​Join the Delicious Revolution: Garden BItes at Goin Native Gardens this Summer

From Garden~ To Grill~To Table. All Grill Classes are interactive, hands on,  using the freshest organic ingredients from the garden or the local farms.

Take home new  healthy recipes. Incorporate healthy lifestyle practices while learning the many benefits of growing your own or buying locally. 

Relax in the surrounding gardens and say “Ahhhhh”. Summer series is heating up with mouth watering menus. First in the series:

" Family -Style Italian with Chef Giuseppina"

Date: Saturday June 8, 2013

Time: 11:00am-1:00pm

$50 includes class handout & meal.

Join us for a morning with Author & Tea enthusiast,Linda Thomas.

Eat.Be.Tea: Inside the Cup & On the Plate

From her book, “Tea with Betty”, Linda will be pairing a variety of teas with several tasty bites. Linda will share the

fundamentals in tea leaf &  history along with demonstrating  quick & easy bread recipes. 

Enjoy the Goin Native gardens while sampling savory bites & delicious petite sweets from local pastry chef,Kevin Montoya of Carley Cakes.

In addition for weekend purchases :Succulents, Herbs, Organic Olive Oil & Lotions along with signed copy of “Tea with Betty”  

Date: Friday MAY 10 & Saturday MAY 11

Time : 11:00 AM-1:00 PM

Cost : $ 50

Limited Seating 

FEW seats remaining for Saturday, Call first before purchasing

949 606-6386 or email   goinnative@gmail.com

By Brian Park and Andrea Swayne — Read the full article on the Capistrano Dispatch

Goin Native: Gardening enthusiasts show off their green thumbs in San Juan Capistrano

In 2009, after 30 years as a hairdresser, Marianne Taylor decided to make a style change of her own by turning her passion for gardening into her new life’s work.

Goin Native’s Garden Angel volunteers visit Los Rios Park twice a month to help care for more than 50 plant species in the 6.5-acre park. Photo by Brian Park

With help from a business partner, Taylor started Goin Native, a series of gardening classes from a small property near her home in the Los Rios Historic District in San Juan Capistrano.

“The mission statement is to get people aware of sustainability and get them involved in the garden,” Taylor said. “I call myself a teacher and a ‘dirt therapist’ because you learn a lot about yourself when you get your hands in the dirt.”

But along with classes on planting succulents and cooking organic foods straight from the garden, Goin Native also provides a public service in the form of some generous green thumbs.

Twice a month, Taylor leads a group of eight to 15 volunteers, known as the Garden Angels, to Los Rios Park, where they do the lion’s share of the work in looking after more than 50 plant species in the 6.5-acre city park.

Since Goin Native started at the same time the park opened, Taylor and her small army of dedicated volunteers have spearheaded many of the landscape changes to the park, specifically in the area surrounding the Montanez Adobe.

Most of the plants in Los Rios Park are native or drought tolerant species. In addition to California poppies, the park also boasts buddleia, Cleveland sage, purple sage and a variety of succulents.

“The look that we wanted was to plant it in such a way that it was just designed naturally without human hands,” Taylor said.

In recent years, more succulents and drought tolerant plants have been introduced due to severely less rainfall, according to Taylor. Parts of the park feature a timed, drip system to water plants, but an unusually dry winter season has forced Garden Angel volunteers to use garden hoses more often.

“The plants rely on local rains, but unfortunately, we’re in the middle of a drought, so we’ve been giving them a hand up,” Taylor said. “We’ve also added a few more aloe vera plants because they need a little less water than the drought tolerant plants.”

The Garden Angels have also taken it upon themselves to boost the dwindling numbers of Monarch butterflies and bees. In the case of the butterflies, volunteers have planted milkweed, which is the primary food source for Monarch larvae, or caterpillars.

“We really want the Monarch butterflies to be a specialty here. They’re a migratory species, so we want them to find a pathway here and call San Juan Capistrano their home, just like the swallows,” Taylor said.

Taylor said the Garden Angels intend to add another day in Los Rios Park to their monthly schedule by bringing the city’s youth groups into the fold. However, with plans to look after the entire park and the beltway leading into the neighborhood from Del Obispo Street, the group can always use more help.

For more information about Goin Native or to volunteer with the Garden Angels, visit www.goinnative.net.

Cover Shot:

April 6 is Designated California Poppy Day 

Over 100 years ago, on December 12, 1890, the members of the California State Floral Society voted for a flower that they thought would best serve the State of California as an official emblem. There were three contestants; the California poppy (Eschscholzia), the Mariposa lily (Calochortus) and the Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri).

In her article, California's Esteemed Golden Poppy, Naomi Mathews writes "...the California Poppy won the esteemed title of 'Official California State Flower' by an overwhelming landslide." The showy Matilija poppy (also called the giant poppy) received no votes and the beautiful Mariposa lily received only three votes.

It took almost 13 years for the California Legislature to get around to adopting the winning golden poppy as the California State flower. The golden poppy, Eschscholzia, was selected as the official State flower of California by an act of the Legislature on March 2, 1903. In 1973, the law was amended to designate April 6 of each year as California Poppy Day.

Though the act stopped short of naming a particular species, the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the variety generally thought of as the official State flower.

​The Mad Hatter is currently running around looking for a summertime date for you to come play in the garden.

Whimsical time for Mother & Daughter to learn the art of Tea and Gardening and the time to enjoy it together.

Coming soon.........

Goin Native offers a variety of intimate Garden Classses for groups of ten to fifty. Ideal Garden location for Bridal Shower, Rehearsal Dinner, Mother & Daughter​ Gatherings or a Small Wedding.

Spring time is THE BEST time for any gathering ,Wisteria and Orange blossoms are intoxicating with the perennial gardens flourishing with color and textures.

Call Marianne for more details regarding a private class or event. Goin Native 949 606-6386 

​Goin Native is Bloomin' with Color, Come on over for a whiff of Wisteria and Orange blossoms together.

The perfect location for your garden party , birthday or rehearsal dinner.Each season brings its own color and charm.Any event will become magical amongst the glorious blooms.

Event Packages start from $750.00. Please email Marianne for further details or for a visit. Goinnative@gmail.com

​A Morning with the "Galloping Gourmet" came by a pleasant surprise while visiting my son in Mt Vernon Washington.

We were invited for a morning cup of tea at the home to Graham and Treena Kerr. What a lovely Godly couple ...every moment with them was scrumptious!

After reading his latest book "Growing at the Speed of Life", Graham quoted on the cover,

 " As the Galloping Gourmet, I cooked just about everything that grows-but I'd never grown a thing I'd cooked."

As I dove in deeper in the book, he expresses his new found passion for gardening and asked his readers to share gardening tips via email.

I've learned in life, if you don't ask you won't receive, so I emailed him asking if he and his wife accept visitors.

Low and behold, he answered back,YES, when can you come over?  It's amazing how God works, I happened to be visiting my son in Mt Vernon 

which happens to is the Home & Cottage of the Kerr's, over looking the majestic Skagit Valley. (Think Tulips) 

What an amazing visit the four of us had, we covered garden, health, sustainability, diabetes,

relationships, stewardship,and our course his time as the most popular daytime TV cooking host in the 1970's.

This Summer Goin Native will introduce many of the garden recipes Graham has created from this book...stand by for further information.

​Spring is Succulent Time, Saturday March 30 kicks off the first class at Goin Native:Thriller ,Filler and Spiller,

Learn how to design with succulents.Class includes container,five plants, soil, top dressing and design handout.

Class cost: $35.00  Time: 10:00 AM 

Reserve a seat today at the table. Please send an email to goinnative@gmail.com.

Teacher: Marianne Taylor  

Location: The Los Rios Historic District 31661 Los Rios Street San Juan Capistrano 92675

All classes taught outside, dress accordingly.

See website for map and directions

Ideal class for Bridal showers, Birthday parties, Book & Garden Club

Ask about private parties and catering for your special event

​Designing with Succulents has never been easier! From Pinterest to Home and Garden magazine succulents are used for everything.

From Patio Containers to Bridal Bouquets to Landscaping and Wall Hangings, succulents are user friendly and keep on giving.

Marianne teaches the basics of design for plantings & plant care for succulents.

Classes are given from April to October on select Sat. Days of class will be determined by the amount of signups (Ten class minimum)

Container classes start from $35.00, includes plants ,soil , design class and handout. 

Class : March 30 .Time 10:00 AM

Cost $35.00  includes five plants ,soil , design class and handout. 

To sign up for a Spring Class, please leave your name and email address to Goinnative@gmail.com