Home & garden news, upcoming events

BAY AREA

Seminar on Australian plants in East Bay

A full-day seminar followed by a half-day study tour on Australian plants appropriate for the Northern California climate and soil will be held Nov. 6 and 7 in the East Bay.

Put on by the Garden Conservancy, the workshop brings together a panel of speakers who will talk about mixing Australian native plants with California natives and plants from other Mediterranean climates.

There will be a full-day seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden. Speakers include Randy Baldwin of San Marcos Growers in Santa Barbara, Aussie landscape designer Bernard Trainor of Pacific Grove, Cal Poly professor Matt Ritter and Berkeley botanist and author Dr. Glenn Keator.

On Saturday, seminar goers will be taken on a study tour of three private gardens in Oakland as well as the Flora Grubb Garden and the San Francisco Botanical Gardens.

Cost is $95 for Friday only or $130 for both days.

The Conference Center at the University of California Botanical Garden is at 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley. To register, call (415) 441-4300 or visit gardenconservancy.org.

SAN FRANCISCO

Gardening workshop on roots, barks, fruits

The San Francisco Botanical Garden is hosting a one-day gardening workshop Nov. 7 on medicinal roots, barks and fruits of California.

The session will cover identifying characteristics, medicinal uses, sustainable harvesting techniques and preparation methods.

Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $35. The garden is at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park. For information, call (415) 661-1316 ext. 400, or visit sfbotanicalgarden.org.

ROHNERT PARK

Sudden Oak Death

presentation Nov. 7

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners have received a grant from the USDA Forest Service to teach the public about the causes, distribution and treatment of Sudden Oak Death.

As part of the organizations’ outreach, SOD specialists will present a free workshop from 10:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the 4-H Center, 6445 Commerce Blvd., Rohnert Park.

Specialists will describe the symptoms, the extent of the infection and what local oaks are susceptible. They will also suggest ways to keep oaks as healthy as possible and demonstrate the latest preventative treatment options such as an application of Agrifos.

For information on the research and detection of the disease, call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.

SONOMA

Getting your garden ready for winter

Ever wonder how best to get your garden ready before the cold of winter creeps in?

Master Gardener Pauline Haro will give a free workshop on winter readiness from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Sonoma Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma.

“It’s about deciding what is working and not working well in the garden,” Haro said. “What plants died and why. It’s about cleaning up, mulching, and trimming before most plants go dormant during the cold, rainy weather. And it’s about planning ahead for next year — sharpening and servicing tools and ordering seed catalogs.

For more information, call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.

SONOMA

Learn how to make your own reliquaries

Learn how to make your own reliquaries, reminiscent of centuries past, during a daylong workshop on Nov. 11.

Ulla Milbrath, who teaches a variety of arts, including paper and fiber arts, jewelry design and paper-clay sculpting out of her studio in Santa Rosa, will show how to solder, work with copper tape and master the basic skills to create small boxes that can be worn as a necklace or brooch or used to keep a tiny treasure.

Each box will contain a special object, vignette or paper whimsy.

Materials will be supplied but workshop goers are invited to bring small treasures to put inside their reliquary. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Chateau Sonoma, 153 W. Napa St. $110. For information or to reserve a spot, e-mail info@chateausonoma.com or call 935-8553.

ROHNERT PARK/COTATI

Learn how to create

holiday arrangements

Master Gardener and florist Sue Lovelace shows how to create holiday arrangements during a free workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at the Rohnert Park/Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way.

Lovelace will demonstrate her step-by-step, time-saving techniques for assembling the precise number of flowers and greens and choosing the right-sized oasis or container.

For more information, call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.

GLEN ELLEN

Dress a doorway for fall with dried materials

Learn how to dress your doorway for autumn using dried materials from the landscape during a workshop Nov. 7 at Quarryhill Botanical Garden.

All materials are included. The workshop will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Cost is $25. Space is limited so reservations are necessary.

Coffee and tea will be served and workshop goers are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to enjoy in the garden or on the patio by the pool.

To register, call 996-3166 or e-mail info@quarryhillbg.org. 12841 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen.

Compiled by Staff Writer Meg McConahey. You can submit Home and Garden news to meg.mcconahey@

pressdemocrat.com or call 521-5204.