Popular tour led by Warren Roberts highlights spring flowers in the public gardens
Enjoy the knowledge -- and the sense of humor -- of Warren Roberts during his free arboretum tour Wednesday. Courtesy UC Davis Arboretum
Who’s ready for a walk with Warren?
Everybody’s favorite garden guide and raconteur returns Wednesday, April 9, to guide a tour of the UC Davis Arboretum’s gardens in bloom.
Warren Roberts, the Arboretum’s superintendent emeritus, will lead one of his popular monthly walks through the gardens. Meet at noon at the Shields Gazebo, located in the arboretum’s White Flower Garden south of Garrod Drive and the Arboretum Teaching Nursery on the UC Davis campus. The walk is scheduled to be 1 hour long.
With warm and sunny weather, this walk should be special as spring flowers fill the gardens.
“Get ready to immerse yourself in the vivid beauty of spring as you embark on a midday adventure through the gardens and collections of the UC Davis Arboretum with your guide Warren Roberts, superintendent emeritus,” say the organizers. “Renowned for his captivating storytelling and playful puns, Warren leads participants on an always-engaging exploration of the Arboretum’s seasonal highlights.
“Whether you’re a seasoned plant enthusiast or simply eager to revel in the tranquility of nature, this experience promises to be both educational and delightful,” they add. “This event is open to all and free of charge, encouraging everyone to come together and embrace the wonders of nature within the Arboretum’s picturesque grounds.”
Admission to the arboretum and the tour are free, but parking is not. Hourly parking ($1.75) is available along Garrod Drive. Or plan to stay longer and park in nearby Lot 55 with an all-day parking pass ($15).
Details and directions: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/.
Roberts' next tour will be noon Wednesday, May 8.
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Food in My Back Yard Series
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June 3: Make your own compost
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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.