Learn new gardening skills at upcoming workshops

WINDSOR

Prepare garden for ?fall, winter months

The time is ripe for transitioning your summer garden into a fall/winter garden.

Learn how during a free workshop Saturday being put on by the Sonoma County Master Gardeners. Bring your sun hat, garden gloves and water bottle. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Windsor Town Green Community Garden, Windsor Road and Joe Rodota Way, just off the Windsor Civic Center parking lot in Windsor. sonomamg.ucanr.edu.

SANTA ROSA

Church hosts free rummage give away

A Santa Rosa church is throwing the ultimate rummage sale with a twist - everything is free.

From 10 a.m. to 3 pm. Saturday, stop by Unity of Santa Rosa and take whatever strikes your fancy.

Church members are calling it “Circulation Day,” a chance to just give away what they don’t need to someone who may want it or need it. Look for furniture, household items, art, crafts, decorative items, appliances, sporting goods, books and other surprises, all laid out for the taking. Look for the sandwich board sign and banner. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 4857 Old Redwood Highway, Santa Rosa. 707-542-7729.

FORT BRAGG

Stock up on plants for spring at fall sale

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is holding a big fall plant sale Sept. 16-24. This is a chance to stock up on plants for winter and early spring bloom, or to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was recently named the fifth-best public botanical garden in the United States. 707-964-4352, ext. 16. 18220 N. Highway 1, Fort Bragg.

HEALDSBURG

Insight on luring wildlife and bugs

The Russian River Rose Co. is sponsoring a free event, “Beckoning Butterflies, Birds, Bees to Your Garden on Saturday and Sunday.

A number of experts from different organizations will be on hand with information on providing habitat for pollinators, including the Sonoma County Beekeepers’ Association, the Sonoma County Master Gardeners and more. $2 donation requested. 1685 Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg. 707-433-7455 or russian-river-rose.com.

SANTA ROSA

Advice on choosing, caring for succulents

Learn about the best succulents for Sonoma County and how to keep them happy and looking good year-round during a free workshop Saturday.

Master Gardener Anne Lowings, whose own garden is dominated by succulents, will talk about plant selection, care and maintenance, diagnosing problems and propagation. If you have problems with your own plants, bring them to the workshop for a diagnosis. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Harvest for the Hungry Garden, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. Sonomamg.ucanr.edu.

PETALUMA

Learn the basics on backyard beekeeping

Have you ever toyed with the idea of getting into backyard beekeeping? A free workshop at the Petaluma Library at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 will cover the basics, from buying honeybees to equipment and time investment.100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma.

ALBION

Stroll in a garden and chat about plants

Digging Dog Nursery is leading a free “Stroll and Plant Chats” through their lavish display gardens, which have been featured in many magazines, on Sept. 16.

Co-owner Deborah Whigham will lead the 2 p.m. tour, which will include information on how to create outdoor rooms in your garden and develop dynamic design schemes. Refreshments will be served. 31101 Middle Ridge Road, Albion. 707-937-1130.

KENWOOD

Learn about creating a garden retreat

Wildwood Nursery in Kenwood is giving a free talk Saturday on how to create a mini garden retreat in your own backyard.

Joe Monte, who has been a garden designer for more than 15 years, will discuss the three design elements that are universal to garden retreats of any size and show how to unify those elements, while showing examples from Wildwood’s display gardens. 1 to 2 p.m.

On Sept. 16 Wildwood will host a Garden Party to kickoff their fall sale. Free barbecue skewers will be served to guests from noon to 2 p.m. People are invited to stop, buy and enjoy the nursery’s parklike setting. 10300 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood. 707-833-1161 or opengate@wildwoodmaples.com.

HEALDSBURG

Uncover the mysteries of soil at workshop

Learn more about the mysteries of soil during a free workshop Saturday at the Healdsburg Regional Library. Called “Soil: Don’t Step on It - It’s Alive,” the workshop is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and put on by the Sonoma County Master Gardeners. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg.

SONOMA

Glean tips on fighting moles, gophers

Learn how to fight garden theft by moles and gophers during a free workshop Sept. 16 at the Sonoma Valley Library. Master Gardener Jim Lang will talk about good trapping techniques and the best traps to use. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomaucanr.edu.

SANTA ROSA

Willowside School plant sale returns

Willowside School is back in session and its nursery back in business. The student-run business offers thousands of plants for sale, from low-water and drought-resistant plants to California natives, succulents, grasses, habitat plants and Japanese maples.

The next sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Prices are a bargain and proceeds benefit the school. The nursery also accepts donations of healthy plants, garden tools, working wagons, ceramic pots and recycled 1- and 5-gallon nursery containers. For those who can’t make it on Saturdays, the nursery welcomes volunteers or shoppers on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 5299 Hall Road, Santa Rosa, at the corner of Willowside Road.

PETALUMA

Build magical world with fairy garden

Children love fairy gardens, which gets them outside to play and fires up their imagination. Master Gardener Susan White will lead a free workshop Saturday, “If You Build the Garden, the Fairies Will Come,” for those who want to create their own backyard habitat for the wee-winged folk.

She will show what plants and decorations lend themselves to fairy gardens, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma.

SANTA ROSA

Get a handle on drip irrigation at SRJC

Drip irrigation is not just for limping plants through a drought. Well-timed drip irrigation provides a bountiful food supply with less water.

Soils expert Robert Kourik is teaching a community class at Santa Rosa Junior College on Sept. 16 on “Drip Irrigation for the Greatest Harvest.” 9 a.m. to noon. $64. Room 1518 Emeritus Hall.

ROHNERT PARK

Expert advice on growing wine grapes

Love wine but can’t afford your own vineyard?

Learn how to grow wine grapes and turn them into your own estate vintage during a free workshop Saturday put on by the Sonoma County Master Gardeners. Dennis Przybycien will talk you through the steps necessary to grow quality wine grapes on your own property. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rohnert Park Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park.

Compiled by Meg McConahey. Send Home and Garden news to meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or call 707-521-5204. Please submit items at least three weeks in advance of an event.