HOME & GARDEN BRIEFS

ROHNERT PARK

Sustainable landscape design seminars

Frederique Lavoipierre, who coordinates Sonoma State University's Garden Classroom and Entomology Outreach Program, is leading a series of low-cost seminars offering an introduction to the science of sustainable landscape design.

Her next talk Oct. 29 will cover "Contemporary Sustainable Gardens." On Nov. 7 the series concludes with an overview of "Ecological Garden Design."

All of the lectures take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Sonoma State University Garden Classroom in the Environmental Technology Center.

The SSU habitat gardens are available for exploring before and after the talk and the Charlie Brown Cafe will be open for snacks. A suggested donation of $10 is requested.

To reserve as seat RSVP to ssugardenclassroom@gmail.com.

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SONOMA

Selecting plants for Sonoma Valley

Veteran landscaper Paul Martinez will home in on selecting and caring for plants that do particularly well in the Sonoma Valley during a talk Nov. 1 before the Valley of the Moon Garden Club.

Martinez and his crews with PDM Landscapes, have installed and maintained gardens of all designs and sizes throughout Sonoma and Napa valleys for some 35 years.

He specializes in integrating plants specifically suited to Sonoma Valley's climate and soils.

He founded Sonoma Valley Wholesale Nursery in 2009 to make many of these plants available locally to other landscape professionals.

His commitment to sustainability embraces a wide variety of practices from creating a proprietary soil mixture that is alive and rich with microbes, selecting low water usage plants whenever possible, and favoring plants, shrubs and trees that do not need frequent trimming and pruning.

The free talk, which starts at 7 p.m. and concludes with refreshments, is open to the general public.

It will be held at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. For more information about the VOM Garden Club call 935-5939.

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FREESTONE

Tour of Japanese Meditation Garden

Speciality pruner and gardener Michael Alliger will lead a tour of the Japanese Meditation Garden at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary on Oct. 23.

Alliger, accompanied by Osmosis founder Michael Stusser, will offer an in-depth look at identification of plants, pruning and shaping techniques and particular challenges that have been raised in creating and tending the garden.

The tour is geared for serious gardeners.

The tour celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the installation of the garden. It will be followed by a tea reception. Cost is $5. 10 a.m. at Osmosis, 209 Bohemian Highway, Freestone. For information call 823-8231 or visit osmosis.com.

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HEALDSBURG

Check selection at fall sale

Troll for antiques, collectibles and vintage or consigned items for the home and garden at Re-Healdsburg's Fall Sale Oct. 26 through 28.

Nothing's new but it's all good quality at the sale, which will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1229 Grove St.

Look for used items ranging from traditional to modern in look and design. For information call 433-3231, email ReHealdsburg@gmail.com or visit ReHealdsburg.com.

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SONOMA COUNTY

Free Master Gardeners classes

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners are holding a series of free Saturday workshops and talks geared especially for the home gardener. All are held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For information on the program call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.

Oct. 20:

How to Select and Care for Your Garden Tools: The right tool makes all the difference in performing a job. Kathy Matanok, a Master Gardener and life-long home gardener, will cover selecting the proper tools and maintaining them. She will also discuss what jobs you can do yourself and which you should hire a pro to do. At the Guerneville Library.

Bee Dazzled with Native Bees: Master Gardener and Entomologist Janet Calhoun will discuss how to make your landscape a magnet for native bees and show the link between these bees and a healthy, thriving garden. Held at the Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa St. Sonoma.

Budget Floral Design: Glean tips about making wreaths, swags and table d??cor to grace your home using materials from your own garden or those of your neighbors and friends.

Master Gardener and former florist Ellyn Pelikan will demonstrate ideas for creating your own arrangements on a budget during a workshop Oct. 20 at the Rohnert Park Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park.

Oct. 27

Supermarket Orchid Survival Class: It's easy and inexpensive to pick up a beautiful orchid for the home now.

But how do you care for them? A team of master gardeners who love orchids will show you how, during a workshop at the Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. Bring your own orchid for a personal consultation.

Soils: Life Underground: Bonita Morgan will discuss the importance of rich, fertile soil and how to get it and maintain it, during a talk at the Rincon Valley Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa.

Growing Home Wine: Dennis Przybycien will talk gardeners through the basic steps of growing quality wine grapes in a talk at the Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol.

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SANTA ROSA

Final fall sale at Willowside

Willowside Middle School's working nursery holds its final fall plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 3.

Shop for a variety of perennials, trees and succulents at bargain prices. Proceeds benefit the program.

The sale will be held rain or shine at the school, 5299 Hall Road at Willowside in west Santa Rosa. For information call 569-4724.

You can reach Staff Writer Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204.