WINTER BLOOMS AND SPRING TO-DOS

PREP YOUR HABITAT, BUT STOP TO ADMIRE CAMELLIAS

IT’S JANUARY, the time for Southern Californians to be pruning our roses, prepping our garden soil and admiring exotic camellia blooms at our botanic gardens and camellia shows happening this month and next. Roses need a good winter pruning to help them bloom strong in the spring. Just avoid tromping in the garden while the ground is saturated because that compacts the soil.

Winter is also a great time to replenish depleted garden soil by adding compost, aged steer manure, coffee grounds and other organic amendments. As for pleasure, is there anything more lovely than a camellia blooming pink or creamy white against its glossy dark-green leaves? The season for these delicate flowers is short in Southern California, just January and February, but most of the region’s botanic gardens have some kind of display. And the region’s camellia societies are celebrating with a series of shows this month.

Camellia expert Bradford King, president of the Southern California Camellia Society, says two of the best displays are at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, and Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, which boasts one of the largest collections in the country. If you want to grow camellias, King says Nuccio’s Nursery, 3555 Chaney Trail in Altadena, has the best selection; the family-owned business has specialized in azaleas and camellias since 1935.

Here’s our new list of camellia-heavy plant and garden events in the L.A. area. You can find even more events online at latimes.com/plants. Please email your garden- and plant-related events to jeanette.marantos@latimes.com at least three weeks before they happen , and we might include them in the calendar.

JAN. 15 AND JAN. 19 “That’s SO Cal: Introduction to Growing Our Native Plants,”

is an outdoors class at the South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd. in Rolling Hills Estates, from 2 to 3 p.m. Terry Huang, the garden’s director of living collections, learning and engagement, will discuss SoCal’s unique climate, plant communities and tips about how to select and cultivate native plants. Attendees will also receive a free guide from the Theodore Payne Foundation called “From Lawn to Garden.” Admission is $30, or $25 for members. southcoastbotanicgarden.org

THROUGH JAN. 16 Lightscape at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden,

301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, is the resumption of the arboretum’s annual nighttime holiday event. This year’s show is a new collection about a mile in length, including a walk-through winter cathedral of white lights and a “fire garden.” The paths are wheelchair accessible. General admission tickets start at $32 or $30 for adults, $20 or $18 for ages 3-12 and free for children 2 and under (weekends are more expensive). The tickets have timed entries every 15 minutes between 5:30 and 8:45 p.m., but visitors can stay until the park closes at 10 p.m. Members save $3 per ticket, and advance purchase is recommended due to high demand. VIP tickets ($70) permit f lexible, priority entry on the ticketed date and VIP parking. arboretum.org

JAN. 16 Plant identification walk at Towsley Canyon Park,

24335 the Old Road, in Newhall from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Plant ecologist Richard Rachman discusses ways to identify and track plants, especially in areas that have recently experienced wildfire. The walk is sponsored by the Theodore Payne Foundation and advance registration is required. Tickets are $25 for the general public, $20 for members and $10 for high school and college students. theodorepayne.org

JAN. 16 Introduction to organic gardening basics

at the Cook’s Garden, 1033 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. An introduction to the basic components of organic gardening that includes overviews of soil management, plants for the season, fertilizing, pest and disease control. The class is limited to 20 people. Participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and present a vaccination card at the door. Register online, tickets are $35. thecooksgardenvenice.com

JAN. 17

Free admission day at California Botanic Garden in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. The gardens are usually closed on Mondays but will be open in honor of King’s birthday at 1500 N. College Ave. in Claremont from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are limited and advance reservations are required, except for members. calbg.org

THROUGH JAN. 17 South Coast Botanic Garden’s GLOW (Garden Lights & Ocean Waters) show

features thousands of lights throughout the garden designed to evoke bayous, beaches and a kelp forest. This year’s event also includes food and drink and music. Open daily between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $24.95 for members and $34.95 for nonmembers. Children 4 and under enter free. southcoastbotanicgarden.org

JAN. 22-23 Southern California Camellia Society

72nd “Early” Camellia Show

at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23. The general public may enter their homegrown camellia blooms free for judging from 7 to 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 22. The show is free to visitors after paid $15 admission to the gardens, ($11 for seniors 65 and older and students with ID, $5 for children ages 5-12. Members and children under 5 enter free.) Masks are required indoors. socalcamelliasociety.org

Baiko-En Bonsai Kenkyukai Society presents Winter Silhouettes Bonsai, the only show of deciduous, miniaturized trees in the U.S., at the L.A. Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. The show is free to visitors after paid $15 admission to the gardens, ($11 for seniors 65 and older and students with ID, $5 for children ages 5-12. Members and children under 5 enter free.) Nonmembers should purchase tickets online for timed entry, and masks are required indoors. arboretum.org

JAN. 29-30 Southern California Camellia Society 6th Camellia Show

at the L.A. Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 29 and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 30. The general public may enter camellia blooms free for judging from 7 to 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 29. The show is free to visitors after paid $15 admission to the gardens, ($11 for seniors 65 and older and students with ID, $5 for children ages 5-12. Members and children under 5 enter free.) Nonmembers should purchase their tickets online for timed entry, and masks are required indoors. socalcamelliasociety.org