Water-retaining succulents get their moment in the sun
Aug. 24
The Palos Verdes Begonia Society’s 28th Begonia Show and Sale includes unusual begonias on display and for sale, as well as specialty vendors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. Free parking and admission to the show after $9 entry to the garden ($6 seniors and students). southcoastbotanic garden.org
Learn about invasive plants from L.A. Arboretum botanist Frank McDonough, who identifies Southern California’s most problematic invasive species and how to nip them in the bud before they become water gulpers that crowd out natives and other beneficial plants. 10 a.m. to noon, pre-registration required, $35 ($25 members). 310 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. arboretum.org
Aug. 31
The 36th Succulent Plants Symposium in the Ahmanson Room of the Brady Botanical Center at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road in San Marino, includes international succulent experts discussing a wide range of topics, from rare West Indian cactuses to endangered species legislation. Admission is $85, preregistration is required. huntington.org
The fall plant sale at the Bembridge House includes fairy gardens made by garden volunteers as well as droughttolerant plants such as succulents, aloes and cactuses, and hardy perennials, at 953 Park Circle in Long Beach. The sale is a fundraiser for the house and gardens. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free admission. lbheritage.org
Sept. 5 Microminiature roses are the topic of master rosarian Kathy Monge’s talk at the September meeting of the Pacific Rose Society at the Los Angeles Arboretum, 601 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Monge was named outstanding consulting rosarian for the Pacific Southwest District of the American Rose Society in 2018 and is past president of the Orange County Rose Society. The meeting begins with a potluck dinner at 7 p.m. and program at 8 p.m. Admission is free. pacificrosesociety .org
Sept. 8
The succulents of the high Drakensberg, a mountain chain in South Africa, are the topic of a talk by Tom Glavich, propagator of rare succulents and bulbs, during the September meeting of the South Coast Cactus and Succulent Society, 1-4 p.m. in Frances Young Hall at the South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills Estates. southcoastcss.org
Sept. 10
The Orange County Organic Gardening Club fall garden seedling exchange, part 1, will provide club members with the containers, soil and seeds to start a flat of vegetable seedlings in their home. On Oct. 8, members bring their seedlings back for the Bonanza Seedling Exchange and go home with vegetables and herbs. Open to all paid-up members. Meet in the Silo Building at the Centennial Farm in the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. californiagardenclubs.com/ocogc
If you have a plant-related class, garden tour or other event you’d like us to mention, email jeanette.marantos @latimes.com — with at least three weeks’ notice. Include a high-resolution horizontal photo, if possible, and tell us who to credit and what we’re seeing.