Patricia Carpenter opens her property for the Early Spring Ramble
The buckeye buds are opening and showing off their green at Patricia Carpenter's native plant garden, which will be available for strolling Sunday. Courtesy Patricia Carpenter; photo by Beth Savidge
St. Patrick's Day plus awakening plants and springlike weather will add up to a celebration of green this Sunday at Patricia Carpenter's native plant garden in Yolo County.
The Seasonal Early Spring Ramble at Carpenter's 1-acre site, on Pierce Ranch Road west of Davis, is a free event, but registration is required. Sign up here; maps are available online. The property will be open for strolling and inspiration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 17. Registered visitors can stroll the garden any time during that period.
Carpenter is a California Native Plant Society Ambassador whose garden has taken shape over the past 19 years; it now features about 400 species and cultivars of California native plants.
Early spring highlights at the garden are expected to include plenty of blooms from wildflowers, as well as Ceanothus and Ribes species and cultivars. Spring maintenance chores, such as pruning, pest control and mulching, can be observed. Carpenter also reports that she has been collecting native plant seeds to share.
"The rain has been wonderful, but I am looking forward to a bit of sunshine!" she says.
A special guest during the day will be botanist Glen Holstein, who can tell about the new CNPS Yolo-Colusa Chapter. He also is a wildflower enthiusiast who enjoys helping visitors identify plants.
Carpenter herself will conduct an optional orientation and Q&A session at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Meet near the check-in table.
Visitors are welcome to bring a snack or lunch to enjoy during the day. Also note:
-- Sturdy shoes are advised.
-- A composting toilet is available.
-- No dogs are allowed.
Carpenter's non-native garden also will be open for visiting.
To read more about the native garden, see a map and view a plant list, visit her CNPS Ambassador profile page here.
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Garden Checklist for week of Sept. 15
Make the most of the cool break this week – and get things done. Your garden needs you!
* Now is the time to plant for fall. The warm soil will get cool-season veggies off to a fast start.
* Keep harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons and eggplant.
* Compost annuals and vegetable crops that have finished producing.
* Cultivate and add compost to the soil to replenish its nutrients for fall and winter vegetables and flowers.
* Fertilize deciduous fruit trees.
* Plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into the vegetable beds.
* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as lettuce seedlings.
* Sow seeds of California poppies, clarkia and African daisies.
* Transplant cool-weather annuals such as pansies, violas, fairy primroses, calendulas, stocks and snapdragons.
* Divide and replant bulbs, rhizomes and perennials.
* Dig up and divide daylilies as they complete their bloom cycle.
* Divide and transplant peonies that have become overcrowded. Replant with "eyes" about an inch below the soil surface.
* Late September is ideal for sowing a new lawn or re-seeding bare spots.
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