Barbara Strona
Barbara Strona is a native Californian who grew up in the Mid-West and Los Angeles. She and her architect husband, Carl, came to San Diego in 1968 and have lived in Mission Hills since early 1971. Barbara received a Bachelor of Arts from Scripps College with a major in English, and a minor in Art. She attended UCLA graduate school and received a General Secondary Credential. She taught English in Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, and at Point Loma High School. She has been a Realtor specializing in residential sales since 1984. Her passions include her job, reading, writing, foreign languages and foreign countries, animals (feathered or furry), theatre, and her family: husband, two adult children and two grandsons.
Barbara Strona's Latest Posts
A Lesson in Water Wise Gardens
In December I attended San Diego Horticultural Society’s meeting on Water Wise Lessons, given by Clayton Tschudy, director of Horticulture and Exhibits at The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon. This garden represents nearly 20 years’ experience in using drought tolerant plants. Tschudy discussed the garden’s history, both success and challenges of the Garden and subsequent innovations […]
To Clean or Not to Clean
What is it about having to clean a house that makes me tired? I suspect it may be my propensity toward procrastination. If I go into the kitchen to clean the stove, oven, fridge, counter tops, sink, floors, etc., I first notice the refrigerator. How can I clean it if I don’t organize it first? […]
Colorado Caper
I tend to make snap decisions about how I feel about places or things, but I often find out I was wrong. Since I skied in Aspen in the late 50s, I assumed Colorado was a place for skiing, period. I never thought of it in terms of anything else. I knew they had wildfires, […]
Learning to Love Succulents
Most of you know that I am not really a gardener. I kill more than I cultivate. However, Tom Tesh of Waterwise Botanicals may have changed my black thumb to khaki. In August my neighbor and I drove to Escondido to visit Tesh‘s Nursery where he has created a nursery, laboratory, and show cases for […]
Water Wise and Water Weary
Over the past few years we have heard more and more about conserving water. I often wonder about the practicality of some of these methods. Some make a great deal of sense. Others sound good but won’t work. Still others are rather bizarre. One of the oddest water-saving methods I’ve heard of is for plants. […]
Successful Gardening with Less Water
Damian Valdez, head urban farmer at San Diego City College, educated the Mission Hills Garden Club about how the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Program, a part of the Life Sciences Department, successfully cuts back on water while still growing lush, healthy plants which are both edible and ornamental. The program teaches students garden design and how […]
Eucalyptus: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Once upon a time Californians loved eucalyptus, or as Matt Ritter calls them, eucalypts. From Kate Sessions to my husband and me, eucalypts were welcomed with open arms. They are no longer favored; shunned because of their shallow and invasive roots, the oil and branches they drop copiously with no regard for whatever is beneath […]
PART 2: Balboa Park and the Panama Canal Exposition Then and Now
Nancy Carol Carter’s February talk gave many fascinating details about the Exposition of 100 years ago. The United States planned this exposition to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. The canal would allow boats to travel between the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. The United States had money to donate to the host city. […]
Balboa Park and the Panama Canal Exposition Then and Now (PART 1)
In February Nancy Carol Carter entertained the Mission Hills Garden Club with a colorful and fascinating talk about “Growing Balboa Park.” Carter is well qualified. She is a horticultural historian who publishes and speaks on topics including the development of Balboa Park, San Diego gardens, the olive industry and the contributions of Kate O. Sessions […]
Urban Seed
If you were in Old Town until before the end of March, you might have looked across Juan Street just up from La Piñata. You would have seen several shops and a sign that said The Urban Seed. This was the site of the January Garden Club meeting. Here you found an eclectic mixture of […]
