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See three-day celebration of succulents, cacti

Sacramento group hosts huge show and sale at Shepard Center

Cactus and succulent gardening has never been more popular. Expect to see many types of these plants during the three-day show this weekend.

Cactus and succulent gardening has never been more popular. Expect to see many types of these plants during the three-day show this weekend. Photo courtesy Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society

This show is so big, it takes three days.

Starting Friday, May 5, the Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society presents its 63rd annual show and sale at Shepard Garden and Arts Center. All weekend, the center will be packed with unusual succulents and cacti with hundreds of plants available to take home.

“The show will not be judged; instead, we encourage club members at all levels to enter their plants to showcase the amazing variety of succulents,” say the organizers.

Succulents have never been more popular, especially with younger or newbie gardeners. These naturally water-wise plants make an excellent addition to any drought-tolerant garden. They’re also perfect for container gardens and sought after as living collectibles.

But where to find new or unusual varieties? This sale is the place!

Organizers expect 21 vendors at their show and sale, including some who have not made it to Sacramento since before the pandemic. Not only will plants be available but all sorts of plant-friendly ceramics and pottery.

“Jim Smith, with his great Haworthia hybrids, will be back with many more plants than when he was last here in 2021,” say the organizers. “Austin and Mel, from the Public Land store on 21st street in Sacramento, will be here for the first time. They will have much more for sale than they carry in their small store. Stan Verkler will be back after missing last year. Nick Wilkinson, owner of Grow Nursery in Cambria, will be back after several years away. We will also have a carnivorous plant vendor.

“That’s just scratching the surface,” they add. “Also selling will be Annie Wolf of Desert Wonders, Bill Munkacsy of Planta Seca, Cassidy Roberts-Yee of Radiant Cactus, David Calibo of Gardener’s Home, J.D. Wikert, John Bloss of JC Succulents, Naomi Bloss of California Succulents, Keith Taylor of Kitoi Pottery, Kal Kaminer, Lesley Shores & Jerry Slater of L & J Plants, Mike Cone with his pottery, Mark Muradian with his pottery, Martin Gil with his pottery, Oahn Vu of Green Gemini Cactus, Peter Beiersdorfer & Jaan Lepson of P. B. & J. Cacti and Succulents, Peter Walkowiak of PW Plants, and Richard & Emily Withers of Dry Creek Cactus and Pottery and Ekishi Pottery.”

Show hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free.

Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, at the north end of McKinley Park.

Details: http://www.sacramentocss.com.

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Garden checklist for week of April 19

After this midweek storm, start getting serious about spring gardening. Flowers are blooming about three weeks ahead of schedule. That includes weeds!

* Get ready to swing into action in the vegetable garden – if you haven’t already. As nights warm up over 50 degrees, set out tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons,  radishes and squash; wait on pumpkins until May. Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom. Late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce and cabbage seedlings.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Give citrus trees a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants. If leaves look yellow, your tree may need an iron boost -- apply some chelated iron fertilizer.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden needs nutrition. Give shrubs and trees a slow-release fertilizer. Mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost, which helps the soil, but keep it a few inches away from trunks and stems.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

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Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series

Lessons learned during a year of edible gardening

WINTER

Is edible gardening possible indoors?

Hints for choosing tomato seeds

Starting in seed starting

Why winter is the perfect time to plant fruit trees

When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants

How to squeeze more food into less space

Potatoes from the garden

Plant a fruit tree now -- for later

Win the weed war by tackling them in winter

Tips for planting bare-root trees, shrubs and vegetables

Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space

Ways to win the fight against weeds

FALL

Dec. 16: Add asparagus to your edible garden

Dec. 9: Soggy soil and what to do about it

Dec. 2: Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come

Nov. 25: It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying

Nov. 18: What to do with all those fallen leaves?

Nov. 11: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden

Nov. 4: Plant a pea patch for you and your garden

Oct. 27: As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers

Oct. 20: Change is in the autumn air 

Oct. 13: We don't talk (enough) about beets

Oct. 6: Fava beans do double duty

Sept. 30: Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?

Sept. 23: How to prolong the fall tomato harvest 

SUMMER

Sept. 16: Time to shut it down? 

Sept. 9: How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch

Sept. 2: Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning

Aug. 26: To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?

Aug. 19: Put worms to work for you

Aug. 12: Grow food while saving water

Aug. 5: Enhance your food with edible flowers

July 29: Why won't my tomatoes turn red?

July 22: A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty

July 15: Does this plant need water?

July 8: Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions

July 1: How to grow summer salad greens

June 24:  Weird stuff that's perfectly normal

SPRING

June 17: Help pollinators help your garden

June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests

June 3: Make your own compost

May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?

May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days

May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can

May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success

April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?

April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)

April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers

April 8: When to plant summer vegetables

April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths

March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth