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. Kathy Morrison
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 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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