Native plants will be the focus at Garden Club

The Garden Club will meet on Monday, Nov. 21, in Clubhouse 2 at 1:30 p.m. The featured speaker will be Monty McDivitt, president of the Niguel Botanical Preserve Board of Directors, who will talk about the preserve and native plants.

The Niguel Botanical Preserve is an 18-acre nature preserve in Laguna Niguel, with extensive collections of Mediterranean climate plants. McDivitt has been volunteering there since 2008 and was elected to the board of directors in 2010. He oversees many special projects at the preserve, including the development of undeveloped areas by orchestrating the installation of irrigation, new pathways and overseeing plant selection.

He is also responsible for many fundraising events, the organization and facilitation of plant seminars, and management of spring and fall planting events with the help of many volunteers. McDivitt lives in Laguna Niguel with his dog, Ben, with whom he spends many afternoons and weekends on the trails of Niguel Botanical Preserve looking for squirrels, irrigation problems and analyzing plant performance.

Tickets for the club’s annual Christmas luncheon cost $25 per person and will be on sale in the lobby. The luncheon will be held on Dec. 19 in Clubhouse 2 starting at 11:30 a.m. The theme this year is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Country Garden will cater a buffet-style lunch featuring grilled chicken with sundried tomatoes and artichoke hearts, penne pasta and salad plus festive cupcakes for dessert. There will be entertainment and opportunity drawings for door prizes and a wonderful array of gift baskets. The luncheon is open to all LW residents and their guests. Those who can’t attend the meeting should call Nancy Goldstein at 562896-8604 to reserve tickets.