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| OHCC LIVING | FEBRUARY 2019 | 35 Garden Club All residents are welcome to attend our general meeting on the second Wednesday of each month in Abravanel Hall beginning at 9:30 am for refreshments and socializing. The meeting starts at 10 am. Stop at the Greeters' table for a nametag and pick up a ticket for a chance to win one of the beautiful plants that we give away each month. If you want to sign up for membership or for volunteering, visit our Hospitality table. Our general meeting will be Feb. 13. Our speakers, Mariah and Marc Smith, are co-owners of Anderson's La Costa Nursery. Their topic of discussion will be Aloes and Agaves. Marc loves designing custom landscapes for his clients. Their nursery and garden design center has over 3,000 kinds of plants. Marc and Mariah are passionate business owners who enjoy working together. The two plants commonly known as aloe and agave are very similar. They are both succulents that have pointed, fleshy leaves with spines. They look quite similar to one another but are actually not closely related. The leaves of the aloe are fleshy. For example, if you break open one of the leaves of an aloe Vera plant, it will ooze its valued clear gel. Agaves, by contrast, are more fibrous. One variety of agave, the sisal plant, is cultivated for its fibers, which are turned into cord and rope. Coming Attractions for 2019: Some events for this year include the annual Garden Tour, outside tours and the Festival of Flowers. We are in the planning stages for these events. The Garden Club's participation in the Flea Market began in 1990. Monies made at the Flea Market were the beginning of the Beautification Fund in 1992. Another yearly event is the Christmas luncheon in December. Since 1992, in the late spring, the community has been treated to the Festival of Flowers. Themes for the Festival of Flowers have included: Gardens on the Moon, America the Beautiful, Round the World with Flowers, Fables and Fantasies, April Showers, Friendship through Gardening, Spring Fantasy, and The Golden Years of Hollywood. Many, many volunteers transform the Galleria and lobby accordingly. For two days, flower arrangements, garden art, community homeowner's specimen blooms, table settings, and a "tea room" serving punch and cookies delighted all. We haven't yet chosen a date for this year, the success of which will depend on the many volunteers.