Events

Learn how summer pruning can be an effective way to control the size of your fruit trees.  Fruit thinning and espalier techniques will also be demonstrated.

Followed by Open Garden and tours of the gardens with Master Gardeners, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

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

A UC Master Gardener will be on hand to help answer disease and pest problems arising in the summer garden. Photos of specific plant damage are welcome. Please bring plant samples in a sealed, clear plastic bag or jar.

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

Celebrate Adult Summer Reading and Master the Art of Growing Your Own Food. The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County will give a presentation on how to start your own fruit and vegetable garden at home. Participants will be eligible for gardening themed prizes.

Location: Berryessa Branch Library, 3355 Noble Ave., San Jose, CA 95132 Directions to Berryessa Branch Library

Tips and demonstrations on how to garden sustainably will be featured, along with information on when to plant.

Location: Almaden Branch Library, 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose, 95120 Directions to Almaden Branch Library

Are you ready to trade in your thirsty lawn for a beautiful, water-wise landscape?  Your lawn replacement garden can be as low maintenance as any lawn, or you can create a garden where you will enjoy gardening on an ongoing basis.     Topics include: Removing part or all of a lawn in the easiest and most cost-effective way; Choosing water-wise plants from among the dazzling array of possibilities; Design considerations; When and how to plant; and How to maintain your new landscape.  This is a practical, how-to class, focused on the steps you'll take to successfully remove the lawn.    The presentation includes photographs and descriptions of plant categories and specific recommended plants, and photographs of great examples of landscapes that took the place of lawns. 

Location: Directions to West Valley Library

Come learn ways to use containers to extend your garden or perhaps, to BE your garden.  You'll learn about containers, potting soil, fertilizing, irrigation and the plants themselves.

Followed by Grand Rounds in the garden - tour the garden with Master Gardeners and bring your questions!

Location: Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Community Garden; near Charles Ave. & Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, 94086 Map of Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Thursday, July 23, 2009: Full Circle Farm’s Sarah Linn
will discuss the farm, garden and orchard; their educational programs;
their agricultural programs to distribute fresh produce to the Santa
Clara School District lunch program, the farm stand and CSA, and local
food bank donations.  

Call in: 408-260-2999

Every month: KKUP Radio at FM 91.5 mHz - Fourth Thursday of the Month - 10 a.m. - noo.

 

Location: KKUP FM 91.5

Your edible garden need not be relegated to the back corner of your property.  It can be integrated seamlessly into the whole landscape design.  Master Gardener Deva Luna will show how beautification, screening, shading, directing circulation and controlling erosion can all be fulfilled with plants that also provide you with organic food. You will learn and taste which edible trees, shrubs and flowers grow well in our urban landscapes. A great slideshow and list of recommended plants included.

To register call 650-493-6072.

Location: Common Ground, 559 College Ave, Palo Alto, 94306

It's mid-summer -- a good time to focus on sustainable gardening practices for watering, amending, and fertilizing soil using nontoxic alternatives.  Join Master Gardeners for a talk on mid-summer garden tasks and bring questions - are you wondering when is the perfect time to harvest those beans?  We will also discuss how to get ready for the fall/winter gardening season - it's time to start seeds indoors!   Fall is the ideal time to plant natives or Mediterranean plants and we will discuss appropriate plant choices and when and how to plant. 

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

Learn how easy it is to grow plants in fall and winter conditions.  Master Gardeners will discuss soil prep, which vegetables to plant and when to plant, how much to plant, succession planting and harvesting tips.

Followed by Open Garden and tours of the gardens with Master Gardener from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

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

Join the Master Gardeners and the Almaden Library to learn how to maximize your space through container gardening. Grow vegetables, fruit trees, annuals, succulents and just about anything else your heart desires. You will learn about companion planting, fertilizing, the proper soil and irrigation techniques. Bring a favorite 8" pot if you have one to start your herb garden. A limited supply of pots will be available if you don't have one to bring.

Location: Almaden Branch Library, 6445 Camden Ave., San José, 95120 Directions to Almaden Branch Library

Join Sue Zaslaw, a volunteer from the UC Cooperative Extension
Master Gardener Program,  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.

Location: Evergreen Branch Library, 2635 Aborn Rd., San José,  95121 Directions to Evergreen Branch Library

Master Gardener Judith Cody’s horticultural photography workshop will cover the strictly non-technical methods to take pictures of flowers, roses, and vegetables.  Emphasis will be on close-ups of blooms shot in the garden under natural or available light.  Basic principles of photo composition, use of landscape color, and understanding natural lighting conditions will be discussed.  Other topics are, best time of day to shoot, lighting differences among garden subjects, framing, good and bad shadows, and should insects be in the picture? Suitable for digital or analog camera users.  No reservations needed.  Limited to 30 participants.  Meet in the Carriage House at Gamble Garden.

Location: Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverly St., Palo Alto, 94301.  Meet in the Carriage House. Directions to Gamble Garden

Learn which flowers to grow for beautiful flower arrangements, and how easy and satisfying it is to grow and create these arrangements!

Location: Visitor & Education Center, Guadalupe River Park & Garden, 438 Coleman Ave., San Jose, 95110.

The City of San José’s newest and greenest community garden will be the site of a formal ribbon cutting and celebration on Friday, August 14, 2009 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.  The one-acre garden is located at the corner of Walnut and Asbury streets in Guadalupe Gardens.  The public is invited to attend a formal program starting at 3:00 p.m. and then stay to enjoy free cooking demonstrations, short educational presentations, garden tours and tips, children’s activities, music and refreshments.  The new Master Garden Demonstration Garden is having its opening celebration as well.  Free parking is available.  For more information visit grpg.org/CommunityGardens.shtml or call Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens at 408-298-7657.

Location:

Guadalupe River Park & Gardens,  corner of Walnut and Asbury streets, San Jose, 

Directions to Guadalupe River Park & Garden

Now's the time to start thinking about your fall and winter garden & start it from seed.  You'll leave with a six-pack seeded with winter vegetables.

Followed by Grand Rounds in the garden - tour the garden with Master Gardeners and bring your questions!  

Location: Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Community Garden; near Charles Ave. & Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, 94086 Map of Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Every garden has space for edible plants – herbs in pots, or mixed with ornamentals in a rock garden; passion fruit or cucumbers covering a fence; dwarf fruit trees in a driveway strip or lettuce in a shady corner of the backyard. UC Master Gardeners will show you how edibles can fit into the nooks and crannies of your urban garden, adding to the beauty of your garden as well as providing you with year round healthy, home-grown snacks. The presentation will include inspiring photos from local gardens.

Location: West Valley Branch Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose,  95117 Directions to West Valley Library

Join Sue Zaslaw, a volunteer from the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program,  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.

Location: Campbell Library, 77 Harrison Avenue, Campbell, 9500 Directions to Campbell Library

You can grow almost anything in containers - from vegetables and herbs to flowers arranged with the "thriller/filler/spiller" technique to roses and citrus and dwarf trees.    You can use containers of any size, shape and material, along with re-used or re-purposed gems you discover at yard sales, antique shops or hardware stores.  A container is anything that holds soil and provides drainage.   This is the perfect time of year to start seeds for a fall/winter vegetable garden, so we'll talk about starting seeds for later transplant into containers, as well as planting seeds directly in the containers.

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

NOTE: THIS TALK WILL NOT BE ON AUGUST 29.   IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED.    

UC Master Gardener Jean Lee will share her experience and expertise growing Asian vegetables in her year-round Santa Clara County garden. Learn how (and when) to plant and harvest various Asian vegetables.  The talk will include ample time for questions and answers.   

Location: Berryessa Branch Library, 3355 Noble Ave San Jose, 95132 Directions to Berryessa Branch Library

Complete your garden or get started gardening by learning how to compost - one of the best ways to add nutrients to your soil and keep waste out of the landfill at the same time.  Join Master Composter Phil Cornish to learn all about home composting.   We will cover items such as: what can be composted, the various composting methods available and what to do with finished compost.   He will also discuss worm composting (worm bins) and help you choose which method works best for you.

Location: Guadalupe River Park & Garden, 438 Coleman Ave., San Jose, 95110. Directions to Guadalupe River Park & Garden

Learn how to design your low-water garden with easy plants and great tips to get them started.

Followed by Open Garden and tours of the gardens with Master Gardeners from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

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

Fall is the perfect time of year to plant lavender, making September the perfect time to learn all about the wonderful world of lavender.  Master Gardener Bekah Stratton will provide a general introduction to growing and using the many types of lavenders, including the history and mystique of lavender.  She will discuss the growing habits, planting, methods of propagation and how to care for and harvest the fragrant crop.  Other topics include interesting and unique lavender varieties and food and beauty products made with lavenders. Bring a USB thumb drive for a download from Bekeh's laptop.

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

Did you know fall is the perfect time to plant native plants and Mediterranean-climate plants?  The plants' roots have an easier time getting established over our mild winters, sipping on the winter rains.  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 will also cover basic design concepts, non-toxic pest management and season-appropriate chores to keep your garden looking its very best.

The class meets on six consecutive Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., from September 14 - October 19. 

The course code is 227272.   Register at http://ace.fuhsd.org or call 408-522-2700.   

Location: Kitchen, Fremont High School, 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Road, Sunnyvale, 94087. Directions to Fremont High School in Sunnyvale

Our mild Mediterranean climate allows us to grow a dazzling variety of
temperate and subtropical fruits and berries. Learn how to harvest
delicious fruit from your garden every month of the year. This course
stresses how sustainable gardening practices such as efficient watering
methods, integrated pest management and use of organic fertilizers and
soil amendments apply to growing fruits and berries. Pome fruits
(apples and pears), stone fruits (apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums,
pluots and cherries), citrus and other subtropicals are covered, as
well asblueberries, raspberries, strawberries and other berries.

Topics include: soil preparation, planting (including space-saving
techniques) and establishment of plants in the first year; irrigation
methods and systems; cultural requirements of specific fruits and
berries; recommended varieties of deciduous fruits, citrus, avocados
and other subtropicals; and pruning, including summer pruning for
controlling tree size.

The class meets on six Wednesday evenings from 7 - 9 p.m., September 16 - October 21. 

Registration is now open: send email to education@grpg.org or call 408-298-7657.

Location: Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, 438 Coleman Ave., San Jose, 95110 Directions to Guadalupe River Park & Garden

Our mild Mediterranean climate allows us to grow a dazzling variety of
temperate and subtropical fruits and berries. Learn how to harvest
delicious fruit from your garden every month of the year. This course
stresses how sustainable gardening practices such as efficient watering
methods, integrated pest management and use of organic fertilizers and
soil amendments apply to growing fruits and berries. Pome fruits
(apples and pears), stone fruits (apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums,
pluots and cherries), citrus and other subtropicals are covered, as
well asblueberries, raspberries, strawberries and other berries.

Topics include: soil preparation, planting (including space-saving
techniques) and establishment of plants in the first year; irrigation
methods and systems; cultural requirements of specific fruits and
berries; recommended varieties of deciduous fruits, citrus, avocados
and other subtropicals; and pruning, including summer pruning for
controlling tree size.

This class meets on four Saturdays from 10 a.m. - noon, September 19 - October 10, 2009.

The Activity Number for this class is 252.2.0718.   Register online at sanjoseca.gov/prns, or by mail, fax or walk-in.

Location: Almaden Community Center, 6445 Camden Ave.  San José, 95120. Directions to Almaden Branch Library

Join Master Gardener Karen Schaffer for a discussion 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.

The talk is free but registration required:  please RSVP by calling the office at (408) 723-6450 or by email to ritab@metroed.net.

Location: Erikson Adult Ed Center, 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose, 95136 Directions to Erikson Adult Ed Center

You can grow many varieties of garlic over the winter and harvest them in June.  Come learn how to grow garlic and plan for your November planting.

Followed by Grand Rounds in the garden - tour the garden with Master Gardeners and bring your questions!  

 

Location: Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Community Garden; near Charles Ave. & Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, 94086 Directions to Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Now's the time to start thinking about your fall and winter garden,  plant seed directly in the soil, and transplant seedlings into your vegetable beds.  Although it's too late in the season to start seeds yourself in six-plant to transplant in 6-8 when the seedlings are big enough, the topic of how to seed in six-packs and care for seedlings will be covered.

Join Master Gardeners to learn about which vegetables to plant, and learn tips on how to grow for best success. Check out our Warm and Cool Season Vegetable Planting Guidelines for info on when to seed directly, when to start seeds in six-packs or other containers and when to transplant seedlings:  http://mastergardeners.org/warm-cool-veg-charts

 

 

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

Join a panel of Master Gardeners as they discuss what keeps them in the garden in the fall. We’ll talk about what we plant in the fall, seasonal maintenance for a sustainable garden and the plants that bring us the most enjoyment in the fall. Bring your questions, share your experience.  .

Location: West Valley Branch Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose,  95117
Directions to West Valley Library

Location: Evergreen Branch Library, 2635 Aborn Rd., San Jose, 95121 Directions to Evergreen Branch Library