Events

Arboretum All-Stars is the name of a collection of 100+ water wise plants that are proven winners for your garden.   These plants have been grown and tested across California by Master Gardeners.  Join us for a talk about these different plants and how you can use them in your garden.

You can browse the online searchable database of Arboretum All-Stars at  http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx -- you can search on the type of plant (tree, shrub, perennial, annual, etc); size (small, medium, large); exposure (full sun, part shade, shade) and also narrow the search to California Natives only if you like. 

You can also download the brochure of 100+ plants with all this information from the Arboretum All-Stars website.  

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

It's time to prepare gardens for fall vegetables and landscape plants.  UCCE Master Gardeners will answer questions on garden problems at a walk-in Plant Clinic.  Discuss with master gardeners what to vegetables to plant, which plants do well in this area, plant diseases or plant nutrition, watering, landscape or pests. It is also time to order bare root roses, fruit trees and other bare root plants, and landscape plants including California native plants. Find out which roses and fruit trees do well in your microclimate. Other topics include organic sprays, cultivation practices and methods to attract beneficial insects.
 

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

Succulents and containers are a perfect match, and a great way to add color to your yard for low water and low maintenance. Join Master Gardener Laura Balaoro and Guadalupe River Park Conservancy for
a demonstration on how to create your own wonderful containers. From
the beginner to more advanced gardeners, you’ll learn which succulents
are good for shade, semi shade, the winter growers and common succulent
problems. There will be lots of samples of gardens for ideas, and
you’ll be amazed with the breadth of species available. After a planting
demo and a lesson in the best way to propagate - there will be free
cuttings to take home and help get you started!

All events will be held at the new Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center, located at 438 Coleman Avenue. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early by contacting us at education@grpg.org or 408-298-7657 or by sending a check to: Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, 438 Coleman Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110. Visa and MasterCard are also accepted via phone or mail. For more information please call 408-298-7657.

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

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 course meets 6 Mondays from Sep 13 - Oct 18, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.

Register at https://ace.fuhsd.org/course_information/register.asp?_id=6889&departmen... or call 408-522-2700.

PLEASE NOTE: Although the online course catalog at http://ace.fuhsd.org is correct, the paper copy that was mailed out by the Sunnyvale-Cupertino Adult & Community Education is wrong.   Please refer to the online course catalog if there are any questions.  The exact link for this course is http://ace.fuhsd.org/course_information/course_description.asp?_id=6889&...

Location:

Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, 1279 Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road, Sunnyvale 94087

Directions to Fremont High School in Sunnyvale

Learn how to evaluate and redesign your landscape to bring beauty to your home and be more in tune with our Mediterranean climate and local ecology. This class will provide tips for getting the most from your irrigation system, improving your soil, controlling weeds and pests and using plants that thrive in our climate.  We'll also discuss caring for your lawn and options to reduce or replace it.  The two instructors are Master Gardeners Roberta Barnes and Kathy Ormiston.  Roberta Barnes has been a Master Gardener for seven years and is a horticultural consultant specializing in garden makeovers. Kathy Ormiston is owner of Ginkgo Fine Gardening and Design, a landscape design and maintenance company specializing in gardens that are beautiful and sustainable. 

This course is offered with the Palo Alto Adult School and is held on three Monday evenings from 7-9 p.m., Sep 13, Sep 20 and Sep 27. 

Register at http://www.paadultschool.org or call 650-329-3752.

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

Join Master Gardener Laura Westley as she explains how maintaining a healthy garden is the first step to dealing with pests.  She’ll introduce the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach and discuss how to deal with specific pests in a sustainable and proactive way. You will also learn how to recognize, attract and keep beneficial insects in your garden! Don’t forget to use the UC Davis website http://ipm.ucdavis.edu -  for a treasure trove of information on pests and diseases.

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

The public is invited to attend the free Master Gardener Field Day at McClellan Ranch Park.  We will be giving tours of the garden with the new raised beds, specially designed and constructed to ward off critters - a big concern at this community garden!  Come see how you can build raised beds to protect against gophers and other pests. 

We will have a display of the various types of tomatoes we are growing - assuming they are ripe by then!  Our cool summer means late ripening tomatoes.

Come say hi, and bring your gardening questions for the master gardeners! 

Location:

McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan Rd., Cupertino 95014

Directions to McClellan Ranch Park

You can grow many varieties of garlic in our area and now is the time to get ready for planting. Garlic is planted in mid- to late-fall here and harvested in June.  One mnemonic is:  "Stop watering garlic around Mother's Day and harvest garlic around Father's Day."  Come learn how to successfully add this wonderful vegetable to your garden. 

Followed by Grand Rounds in the garden.

Location:

Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, in the Charles Street Community Garden, Olive Street near Charles Avenue, Sunnyvale 94086

Directions to Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration 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.

The course meets on five Tuesday evenings, September 21 - October 19, from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Register at www.ci.campbell.ca.us/Recreation/communitycenter
or call 408-866-2104. 

Location:

Campbell Community Center, Room Q-84, 1 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell 95008

Directions to Campbell Community Center

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.

The course meets 6 Saturdays from Sep 25 - Nov 6 (no class Oct 23) from 10 a.m. - noon. 

Register at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/prns or call 408-268-1133.

 

Location: Almaden Community Center, 6445 Camden Ave., San Jose 95120 Directions to Almaden Community Center

Join Master Gardener Nella Henninger and beekeeper Alan Henninger for a talk on honey bees. Learn all about honey bees, the benefits of attracting them to your garden, and how to protect this precious resource.

Location:

Berryessa Library, 3355 Noble Ave., San Jose 95132

Directions to Berryessa Library

The Chinese Moon Festival is celebrated around the world with music, dance and wonderful foods.  Share a day of arts, crafts and creative culture in this beautiful garden, the Chinese Cultural Garden.  Drop by the Master Gardener booth and say hi!  Children's activities are featured at our booth.

For more information, see http://www.chineseculturalgarden.org/moonfestival.htm or call (408) 251-3323. 

Location: Chinese Cultural Garden, Overfelt Garden Park, 368 Educational Park Dr., San Jose 95116 Directions to Overfelt Garden Park

Join Master Gardeners for a discussion of fall vegetable gardening and easy seed starting so you can enjoy a bounty of fresh vegetables all winter long.

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

Join Master Gardener Laura Westley as she teaches you all about growing herbs in Santa Clara county.  We'll learn about annual and perennial herbs, and which herbs to grow in what season. We'll take a look at some old favorites, and introduce you to some new ones as well.

See our website, http://mastergardeners.org/spring-garden-market/herbs, for a great list of 40 herbs you can grow! 

Location:

Evergreen Library, 2635 Aborn Road, San Jose 95148

Directions to Evergreen Branch Library

Join us for a talk on bulbs, both ornamental and edible.  We will talk about the many bulbs that do well in our Mediterranean climate - flowering bulbs from South Africa and other Mediterranean climates as well as California Natives.   We will also give tips on growing garlic, onions and shallots - now is the time to plant these bulbs as well as flowering bulbs!

Followed by Open Garden in the vegetable/flower garden and the waterwise garden.

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

Our annual fall vegetable seedling sale will get you off to a great start with your fall/winter garden!  Drop by our booth, select your vegetable starts, and enjoy the day at the Prusch Harvest Festival.  Come early for best selection.

We are also hosting childrens' activities, a "Brag Table" of produce and flowers, and an information booth with master gardeners ready to answer all your gardening questions.  See http://www.pruschfarmpark.org/harvest-festival for info on the Prush Harvest Festival. 

Click here http://www.mastergardeners.org/events/2010/fall-vegetable-seedling-sale-... for a list of vegetables (and varieties) we're selling. 

Location: 647 S King Rd, San Jose 95116 Directions to Prusch Farm Park

Sheet composting - also called Lasagna Bed Gardening - is eco-friendly and easy.  It is a no-dig, no-till organic gardening method that results in rich, fluffy soil with very little work from the gardener.   The name "lasagna gardening" has nothing to do with what you'll be growing in this garden.  It refers to the method of building thegarden bed, which is to add layers to organic materials that "cook down" over time.  

Followed by Grand Rounds in the garden.

Location: Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Community Garden, 433 Charles Street, Sunnyvale 94086 (near Charles and Olive) Directions to Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Hold a snake, touch a toad, and meet hawks, owls and other animals!  Join master gardeners
at the Youth Science Institute’s Wildlife Festival. Food and fun
throughout the day. Families can participate in wildlife programs,
hands-on science activities and crafts.

This is a great place to see flying raptors, slithering snakes and other
cool birds and reptiles close-up. In addition to the extensive
collection of live and preserved animals housed at the facility, the
trained YSI experts will lead nature walks, give hands-on demonstrations
and present a beautiful collection of nature-related crafts.

Back-by-popular demand, the festival will include a live animal presentation called
"Falconry Through the Ages." More than 15 environmental organizations
will provide educational exhibits for this ever-popular event. The lush
environment of Alum Rock park provides an extra bonus to attendees as
there is so much to do in the vicinity around the Science and Nature
Center. It's a great place to bring family and friends!

Admission is free, but there is suggested donation of $5/family.
There is a $6.00/vehicle fee to enter Alum Rock City Park
The event will be held rain or shine.

Location:

Alum Rock Park, 16240 Alum Rock Ave., San Jose 95127

Directions to Alum Rock Park

UC Master Gardener and lavender expert Bekah Dubois will provide a general introduction to the myriad uses of lavender. Just prior to the rainy season is the perfect time to plant lavender, which makes this a perfect time to learn about lavender and its special culinary and craft uses. Topics also include lavender types by intended uses, growing habits, how to plant lavender, soils needed, and proper nutrition for this fragrant crop. Bekah will give informative downloads from her laptop to those who bring USB drives. Free. No reservations required.

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

A great fall festival!  Kids of all ages will enjoy a scarecrow making contest, the giant pumpkin patch, fresh apple cider, a children's concert and lots of free kid's activities.  For more info, see http://www.grpg.org/PIP.shtml

Drop by the master gardener booth and say hi!  We are also featuring hands-on children's activities and an info booth for all your gardening questions.

Location:

Discovery Meadow, Guadalupe River Park & Gardens, Woz Way at San Carlos Street, San Jose 95110

Directions to Discovery Meadow at Guadalupe River Park & Gardens

Master Gardener Laura Monczynski's talk will focus on our native soil and how to make the most of it with sustainable practices in the garden.

People who wish to attend are asked to reserve a seat in advance by either phoning the Erikson Adult Ed Center during regular business hours at (408) 723-6450 or by emailing ritab@metroed.net

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

Join the Health Trust at the annual Open Air Health Fair at the Berryessa Flea Market.  Drop by the Master Gardener booth to say hi - bring all your gardening questions, and take part in our fun children's activites.

The Health Trust provides free and low-cost services including flu shots, cholesterol and diabestes testing, blood pressure screening and dental screening and treatments. Also, there will be exercise & fitness opportunities, games and activities for kids, many community organizations and services to learn about, and information about college and university. 

For more info, see the Health Trust website at http://www.healthtrust.org/services/oahf.php or email info@healthtrust.org or call 408-559-9385. 

The Health Fair takes place Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10 from noon - 5 p.m.

Location:

Berryessa Flea Market, 1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose 95133

Directions to Berryessa Flea Market

The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley is hosting its 9th Annual Wildlife Awareness Day: Walk on the Wide Side. Featured are presentatios with education animals and offer a limited number of small tours of the wildlife rehabilitation areas.  It addition, there will be educational/information booths and live animal booths hosted by participating partners, including the Master Gardeners.  Fun, hands-on wildlife-oriented activities for children are also featured. Drop by the Master Gardeners and say hi!

Location:

Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, 3027 Penitencia Creek Road San Jose, CA 95132.

Directions to the Wildlife Center

This course is designed to acquaint the home gardener with a basic understanding of how seeds are formed and how to prevent cross-pollination as it relates to seed saving. Master Gardener Janet Waagen will discuss specific seed saving techniques, including when to harvest and how to process seed. Proper storage techniques will also be given for many common vegetables.

Location:

West Valley Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose 95117

Directions to West Valley Library

Join Santa Clara Audubon Society, the Master Gardeners & over 20 other environmental groups to
celebrate nature & wildlife. Activities include birdhouse & bird
feeder building, a scavenger hunt, educational presentations, & a
wildlife poster contest. Live animal attractions include birds,
reptiles, & sharks.

SCVAS will hold a guided shorebird walk at Charleston Slough in
Mountain View’s Baylands at 8:00 AM. After the walk, participants will
caravan to the Wildlife Education Day in Cupertino. RSVP required for
walk ONLY: contact programs@scvas.org or call (408) 252-3740.

Location: McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan Rd., Cupertino 95014 Directions to McClellan Ranch Park

Would you like to have a healthy, lush green lawn while using less
water, fertilizers and herbicides?  Or have you been thinking about
replacing all or part of your lawn?

Switching to Sustainable Lawn Care is easy and you might also be
surprised how easy it is to replace your lawn - you do not need to dig
it all up! And there are a wide variety of replacements, from
groundcovers and native grasses that mimic the look of a lawn to
waterwater landscapes, edible gardens and meadows. Join Master Gardener
Marianne Mueller for a talk about lawn care ... and options for
replacing the lawn. A significant portion of the time will be devoted to
Q&A about participants' challenges.

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

Learn about the tasks you can do now to take full advantage of the next gardening season. Includes a garden review, tips and tools, and demonstrations in the waterwise garden.  Check out our Plant Dictionary at http://mastergardeners.org/plant-dictionary for 50+ plants that we grow at the Palo Alto Demo Garden, how we tend them and how they do for us.

Followed by Open Garden in the vegetable/flower garden and waterwise garden.

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

Fall is the time to plant bulbs!  From daffodils and tulips and iris to bulbs from Mediterranean climate such as Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Lady), watsonia, chasmanthe and many others, to edible bulbs like garlic - join Master Gardener Philippa Alvis to learn all about how to plant and care for these wonderful spring bloomers. 

Location:

Metro Ed District's Erikson Adult Education Center, 4849 Pearl Ave., San Jose, 95136.

Directions to Erikson Adult Ed Center

Plant a crop to feed the soil this fall. Green manures, also known as cover crops, provide needed nutrients to the soil both while they are growing and when you chop them down and dig them into the soil after they start to bloom. This is a great way to prepare the soil for your spring planting. Come learn about the seeds to plant now to give this boost to your garden beds, and when and how to incorporate the plant matter into the soil.

Followed by Grand Rounds in the garden.

Location: Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles St. Community Garden near Charles & Olive, 433 Charles St., Sunnyvale 94086 Directions to Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden

Would you like to have a healthy, lush green lawn while using less water, fertilizers and herbicides?  Or have you been thinking about replacing all or part of your lawn?

Switching to Sustainable Lawn Care is easy and you might also be surprised how easy it is to replace your lawn - you do not need to dig it all up! And there are a wide variety of replacements, from groundcovers and native grasses that mimic the look of a lawn to waterwater landscapes, edible gardens and meadows. Join Master Gardener Marianne Mueller for a talk about lawn care ... and options for replacing the lawn. A significant portion of the time will be devoted to Q&A about participants' challenges.

Location:

Berryessa Library, 3355 Noble Ave., San Jose 95132

Directions to Berryessa Library

UC Master Gardener David Peterson will demonstrate the particulars of the unique Mediterranean climate that occurs in only a few places on the globe. Our Bay Area is one of these rare climates.He will discuss the reasons why Mediterranean plants and California natives are ideal for our summer-dry area gardens. Plants adapted to our climate are also drought tolerant and less "fussy" in upkeep.

Other topics include California native plants, maps of area soil type, correct watering, and how to care for your newly planted Mediterranean or native stock. He has prepared interesting handouts with plant lists for attendees.

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

Join us for a talk on bulbs that do well in our Mediterranean climate -
flowering bulbs from South Africa and other Mediterranean climates as
well as California Natives.   We will also give tips on growing garlic,
onions and shallots - now is the time to plant these bulbs as well as
flowering bulbs!

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