MAY MEETING
WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 2007, 10-Noon meeting
WHERE: The Faulkner Farm/UC Hansen Trust, 14292 W. Telegraph Rd. in Santa Paula
HOST: Ben Faber - UC Cooperative Extension Agent (Farm Advisor)
DIRECTIONS: Take HWY 126 (Santa Paula Freeway) to Santa Paula. Exit at Briggs Rd. and head north. Park on Briggs just before Telegraph Rd.
Our chapter members, their families & friends and the public are invited to tour the Faulkner Farm. We will gather for a short meeting (at 10:00 am sharp).
Ben Faber will tour us thru the various areas of this Farm & Ranch that was established in the late 1880s. It is now a preserved and restored urban farm and an agriculture research center and the Faulkner Farm encourages "sustainable horticulture practises".
We will view the newly established deciduous fruit tree orchard, and tour other specialty plantings including: a variety of subtropical edibles, avocados, 37 varieties of cherimoya, blueberries, etc. The Farm has the oldest macadamia in California, but unfortunately oak root fungus has infected it. Ben Faber said that people can do some pruning on the little trees if they wish to.
Hope to see everyone for this wonderful horticulture adventure.
This is an especially good meeting to bring the whole family.
****** CASA DEL HERRERO by Sheila Bartsch
Our April trip to Casa Del Herrero was filled with awe and delight. We split up into two groups guided by Molly Barker and Duke McPherson. Ms. Barker is the Director of Horticulture and Mr. McPherson is the Arborist at the Casa. Our small groups allowed for a personal touch. We met in front of the spectacular Spanish Colonial Revival home designed by George Washington Smith. In front of the home is a Moorish styled fountain centered in the geometric coble-stone drive. It is designed with antique tiles and an elegantly simple water piece. There are many Moorish designed fountains throughout the grounds that have the delicate sounds of a brook being close by.
As we strolled throughout the grounds, the many different gardens slowly revealed themselves. Off the kitchen and patio area is an enchanting herb garden. The aromas of sage, mint, lavender and thyme fill the air. The adobe looking wall separating the patio and herb garden is lined with espalier pomegranate and espalier fig. There’s also a little vegetable garden with artichoke, lettuce, sweet pea and more. A topiary kumquat citrus is close by leading one into the orchard.
The orchard contains a wonderful array of fruits. Some citrus grown in the orchard are the Dancy Tangerine (thin skinned) and the Minneola and Samson Tangelo, a cross between a tangerine and grapefruit, the Bearce orange (sweet and juicy) and lemon trees. Some trees had copper lined trunks to protect them from snails. Other fruits grown are the yellow plums, apricots, cherimoya, loquats, kumquats, lillie-pillies, sapote and a variety of avocadoes in full flower. The orchard is divided by an axis that cuts through the entire grounds.
At the end of our tour we had a table tasting with many citrus, lillie-pillie, cherimoya and some apples from Duke’s house and Jerry’s house. We even had a chance to take some sample fruit home to enjoy.
It was a lovely morning filled with camaraderie and enjoyment. One can return to the Casa for a tour of the inside of the house. The grounds and inside house tour can be arranged by calling the Casa Del Herrero at: 805-565-5635 or write to Casa Del Herrero Foundation, 1387 E. Valley Rd., Montecito, CA 93108 or email at: casatour@silcom.com.
******CALENDAR
Save Saturday, June 16 for our tour of the newly established cherry orchard and perhaps do some wine tasting after the meeting (optional) at Old Creek Ranch & Winery in the Ojai Valley.
******TREASURER’S REPORT: The current balance is $5,563.79
