Native and Ornamental Grasses For Your Garden

From Lawn substitutes to sculptural accents and dynamic meadows, local experts Robert Abe and Carol Bornstein will discuss how grasses, sedges, and rushes make great garden and landscape plants. Whether used as low-water alternatives to conventional lawns, for focal points, or for erosion control, grasses and grass-like plants make lovely landscape compositions. Hundreds of species and cultivars are now available.

Robert Abe began his career in the nursery business after studying horticulture at Cal Poly SLO. He is the owner of Grassland Growers in Carpinteria. Carol Bornstein is a horticulturist, garden designer, and co-author of two books: Reimagining the California Lawn and California Native Plants for the Garden. She is the former Horticulturist at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and the former Director of the Nature Gardens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Everyone is welcome to this FREE monthly meeting of the Santa Barbara County Horticultural Society. There is a plant raffle at the end of the meeting. Raffle tickets are available at the door, where you can also join the Society. Member benefits include exclusive tours of local, private gardens. August 8 Garden Tour: An Enchanting Summerland Retreat (Photo credit: Carol Bornstein; design by Jack Kiesel)