October 10, 2011, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Amy Stewart, New York Times bestselling author
Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Insect Monstrosities

On Monday, October 10, 2011, the San Diego Horticultural society welcomes back highly entertaining speaker and New York Times bestselling author, Amy Stewart. This time, instead of Wicked Plants, she will guide us on an exploration of the sinister side of the plant world as revealed in her latest book, Wicked Bugs.  

In Amy’s presentation she will take us on an entertaining, and undoubtedly creepy crawly, tour of some of the world’s most notorious garden inhabitants. She has tracked down over 100 of our worst entomological foes - creatures that infest, infect, and generally wreak havoc on human affairs. From the world's most painful hornet, to the flies that transmit deadly diseases, to millipedes that stop traffic, to the "bookworms" that devour libraries, to the Japanese beetles munching on your roses, she will delve into the extraordinary powers of six and eight-legged creatures. You probably will never garden without your gloves on again or, like Amy, you may recognize that the vast majority of the insect world is beneficial and dig right in. At least you will now be prepared for the few that will definitely give you pause.   

Amy Stewart is the award-winning author of three New York Times bestsellers, Wicked Bugs, Wicked Plants and Flower Confidential. Stewart is a highly sought-after public speaker and has appeared on hundreds of national and regional radio and television programs, including CBS Sunday Morning, NPR'sMorning Edition, Fresh Air, and Good Morning America. She has written for the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and every national garden magazine, including Fine Gardening, where she is a contributing editor. She is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, the American Horticulture Society's Book Award, and a California Horticultural Society Writer's Award.

The evening starts at 6:00 p.m. in the Surfside Race Place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar.  Parking is free and everyone is welcome. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. Before the lecture a plant expert will discuss oneexceptional plant (a “Hot Hort Pick”) that is a star in the garden. An opportunity drawing featuring very special plants, including the Hot Hort Pick plant, will follow the lecture.

For more information, call (760) 295-7089 or visit www.sdhortsoc.org.
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