CALIFORNIA RARE FRUIT GROWERS
WEST LOS ANGELES CHAPTER
Field Trip: Saturday August 14, 2004 10:00 a.m.
Papaya Tree Nursery
12422 El Oro Way Granada Hills
Directions to Papaya Tree Nursery: Take the 405 North to the 118. Take the 118
West to Balboa Blvd. Turn North (right) onto Balboa and continue to Midwood
Drive. Turn left on Midwood and then an immediate right onto El Oro Way. 12422
will be on your right.
The Papaya Tree Nursery is a wonderful rare fruit nursery founded by David and
Tina Silber. Their son, Alex, is now in charge of the nursery. Alex, like David
before him, grows fruit trees that are unavailable anywhere else, traveling to
collect seeds and/or cuttings in faraway places. Before deciding to grow a new
plant, they do very extensive research to learn about the plant's needs and
possible problems, as well as the feasibility of developing the plant. Tina
researches and develops recipes for the new fruits. Alex grows his trees to
fruiting maturity to determine good varieties for Southern CA. David and Tina
are long-term members of the CRFG and Alex grew up in the CRFG. You will be able
to purchase plants. A list of plants available is attached.
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Our next meeting will be September 11, at the Ken Edwards Center.
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Blueberry order (available to members only):
Lynn Maxson will repeat last year's process for ordering blueberries from Fall
Creek Nursery (www.fallcreeknursery.com). They were large, healthy, and fruiting
this spring!
Lynn will accept orders for Southern and (N)orthern (an option this year)
varieties: Biloxi, Emerald, Jewel, Jubilee, Millennia, Misty, Oneal, Ozarkblue,
Santa Fe, Sapphire, Sharpblue, Southmoon, Star, and Legacy (N). He will order
the "Grow Bag Gallon" ($3.95 ea.) We will apportion the "estimated" shipping and
handling fees on a per plant basis. This should come to approximately $3.00 per
plant, making a rounded total of approximately $7.00 per plant.
For you to order, Lynn needs your name, phone number, email address (if
possible), the variety(ies) desired, and quantity of each. Relatively simple and
to the point. Order as soon as possible to insure that you are able to take part
in this blueberry bonanza!
Phone Lynn at 805.527.3912.
Or email him at lmaxson@pacbell.net
You can mail him your request:
Lynn Maxson, 1261 Ahart St.
Simi Valley, CA 93065,
If you are interested, he suggests you do it sooner rather than later.
Chapter News:
An overflow crowd was on hand for our July 10th meeting to find out why they
should FEED THEIR SOIL, NOT THEIR PLANTS. Charles Portney, pinch-hitting for
ailing Glen Young, hit a home-run with his informative and interesting talk
about the benefits of all organic gardening
After many years of trial and error, Charlie has discovered the secrets of
attaining almost perfect soil. Many of his methods are contrary to recognized
gardening standards. Bottom line, they work! Plants that cannot be grown in our
climate thrive in Charlie's garden.
What are some of his methods? Use only organic materials (avoid bone meal and
blood meal); use compost only as a mulch, never dig it into your soil; do not
dig up your entire planting area, just dig holes where you insert individual
plants; you should not need to fertilize most plants, exceptions include
container plants and some fast growing annual vegetables which should only need
occasional feeding with cottonseed meal.
If you question these guidelines, you obviously have not visited Charlie's
garden. Charlie thinks outside the planter box. THANK YOU, Charlie for a very
enlightening and enjoyable Saturday morning.
We also had a HUGE plant sale, with hundreds of plants. Thanks to all who
brought plants to share, and a special thanks to Charlie. No one needed to leave
empty handed!
We also had many great-tasting fruits and other edibles. Thanks to those kind
souls also! Sharing trees and bounty is a large part of the CRFG.
Glen Young is not yet fully recovered. Glen, we are hoping you are healthy and
out there with your fruit trees very soon.
Chair: Joe Heinz 310-457-3040
email: heinnormjoe@aol.com
Vice Chairs: Norma Heinz & Margaret Frane
Secretary: Selma Seps
Treasurer: Joan Wilder
Field Trip Coordinator: Herb Lees
Plant Chair: Ray Bourguignon
Raffle: Claire Lees
Hospitality: Lily Downing
Newsletter: Hal & Cicely Golden, Janet Leigh
Chapter News Reporter: Ray Bourguignon
Membership: Margaret Frane 310-828-0092
Back to California
Rare Fruit Growers West Los Angeles Chapter page.
Previous Newsletters: May 2004, July 2004
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