The mass installion of 100 laundry lines, the planting of Mother’s Day Gardens for fresh flowers and the installation of 154 waterwise gardens in Petaluma in honor of the city’s 154th year are among the projects that will be undertaken during the third annual 350 Home Garden Challenge May 13 and 14.
The mass action, sponsored by Daily Acts in partnership with iGrow Sonoma County and the Sonoma County Water Agency, encourages individuals and groups to take on projects that will increase local food production, reduce greenhouse gases and save water and energy.
Entrants completing those requirements will further be evaluated on any additional efforts during the 350 Challenge weekend, including, but not limited to, installing rainwater collection barrels, creating a rain garden or catchment basin, replacing water fixtures with lower- flow fixtures inside the house, adding mulch, composting, installing solar and upgrading older washing machines to energy-efficient models.
Some 1,044 home and garden projects were undertaken during last year’s 350 Challenge.
For more information or to register a project visit dailyacts.org.
OCCIDENTAL
Capturing stormwater as well as graywater from your house for re-use on your landscape is a smart idea, even in a year when the reservoirs are full. Every drop saves you money on your water and helps the environment.
Learn all about how to capture and store this available resource during a tour and seminar at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center May 12.
The tour will focus on how to prevent erosion problems with low-impact, practical, small-scale surface water management and will show easy-to-build graywater and roofwater harvesting systems.
Cost is $35 for the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. tour. For information visit oaec.org or call 874-1557, ext. 101. 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental.
GRATON
Horticultural expert Curtis Short will lead a class May 5 at Harmony Farm Supply on how to create a low-water-use garden where your lawn used to be.
Short will use before and after slides slides and share personal anecdotes from his own experience to demonstrate how vibrant and dynamic plantings can replace dull lawn.
The free class is from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendance is limited to 30. Sing up online at harmonyfarmsupply.com. 823-9125 or harmonyfarm.com.
SONOMA COUNTY
Do you like to grow stuff you can eat? The Master Gardens have two upcoming workshops to help you haul in the bounty. Both are from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
On May 5 learn how to save time and money by including perennial vegetables and small fruits in your culinary garden. Ann Chambers will explain how to grow vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus or salad greens that can thrive for two years or possibly more. At the Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr.
On May 12 Master Gardener Dave Gould will share what he has learned over years of growing vegetables, fruits and native plants during a workshop at the Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Bldg. 100.
Call 565-2608 or visit wwwsonomamastergardeners.org. for more details on either talk.
PETALUMA
Members of the Petaluma Garden Club will create floral designs for an in-house flower show at their May 14 meeting.
Knowledgeable club members will offering suggestions on improving arrangements in a fun atmosphere. Attendees are urged to bring their own arrangements. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 10:30 a.m. A lunch will be served afterward for $10. The public is invited to attend. At the Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma. Petalumagardenclub.org.
PETALUMA
Petaluma boasts at least four homes designed by the architectural genius Julia Morgan.
Architectural historian and Santa Rosa Junior College lecturer Mark Anthony Wilson, will talk about the legendary Morgan during a talk at 7 p.m. May 17 at the Petaluma Arts Cetner.
Morgan, whose masterworks include Hearst Castle, the Asilomar Conference Center and the Fairmont Hotel, was the first woman to complete the elite architecture program at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris as well as the first woman the U.S. to be a licensed architect practicing independently in her own studio.
Wilson will also sign copies of his book, “Julia Morgan: Architect of Beauty,” which has just been released in paperback.
Admission is free. The talk is part of a series sponsored by Heritage Homes of Petaluma. 230 Lakeville Street, Petaluma.
SONOMA
The Sonoma Master Gardeners have two workshops coming up May 12 for gardeners in the Sonoma Valley. Both start at 10:30 a.m.
Marsha Anderson will talk about healthy garden practices at a free workshop at the newly-remodeled Sonoma Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St. She will discuss the pros and cons of using less toxic pesticides as recommended by the University of California. She will also explain how to avoid the use of pesticides that affect non-targeted organisms.
Anne Lowings will introduce the best varieties of succulents for Sonoma Valley gardens at a free workshop at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St. She will explain how these tough and versatile plants can provide year-round interest without a lot of maintenance or water. The class will also include a tour of the succulent section of the Water-Wise Demonstration Garden at the center.
For more information about call 938-0127 or visit www.sonomamastergardeners.org.
SONOMA COUNTY
May is great month to get your garden growing, whether you’re growing food, ornamentals or both. Many local clubs and organizations are holding plant sales to help you stock up. Here are some of the top picks.
Kendall-Jackson Heirloom Tomato Plant Sale and Farm Stand: One of the first and greatest of winery culinary gardens throws this annual sale featuring more than 125 varieties of heirloom tomato starts grown from K-J’s own seed. You can also pick up your own seed from the K-J seed bank to start your own. While you’re stocking up on plants fill your basket with fresh produce and baked goods at the Kendall-Jackson Farm Stand. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 5. 5007 Fulton Road, Futon. 866-287-9818 or 433-7102; kj.com.
Petaluma Bounty has literally thousands of plants to sell on May 5, including 100 tomato varieties, all propagated organically. The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bounty Community Farm, 55 Shasta Ave., Petaluma. For information visit petalumabounty.org.
Willowside School Nursery in Santa Rosa just keeps on pumping out plants for the public. Their next sale, featurings tons of Japanese maples, red/yellow magnolias, bonsai crabapple trees and hornbeam, mission olive and more, will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5. 5299 Hall Road at Willowside in Santa Rosa. 823-3265.
The Healdsburg Garden Club has been potting up perennials, shrubs, veggie starts and other horticultural goodies for their annual sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 5 at Foss Creek Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave. Healdsburggardenclub.org.
Sonoma County Jail Industries: Trusted inmates learn job skills through this nursery, while the public benefits from the fruits of their labor. The next plant sale is from 9 a.m. to noon May 5. Low prices on trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and grasses, and many drought-tolerant plants recommended by the Sonoma County Master Gardeners, who maintain a demonstration garden on site. All plant starts are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Look for other yardscape items as well, including wooden planters, picnic tables and barbecue rings. 2254 Ordinance Road at Airport Boulevard, Santa Rosa.
The Redwood Empire Rose Society holds their annual plant sale and show May 5. Buy big bloomers for your own yard from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. non-members are also invited to walk through the displays while chatting up consulting rosarians for growing tips. The Luther Burbank Art Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. 480-4925.
Flatland Flower Farm: This organic farm opens up to the public just once a year. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 swing by 580 Tilton Road to shop for certified organic heirloom tomatoes, peppers, greens, cucumbers, zucchini, beans, herbs and flowers. Barbecue lunch will be served and live music will entertain as you shop and eat. 823-3453.
The Occidental Art and Ecology Center: This is the second spring weekend for plant sales at the center, this time featuring warm season summer crops. Pretty much anything you want to grow will be here, from familiar favorites like peppers and eggplants, beans and melons. But the center also grows medicinal hers and Andrean crops such as yacon, kiwicha, quinoa, mashua, oca, pepino and Cape gooseberry. Pick up starts to grown your own between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. May 5 and 6. 15290 Coleman Valley, Road, Occidental. 874-1557, ext. 103 or oaec.org.
You can send Home and Garden news to meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204.
Article source: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120504/lifestyle/120509977
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