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2025

General Meeting Speakers:



MAY 12, 2025
Speaker:        Denise Godbout-Avant,

                         Stanislaus County Master Gardener
Topic:             Ageless Gardening

 

JUNE 9, 2025
Speaker:        Judy Moore and Deborah Clipper

                         TGC President and First Vice President
Topic:             Watch Us Grow–

                         Honoring Past TGC Presidents

 

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Denise spent her career in science
education and research, teaching
biology lab at Merced College, lab
technician at Shell Lab and MJC,
and education coordinator at the
Great Valley Museum at MJC (GVM). Since retirement she has been a docent at GVM, a member of MJC’s Science Colloquium committee (a STEM talk series), and a UC Master Gardener at Stanislaus County since 2020. She is passionate about reading, lifelong learning, travel, and teaching others about sustainable, water-wise, pollinator-friendly, native plant gardening.

Denise Godbout-Avant
Email: deniseread@aol.com
Mobile #: (209) 604-3154

 

Mailing address:

3204 Lake Hill Ct.,

Modesto, CA  95355

 

Planning & Growing a

California Native Garden

Cari Hill, Owner

 

Blossom Hill

Native Plant Nursery

14297 Orange Blossom Rd.

Oakdale, CA 95361

www.blossomhillnatives.com

In 2010 we moved to the country and acquired a blank landscape— literally with nothing planted. After some preliminary plantings we had a large area to consider. Our goal was to have beautiful results, low maintenance, low water and other inputs, and plants of interest— not just the normal “store nursery” plants. Thus began our journey with, and learning of, California Native Plants.

After growing and propagating Natives, we found we enjoyed this up and coming way of landscaping.  Of particular interest is the diversity of Natives, the natural growth cycle, beauty, pollinators they attract (especially Hummingbirds) and learning about Native California flora. This was the beginning of Blossom Hill California Native Plants.

Since 2014 we have offered California Natives to a geographical area of California that has little available from commercial nurseries.  We have learned that it is not only about the plants, but also the people.  From those with vast knowledge to those just investigating Natives, all are a joy to get to know and support.

In 2021 I retired from the Vegetable Seed business,. We expanded the assortment and nursery area and now have over 100 species and 3000 plants available annually. One of the more interesting aspects of a Native Garden is the cross pollination of species that are normally geographically isolated—naturally creating new species.  Currently we will offer three plants that are original to our Nursery: two sages and a fuchsia.

With the current water situation in California, we have seen a marked increase in the demand for Native Plants. People are interested and learning. We look forward to supporting the growing Native Landscaping movement and the people leading this transformation.

SPEAKERS

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