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Learn about 'Gardening for the Future'

El Dorado master gardeners offer free workshop on biodiversity and sustainable gardening

Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) is a very-low-water California native shrub that attracts bees and butterflies.

Flannel bush (Fremontodendron californicum) is a very-low-water California native shrub that attracts bees and butterflies. Kathy Morrison

The start of a new year tends to focus gardeners’ attention on the future. It may be short term (what vegetables to plant this spring) or much longer (anything to do with trees).

The choices we make in our gardens have greater impact than we may realize, say the UCCE master gardeners of El Dorado County. Find out how during a free in-person workshop, “Gardening for the Future.”

Set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, the three-hour class led by master gardener Deborah Nicolls will be held at Cameron Park Community Center. No advance registration is required.

“Learn about sustainable gardening, permaculture, food forests, rewilding, and contributing to the Homegrown National Park,” say the master gardeners.

Made up of gardeners and backyards nationwide, the Homegrown National Park is a grass-roots effort to regenerate biodiversity by planting more native plants.

According to the organizers, this workshop will tackle some big problems with small acts. “Do you read the headlines about climate and the environment and worry about the future? Yours, your children’s, or grandchildren’s?” ask the master gardeners. “There are things you can do to help in your own corner of the world, even if all you have is a balcony, because every little bit does help.”

For example, growing plants that feed pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds can help sustain wildlife amid an urban landscape.

Cameron Park Community Center is located at 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park.

Details and directions: https://mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/.

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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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