Clubs to offer their expertise, plants and wares; volunteers needed for McKinley Park beautification event
The Shepard Center is in the eastern extension of McKinley Park, which will gain some new trees Saturday. The center's big Spring Sale also happens this weekend. Admission is free. Kathy Morrison
This Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, the garden and arts center in East Sacramento hosts its annual Spring Sale, featuring the two dozen-plus clubs that call Shepard home.
Shop for plants, flowers, crafts, jewelry, books, garden art and more at this huge event. Bring your dull knives and garden tools for sharpening (for a small donation).
This event is also a great chance to learn more about local garden and crafts clubs that meet at Shepard Center as well as get some expert advice. (See the list of clubs here.)
Sale hours are 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.
Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento. For details and directions: https://www.sgaac.org/.
Also happening Saturday, March 16, is a volunteer opportunity that will have a lasting impact on McKinley Park, site of the center. Shepard Center is collaborating with the city’s Parks Department, the Sacramento Tree Foundation and SMUD to plant new trees in McKinley Park. These trees are replacements for some of those heavily damaged during last winter’s storms.
Saturday is the second part of a two-day planting spree at McKinley Park. Earlier this year, 30 volunteers representing several of Shepard’s clubs planted 13 new trees. City park staff dug the holes, then volunteers planted the trees and spread mulch rings around their planting sites. That’s also the plan for this second tree-planting event.
Chosen with the help of SacTree arborists, the new trees include ginkgo, cypress and tupelo varieties.
Saturday’s tree planting starts with a volunteer orientation at 9 a.m. at Clunie Memorial, at the western edge of McKinley Park, Alhambra Boulevard and F Street. Bring gloves and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
Want to volunteer? Email Will Green at WGreen@surewest.net to RSVP.
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Food in My Back Yard Series
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June 3: Make your own compost
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May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success
April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?
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April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers
April 8: When to plant summer vegetables
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Garden Checklist for week of June 22
Mornings this first week of summer will remain comfortably cool – just right for gardening!
* Water early in the morning to cut down on evaporation. Check soil moisture and deep water trees and shrubs. Keep new transplants and veggies evenly moist. Deep water tomatoes to encourage deep roots.
* From seed, plant corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.
* Plant basil to go with your tomatoes.
* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias. It’s also a good time to transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.
* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.
* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.
* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.
* Mulch, mulch, mulch! This “blanket” keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather.
* Avoid pot “hot feet.” Place a 1-inch-thick board under container plants sitting on pavement. This little cushion helps insulate them from radiated heat.
* Thin grapes on the vine for bigger, better clusters later this summer.
* Cut back fruit-bearing canes on berries.
* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.
* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.
* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering and feeding now. A top dressing of aged compost will keep them happy. It feeds as well as keeps roots moist.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.
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