Find unusual plants, garden wares while supporting local vendors and clubs
Stunning golden bamboo is one of the plants sold by Mad Man Bamboo Nursery of Rocklin, which is one of the specialty plant vendors Saturday at the Gardener's Market on Saturday. Courtesy Mad Man Bamboo
Spring is in the air (if not actually here), which means the gardening bug is biting hard.
One of the best places to scratch that itch: The Shepard Garden and Arts Center.
Three weekends in March, the center – which is home to about two dozen local garden clubs – hosts major plant and garden sales (including one combined show and sale). That’s followed by three more flower shows and/or sales in April. Admission to every one of these events is free.
That spring spree starts in earnest Saturday, March 9, with the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club’s Gardener’s Market. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the center will be packed with plants from small specialty nurseries plus unique garden wares from local sellers.
Crazy about bamboo? Mad Man Bamboo Nursery of Rocklin is one of those specialty nurseries that will be selling plants Saturday. Owner Sean Bigley says he usually participates in only two public sales a year, and this is one of them. He grows unusual and colorful bamboos, most of them clumping varieties and well behaved. (They’re a must for Asian-themed gardens.)
Other popular plant vendors at Saturday’s sale include Morningsun Herb Farm (which offers a lot more than herbs), Geraniaceae (the rare geraniums specialist), Golden Pond Water Plants (water lilies, anyone?), Martin Palomar Plants and Art (succulents as living art) and The OG-Cacti & Succulents (like their name says).
Here’s a snapshot of other upcoming Shepard Center events:
* Shepard Spring Sale, March 16-17: All clubs that call Shepard home plus local vendors take part in this two-day sale. Find plants, jewelry, crafts, art, flowers, books and more. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 17.
* Sacramento Valley Cymbidium Show and Sale, March 23: This annual show and sale features gorgeous outdoor orchids in full bloom – plus plenty to take home. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
* Capital City African Violet Society sale and display, April 6: See beautiful African violets in a display of members’ plants. Learn about violet care from members. Then, shop for plants for your indoor garden. Hundreds will be available, but they sell out early! Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
* 64th annual Bonsai Show and Sale, April 13-14: Presented by the American Bonsai Association, Sacramento, this event showcases amazing “little trees in pots” plus everything you need to grow your own. Bonsai master Tyler Sherrod will give demonstrations each day. Beginner workshops also are available. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days.
* 76th annual Sacramento Rose Show, April 27: Hosted by the Sacramento Rose Society, this huge flower show fills Shepard Center with blooms at their height of beauty. See (and smell) the roses and admire the creative rose arrangements. Member-grown cut roses are offered for sale. Hours: 1-4:30 p.m.
Shepard Center is located at 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento, in McKinley Park.
More details: https://www.sgaac.org/.
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Garden Checklist for week of May 5
Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* 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.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* 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.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
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