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
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 […]
On Behalf of Succulents
Jeff Moore, author and succulent nurseryman who spoke to the San Diego Horticultural Society in January, gave a fascinating lecture and slide show about succulents. They are plants which retain moisture for long periods of time (as a good thing). Cacti and succulents fall into this category. Tillandsias (air plants), bromeliads, and even some orchids […]
Centerpieces Easily Assembled with Minimal Talent and Money
Since the Mission Hills Garden Club had a pot-luck work shop in lieu of the November meeting, the creations of the members are definitely worth a mention, especially since the way they were created is easy and fun. Members were instructed to bring something to decorate as well as a dish to share. The food […]
Water, Water, Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink
2014 is third year of drought; having Kelly Mooney from the San Diego County Water Authority speak to the Mission Hills Garden Club was a welcome event. After a brief overview of the agencies dealing with our water supply, statistics about water usage, Mooney had a host of suggestions and resources for us to utilize […]
Hidden in Plain Hidden Sight (Part 3)
Unless you take the time to stop and observe closely, you will miss thousands of mini soap operas taking place in the lives of every living creature. Meredith French, master gardener and long-time Mission Hills Garden Club supporter in every possible way, shared Francis Bacon’s words: “Even in the most beautiful landscape, in the trees, […]
Part 2 of Hidden in Plain Sight
During the Garden Club’s May meeting Master Gardener Meredith French covered a wealth of material regarding the insects of a healthy garden. Half of all living things are insects. There are over one million identified insect species, and scientists believe there may be as many as 20 million species that have yet to be unidentified. […]
