Jim Celeri of Celeri and Son Rhododendron Nursery was the guest speaker at the North Shore Garden Club's March 2011 meeting. Courtesy photo.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The North Lake Garden Club will meet on Tuesday, April 26.

The group will meet at Lucerne Community Church, 5870 E. Highway 20.

They will meet at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments and sharing plants, with the meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Jim Xerogeanes of Mendocino College will speak on a fantastic Oregon garden.

The club, which always has interesting presentations on gardening, is gearing up for the first annual High School Scholarship Fundraiser Garden Tour, Fashion Show, and Tea May 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The tours will include gardens in Nice, a fashion show from Virtuous Woman, a fantastic luncheon tea in the beautiful home of Sharon Thorne and Don Smith. Each tea setting has a special theme.

Tickets are on sale now for the event; please call 707-274-9723 to purchase one.

All proceeds will go to the new 2012 scholarship fund for local high school students interested in careers in horticulture.

Last month, guest speaker Jim Celeri of Celeri and Son Rhododendron Nursery shared the fabulous seaside botanical garden on Highway 1 plus lovely specimens of the hardy plant.

Some rhododendrons can grow over 20 feet with active deadheading and pruning. Some species are even cut to bonsai size.

The speaker brought plants to share and members ended up buying them.

He also gave information on the Rhododendron Show and Plant Sale with free admission on April 30, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and May 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Fort Bragg at the Dana Gray Elementary School. Call 707-964-4435 for more information. The 2011 Rhodie theme is Oldies but Goodies.

The plant comes in many varieties and hybrids which are known for their unusual colors or shapes.

North Lake Garden Club is a member of California Garden Clubs Inc., National Garden Clubs Inc. and Mendo-Lake District with meetings held on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

The May 24 meeting will feature hybridizer and camellias with Dan Charvet of Heartewood Nursery Fort Bragg.

If you have a Northshore-area garden to share for our tea, have a public place where a tree should be planted or need more information about our garden club please call club President Don Smith, 707-972-6023.

After a storm, it is common for people claiming to be “tree specialists” to show up at residents’ front doors offering their services to remove or repair damaged trees.

Contractors seem to come out of the woodwork after a storm and are often inexperienced and not qualified to properly care for trees and their damage following a storm. They are often people who are unlicensed to do the work.

Unfortunately, many such individuals have little or no training, and sometimes have little interest in removing anything but money from the pocketbooks of unsuspecting residents.

Cal Fire and the Arbor Day Foundation are urging homeowners not be a victim.

“Make sure you are dealing with a reputable individual or tree care firm when you contemplate repairs or removal of any trees on your property,” said John Rosenow, president of The Arbor Day Foundation. “Legitimate arborists rarely go door to door to solicit business.”

Here are eight guidelines to help you find qualified tree-care specialists:

• Make sure they are part of an established business in the community or nearby area, with a listing in the phone book, usually under tree service.

• Have them provide you with evidence that they are actually working for the company, rather than moonlighting.

• Ask for a California contractor’s license or a timber operator’s license. Including current certificates of insurance showing that they are fully insured for property damage, personal liability, and worker compensation.

• Ideally, they should be members of a professional association of arborists such as the International Society of Arboriculture, the Tree Care Industry Association or the American Society of Consulting Arborists.

• Arborists who have received certification from their professional associations, such as ISA Certified Arborists, will have received training and access to current technical information on tree care, repair, and removal.

• If possible, get more than one estimate to ensure that the price offered is competitive with that offered by others for the same services.

• In the case of tree removals, have a clear understanding about who removes the limbs and debris from the property, and whether or not the price includes stump removal and clean up.

• Check to see if the estimate has considered the possible value your tree will have as logs, firewood or chips, either to yourself or if sold to others.

“Above all, don't be pressured into making immediate decisions by a 'tree specialist,' do your homework and make sure they are qualified,” said Thom Porter, staff chief of Resource Management for CAL FIRE’s Southern Region. “It is important to take the time to select a qualified tree professional to safeguard your trees and to save you from the long-term consequences of using the wrong contractor to clean up after a storm.”

Many cities require arborists to be licensed and will maintain lists of firms and individuals so registered.

Residents can check with their local forester who cares for public trees in their communities. Sometimes this is a function of the county or city's parks department or public works department.

For more information on Cal Fire's Resource Management Program or to reach a state forester please visit www.fire.ca.gov.

The group will serve Italian baked pork chops, sauteed green beans, bow tie pasta with red sauce, French bread with butter and dessert, at the club hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

Enjoy dancing to music of Jim Williams right after the meal.

All tickets cost $15 at the door. Everyone is welcome.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own, call 707-274-9952.

The fun will take place at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

The event, which will take place rain or shine, is free to the public.

There will be three age groups for children up to age 12.

Gates open at 1:15 p.m., with the egg hunt beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The event will be held at the Lodge at Blue Lakes, 5135 W. Highway 20 in Upper Lake.

This year's theme is, “Hollywood Glitz and Glamor.”

No-host cocktails will begin at 11 a.m. with lunch served at noon.

A photo booth will be available with Nathan DeHart Photography.

The show is the group's major fundraiser, which allows the Lakeport Women's Civic Club to gave back to the community in many areas.

For tickets please call 707-263-3445.

After a storm, it is common for people claiming to be “tree specialists” to show up at residents’ front doors offering their services to remove or repair damaged trees.

Contractors seem to come out of the woodwork after a storm and are often inexperienced and not qualified to properly care for trees and their damage following a storm. They are often people who are unlicensed to do the work.

Unfortunately, many such individuals have little or no training, and sometimes have little interest in removing anything but money from the pocketbooks of unsuspecting residents.

Cal Fire and the Arbor Day Foundation are urging homeowners not be a victim.

“Make sure you are dealing with a reputable individual or tree care firm when you contemplate repairs or removal of any trees on your property,” said John Rosenow, president of The Arbor Day Foundation. “Legitimate arborists rarely go door to door to solicit business.”

Here are eight guidelines to help you find qualified tree-care specialists:

• Make sure they are part of an established business in the community or nearby area, with a listing in the phone book, usually under tree service.

• Have them provide you with evidence that they are actually working for the company, rather than moonlighting.

• Ask for a California contractor’s license or a timber operator’s license. Including current certificates of insurance showing that they are fully insured for property damage, personal liability, and worker compensation.

• Ideally, they should be members of a professional association of arborists such as the International Society of Arboriculture, the Tree Care Industry Association or the American Society of Consulting Arborists.

• Arborists who have received certification from their professional associations, such as ISA Certified Arborists, will have received training and access to current technical information on tree care, repair, and removal.

• If possible, get more than one estimate to ensure that the price offered is competitive with that offered by others for the same services.

• In the case of tree removals, have a clear understanding about who removes the limbs and debris from the property, and whether or not the price includes stump removal and clean up.

• Check to see if the estimate has considered the possible value your tree will have as logs, firewood or chips, either to yourself or if sold to others.

“Above all, don't be pressured into making immediate decisions by a 'tree specialist,' do your homework and make sure they are qualified,” said Thom Porter, staff chief of Resource Management for CAL FIRE’s Southern Region. “It is important to take the time to select a qualified tree professional to safeguard your trees and to save you from the long-term consequences of using the wrong contractor to clean up after a storm.”

Many cities require arborists to be licensed and will maintain lists of firms and individuals so registered.

Residents can check with their local forester who cares for public trees in their communities. Sometimes this is a function of the county or city's parks department or public works department.

For more information on Cal Fire's Resource Management Program or to reach a state forester please visit www.fire.ca.gov.