Home and garden news, upcoming events

<p>SANTA ROSA: Rose society to offer free pruning demonstrations</p><p>The Redwood Empire Rose Society will give a free hands-on demonstration on rose pruning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and Jan. 12.</p><p>Consulting rosarians will be on hand to answer questions. Refreshments will be served.</p><p>The demonstration will be at the society's garden, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. For information email ruthbrown@sbcglobal.net.</p><p>SANTA ROSA: Learn how to trim your fruit tree at free workshop</p><p>A proper nip and tuck here and there on your fruit trees will lead to a more abundant harvest later this year. And now is the time to trim.</p><p>But if you're feeling overwhelmed by all those barren branches, tree specialist Don Hourigan can help. He will give a free fruit-tree pruning workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Harvest for the Hungry Garden, 1717 Yulupa Ave., just past Hoen Avenue, in Santa Rosa.</p><p>For more information, call 484-3613.</p><p>SEBASTOPOL: Free classes on pruning offered</p><p>Most fruit trees and other garden plants require pruning to encourage optimum health and productivity. A variety of techniques will be explored by expert David Beazlie during a series of free one-day classes in January at Harmony Farm Supply.</p><p>Beazlie will emphasize the simple, yet high-yielding, "central leader" style of pruning. If weather permits, the class will be held outdoors and hands-on, so participants are urged to dress appropriately and bring their own hand or lopping shears.</p><p>The 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. classes are popular and are limited to only 30 people. Classes are set for Jan. 12, Jan. 26 and Feb. 9. To register, call 823-9125 or sign up online at harmonyfarmsupply.com.</p><p>SEBASTOPOL: Learn to graft fruit tree varieties</p><p>Patrick Schafer will show how to graft one or many fruit varieties onto a single tree during a free class today at Harmony Farm Supply in Sebastopol.</p><p>Free budwood of many varieties including antique apples will be available for grafting. Participants are encouraged to bring budding knives or a sharp pocket knife. If you have budwood to share, label it and bring it to trade with others. 10 a.m. to noon. 3244 Gravenstein Hwy., Sebastopol. To sign up, call 823-9125 or register at harmonyfarmsupply.com.</p><p>SONOMA COUNTY: Master Gardeners free workshops</p><p>The Sonoma County Master Gardeners have geared up for another round of free workshops for the winter. All classes are from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and are held at libraries throughout Sonoma County. For more information on upcoming classes or the master Gardeners, call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.</p><p>Hydrangeas: Master Gardener Carlyss Van Ness gives tips on growing hydrangeas today. The workshop will cover water-saving techniques, fertilizing, a hands-on pruning demonstration, selecting among the different varieites, propagating and drying blooms. Bring your questions. Rohnert Park Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way. For more information, call 565-2608 or visit www.sonomamastergardeners.org.</p><p>Rose Pruning: Now is the time to boost the productivity, health and longevity of your rose bushes. Prize-winning rosarian and Master Gardener Jim Lang will demonstrate the best ways to prune the many different kinds of roses on Jan. 12. "I will discuss how roses such as shrub, hybrid teas and climbers differ in their growth patterns," he said. "I will also help everyone to decide what to prune and what to leave behind," Lang said. Lang is an ARS Consulting Rosarian and Horticultural Judge and is past president of the Redwood Empire Rose Society. At the Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive. For more information, call 565-2608 or visit www.sonomamastergardeners.org.</p><p>Making Your Sonoma Garden More Sustainable: Master Gardener Kim Pearson will discuss "sustainability" and why it is so important for the future during a workshop in Sonoma on Jan. 12. Using an example of a small urban garden, she will suggest projects that will transform a typical garden into a more environmentally friendly, sustainable garden and a beautiful and enjoyable outdoor space. Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St.</p><p>Supermarket Orchids Survival: Don't throw away that supermarket orchid. On Jan. 12, Master Gardener Ann Chambers will show you how to care for that orchid so it will live happily and bloom for many years. Rincon Valley Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa.</p><p>GLEN ELLEN: How to cure your olive crop</p><p>Olive expert Don Landis will show you how to cure your crop without lye during a free workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen.</p><p>Landis will share a history of the olive, as well as tips on when to pick. He also will demonstrate various debittering techniques, including a Greek-style brine cure, a water cure and a salt cure. If the weather is nice, workshop-goers may roam the winery's 120-year-old olive orchard.</p><p>Reservations are required. To RSVP, call 938-4064 ext. 124. The winery is located at 15000 Sonoma Highway.</p><p>You can direct Home and Garden news to Meg.McConahey@pressdemocrat.com or at 521-5204.</p>