Events

Join Master Gardener Nancy Garrision for her fabulous introduction to the best tasting deciduous fruit trees that grow well in Willow Glen. Nancy has decades of experience growing almost every fruit tree imaginable, from the apples and oranges that come immediately to mind, to exotic subtropicals and also unusual varieties of more common fruit trees that have special properties -- particularly great taste, or long-lasting on the tree or in storage, or other special characteristics. You will be inspired to start or add to your own home orchard! And check out http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu!

The Master Gardeners also have these upcoming talks about fruit trees:

1. Getting Started to Plant Bare-Root Fruit Trees in January, Tuesday, November 25

2. Pruning Dormant Ornamental and Fruit Trees, Saturday, December 6, 2008

3. Grafting Fruit Trees, Saturday, December 13, 2008

4. Fruit Tree Pruning, Saturday, January 10, 2009

Location:

Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave, San Jose, 95125

Directions to Willow Glen Library

January is the time to plant fruit trees and other plants such as: berries; rhubarb; shade trees; roses; onions; asparagus and more! These, and many other perennial plants, are sold as bare-root plants.    What does that mean?  Master Gardener Roberta Barnes will describe the best practives in finding, choosing and planting various bare-root plants.

Why plant fruit trees at home?  Some reasons are:

* The advantage of having tree-ripened fruit in your own yard.  (It's not possible to get ripe peaches, for example, in the supermarket.)

* The ability to grow the tastiest varieties, many of which are not available in the supermarkets because they are not grown by commercial growers.

* The freedom to select varieties that will give fruit many months out of the year.

The best way to plant a fruit tree is to plant a bare-root tree in January.  Come learn how easy and fun it is!  The technique of espaliered fruit trees will also be discussed.  And check out http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu!

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

Join experienced Master Gardeners who will show you the best techniques for dormant pruning.

Location: Palo Alto Demonstration Garden (at Eleanor Pardee Community Garden), 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Palo Alto Demonstration Garden

Master Gardeners will present two wreath-making workshops:  at 1:00
p.m., Holiday Centerpieces;  at 3 p.m., Succulent Wreaths.  We provide
the  materials and know-how needed to create your very own stunning
holiday centerpieces and wreaths that you take home; we emphasize how
to create "green" wreaths by using sustainable materials and
techniques.

Craft and science workshops for children; trolley and handcart rides; face-painting; watercolor painting demo; visiting with Santa; and concerts and singalongs with carolers, choirs and even marimba groups are some of what you will enjoy at the Heritage Holiday fair!  Shop for unusual and distinctive gifts at the museum gift shop or have your antiques appraised by a local expert.   Enjoy the Village Harvest food tasting, honey tasting and artisinal food and drinks. 

Location:

History Park, 1650 Senter Road, San Jose, 95122

Directions to History Park

Master Gardener Bader Kudsi will teach gardeners of all skill levels how to graft different varieties of fruit trees.  Grafting involves joining two genetically distinct plants so that they unite to continue growth as a single plant.  A short section of a shoot taken from the type of fruit tree that you want to grow is inserted into a limb or trunk of a seedling tree - the rootstock.  The rootstocks have desirable characteristics that make them preferable to growing a tree on its own roots.

Some species cannot be propagated by techniques known as cutting or layering, but can be propagated by grafting.  You can also graft several varieties onto one rootstock, and the resulting tree will bear several varieties of fruit! 

See also the University of California guide for home orchards at http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu

To sign up for the workshop please contact RitaB@metroed.net or call the MetroEd office, Monday through Friday during business hours, at 408-723-6450.

Location:

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

Directions to Erikson/MetroEd Adult Education Center

Gardening year round is easy and rewarding in our mild Mediterranean
climate. Learn how to have a successful, environmentally responsible
food garden that provides delicious vegetables and herbs every month of
the year. This course stresses sustainable gardening practices such as
mulching, efficient watering methods, on-site composting,integrated
pest management, and use of organic fertilizers and soil amendments.

Topics include:soil preparation, amendments, and fertilizers;
irrigation methods and systems; working with both seeds and seedlings;
cultural requirements of specific warm and cool season crops and
varieties that do well in our area; and how to identify and manage
common pests, weeds, and diseases of vegetable crops in Santa Clara
County.

The class meets once a week for six weeks, on Wednesdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: January 7, 14, 21, 28 and March 4 and 11, 2009.   Note that the class does not meet in February.  Register at http://www.paadultschool.org or phone 650-329-3752.

Location: Room 1707, Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, 94301 Directions to Room 1707, Palo Alto High School

Master Gardener Sue Bell will talk about which shrubs to prune and not prune, and what to do in the garden in the winter.   Sue has an extensive garden and is known for her passion for design and cut flowers so come with your questions!

Location:

Evergreen Library, 2635 Aborn Rd., San Jose, 95121.  408-808-3060.  ev.sjpl@sjlibrary.org

 

Map & Directions to Evergreen Library

Pruning fruit trees is always a popular topic! Pruning will:

*Control tree's size for easier care in maintaining and picking fruit

* Increase strength - develop strong limb structure

* Distribute sunlight evenly throughout tree

* Regulate fruit bearing - remove excess fruitwood

* Renew fruitwood - continue strong buds and flowers

* Remove undesirable wood - dead, broken and crossing branches

The
best time of year to prune fruit trees is the dormant season,
December, January (best) and until the middle of February, but note
summer schedule for Apricots.

See also the University of California guide for home orchards at http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu

The workshop is free but registration is required. Please register by contacting RitaB@metroed.net or calling 408-723-6450 from Monday through Friday during business hours.

Location:

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

 

Directions to Erikson/MetroEd Adult Education Center

Gardening year round is easy and rewarding in our mild Mediterranean climate. Learn how to have a successful, environmentally responsible food garden that provides delicious vegetables and herbs every month of the year. 

 

Topics include:soil preparation, mulching and efficient watering; seeds and seedlings; warm and cool season vegetables; and managing common pests, weeds, and diseases.  The instructor is a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener.  For gardening questions, call the Master Gardener Hotline: 408-282-3105, M-F 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., or visit the website: www.mastergardeners.org. 

 

The class meets once a week on six consecutive Tuesdays from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.: January 20, 27, February 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2009.  

 

Register at http://www.ci.campbell.ca.us/Recreation/communitycenter or phone 408-866-2105.

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

Learn from Santa Clara County Master Gardeners how to select, plant and maintain healthy, ornamental citrus.  With a little planning, you can harvest citrus year-round from your own yard.  Many citrus grow well in containers as well as in the ground.  These plants are among the most rewarding to grow in California.

Location:

West Valley Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose, 95117

Directions to West Valley Library

February is a great time to prune rose bushes. Master Gardener David Giroux will describe how to prune roses to mprove their health, vigor, structure and appearance. David has years of great experience at the Heritage Rose Garden in San Jose, http://www.heritageroses.us, which has more than 4,000 plants and more than 3,000 different varieties of heritage, modern and miniature roses. He will also discuss rose care so come with all your rose questions! Marianne and David will bring potted roses for a hands-on pruning demonstration.

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

Gardening year round is easy and rewarding in our mild Mediterranean climate. Learn how to have a successful, environmentally responsible food garden that provides delicious vegetables and herbs every month of the year. This course stresses sustainable gardening practices such as mulching, efficient watering methods, on-site composting,integrated pest management, and use of organic fertilizers and soil amendments.

Topics include:soil preparation, amendments, and fertilizers; irrigation methods and systems; working with both seeds and seedlings; cultural requirements of specific warm and cool season crops and varieties that do well in our area; and how to identify and manage common pests, weeds, and diseases of vegetable crops in Santa Clara County.

The class meets once a week for six weeks, on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: January 28, February 4, 11, 25, March 4 and March 11, 2009.  Note that there is no class on February 18.

Register at http://ace.fuhsd.org or phone 408-522-2700.

Location:

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

Directions to Fremont High School in Sunnyvale

February is a great time to start seeds indoors, and prepare your vegetable beds for direct seeding.   What are the advantages of each method of starting vegetables?  Learn all about seed starting and direct seeding and everything else you need to know to get started on your 2009 spring vegetable garden!

Location:

Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Dr., Palo Alto, 94301

Directions to Palo Alto Demonstration Garden

Master Gardener Sue Bell will share her expert knowledge on pruning and maintaining a beautiful landscape at home. Sue is a garden consultant and designer and is a veritable fount of information. Come learn how to avoid the "uglies" and "gee, it will grow back again, won't ir?" problems with pruning your ornamentals.

Space is limited. Phone the MetroEd/Erikson office at (408) 723-6450 during regular business hours to sign up, or email RitaB@metroed.net.

Location:

MetroEd Erikson Adult Ed Center, 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose, 95136 (Room to be announced)

Directions to Erikson/MetroEd Adult Education Center

Mid-February is a great time to start seeds for your spring vegetable garden!  Master Gardener Bekah Stratton will explain how to start seeds indoors; sow seeds directly in soil; and proper planting methods.  Organic vegetable gardening will be the main topic.  Other topics include: beneficial flowers such as marigolds and gourmet edible flowers such as nasturtiums. A sampling of seeds and seed starting mediums will be part of a hands-on demonstration.  Bekah will provide data downloads to those who bring USB drives. 

Free.  No registration required.

See the March 15 listing for the follow-on talk about Starting Your Spring Vegetable Garden.  

Location:

Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverly St., Palo Alto, 94301

Directions to Gamble Garden

Learn which varieties of peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots, apricots, apples and pears are the delight of connoisseurs.  Master Gardener Nancy Garrison will introduce you to the best of the best-tasting deciduous fruits that grow in this area and you'll learn where to find sources for the plants.

To register, call 650-493-6072

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

Learn from Santa Clara County Master Gardeners how you can grow orchids successfully.  If you already grow orchids, bring your own orchid to the talk and find out what you can do to make it grow better.  Growing orchids is easier than you think and very rewarding.  Come to this talk to be inspired!

Location:

West Valley Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose, 95117

Directions to West Valley Library