Patricia Carpenter welcomes visitors to her garden Sunday, Aug. 4
Spiders are especially evident in July gardens. This western spotted orbweaver was photographed at Patricia Carpenter's native plant garden. Courtesy Beth Savidge via Patricia Carpenter
Tour a native garden in summer? Why?
"I am sure there are some out there who think I am crazy having a summer ramble-- it's hot," says Patricia Carpenter, the CNPS Ambassador who seasonally welcomes visitors to her garden near Davis. But she has her reasons, grounded in education.
"I really think it is important to see native gardens in summer and contrast them with non-native gardens."
She adds, "The desert area is the highlight of our summer native garden!"
Carpenter's Summer Seasonal Native Garden Ramble happens Sunday, Aug. 4, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Admission is free for the self-guided tour but registration is required here. Visitors may start the tour any time during those hours.
The Carpenter native garden covers an acre west of Davis along a slough, west of Pierce Ranch Road south of Russell Boulevard. Carpenter started the garden in 2005, and it now features about 400 species and cultivars of California native plants.
Highlights of high summer at the site include viewing summer blooms, seeing how plants adapt to heat and drought, observing seasonal maintenance and seed collecting, and examining irrigation strategies.
Carpenter will offer an optional short orientation and Q&A session at 8 a.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. Those interested should meet at the check-in table.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, and are welcome to bring lunch or a snack (and bring water). No dogs allowed. The site has a composting toilet.
To view Carpenter's California Native Plant Society Ambassador profile, as well as see a map and read more about her garden, go here. Her non-native garden also will be open to visitors that day, offering the contrast that she mentioned.
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Garden Checklist for week of Dec. 8
Make the most of dry weather while we have it this week. Rain is returning.
* Rake leaves away from storm drains and gutters. Recycle those leaves as mulch or add to compost.
* It’s not too late to plant something. Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Trees and shrubs can be planted now, especially bare-root varieties such as fruit trees or rose bushes. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from winter rains.
* Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis, calendulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and primroses.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location; bring them inside at night or if there’s rain.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Mulch, water and cover tender plants to protect them during threat of frost. Succulent plants are at particular risk if temperatures drop below freezing. Make sure to remove coverings during the day.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
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