STOCKTON GARDEN CLUB
ABOUT US
We're almost upon our 100th Anniversary!
Founded in 1926, the same year as the Stockton Symphony, the Stockton Garden Club is one of the first such clubs to be established in California.
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As members we hope to encourage learning and a love of gardening in the community and to share information about restoration, improvement, and protection of our environment through Club interactions & activities, community outreach programs and knowledgeable and engaging speakers.
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Throughout our history we have donated thousands of dollars to reforestation through the Penny Pines program, sponsored three Blue Star Memorial markers in our community and have awarded numerous scholarships to local students.
Stockton Garden Club is a member of:
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Valley Lode District consists of 20 clubs in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Alpine, Mono, and Sacramento counties.
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California Garden Clubs, Inc. is divided into 28 districts encompassing 350 clubs and 21,000 members. Mission Statement: CGCI promotes gardening, floral design, civic beautification, environmental responsibility and the exchange of information and ideas
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Pacific Region Garden Clubs, Inc. consists of 8 western states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California, Arizona & Hawaii.
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National Garden Clubs, Inc. encompasses not only the entire United States, but several international organizations made up of nearly 6,000 clubs with over 190,000 members; providing education, resources, and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility.
OUR KEYSTONE
OAK TREES
QUERCUS LOBATA - Valley Oak Tree
is the keystone species in the Central Valley of California
and as such, has been chosen as our signature plant to represent
our club's dedication to the conservation of native plants in California.
KEYSTONE PLANT
"A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically or cease to exist altogether.
California is home to more than 20 native species of oaks, including several that are found nowhere else on Earth.
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The Valley Oak grows into the largest of North American oaks. They grow in hot interior valleys of California where there is a water table within reach of the roots; growing quickly reaching 20' in 5 years; 40' in 10 years and up to 60' in 20 years. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years.
As keystone plants, oaks support vast amounts of insects, which in turn support myriad other creatures. They directly provide food and habitat for birds., mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. For instance, it is likely that up to 151 butterflies use the oaks as a host plant.
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If you are planting an oak tree, make certain it's native to your region. Non-native oaks don't support the same kind of robust biodiversity as native species.