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Ramble through a winter native garden this weekend

Sunday tour is free but requires registration

The beauty of flowering blue-eyed grass should be on view Sunday in Patricia Carpenter's garden.

The beauty of flowering blue-eyed grass should be on view Sunday in Patricia Carpenter's garden. Beth Savidge, courtesy Patricia Carpenter

Patricia Carpenter, a California Native Plant Society Garden Ambassador, gives the region's garden fans a chance to enjoy the subtle beauty of a native plant garden in winter this Sunday, Jan. 19.

Carpenter opens her secluded 1-acre native plant garden west of Davis from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for a Winter Ramble.

The garden, on the west side of Pierce Ranch Road south of Russell Boulevard, will be open for self-guided tours during those hours in what is expected to be clear and cold weather; visitors can start any time during that period. Maps will be available for use on site.

Admission is free but registration is required. Register here.

Here are some expected highlights, as noted by Carpenter:

-- Glen Holstein, botanist, will be in attendance. A wildflower enthusiast, he will be helping with plant ID and answering questions about native plants. 

-- Artists are very welcome to photograph, or find a shady spot to paint or draw.

-- Miridae Mobile Nursery will be on site again for sales. Visit www.miridaemobilenursery.com to view their list of native plants. Winter is a great time to plant.

-- Native seeds. We have been collecting seeds to share.

-- Wildflowers are starting to bloom.

 Started in 2005, the native garden now features about 400 species and cultivars of California native plants. Visit Carpenter’s Garden Ambassador profile to learn more about this garden, access a map, view a plant list, and take a virtual tour. Her non-native garden will be open to view as well.

There will be an optional short orientation and Q&A gathering Sunday with Carpenter at noon and 2 p.m. Meet near the check-in table.

Although masks are optional, Carpenter asks that visitors respect distancing and mask wearing of other visitors. Sturdy shoes are advised. No dogs, please. A composting toilet is available. Visitors are welcome to bring a lunch or snack to enjoy.

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Garden Checklist for week of Feb. 2

During this stormy week, let the rain soak in while making plans for all the things you’re going to plant soon:

* During rainy weather, turn off the sprinklers. After a good soaking from winter storms, lawns can go at least a week without sprinklers, according to irrigation experts. For an average California home, that week off from watering can save 800 gallons.

* February serves as a wake-up call to gardeners. This month, you can transplant or direct-seed several flowers, including snapdragon, candytuft, lilies, astilbe, larkspur, Shasta and painted daisies, stocks, bleeding heart and coral bells.

* In the vegetable garden, plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers, and strawberry and rhubarb roots.

* Transplant cabbage and its close cousins – broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts – as well as lettuce (both loose leaf and head).

* Indoors, start peppers, tomatoes and eggplant from seed.

* Plant artichokes, asparagus and horseradish from root divisions.

* Plant potatoes from tubers and onions from sets (small bulbs). The onions will sprout quickly and can be used as green onions in March.

* From seed, plant beets, chard, lettuce, mustard, peas, radishes and turnips.

* Annuals are showing up in nurseries, but wait until the weather warms up a bit before planting. Instead, set out flowering perennials such as columbine and delphinium.

* Plant summer-flowering bulbs including cannas, calla lilies and gladiolus.

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