Conejo Valley Gardening Club Calendar

CVGC Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of the month from September thru May, unless it is a holiday month where we meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. The meetings are usually held at The First Methodist Church, in classrooms 11 and 12, 1000 E. Janss Rd. Thousand Oaks 91360. The Business Meeting is at 10:00 a.m. followed by refreshments and a program. The meetings include speakers on a variety of subjects from bees, to planting, Chumash Indian medicines, pollinators for the garden, water conservation, and other gardening-related topics. We also have hands-on workshops and at least one local garden tour during our club year.

General Meetings:

Conejo Valley Garden Clubs Programs for 2025-2026

SEPTEMBER MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Fall Welcome Potluck Lunch with a Bird Talk
10:00AM at Casas de la Senda, Lounge
3780 Cabrillo Avenue, Newbury Park, CA 91320

10:00 am- Business Meeting

10:30 -11:30 am- Program:

“Why Gardeners Matter to Birds”

by Professor Russell Galipeau

11:30 am- Potluck Lunch
Members with last names beginning with A-P bring salads & main dishes and last names Q-Z bring desserts.

Russell Galipeau will speak about the Conejo backyard birds and what you will see in our parks. Russ is the retired superintendent of Channel Islands National Park and teaches at CSUCI. He is on the board of Ventura Land Trust and has requested that his honorarium be donated to this group. He will tell us about “Who’s Singing”, a bird identifying app using its song.

After the bird talk, we will enjoy catching up over a fun potluck lunch.

Directions to Casas de la Senda Lounge:

Take the Borchard Road exit off US 101, go past Reino Road to the next street and turn right on Cabrillo Avenue. Find a large sign indicating Casas de la Senda and parking lot on the left hand side, about a quarter mile up Cabrillo Avenue... per Judy!

OCTOBER MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Cacti and Succulents 101

Meeting at the United Methodist Church,

1000 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

classroom 11-12, around to the left from Dickerson Hall.

9:30 am- Horticulture specimens arrive in green bottles

10:00 am- Business Meeting

10:30 am- Horticulture judging and refreshments.

11:00 am- Program:

John Martinez presents Cacti and Succulents 101. John is a founding member of Conejo Cactus and Succulent Society, and will speak on the fundamentals of growing these plants.

NOVEMBER MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 (a week early due to Thanksgiving)

Meeting at the United Methodist Church,

1000 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.

Floral Arrangements for the Holidays by Leslie Korbee

9:30 am- Horticulture specimens arrive

10:00 am- Business Meeting

10:30 am Horticulture judging, followed by refreshments.

11:00 am- Program:

Floral Arrangements for the Holidays by our member, Leslie Korbee. Leslie is a National Flower Show Judge and will share her ideas with us. She will bring three arrangements and discuss her flower selection and mechanics. Leslie will then create a fourth arrangement so we can observe the techniques.

DECEMBER MEETING - HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

Thursday, December 10, 2025

Holiday Lunch at Boccaccio’s on the Lake Restaurant,

32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Unit 110, Westlake Village, CA 91301

We will enjoy a Holiday Brunch at 11:30 am. We will gather inside the restaurant for a delicious holiday lunch. Please bring an unwrapped child’s present suitable for donation.

Tickets will be $45 with a choice of one of five entrees. An invitation with appetizer, entrée and dessert selections will be in the October Newsletter.

JANUARY MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Beginner Bonsai

Meeting at the United Methodist Church, Room 11-12

1000 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks

9:30 am- Horticulture specimens arrive

10:00 am- Business Meeting

10:3am- Horticulture judging, to be followed by refreshments.

11:00 am- Beginner Bonsai program

Damon DuBois, president of the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society, will demonstrate a beginners guide to creating the art of bonsai.

FEBRUARY MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Designing Harmonious Gardens with Feng Shui

Meeting at the United Methodist Church, Room 11-12

1000 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks

9:30 am- Horticulture placement

10:00 am- Business Meeting

10:30 am- Horticulture judging, to be followed by refreshments.

11:00 am- Program by Shelley Sparks

Shelley Sparks, a landscape designer, will illustrate how she uses the principles of feng shui to create peace, balance and harmony in the garden. Shelley is the author of the book “Secrets of the Land” which covers this subject.

MARCH MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, March 26, 2026

Growing Herbs and Teas in the Garden

Meeting at the United Methodist Church, Room 11-12

1000 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks

9:30 am- Horticulture specimens in green bottles arrive

10:00 am- Business Meeting

10:30 am- Horticulture judging, to be followed by refreshments.

11:00 am- Talk on growing Herbs in your yard.

Laura Pasetta, our speaker, is a master gardener and herbalist. She is a local gardener and chef and uses the plants from her garden. Laura has online programs covering herbs, drought tolerant and habitat gardens.

APRIL MEETING - GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Ambriz Kingdom of Plants in Carpinteria

At 09:30 am-, we will meet in the parking lot of the

United Methodist Church at 1000 E. Janss, Thousand Oaks

9:30 am- for a short business meeting to elect officers for the next year.

9:50 am- form car pools and depart for 4998 Foothill Rd, Carpinteria. When we arrive, Joe Ambriz, owner of Ambriz Kingdom of Plants, will share his passion for orchids, tillandsias, cacti, succulents and many other plants. We will take a tour of his green houses and have the opportunity to purchase plants. Lunch is on your own.

MAY MEETING - INSTALLATION LUNCH

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Installation lunch and horticulture awards at a location to be determined.

Details will be worked out closer to the event.

JUNE MEETING - JOINT BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Meeting for the old and new boards to exchange ideas for the new year.

Details to be announced.

All general meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month, unless it is a holiday month then we meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

United Methodist Church - Room 11/12 (unless otherwise indicated)

1000 E. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360