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Looking for a unique Valentine? The Secret Garden offers fun workshops

Recipient can make a birdhouse with a succulent roof or a living centerpiece, among others

Know someone who enjoys plant crafts? They might appreciate a gift registration for The Secret Garden's Kokedama Workshop, to be  held 10:30 a.m. March 10. Other workshops are available.

Know someone who enjoys plant crafts? They might appreciate a gift registration for The Secret Garden's Kokedama Workshop, to be held 10:30 a.m. March 10. Other workshops are available. Photo courtesy The Secret Garden

Looking for a great Valentine’s Day gift for the garden lover in your life? Try giving one of these garden-oriented workshops, offered by The Secret Garden in Elk Grove.

These workshops can be for one person – or more; make it a couple’s project, friends’ gathering or a mother-daughter activity. The results will be something that adds color and artistry to your homes and gardens, or a Valentine that will grow on you or your sweetie.

The Secret Garden is now accepting reservations for the following workshops, all set for March:

* Succulent Birdhouse Workshop ($80 including plants and materials): Set for 11 a.m. March 2, this workshop creates a birdhouse with a growing roof. “We will use a large wooden birdhouse (7 by 11.5 inches) and a selection of succulents such as echeveria and sedum to plant the roof,” say the organizers. “In this class, we will cover succulent care, soil choice, three methods of succulent propagation and more!”

* Macrame 101 Workshop ($50): Owner Jennifer Kahl will lead this beginner’s class in macrame, set for 10:30 a.m. March 3. “You’ll learn basic terminology and how to make three basic knots. You’ll put your newfound skills to use to complete your first project – an awesome copper colored 36-inch hanger,” she says. “You'll also receive a take home sheet with detailed instruction so you can continue to make more at home.”

* Kokedama Workshop ($45): At 10:30 a.m. March 10, create a unique hanging garden. “Kokedama translates to ‘moss ball’; it is a Japanese technique that uses moss, twine and plants to create living works of art that can be displayed indoors or outdoors,” says The Secret Garden staff. “Students can choose from a selection of indoor or outdoor plants such as hoya, rhipsalis, staghorn ferns, pothos and more.”

* Spring Centerpiece Workshop ($65): On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, this 11 a.m workshop will show how to make a living centerpiece using plants. “Join us in the classroom to create a beautiful living centerpiece perfect for your Easter table or Spring décor,” say the organizers. “We will use a wood 8-by-8-inch box, assorted tropical plants, natural elements, dried florals and accessories to create these living works of art!”

More workshops are available, too. See the full list and links for reservations at https://www.secretgarden-online.com/.

The Secret Garden is located at 8450 W. Stockton Blvd., Elk Grove.

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Garden checklist for week of June 7

Afternoon highs are expected to be back in the mid 90s by midweek, then edging towards triple digits. Plan your planting and garden activities accordingly.

* Remember to water early.

* It’s not too late to transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or other summer favorites. Make sure they stay hydrated.

* From seed, plant corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.

* Plant basil to go with your tomatoes.

* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias.

* It’s also a good time to transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.

* Let the grass grow longer. Set the mower blades high to reduce stress on your lawn during summer heat. To cut down on evaporation, water your lawn deeply during the wee hours of the morning, between 2 and 8 a.m.

* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.

* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.

* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch! This “blanket” keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather.


* Cut back fruit-bearing canes on berries.

* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.

* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering and feeding now. A top dressing of aged compost will keep them happy. It feeds as well as keeps roots moist.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.

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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