Got a 2026 calendar handy? Start saving these dates

So get out that 2026 Gardening Guide & Calendar, or whatever you use to keep track of such things, and start writing down the dates. Sacramento Digs Gardening will have more on these and many other events as they get closer.

-- Fair Oaks Horticulture Center Open Garden Days, with mini talks and master gardener availability. 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays except where noted. Jan. 10; Feb. 14; March 14; April 15 (a Wednesday);  May 9; June 13; Sept. 12; and Oct. 14 (also a Wednesday). 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks.

-- Loomis Demonstration Garden Open Garden Days. Held the second Saturday of the month by the Placer County master gardeners: 10 a.m. to noon, Jan. 10; Feb. 14; March 14; April 11;  May 9; June 13; July 11; Aug. 8; Sept. 12; Oct. 10; Nov. 14; and Dec. 12. Subject to change. Typically a gardening workshop is held inside the Loomis Library during this event. January's will look at Winter Pruning of Deciduous Trees.

-- Sherwood Demonstration Garden Open Garden Days. During winter months, the El Dorado County master gardeners' garden in Placerville is open on the 1st Saturday of the month, from 9 a.m. to noon.  This includes an optional docent-led tour. For 2026, these are Jan. 3, Feb. 7 and March 7. The schedule expands with warmer weather to include all Fridays and Saturdays, weather permitting.

-- Winter workshops with area master gardeners.  See their individual websites for details and if registration is required. In January, the El Dorado master gardeners will offer workshops on rose pruning, Jan. 17, and "Did You Say Free Plants?" on propagation, Jan. 24. Their workshops in February include Growing Spring and Summer Vegetables, Feb. 21; and Growing PIants From Seeds, Feb. 28.

Also in February, the Sacramento master gardeners will offer two workshops, "Do a Face Plant!" (planting in a terra cotta pot), Feb. 21; and worm composting on Feb. 28. Both require fees but include materials. 

Beyond their Second Saturday events, the Placer master gardeners will be at the Lincoln Library at 2 p.m. Jan. 17 with a workshop on "The Journey of Growing Citrus." In Roseville, they will be involved in the "Rose Care for a Changing Climate" workshop, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. This one is held in conjunction with the City of Roseville and requires registration but is free. And on Jan. 31, the master gardeners will host their annual Seed Swap at the Loomis Veterans Hall from 9 a.m. to noon.

-- Winter Ramble in a Native Plant Garden. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, rain or shine. California Native Plant Society Ambassador Patricia Carpenter will again open her native garden near Davis to visitors. Free but RSVP required.

-- UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery Plant Sales, spring.  March 7 (members only); April 11 (members only the first hour); May 2 (public);  May 16 (clearance).

-- 21st Annual Gardener's Market. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7, Shepard Garden & Arts Center. Presented by the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club. Many vendors of plants and plant-related items.

-- Shepard Center Spring and Fall Sales. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 14-15; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3-4. Participants are all the clubs and organizations that use the center in Sacramento's McKinley Park.

-- Plant and flower shows at Shepard Center: Bonsai Spring Show, April 11-12; Iris Society Show and Sale, April 18-19; Rose Society Show, April 25;  Cactus & Succulent Society Show and Sale, May 2-3; Chrysanthemum Society Plant Sale, May 9; Bromeliad Show and Sale, June 13-14; Iriz Rhizome Sale, Aug. 1;  Begonia Show and Sale, Sept. 12-13; Chrysanthemum Society Show, Nov. 7. Dates subject to change.

-- Harvest Day.  8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, FOHC. The annual celebration of gardening, presented by the Sacramento master gardeners, with lectures, mini talks, demonstrations, vendors and more.

That's a good start on what should be a busy gardening year!