General Membership meetings are held on the third Friday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the Palm Room (downstairs lecture hall) at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007 (626) 821-3222, one block south of the 210 freeway.

October 21: GROWING FERNS FROM SPORE- By Ann Herrington, Co-founder of the Southwestern Fern Society. Ann taught English and Math in Texas and researched which ferns will grow well in a climate that sees temperatures as high as 113F and as low as -5F. She left teaching to work in and eventually run Science & Technology, Inc. Ann is now retired and spends her time with her two grandchildren, gardening, traveling, reading and home schooling.

November 18: FERN DISEASES - By Dr. Jerrold Turney, Senior Biologist/Plant Pathologist for the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures for the County of Los Angeles. He has served as the curator of the camellia gardens at the Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens and as a research horticulturist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. In addition, Jerrold was formerly a licensed landscape contractor and is currently a licensed agricultural pest control advisor and an ISA certified arborist. His primary fields of expertise are plant pathology, mycology and arboriculture.

December 16: ARTISTIC HOLIDAY DECORATIONS WITH FERNS - By Candace Nakanishi, Judge, Speaker and Floral Designer with degrees in Nursery/Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture. Candy decorated the Flower and Garden building at the Orange County Fair for six years. Currently she is giving talks and demos for various garden clubs.

January 20: THE GARDENS OF BRAZIL - By Nels Christianson, International Patient Coordinator at UCLA Medical Center for Europe, North America and South America. As a Rotary Foundation scholarship recipient, he studied at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and speaks fluent Portugese. He is a member of the Sunset Cactus and Succulent Society and the Westchester Begonia Society. Nels plans to retire in Brazil.

February 17: BOTANICAL TRAVELS IN SOUTHERN CHILE - By Donald Hodel, Environmental Horticulturist and Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles. Don is the author of the current LAIFS Fern Lessons, is one of our most knowledgeable judges at the annual LAIFS Show in June and an excellent speaker.

March 16: FERNS OF CAMBODIA - By Jim Herman, Board Member of LAIFS. Travelogue presentation of Jim's recent trip to Cambodia.

April 20: BEHIND THE SCENES AT MONROVIA NURSERY - By Nicholas Staddon, Director of the New Plants Team at Monrovia Nursery and a Monrovia Craftsman for 20 years. Working with breeders, hybridizers and professional plant explorers, he scours the globe for new creations and discoveries in the plant world. Nicholas was born in England, where he attended Otley Agricultural College and received his awards in Agricultural Science. Before joining Monrovia, he worked in New Mexico, managing garden centers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

May 18: FERNS OF KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA - By David Schwartz, Xeric Fern Specialist - Among his talents, David is a "sought after" lecturer and hardy fern spore donor.

June 9 - June 10: LAIFS FERN AND EXOTIC PLANT SHOW AND SALE - Located at Ayers Hall in the Los Angeles County Arboretum - Don't miss it!