Events

Master Gardener Judith Cody will demonstrate how to grow organic roses with sustainable gardening methods. Roses needn't be only ornamental; learn how roses can also be a positive addition to the environment's well-being.  Other topics include: which bugs are helpful or harmful to roses; controlling and recognizing common rose diseases; ways to conserve water; and eliminating tedious spraying with toxic chemicals that endanger our families and the environment.   The information will include information on selecting hardy roses and cultivation
methods that control rose problems before they start.

Location: Gamble Garden, , 1431 Waverly St., Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Gamble Garden

Master Gardeners Milli Wright and Bette Lloyd and Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens present a workshop on the basic principles of floral design. Pre-registration is required and participants must be 18 years of age or older. This workshop will be held at the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens Visitor and Education Center. To register, call Friends of GRPG at 408-298-7657.

Location: Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose Directions to Guadalupe River Park and Gardens

Is your tomato really ripe? When do you pick corn? Don't let all your efforts go to waste by harvesting too soon or too late. Come learn how to know when to harvest and how to extend mid-season production.

Followed by Grand Rounds in the Community Garden.

Location: Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden (at the Charles Street Community Gardens), 433 Charles Street, Sunnyvale, 94087 Directions to Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Who needs a large yard when you can enliven even the smallest spaces with color and texture? Master Gardeners Laura Balaoro, Ann Warren Smith and Sally Pyle will show you how.

Location: Evergreen Library, 2635 Aborn Road, San Jose, 95121 Directions to Evergreen Library

Discover how easy it is to grow plants during our mild California fall and winter. Master Gardeners will discuss how to seed directly into the ground now, for harvesting from Oct-Feb!  Also: how to seed into pots now, to transplant in Sept-Oct, for fall/winter harvest.  *You can also buy plants in nurseries in September to transplant then.)  Workshop will include information on harvesting tips, how much to plant, and succession planting.  The workshop also includes hands-on demos of direct seeding and transplanting.  After the class, everyone's welcome to join us in the garden, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Location: Palo Alto Demonstration Garden (PADG)
851 Center Drive, Palo Alto, 94301
Directions to PADG (PDF)

 UCCE Master Gardener David Peterson will discuss the latest advances for safe, eco-friendly ways to control pests and diseases in the garden.  This free workshop provides an overview of methods that also explain the proliferation of pests and plant problems.  This introduction works for the novice gardener asas a refresher for others.  Gardeners ready to petrochemical sprays may not really have a disease problem at all but instead the plants could have an abiotic disorder - that is, one caused by environmental stress on the plant (too much or too little sun; too much or too little water; wrong kind of soil; etc.)  Ways to identify whether there is a plant in trouble or not will be discusses.  Other topics include:  alternatives to the burden of toxic chemical sprays; organic or natural gardening methods; and keeping the garden healthy for people as well as for plants.  Handouts available.  No reservations necessary.

Location: Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverly St., Palo Alto, 94301. Directions to Gamble Garden

We're lucky to live in a climate where we can garden year-round and now's the time to start thinking about your winter garden. You'll leave with a six-pack seeded with winter vegetables.

Followed by Grand Rounds in the Community Garden.

Location:

Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, at the Charles Street Community Gardens, 433 Charles Street, Sunnyvale, 94087

Directions to Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Join volunteers from the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County for a presentation on growing cool season vegetables.  The talk will cover the types of vegetables that grow during the cool season as well as tips on growing them, including those that grow well in containers.  This is the first of a series of four free events for 2008 by West Valley Library and the UCCE Master Gardeners. 

 

Location: Community Room, West Valley Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose, 95117 Directions to West Valley Library

Questions about controlling gophers, moles, squirrels and other critters in your garden? Master Gardeners Gil Patrick and Bonnie Wagner will discuss these and any other animals pests that you have questions about.

Location: Los Altos Main Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, 94022 Directions to Los Altos Main Library

Master Gardeners Sharon McCray, Jim Maley and Bader Kudsi will field your phone-in calls.  Remember you can always call our hotline with your questions, also - 408-282-3105, M-F, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

KKUP Call in: 408-260-2999

See http://mastergardeners.org/events/kkup.html for more details.

Location:

Tune in to KKUP at FM 91.5 from 10 a.m. to noon. Listeners are invited to drop by the studio for an informal discussion with Master Gardeners on horticultural topics. The studio address is 1241 Franklin Mall in Santa Clara ringed by Jackson, Monroe, Homestead and Benton streets.

Directions to KKUP Radio Studio

Join other gardeners in learning how to save seeds from your favorite summer vegetables and flowers. Followed by Open Garden until 1 p.m.

Location: Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Palo Alto Demonstration Garden

Sat, Sep 6

You will be introduced to the best of the best, easy-to-grow flowers that have staying power. Common plant foliage will complement and add wonderful effect. Learn which specific varieties do well in arrangements. Save money and have more joy growing your own flower bouquets. Purple orach, colorful amaranths, 10 different alstromerias, purple millet, peonies and long-stemmed roses will be discussed. A slide show is included. Nancy will share 20-plus years of knowledge on selecting and growing local cut flowers. She has been involved with the UC Cooperative Extension trials of over a hundred kinds of flowers to find teh most beautiful. Her work with sunflowers has been featured in Sunset magazine.

Location: 559 College Ave., Palo Alto, 94306 Directions to Common Ground

Santa Clara County is one the best places in the world to create a year-round garden, whether
you want to grow vegetables or a beautiful sustainable garden full of trees, shrubs, perennials and flowers. Come learn the basics about our climate and soil and the best practices for creating your ideal garden. If you are a beginning gardener, you will learn how to get started successfully. If you have some experience, you’ll learn about sustainable practices and appropriate plants to introduce into your garden. The goal of this class is to enable you to have a successful and sustainable garden in our time and place.

There are six classes on six consecutive Monday evenings from September 8 through October 13 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

To register, visit the web site http://www.paadultschool.org
or call 650-329-3752.

Location: Palo Alto High School, Room 1708, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Palo Alto High School

Learn how to grow "Allium Gardens of Garlic, Onions, Leeks & More!" at the next Master Gardener Workshop at Gamble Garden.  UCCE Master Gardener Susan Zaslaw will explain methods gardeners can use to take advantage of our Bay Area mild winters to grow a gourmet garden of onions, flowering chives, leeks and shallots - all members of the Allium family.  Alliums help conserve water during this drought period since they thrive during the rainy season.  She will also discuss the ornamental alliums, which are very striking, and other edible alliums such as: green onions, Japanese bunching onions, Egyptian walking onions and bulbing onions.  Other topics include: the history of growing onions and garlic; some ancient beliefs and medicinal uses; as well as how to plant, grow, harvest and preserve the Alliums.   Handouts will be provided.

Location: Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverly St., Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Gamble Garden

Sat, Sep 13

Join Master Gardener Karen Schaffer for a two-hour free workshop on Cool Season Gardening.  Now is the perfect time to start winter greens, chard, lettuce, kale, radish, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and more!  You will be harvesting delicious vegetables from November through March.

The class is free but we request that you pre-register by phoning the MetroEd office during business hours at 408-723-6450 or by sending email to RitaB@metroed.net.  Please include a phone number in your email.  Registration forms are available at the door. 

 

Location:

Erikson Adult Ed Center, 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose, 95136.

Directions to Erikson/MetroEd Adult Education Center

Sat, Sep 13

Join the 90,000 people in the United States who have certified their yards and homes as backyard habitats for wildlife. Master Gardener Sharon McCray, whose yard is certified by the National Wildlife Federation, will show the four basic elements required by wildlife for survival and how to provide them in basic landscaping. You'll learn about gardening with natives, how to build a toad house and learn about other wildlife-friendly shelters, discover ways to reduce water use while providing ample resources for animals and so much more! We will even provide the paperwork for you to begin certifying your own backyard habitat. Let's make the world a greener and more wildlife-friendly place.

Location: Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110. 408-298-7657 Map and Directions to Guadalupe River Park and Gardens

Learn simple techniques of sustainable gardening to create and maintain a beautiful ornamental garden that will be attractive year-round while respecting and protecting the environment. Topics include caring for the soil, using efficient irrigation and choosing the right plant for the right place. The course also covers basic design concepts, non-toic pest management and season-appropriate chores to keep your garden looking its very best.

Six consecutive Wednesday evenings from September 17 - October 22, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Register at http://ace.fuhsd.edu or call 408-522-2700.

Location:

Fremont High School, Room Art D, 1279 Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road, Sunnyvale, 94087.

Directions to Fremont High School in Sunnyvale

Wed, Sept 17

Fall is the best time to plant ornamentals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Come and learn how to design your dream garden, get ideas of the plants most suited to our area, and where to find them.

Location: Sunnyvale Library, 665 W Olive Ave, Sunnyvale, 94086. Directions to Sunnyvale Library

Wed, Sept 17

Gardening in containers lets us garden anywhere - balconies, patios, driveways and more. With containers we can bring great tastes, textures and smells closer to us, and keep gardening manageable by choosing plants and containe sizes that meet our needs. In this class you'll learn the basics of container gardening: soil, water, fertilizer, container materials (clay, plastic, etc.), container sizes and common pests. Then you'll learn about a wide variety of plants that do particularly well in containers, with special emphasis on fragrant plants, plants that are fun to touch, and edible plants - herbs, fruits and vegetables, including ones that you can plant right now in September.

Location: Community Room, West Valley Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose, 95117. Directions to West Valley Library

Did you know that by careful planning and plant selection, you can have beautiful flowers in your garden all year long? Find out from Master Gardeners!

Location: Evergreen Library, 2635 Aborn Road, San Jose, 95121 Directions to Evergreen Library

In September, representatives from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Kurt Elvert and Kevin Galvin, will join us for the first hour, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. to talk about the current state problem in water shortages.  They will also discuss the landscape and irrigation system rebate programs for homes and businesses along with other useful water-wise information.

From 11 a.m. - noon, we are inviting people to talk about water-saving ideas. Master Composter Lee Phillips will join us to talk about how he has saved money from the Santa Clara Valley Water District's water rebate program. He will lead off the show with a water-related song he composed! For more infomation on the rebate program, see valleywater.org.

 Time permitting, we will also discuss a movie which has recently opened in selected California cities called "Flow: For Love of Water" and the soundtrack of the movie trailer will be played.

Master Gardener Sharon McCray will also be on hand with Dr. Craig Kolodge, Master Gardeners Bader Kudsi and Jim Maley to discuss water-wise gardening. 

In the final half hour, Sharon will discuss the Prusch Farm Park Harvest Festival that is taking place on October 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: KKUP Radio at FM 91.5 mHz. Drop by the studio at 1241 Franklin Mall in Santa Clara ringed by Jackson, Monroe, Homestead and Benton Streets. Call in your questions during the show: 408-260-2999. Directions KKUP Radio Studio

Overfelt Gardens in a garden sanctuary for plant, wildlife and quiet
contemplation and enjoyment of nature in the urban setting.

The Chinese Moon Festival is celebrated by billions of people around
the world.  They celebrate it with dances, feasting and moon gazing. 
Delicious moon cakes are a traditional enjoyment.  But on this day, we
offer you the pleasure of sharing arts, crafts and creative activities
in a Chinese garden setting.  

The Master Gardeners are hosting a booth with gardening-related activities for adults and for children.  

Free admission and parking.  This is a tobacco-and alcohol-free event.

Location:

Chinese Cultural Garden, Overfelt Gardens, 368 Educational Park Dr., San Jose, 95133.

Directions to Overfelt Gardens

Now is a great time to start winter greens. Master Gardener Karen Schaffer will introduce you to many new and unusual varieties of vegetables.  Come learn how to grow vegetables for fall and winter harvest.  We will discuss how to seed directly into soil between July and September; how to seed into pots for transplanting later; how to buy good transplants from nurseries for planting in September and later.  You will enjoy great vegetables from October through March! 

Location: Los Altos Main Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, 94022 Directions to Los Altos Main Library

Sat, Oct 4

Walk and talk with Master Gardeners as they cut back, clean up and divide ornamental plants for the winter.

Followed by Open Garden until 1 p.m.

Location: Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Palo Alto Demonstration Garden

Sat, Oct 4

The goal of the Harvest Fair & Exposition is to embrace the spirit of the county fair and provide a place for families to celebrate a "county fair" in San Jose.

Entertainment - unusual food - pony rides - plant sale - cooking classes - pumpkin patch - hay wagon ride - apple juice tasting - kids programs - games and fun things to do! Listen to the Mariachi San Jose Youth Band!

Visit the Rare Fruit Orchard - the Heritage and High-Density Fruit Orchards - Emma's German Garden - Friendship Forest - Petting Zoo - and be part of 4H Mega Field Day!

The Master Gardeners will host a booth and will be holding a fall plant sale with fall/winter vegetable seedlings and other plants.

For more information, visit http://pruschfarmpark.org or call 408-926-5555.

Location:

Prusch Farm Park, 647 South King Road, San Jose, 95116. This is near the intersections of highways 280/680 and 101. Admission and parking are free.

Directions to Prusch Farm Park

Sat, Oct 4

Tired of watering, mowing and weeding your lawn but don't know what to put in instead?  Replacing your lawn appropriately reduces your water bill and your maintenance costs, encourages habitat for birds and butterflies and does not contribute to global warming.  You'll come away from this inspiring talk with dozens of ideas, illustrated by pictures worth more than a thousand words.  Deva Luna combines her passion for plants with a desire to enhance the environment.  She is a lifetime Master Gardener, Gardening Instructor, Coordinator of Santa Clara Teaching Garden, Landscape Designer and Horticulturalist for EarthCare Landscaping.  She has a degree in "Plants and Art" from UC Davis.

To register, call 650-493-6072.

Location: 559 College Ave., Palo Alto, 94306 Directions to Common Ground

Santa Clara County is one of the best places in the world to create a year-round garden, whether you want to grow vegetables or a beautiful sustainable garden full of trees, shrubs, perennials and flowers.  Come learn the basics about our climate and soil and the best practices for creating your ideal garden.  If you are a beginning gardener, you will learn how to get started successfully.  If you have some experience, you'll learn about sustainable practices and appropriate plants to introduce into your garden.  the goal of this class is to enable you to have a successful and sustainable garden in our time and place.

There are six classes on six consecutive Tuesday evenings from October 7 through November 11 from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Register at http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/Recreation/communitycenter

Location: Campbell Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, 95008 Directions to Campbell Community Center