Water Wise and Winsome in Winter
Drought tolerant California native shrubs appear to frame the kiosk in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. 
Bright orange Toyon berries (Heteromeles arbutifolia) bring cheerful color to the winter garden, and make the birds, who enjoy eating the berries, happy, too. 
Sugarbush (Rhus ovata) is a stand-out at this time of year. 
Gooseberry (Ribes) has attractive white flowers in winter. 
Both the flowers and edible berries that follow are attractive.
Photos by Les Dublin.
After the talk, horticulturist and landscape designer John Lamar answered the group's many questions before leading participants into the garden. 
Participants watched John demonstrate the correct way to prune a variety of specimens in the garden
and learned useful information about each plant along the way.
After the lesson, workshop participants put their newfound knowledge to the test during the hands-on portion of the workshop.
Photos by Les Dublin.