Home and garden news

MEG MCCONAHEY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Earth Day comes to Sonoma County with a series of events that both celebrate the planet and promote ways to live more lightly on the land.

On Sunday, April 22, Daily Acts, the Petaluma nonprofit group dedicated to fostering a more sustainable lifestyle, will throw a community sheet mulching party.

Volunteers who show up at Green Key Commercial in Petaluma between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. will learn how to apply sheet mulch to kill turf in preparation for replacing lawn with low-water-using plants.

Sheet mulching involves putting down layers of cardboard, compost and mulch on top of existing grass. At the same time it composts the lawn, the sheet mulching encourages favorable microbial activity in the soil and improves nutrient and water retention.

In the process, volunteers will convert 17,000 square feet of lawn surrounding Green Key Commercial in the Redwood Business Park into a landscape requiring less water.

All volunteers will be treated to a complimentary chair massage. 1425 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. Dailyacts.org.

Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen is throwing a big Earth Day celebration April 26 with a host of activities for the family, refreshments and a plant sale featuring rare plants at affordable prices. Festivities range from solar observing and fly casting to Chinese dancing and archery as well as fava-bean planting, rare reptiles, free popcorn and tea tastings. The free event at the 25-acre garden will be from 11 a.m. to 3 pm. 12841 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen. 996-3166 or quarryhillbg.org.

The Town of Windsor marks Earth Day April 27 with special activities and a plant sale held by the Windsor Garden Club. Look for container gardens, veggie starts and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Windsor Town Green.

HEALDSBURG: Locally made linens, tablewares showcased

The same concern for preparing food grown close to home could be applied to the tableware and linens on which it is served.

It's in that spirit of local sourcing that three area artisans have been collaborating to showcase their homegrown plates, linens and cooking utensils.

Ceramicist Amy Halko, who throws porcelain dinnerware, Holly Jordan, who makes wooden cooking and serving utensils, and Marilyn Webster, who weaves cotton kitchen towels and table linens, will host a show and sale of their work April 19 in Healdsburg.

The show, called "Clay Wood Cloth," will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at MIX Garden, 1531 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the Healdsburg Education Foundation's six-week internship for high school juniors.

For more information, call 235-3099 or email info@claywoodcloth.com.

SONOMA: All you need to know about drip irrigation

The persistent drought has made drip irrigation all the more appealing. Not only is it the most efficient way to conserve water, it directs water to each plant as needed.

The Valley of the Moon Garden Club will host a free class April 26 on how to install and maintain a water-wise drip irrigation system. The newest equipment will be discussed, along with techniques on how to set up, maintain and buy parts from the best suppliers.

The class will be led by Sonoma Master Gardeners Jerilynn Jendeseck and Marsha Johnson.

The class will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Sonoma Community Center, Room 110, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma.

OCCIDENTAL / SONOMA COUNTY: With spring comes bounty of plant sales

The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center throws one of the premiere plant sales of North Bay, with a huge selection of carefully curated heirloom veggies grown organically in their own greenhouses and gardens.

A sale of early crops will be April 26 and 27 and May 3 and 4.

The center, dedicated to sustainable living practices, has maintained its organic gardens for about 40 years. It is located at 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. 874-1557 or oaec.org.

Other plant sales coming up include:

Graton Community Club Spring Flower Show: This is the 100th anniversary of the club, which twice a year throws a show that includes plants for sale, entertainment, a luncheon, novelties and white elephant finds. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 and 26 at the clubhouse, located at Graton Road and Edison Street in Graton.

Willowside School: Thousands of plants including many trees, perennials, grasses and shrubs. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26. 5299 Hall Road at Willowside Road, Santa Rosa. 569-4724.

The Santa Rosa Garden Club: Featuring plants propagated by club members, with an emphasis on drought-tolerant plants including succulents and perennials. The April 26 sale, running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., also includes an indoor "garage sale" with used garden-related items. At the Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa.

Harvest for the Hungry Garden: Plant shoppers get a two-fer when they show up for this massive sale. The Santa Rosa Garden Club's sale is right across the street at the same time. Thousands of organic vegetable starts, habitat plants and locally grown flowering plants are up for grabs, including more than 100 varieties of tomatoes, 50 varieties of hot and sweet peppers and many unusual and tasty varieties of eggplant, squash and cucumbers. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1717 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa, behind the Christ Church United Methodist. harvestgarden.org.

SANTA ROSA: Expert will offer the buzz on bees

While you may want to ward off yellowjackets, honey bees are a gardener's best friend. Find out how to welcome these essential pollinators to your landscape during a talk April 28 before the Santa Rosa Garden Club.

Beekeeper and Master Gardener April Lance will talk about how to set up a hive, ward off varroa mites and colony collapse disorder and what to do if you find a swarm of bees on your property.

The will bring a demonstration hive abuzz with live bees — safely contained behind glass.

The meeting is open to nonmembers and is at 1 p.m. at the Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. 537-6885 or email gardenclubevents@yahoo.com.

SONOMA COUNTY: Master Gardeners cover summer veggies, berries

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners continue their series of free lectures, most held at local library branches. All classes run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information about the program as well as a wealth of gardening information, visitsonomamastergardeners.org or call 565-2608.

Saturday:

Santa Rosa — Planting the Spring and Summer Kitchen Garden. Steve Albert, an expert in food gardening and author of the Kitchen Garden Grower's Guide, will offer a workshop packed with information about creating a successful vegetable garden. He will cover everything from why the temperature and day length are significant to plant growth to techniques for extending the growing season. Rincon Valley Library, 6958 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa.

April 26

Sonoma — Growing Great Tomatoes, Peppers and all Summer Vegetables. If you're planning a summer garden, now is the time to get growing. Kitchen garden guru Steve Albert will talk about how to grow the best hybrids and heirlooms, from setting seed and transplanting starts to feeding, water and protecting your crop right up until harvest. Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma.

Windsor — How to Grow Berries. Gwen Kilchherr shares secrets on how to grow your own sweet summer berries, from blueberries and blackberries to raspberries and strawberries. She will show how to grow them from spring to fall frost with just a few rows of plants. Windsor Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway. Building 100.

You can direct Home and Garden news to Meg.McConahey@pressdemocrat.com or by calling 521-5204.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor