January 19, 2009

  “Some Plants of Medicinal Interest”
presented by Josesph C.  Barbaccia MD,MPH

Dr. Barbaccia  is a docent at the SFBG and  Past  President of the SFBG Society’s Board of Trustees].  He has been fascinated by the growth of the field of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine (ACM).  Since becoming a docent (after retirement) he has pursued interests in the use of plants as sources of medicine through history.

The slide-illustrated talk will point out some of the many plants in the Garden from the Mediterranean, temperate and cloud forest climates that have been and/or are currently used as medicines.  The talk will also indicate some factors related to the increasing interest and use of herbals in the U.S. and in the Western world generally. 

  “Flora of South Africa’s Cape Region –noted for its fynbos vegetation”

Presented by Ernesto Sandoval, Curator, College of Biological Sciences Greenhouses, University of California, Davis, California

The illustrated lecture’s focus is the biodiversity of the region and how it  influences the rest of the life there including humans and how including humans and plant diversity is  influenced by them.  He will bring South African bulbs of flowering size and other uncommon  plants with an  emphasis on South African species for purchase.

“The Classical Gardens of Suzhou, China”

Presented by garden designer Daxin Liu, Fragrant Hill Design,  Mountain View, California.  
His speciality is in designing Asian, modern and tropical style gardens.  He loves plants of all colors and stripes, especially those that are fragrant.