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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2023 | 51 "Blessed be agriculture! If one does not have too much of it." – Charles Dudley Warner At our last meeting our program featured Mack Nash, Curator of the Gardens at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. The park is a beautifully displayed wildlife park within a natural desert plant garden. To quote Mr. Nash, "I am passionate about native plants and our natural world." He offered a presentation on the remarkable variety and beauty of the park's native-garden landscaping, and the particular plants that serve as habitat for the resident animals. The park also has an animal hospital for rescued and injured animals. We're looking forward to the next two programs and our Holiday Luncheon to end the year. This month, Beekeeper Ron Duncan will return to inform us on the current state of our local honey bee population. Last time he was here, he explained the many stressors that have contributed to the depopulation of the ecologically essential honey bee. We're eager to hear if any improvement has been made. Something a bit different in November: Open to the entire Sun Lakes community, on Nov. 8 from 10 to 11 am, the Garden Club is proudly hosting a presentation by a spokesperson for the Riverside National Cemetery and Memorial Park (at right). The talk is meant to feature this stunningly beautiful resting place for our country's military veterans and (to some extent) their families. The speaker promises to explain the criteria for interment there and the variety of options available to honor those who have served us in the military. Look for an update next month in the Garden Club article of Lifestyles, on the Garden Club page of the Sun Lakes website, Channel 97, and Good Day Sun Lakes. (Photos by Linda Vieira.) Guests are always welcome to attend one of our meetings which are on the second Wednesday of every month at 10 am in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom (unless otherwise announced). Dates for the next two months are Oct. 11 and Nov. 8. Dues to join the Garden Club are only $15 a year. For more information, contact President Beverly Agner at (951) 306-7379. For membership questions, call Sherry Case at (951) 533-3584 or Linda Powers at (951) 769-3101. To have your fruit trees picked for the Banning H.E.L.P. Center or Carol's Kitchen, call Joy Bailey at (909 )856-4111. And finally, Pat Pennington will happily answer vegetable garden questions at (951) 314-9229. Garden Club