The San Diego Floral Association is proud to welcome botany professor and author Matt Ritter as its speaker for the first meeting of the new year. Members and the public are invited to attend this evening gathering on February 21 in Room 101 of Casa del Prado in Balboa Park. Admission is free.

The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. with a catered dinner. Dinner is $15 per person and can be reserved by calling the SDFA office at 619-232-5762. Or, reserve and pay for dinner now. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Fascinating Trees Dinner

One Person $15.00 USD Two People $30.00 USD Three People $45.00 USD Four People $60.00 USD

Dr. Ritter’s lecture will focus on the lives and stories surrounding some of the trees included in his new book, A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us (Heyday, 2011), a natural history and guide to urban and suburban trees around the state. California’s agreeable Mediterranean climate and rich horticultural history have converged to populate towns and cities with innumerable different species of native and ornamental trees. Matt will use photographs, insight, and humor to share stories, cultivation and identification tips, and the natural history of California's common and exotic trees.

A book signing will follow. Books will be for sale for $20; cash, check or credit cards will be accepted. More information on the book can be found at http://web.me.com/mayritter/Ritter/Home.html

Matt Ritter studies cultivated trees and trees that escape cultivation. He has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. in plant developmental biology. Currently he is a botany professor at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, and director of the plant conservatory there.