Unusual cold weather inspires some meteorological education
Greg Gayton of Green Acres will be featured speaker
Be prepared; forecast calls for freezing temperatures and strong winds
Tomato breeder extraordinaire will share insights, latest varieties
Cheese-topped casserole a delicious winter recipe
Chilly forecast a reminder: It’s still winter
They may be on sale already, but it's not time yet
Got 15 minutes to spare? Join the Great Backyard Bird Count
Flavor of oranges may actually get a boost from 'kiss of cold'
Special event features unique collection and expert advice
Learn about grafting and expand your orchard -- without growing new trees
Lemon and coconut work beautifully in corn cakes
Alchemist CDC offers two free workshops in Sacramento
Yolo master gardeners also offer in-person workshop
Green Acres hosts special event Saturday at five locations
'Old Traditions ... New Creations' showcases fiber arts
Sacramento master gardeners host Open Garden Day on Saturday
Recipe: Baking and experimenting with fresh citrus fruit
February looks normal (so far); chilly and a little damp
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 17
Expect the coming storms to knock down an enormous amount of leaves. Grab a rake and get to work!
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Use some of those nice fall leaves as mulch around shrubs and trees or in the vegetable garden.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then, they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.