Dog adoptions, music and more at special event in Oak Park
East Sacramento tradition features five designer-decorated homes
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After sunny days, change is in the air; rain's due Thursday
Elk Grove garden store hosts family fun along with sale
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Try mandarins in an easy parfait dessert
Frost could be in the forecast. Make the most of clear days in the garden.
New location replaces locally owned business's first store
Frosty weather can endanger trees and fruit
Enjoy live music and plenty of mandarin-flavored foods
Find handmade arts and crafts (and food) in time for holiday shopping
See mums of all types and learn how to grow them, too
Treat features fruit and a special ingredient
Make the most of soft ground and clear skies
Prepare for frost with these handy tips
Find native plants at find out farms
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 10
Make the most of gaps between raindrops this week and get stuff done:
* 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.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* 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.
* Pull faded annuals and vegetables.
* Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* 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.