juliana Meirelles

Leilani Mendoza Sam Miller Sam Padilla Soozie Pickard Jillian Quint Paul Redeker Tim Townsley

InBloomProduction inBloom is published quarterly by The Water Conservation Garden and is provided as a benefit to members.

Content and photos by Garden staff, and Docents/Volunteers unless otherwise noted.

Cover Photo: Ria Custodio

Designer: Ria Custodio

Printer: Neyenesch Printing

message from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FALL IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TIMES AT THE WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN. If you haven’t been recently, now is the time to visit and to bring a friend. I invite all of our members to introduce The Garden to someone they know this fall. Part of our Strategic Plan focuses on partnerships and building more relationships within the community.

Many organizations are strengthened when they team with others. Partnerships have many benefits. Nonprofits excel though partnerships by learning from other organization’s strengths, operating more efficient programs, diversifying programs, new networks and audiences, and of course our funders love partners.

There are five qualities common to effective nonprofits: Clear mission and purpose, the ability to perform key functions, strong practices, procedures and policies, good people, and ability to mobilize others (which includes a willingness to partner with other nonprofits/businesses).

Nonprofits typically view collaboration with other organizations as a way to: Increase financial or operational efficiencies, reach a larger constituency, delve into or explore new sources of funding, gain new expertise and networks of experience, streamline the structure of communication and authority, boost staffing resources and outreach, and save programs and services that might otherwise be lost without a partnership (or merger).

Above all, nonprofits that collaborate seek the largest potential impact for the communities they serve. Please contact me personally, should you have a potential partner for The Water Conservation Garden.

Jennifer Pillsbury Executive Director/CEO

Interested in joining a Nonprofit Board of Directors?

We are actively recruiting new members (active business professionals and retirees) who are connected in the community with board experience and passionate about philanthropy. Visit TheGarden.org/board for more information.

The following are agencies that constitute the Joint Powers of Authority (JPA) that owns The Garden and provides major funding:

The Garden is managed by The Friends of The Water Conservation Garden, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, tax ID no. 20-4395919.

THE WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN

Mondays CLOSED

Tuesdays 9am–4pm

Hours of Operation

Wednesdays 9am–4pm

Thursdays 9am 6pm*

Fridays 9am–4pm

Saturdays 9am–4pm

Sundays 9am–4pm

The Garden is FREE to the public the 2nd Friday of every month!

GIFT SHOP

Tuesday – Sunday | 10:00am – 1:00pm

Extended hours for special events.

ADMISSIONS

Last admission to The Garden is 3:15pm

*Thursdays last admission is 5:15pm

Please note The Garden will be closed:

New Year’s Eve (Closes at 12 noon)

New Year’s Day

Easter Sunday

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day  Christmas Eve Christmas Day

Harvesting RAINWATER

Written by: Paul Redeker • Photography: Paul Redeker & Sally Long

At The Water Conservation Garden, we get to play and learn through trial and error, and find different approaches to saving rainwater, especially in Southern California. We all have done our part, and by now everyone probably has heard about or purchased a rain harvesting barrel or recycled greywater*1. Today, you can affordably continue to harvest rainwater using a shovel instead of your wallet. Ideally these harvesting concepts will be incorporated into the design and layout of a new landscape, however you might be able to adjust your existing landscape with minor adjustments with minimal costs. Here are a few helpful tips for you.

The Garden monitors where the rainwater flows during a storm so we can contour the soil into short channels that direct water towards a confined area to puddle. This puddle will grow large enough to be called a rain garden, which allows the water to stop and infiltrate the soil instead of flowing outside the property. Naturally, our sandier soils drain quickly, within hours, where our clay soils can hold water for up 2-3 days after a storm. The channel that initially directs rainwater is called a bioswale. To maintain a bioswale landscape add: boulders, drought tolerant plants, and even trees in areas that benefit directly from the extra seasonal watering they will receive. The Garden has created so many of these rain gardens that the entire property has become a rain harvesting machine and increases our water table*2 substantially for the coming season.

Rain gardens go together with landscapes on slopes. Keeping new or young plants alive on a slope can be a challenge during formative years. Use your resources and dig a puddling swale on the slope just above the plant. This scooped out divot will now puddle and have time to infiltrate into the root ball area of your plant. The idea is to water heavier but less frequently so the bigger the better. A berm can also be added on the slop below the plant to help hold in water.

Every drop of water counts! Contain irrigation water into its intended area. Typically, when an irrigation station has completed its programmed watering, the remaining water in the pipes now drain out through the lowest irrigation nozzle overflowing and onto the sidewalk or pathway. By digging a channel at the foot of the slope, and possibly a small catch basin if needed, you can use every drop of water from the irrigation system as well—and that is water that you paid for.

Follow these tips and visit The Garden to check it out for yourself. Finally, adapt these concepts into your own landscape. Your plants will thank you!

*1 Grey water is the water from faucets, showers, bathtubs, washing machines — anything that’s not laden with human waste, food or toxic.

*2 The water table is the boundary underground that is between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation.

Ms. Smarty-Plants™

Goes Batty

Animal Encounters & Trick or Treat Trails. Let’s Go Batty!

Wear a costume and bring a trick or treat bucket if you dare. Pizza for purchase will be available after the show in the plaza at the Bubble Dance Party!

$8 Members / $10 General $12 at the door / Kids 2-yrs & under free Saturday, Oct 15, 5:30pm – 8:00pm Show begins at 5:45pm

Youth Education 2022-2023 School Year Programs with Ms. Smarty-Plants™

Schools are in session and students need to get back to nature! Our school field trips, classroom visits, and assemblies are NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) and CA State Standards aligned! With animal encounters and interactive learning, Ms. Smarty-Plants™ makes learning fun and unforgettable!

Schedule your program at www.mssmartyplants.org or contact our education department about Title 1 school funding at SmartyPlants@thegarden.org.

For more information about Ms. Smarty Plants™ or to donate to The Garden’s education programs, visit MsSmartyPlants.org

Earth

October is World Habitat Awareness

No matter how small a space

have, it’s possible to create a wildlife habitat or add to someone else’s. Plant flowers, trees, and shrubs that are common in our area

act as shelter and food sources for wildlife, provide a water source for thirsty critters

make sure to take in the beauty

PLANT JOKE OF THE DAY!

pumpkin

Copper Canyon Daisy

Copper Canyon Daisy, also called mountain marigold, makes a wonderful addition to any fragrant garden. If you were a deer, the strong smell of this daisy would turn you away, nose to the sky! Butterflies and other beneficial insects happen to love this tough perennial with bright yellow flowers and festive fall bloom!

Plant Superstar!

Volunteer Training

2-Day Training

Mondays, 8:30am-12:30pm

Oct 3 & 10,

Meet wonderful people and help our Garden grow! Register for the two-day training. FREE

SEASONAL CALENDAR

Very Merry GardenFestive Cooking & Holiday Spirits

Friday, Dec 2, 5:30pm-8:00pm

Add a touch of nature to your holiday gatherings. Learn to make a farm to table dish you can whip up at home with Chef Nicolai and enjoy a garden to glass refreshment and mixing demonstration by Edgehill Herb Farm.

$25 MEMBERS / $33 General (21+)

iPhone Photography Series

Thursdays, 3-4pm

Oct 6, 13, & 20 - Virtually on ZOOM

Elevate your photos from ordinary snapshots to exquisite moments! 3-part virtual series + field day with Docent Instructor, Sally Long.

$20 MEMBERS / $28 General

Photo Contest

Enter now - Nov 2

Photo Exhibition: Nov 5 (All Day)

The Garden’s first ever Photo Contest is open to all amateur photographers. No entry fees, and cash prizes will be awards.

Landscape Design Consultations

Professional advice for water-efficient landscape projects.

TheGarden.org/consultations

Photo provided by: SDCWA

$70 MEMBERS / $85 General

Saturday, Nov 5, 10am-2pm

Members Preview 9am-10am

Tickets will be sold at the event. $6 Members; $11 General; Kids 2-yrs & Under FREE

Celebrate all that fall has to offer! Garden trails bustling with exclusive plant sales, wonderful landscape workshops, local merchants, and a gorgeous collection of photographs at our first ever Photo Contest. Ms. Smarty-Plants™ will share a special Song & Sign for families, while landscape professionals lead tours and consultations for gardening enthusiasts. Come out and enjoy food, flora, and the fresh air of fall.

Online Seasonal Calendar

Scan code!

Details & registration at

Family Yoga

Lil’ Sprouts Storytime with Ms. Smarty-Plants™

3rd Wednesdays, 9:30am

Catch a heartwarming storytime and nature craft with the magical Ms. SmartyPlants™. Registration is required. This event is FREE thanks to Dr. Seuss Foundation and Boys & Girls Foundation!

Garden Tours

First Saturdays at 9am

Garden Yoga Chair Yoga Fitness Classes

Gentle Garden Yoga

Thursdays, Oct 20–Dec 15, 10:30-11:30am

The Fun Spot!

Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Goes Batty Saturday, Oct 15, 5:30pm–8:00pm Show begins at 5:45pm

A fun family-friendly interactive show about the importance of our most creepy crawly animals and Trick-or-Treating trails.

$8 MEMBERS / $10 General

$12 at the door / Kids 2-yrs & under free

Very Merry Garden with Ms. Smarty-Plants™

Friday, Dec 9, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Hosted by Ms. Smarty-Plants™, see your favorite garden twinkle and shine over the holiday season with fun activites.

$5 Kids 12-yrs & under / $11 Adults

Classes are FREE to Members or $12 drop-in. Visit TheGarden.org for a full schedule. Any changes due to weather are posted on the Classes page or Social Media.

It

Go!

first

Firewise Tips

they can focus on fighting the

Download

The best thing

Captains Thomas Shoots and Neil Czapinski

Thank

Fire,

Garden

keeping

but landscaping is her passion. She takes it one step further by adding unique design and art elements to her own garden as well as here at The Garden.

Together with her husband Vince, Kay re-designed The Garden’s “Retrofit House” and installed a new look to the Meadow Exhibit. Her home garden has been a part of ten Home Garden Tours and won the San Diego County California Friendly Landscape Contest in 2007.

There is no telling what she will be up to next, but you can be sure it will be beautiful!

Events & Happenings

Host

Looking for a gorgeous location to host your next offsite meeting or retreat? The Water Conservation Garden has numerous indoor and outdoor locations to suit any meeting size! From our indoor, garden-view, technology equipped, The Samuel M. Ciccati Education Center; to our intimate and shaded small amphitheater; to our large Amphitheater for 350 people, we have the perfect space for your professional needs!

more information, visit TheGarden.org or email jennyb@thegarden.org.

Garden

Corporate

California American Water County of San Diego

Barona Resort & Casino

Dr. Seuss Foundation

Hans & Margaret Doe Charitable Trust

Hunter’s Nursery

Integrated Regional Water Management

San Diego Gas & Eletric

San Dieguito Water District

Sycuan Casino & Resort

The Conrad Prebys Foundation

The San Diego Foundation

The Rice Family Foundation Union Bank

Walter J. & Betty C.

BECOME

Oscar & Ashley Acosta

Nydia & Carlos Acuna

Anthony & Blanca Alvarez

Karen & Christine Anderson

Rosalie & Scott Andrews

Marianne Armitage & John Moninger

Gabriel Arregui

Ani Asaro

Kathleen Astor

Amanda Blakeley

Christine & Robert Brown

Kathleen Browneller-Bickley

Cindy & Walt Bruecks

Susana & David Cardona

Irena & David Carpenter

Karen & Fred Carrick

Kathy Chean

Jenny & Evan Conrad

Sabeyda Diaz

Kristine DiCherchio

Kelly Disbrow

Jane & Peter Doft

Alvaro & Mary Dompe

David Donihue & Kate Peterson

Susan Doyle

Shawn & Lisa Druper

Annette & Donald El-Hajj

Holly Emmert

Rob & Roxanne Epstein

Skyler & Autumn Faulkner

Kayla Ferrugia

Anne Fontanesi

Amy Ford

Brook Foster

Whitnee Fountain Ruiz

Josh Franco & Mayra Chavez Andrew & Lauren Garcia

Hannah Garcia

Lisa Garvey

Linda Gonzalez

Jon & Cristine Goux

Tiffany & Dalton Griffith

Tamra Griggs

Elizabeth & John Groff

Rebecca & Mark Grzeskowiak

Brian & Melanie Hagerty

Cynthia Hamberg & Kurtis

Ibarra-Dosio

Andrea Hamilton & Madison

Serpico

Shannon & Stephanie Hanson

at The Garden!

Kiefer & Jessica Harter

Jacqueline & William Hernandez

Carl & Melissa Hillier

Patricia & Gary Hjelm

Daniel House & Patty Micciche

Rachel Jacob-Almeida & Paul

Alexander

Gustaaf & Svetlana Jacobs

Hannah & Howard Jarson

Ling-chih Kao & Chih-ping Li Rebecca & Vivienne Keith

Jenny & Mike Keller

Janet Kenner

Jill & Troy Kertzman

Dave & Pat Kleven

Hillary Lachman & Cody Gustaveson

Stephanie & Dennis Landaal

Sharon Lapinski-Richardson

Breanne Leinum

Tom & Laura Leisse

Kimberly Lemke

Matt & Madeleine Mahar Valentina Martin & Steven Crown

Robert & Karen Masar

Eve Mazzarella & Jason Collins Judy & Gregg McClain Jackie McNamara

Kristyna Mendez Marie Moody

Amy & Bill Morris

Karen Morse

Jean Navarro

Barbara Nelson Mary Nguyen & Jeremiah Bryant Cindy & Victor Niedens Linda Norton

Dianne & Mike Osterling Katrina Pacheco Judy Peacock Brett & Heather Pepin

Kelly & Kenzi Porter

Crystal Rainwater-Douda

Carla & Adam Riggs

Gina & Danielle Roper

Athena & Daniel Rosenbaugh

Margarita Ruelas

Dawn Rysdom & Michael Allard Eva Sarkees

Karoline & Eric Sato

Samantha Scheer

Leigh Schindler & Giora Shanhav

Lonnie Schuder

Wendy & Brian Scott

Sabrina Simeroth

Ivan & Stelena Siniavsky

Dave Smith

Mary & Erin Stephens

Katrina & Edwin Steppat

Sara Stuart & Ryan Sigler

Allegra Swift

Lee Taylor & Stuart Lee Sandy Terrell

Kathy Thale

Catherine Thiemann

Lindsay & Alex Trottier

Cheryl & Mark Underwood

Zuriel Uriarte

Kristopher & Leah VanLeeuwen

Maria Velasco

Fran Wade

Gerry Weiss

David & Mimi Weissman

Holly & Dan Wermiel

Robyn & Grant Westmorland

Sheree Willis

Caitlin Wion

Candace & James Ybarra

Maryana & Tetyana Yurchyshyna Steve Zasueta

Jennifer & Michael Zimmerman