[Scpg] A GREAT NEW FIND: NATIVE PLANT / VEGGIE NURSERY . . with knowledgable staff and thriving plants

Sat Apr 3 08:20:32 PDT 2010

I just met them for the first time this spring, and THESE GUYS ARE AMAZING ! It is a beautiful in their area. We made a day out of it. SO GLAD WE WENT TO THEM ! I could have bought ten times what I did. Fair prices and EXCELLANT selection. They have veggies as well.

As a small start up, lets support this new business.

Tina Mata 
Los Angeles

http://www.nopalitonursery.com/

We are located at:

     4107 E. Main Street
     Ventura, California 93003
     (805) 844-7449
     (Click here for Map)

- More Classes! Yes, we have finally gotten around to scheduling some new lectures, below is a brief description of our next class, there is a complete schedule for April and May at the end of this email.....

* NEXT WEEKEND! Saturday, April 10th, Author and Landscape Architect Susan Van Atta presents 'Designing your own Southern California Native Flower Garden'! , from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.  Susan will be speaking about the basics of designing and gardening with native plants here in our region, and she will draw on her 25 years + experience of designing with California native plants.  This 1 1/2 hour lecture will feature some beautiful photography Susan has gathered from her many landscape designs featuring natives, and will conclude with a book signing.  Truly a great opportunity for beginners and experts alike to learn from a highly-respected professional! $10 pre-registration, $15 at the door.

- We finally have some veggies! Over the past few weeks we have brought in more and more annual vegetables and culinary herbs, and we now have a great selection of Heirloom tomatoes, peppers, melons, squash, basil and other good stuff.  We will be adding new varieties every week, so come on by and check them out!

- NEW HOURS! We figured we weren't working hard enough, so we have decided to extend our hours for Spring and Summer. Nopalito is now open from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., for all of your low-water needs. To make things even more confusing, we will be closing early this Sunday (for Easter) at 3 p.m. Can't wait to see you all at 2:57 p.m.!

That's it for now, hope you all are doing well, and we look forward to seeing you soon at the nursery.  Thanks for supporting local business.......Antonio, Kenji and Rick @ Nopalito.

OUR CLASS SCHEDULE AS PROMISED.......
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Title - Designing your own Southern California Native Flower Garden, with Award-Winning Landscape Architect and Author Susan Van Atta.

When - Saturday, April 10th, 2010
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Where - Calvary Christian Fellowship Church
4221 East Main Street  (next door to Nopalito Nursery)
Ventura, California 93003

Admission - $10 Pre-registration, $15 At the Door

Description - Join us as we welcome award-winning landscape architect and author of the new book 'The Southern California Native Flower Garden' Susan Van Atta! Susan will be speaking about the basics of designing and gardening with native plants here in our region, and she will draw on her 25 years + experience of designing with California native plants.  This 1 1/2 hour lecture will feature some beautiful photography Susan has gathered from her many landscape designs featuring natives, and will conclude with a book signing.  Truly a great opportunity for beginners and experts alike to learn from a highly-respected professional!

About the author, landscape architect and lecturer: Long before sustainability became a focus in the design professions, Susan Van Atta’s work reflected a commitment to environmentally appropriate landscape design.  Susan approaches design with a deep understanding of environmental processes gained from a degree in environmental studies from UC Santa Barbara and an early career in California coastal planning and environmental impact assessment.  Her experience includes over twenty-five years as a practicing landscape architect since obtaining a degree in Landscape Architecture from CPSU, San Luis Obispo. Van Atta’s award-winning designs pay careful attention to form and detail, but her work transcends mere aesthetic improvements. Instead, Susan strives to “make places better” by regenerating the land, engaging the public in site understanding and site stewardship, and promoting health for both people and the environment. 

Van Atta frequently lectures on topics of design and sustainability at colleges and community forums. Her book on Southern California Native Plants was published in early 2009 by Gibbs Smith.

In 2009 Susan Van Atta was elected to the ASLA 2009 Council of Fellows for the impressive body of work she has created with a two-decade-long commitment to landscape design, habitat restoration, and the use of native plants.
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Title - 'Bringing the Desert Home' with horticulturalist Wendy Proud

When - Saturday, April 24th, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Where - Calvary Christian Fellowship Church Ventura...etc etc.

Description - Join us for an informative and timely lecture with Wendy Proud, Southern California sales rep. for the widely respected Mountain States Wholesale Nursery in Arizona.  Wendy will help dispell some of the myths about growing 'desert' plants in our area, and talk about how we can enjoy some these very showy plants here in Coastal California.  And guess what?....it doesn't have to be just cactus!  This lecture will feature some great photography, along with great ideas for every garden situation you can think of. Highly recommended for folks in our local 'hot' areas, including Ojai, Simi Valley and Agoura Hills!

Admission - FREE!!
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Title - 'Grow Your Own Fruit in the Hot Hills or the Cool Coast', with Jon Freeman-Wood

When – Saturday, May 1st, 2010, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Where - Calvary Christian Fellowship Church
4221 East Main Street (Next Door to Nopalito Native Plant Nursery)
Ventura, CA 93003

Description – Join us for a fun and informative talk about selecting and growing fruit trees in our area. From apples and blueberries to pomegranates and peaches, this class will cover specific varieties that are appropriate for our climate, along with proper planting and pruning techniques. Bring your questions! Jon Freeman-Wood is a licensed landscape contractor and an expert on fruit trees with over 29 years of experience.

Admission – FREE!! 

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What To Do With The Lawn', 
with landscape architect & contractor Owen Dell, author of Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies.
When - Saturday May 8th, 2010
           9:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Where - Calvary Christian Fellowship Church
            4221 East Main Street (Next Door to Nopalito Native Plant Nursery)
            Ventura, CA 93003
Description - The average 1000-square-foot lawn will cost more than $50,000 to maintain
     over a 20-year life span. Lawns are the most consumptive and least interesting
     part of the garden. They offer nothing to wildlife, use more fertilizer in the United
     States than is used in the entire Third World to grow food, necessitate the use of
     highly polluting mowing equipment, relentlessly deplete our limited water supplies,
     and demand constant attention for very meager rewards. Fortunately there
     are many alternatives to the traditional American lawn. What to do With the
     Lawn explores new and exciting options for turf areas. The class will cover design
     ideas, organic ways to remove an old lawn, alternative low-maintenance
     meadows, organic lawn-care tricks and tips, how to install new plantings and
     irrigation, and much more.
Admission - $10 Pre-registration; $15 At the Door (805) 844-7449
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'Growing California's Native Sages', with award-winning author Bart O'Brien

When - Saturday May 15th, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where - Calvary Christian Fellowship Church
4221 East Main Street  (next door to Nopalito Nursery)
Ventura, California 93003

Admission - $10 pre-registration, $15 At the Door

Description - Finally, Nopalito Native Plant Nursery is extremely proud, honored and (insert another great line here) to welcome Bart O'Brien from Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden! Bart will be joining us for a 3 hour lecture, broken up into 2 parts.  Part 1 will focus on the basics of gardening with native plants, which coming from an expert like Bart will be useful for every type of gardener imaginable! Part 2 will focus on one of California's most beloved Genus of plants, the Salvias, or Sages.  Bart will cover the proper growing and maintenance techniques for these garden treasures, and he will discuss a lengthy list of native sages appropriate for our region.  This lecture promises to be one of our best yet!  A book-signing will follow the lecture. Sign up early, and show up even earlier for best seats!

Bart O'Brien is Director of Horticulture and Curator of the Living Collection at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, the states largest public collection of California native plants in a garden setting.  He was named Horticulturalist of the Year in 2005 by the Southern California Horticultural Society, co-wrote the award-winning book ''California Native Plants for the Garden', and has probably even saved a few baby bald eagles along the way.  He is a fifth generation Californian, an authority on the native flora of our state and of northern Baja California, and is a very accomplished collector, grower, lecturer and author.