Garden clubs meet at the McKinley Park site -- arts groups, too
The Iva Gard Shepard Garden & Arts Center, built in 1958, is in the eastern portion of McKinley Park in East Sacramento. Kathy Morrison
Since January signals the start of a new gardening year, it's a good time to get in on the ground floor of yearly plans by the region's gardening groups.
Many such organizations in Sacramento make their home base at the Shepard Garden & Arts Center in McKinley Park. The city calls the nonprofit corporation that runs the center the Sacramento Garden & Arts Center, which is a bit confusing. The structure, built in Mid-century Modern style in 1958, was named for Iva Gard Shepard, who decades ago was the Sacramento Bee's garden columnist and who also served for many years as the center's board president.
The Shepard Center calendar is packed, though most of the public events -- shows and plant sales -- don't get rolling until March. But the clubs and organizations based there are active and meeting now. They range from the Capital City African Violet Society to the Sacramento Weavers' and Spinners' Guild. Interested in bonsai, flower arranging, irises, cymbidiums or carnivorous plants? There's a group for each. California native plants, too. Non-gardening clubs focus on antiques, photography, watch collecting, porcelain artistry, textile arts, and clay and hot-glass artistry.
Check out the list of clubs here: www.sgaac.org/clubs/
The listing includes meeting dates; the center's specific calendar is here. Upcoming dates for pubic events include the Weavers' & Spinners' Guild Open House & Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 10-11, the Perennial Plant Club's Gardener's Market on Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the all-organization Spring Sale on March 16-17.
The Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd. in the McKinley Park Annex, east of the main park. There is a small parking lot, but most of the nearby parking is on the streets.
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Garden Checklist for week of Dec. 8
Make the most of dry weather while we have it this week. Rain is returning.
* Rake leaves away from storm drains and gutters. Recycle those leaves as mulch or add to compost.
* It’s not too late to plant something. Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Trees and shrubs can be planted now, especially bare-root varieties such as fruit trees or rose bushes. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from winter rains.
* Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis, calendulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and primroses.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location; bring them inside at night or if there’s rain.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Mulch, water and cover tender plants to protect them during threat of frost. Succulent plants are at particular risk if temperatures drop below freezing. Make sure to remove coverings during the day.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.
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