Spring is almost here (but first, some more rain)
Find unusual plants, garden wares while supporting local vendors and clubs
Master gardeners offer spring workshops in vermiculture
Members-only event features huge selection of water-wise plants; join at the gate
Sacramento Perennial Plant Club event features dozens of vendors at Shepard Center
People brave stormy weather to celebrate milestone and see lots of flowers
Recipe: Poppy seeds add texture to vegan snack cake
Cold storms remind us: It’s still winter (but we have camellias)
High temperatures take a 20-degree dip from last weekend's warmth
Yolo County master gardeners offer morning Zoom class
Placer County master gardeners offer free workshop on straw-bale gardening
American Rose Society offers free webinar on flower photography
Milestone event to be at new location: Scottish Rite Center
Recipe: Easy asparagus-mushroom bake with eggs and cheese.
Enjoy a glimpse of spring before more rain arrives
How to tackle fungal outbreaks on roses without spraying
Placer County master gardeners present workshop Saturday
February has been very wet; warmer (and dry) weather is on its way
Registration is open for more neighborhood tree plantings in March and April; families welcome.
Sacramento Speakers Series supports scholarships for future farmers and more
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Sites We Like
Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 24
In between rainy episodes this week:
* Keep your gutters and storm drains cleared. Watch out for leaning trees or weakened branches; if you spot trouble, call an arborist.
* Remember to turn off the sprinklers or other irrigation. Be careful walking on or working with wet soil; it can compact easily.
* On rainy days, do some indoor gardening. Tend to houseplants. Sort seed packets. Start seed indoors for cool-season veggies and flowers.
* 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.
* Rake and compost leaves, but leave at least some healthy leaves in planting beds for nesting insects and foraging birds. But dispose of any diseased plant material. For eample, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* If you decide to use a living Christmas tree this year, keep it outside in a sunny location until Christmas week. This reduces stress on the young tree.
* 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 such as California poppies and plant spring bloomers such as as sweet peas, 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.