Registration required for free event Aug. 6
The coffeeberry, another name for California buckthorn, is a native shrub that can be found in several habitats around the state. Photo courtesy Beth Savidge
What does a garden of California native plants look like in summer? Patricia Carpenter, a Garden Ambassador for the California Native Plant Society, invites visitors to come find out during the Seasonal Summer Ramble at her garden near Davis.
The 1-acre native garden will be open to visitors 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. The event is free but registration is required here. The non-native garden will be open to view as well.
Highlights of a summer ramble:
• See how plants adapt to heat and drought. Also, irrigation strategies.
• View summer blooms.
• Observe seasonal maintenance, seed collecting, and discuss plans for fall planting.
The Miridae Mobile Nursery will be on site for sales to anyone inspired to add more native plants to their garden.
Visitors can attend an optional short orientation and Q&A gathering with Patricia at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Meet near the check-in table.
Carpenter's garden is south of Russell Boulevard, west of Davis, at Pierce Ranch Road. A map link is available on the registration page.
Although masks are optional, visitors are asked to please respect distancing and mask wearing of other visitors. Wearing sturdy shoes is advised. No dogs, please.
Visitors are welcome to bring a snack to enjoy during the morning. A composting toilet available onsite.
To learn more about Carpenter's Garden Ambassadorship and her garden, visit the CNPS website here.
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Garden Checklist for week of April 21
This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.
* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.
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* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.
* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.
* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.
* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.
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* 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, 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.
* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.