Through the Garden Gate

April showers
Spring plant sales and events abound in April. Nurseries are filled with plants and it’s hard to know where to begin. But I’m sure you’ll figure it out! The big unknown is…April Showers…will we have them, or are we to hook up our irrigation systems? Lots of mulch and organic compost are always important.
I enjoy reading “Dave’s Garden” weekly newsletter (davesgarden.com). Most of the plants discussed are not ones that I would necessarily grow, as they are alien to California. However, I often find an interesting article, one that I can relate to. In the most recent issue, one writer describes the dreadful mistake she made several years earlier; that was planting “creeping charlie” in her yard. It has taken over and she feels she will never get rid of it.
This is true of many plants sold by nurseries that we regret buying and planting. These plants are becoming better known and nurseries have been advised never to sell them…but some of the large growers that sell to big-box stores pay no attention to the issue of alien invasive plants. Many plants may be invasive here in CA because of our gentle climate, whereas they would not be invasive elsewhere.
It’s incumbent on us as gardeners to really pay attention when visiting a nursery, especially a big-box nursery. Many of the plants are sold to unsuspecting gardeners through marketing ploys that write overblown descriptions of the nature of the plant, with no reference to the environs in which it will be planted.
Congratulation to local author, Nancy Bauer! Her beautiful book, “The California Wildlife Habitat Garden: How to Attract Bees, Butterflies, Birds, and Other Animals” has won a prestigious award from the American Horticultural Society. Here is a description of their award:
“Each year, the American Horticultural Society recognizes outstanding gardening books published in North America with its annual book award.”
The book is published by the University of California Press in Berkeley. It’s filled with color photographs and truly helpful and inspiring information.
It can be purchased through UC Press, Amazon, or in local bookstores. Go to: homegroundhabitatnursery.org for a photo of the cover and further information. Click on Partners and then click on Nancy’s name. It’s a nice website and sounds like an interesting nursery.
Occidental Arts & Ecology in Occidental will have six weekend plant sales this year. The first is on April 13 and 14 and then again on April 20 and 21. They have built a new greenhouse and nursery and are featuring organic, open-pollinated plants. Available will be plants for beneficial insects, drought-tolerants, food plants, medicinal and herb plants and many others. Tours at 1 p.m. are free and there will be “fabulous food trucks.”
The OAEC nursery will be open weekends, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May 25 to June 30, and later in the fall from Sept. 7 to Nov. 3.
Save some time to check out the Graton Community Club’s flower show on April 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will be selling vegetable starts, native plants, perennials, and others. Food will also be available.
The CNPS spring talk will be about the rodents that collect and bury (cache) manzanitas seeds. Deborah Rogers will present evidence that this caching acts as a fire adaptation for manzanitas seeds. The talk is on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. Meetings are held at 2050 Yulupa Ave. in Santa Rosa at the Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center. There is no charge for meetings or refreshments, and books and posters are sold.
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and Happy Spring!