Demonstration garden in Loomis hosts open house, workshop
California fuchsia is a native perennial popular with hummingbirds, as you might guess from the trumpet-shaped blossoms. Plant it now and wildlife will love it next summer and fall. Kathy Morrison
Right now, the landscape around Loomis Library and Community Learning Center is really buzzing. Where once there was only half-dead lawn, there’s now a wealth of wildlife – bees, birds, butterflies and more – making the most of an abundance of native plants.
How did they do it? Find out during the Placer County master gardeners’ Second Saturday Open House 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 14, at their Loomis Demonstration Garden. Admission is free.
Specifically highlighting those birds and bees, a free 1-hour workshop on “California Native Plants for Habitat Gardening” will be presented by the master gardeners at 10:30 a.m. that same morning. No advance registration necessary.
Still in its first year, the Demonstration Garden is on the grounds of the Loomis Library, 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.
All sorts of gardening questions are welcome during the open house, a chance to see the garden’s progress as well as get answers.
Covering about an acre, the new “UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Demonstration Garden” is packed with beautiful flowering plants that native wildlife needs for food and habitat. At the same time, the garden serves as a living example and outdoor classroom for local residents interested in saving water, time and money by putting the right plants in the right place.
“When I look at photos from a few months ago, I’m surprised by how much it’s grown!” says longtime Placer County master gardener and native plant expert Tece Markel, who helped select the many natives in the demonstration garden. “We picked all the plants with pollinator needs in mind. About 75 to 80 percent are natives.
“Definitely, wildlife has found the garden,” she adds. “We’ve seen so many bees, hummingbirds, even bluebirds. During our spring open house, we spotted two female Crotch’s bumble bees – they’re endangered. So, that’s exciting, too.”
The secret to the garden’s quick success? Planting at the right time.
Master gardeners know fall is the best time to add water-wise plants to your garden. Transplanted after weather starts to cool in fall, shrubs, perennials and trees have a chance to “get established” – develop deep roots – and make the most of winter rain. That prepares them to be “Summer Strong” for those dry days to come.
“There are big advantages to fall planting,” Markel explains. “It’s easier on plants. The soil temperature is still warm, but the air temperature is beginning to cool. Plants still get the sun exposure they need to put roots down. Then, they get (winter) rain and can really take off in the spring. That’s what we tried to do here.”
Planting in fall saves money, too.
“Our plants started in little 2- by 2- by 4-inch pots,” Markel observes. “In just a few months, they really caught up; they’re all bigger than if we had planted 1 gallon-size (plants).
“Fall is also the best time to plant native annuals,” she adds. “They’ll soak up that winter rain, germinate and bloom in the spring. They’re really popular with bees, too.”
In its first spring, the demonstration garden was abloom with California poppies and two varieties of clarkias (‘Red Ribbons’ and elegant clarkia), also known as farewell to spring.
Those native annuals complemented the many water-wise shrubs, perennials and trees at the demonstration garden. Find full plant lists here: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/Demonstration_Garden/Garden_Areas/.
“Our California fuchsias are really popping,” Markel says. “We have three different sages – Bee’s Bliss, Cleveland and hummingbird – and they’re all doing well. The western redbud is really coming along and the leafcutter bees are using its leaves; they cut little circles (in foliage) to line their nests. To see that redbud, you know the bees are nesting – and that’s exciting, too. It shows we’ve created a good habitat.”
Besides planting in fall, Markel offers this advice for creating a water-wise and wildlife-friendly garden.
“First ask yourself, what is it that you want in your garden? Do you want to see more hummingbirds? More bees?” she suggests. “Personally, I plant for birds and pollinators and choose plants that they like.”
To attract a wide range of birds, bees and butterflies, offer them a native plant buffet.
“Have a variety of plants, not just one kind,” she adds. “For example, different bees have different needs. They want different things. Try to match them up.
“I also try to have something blooming all year, for hummingbirds in particular. Anna’s hummingbirds are year-round residents and they need food every season. In late winter for example, manzanita and currants provide them food; they also eat little insects. I used to use feeders to attract hummingbirds; now I just use plants.”
Besides master gardener-hosted open houses on the second Saturday of each month, the garden is open the same hours as the Loomis Library, making it accessible to families to regularly check plants’ progress and find inspiration. Loomis Library hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays.
Details and directions: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/Demonstration_Garden/.
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Garden Checklist for week of Oct. 6
Get ready to get to work! Cooler weather is headed our way mid-week.
* Clean up the summer vegetable garden and compost disease-free foliage.
* Harvest pumpkins and winter squash.
* October is the best month to plant trees, shrubs and perennials.
* Before planting, add a little well-aged compost and bone meal to the soil, but hold off on other fertilizers until spring. Keep the transplants well-watered (but not wet) for the first month as they become settled.
* Dig up corms and tubers of gladioli, dahlias and tuberous begonias after the foliage dies. Clean and store in a cool, dry place.
* Treat azaleas, gardenias and camellias with chelated iron if leaves are yellowing between the veins.
* Now is the time to plant seeds for many flowers directly into the garden, including cornflower, nasturtium, nigella, poppy, portulaca, sweet pea and stock.
* Plant seeds for radishes, bok choy, mustard, spinach and peas.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Set out cool-weather bedding plants, including calendula, pansy, snapdragon, primrose and viola.
* Reseed and feed the lawn. Work on bare spots.
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