Chilly storm throws another curve into spring weather
Nation's oldest club of its kind continues tradition
Sunday event also features plant and seed swap, vendors and kid-oriented activities
Gallery combines art and garden appreciation in popular event
Five locations open Saturday with wood chips for local gardens
Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society hosts big event featuring demonstration garden
NEW Upside-down cake features stripes of rhubarb, dots of blueberries
Sunshine follows April showers for a warm end to month
'Gardens of Folsom' spotlights seven private landscapes plus two bonus gardens
Free beekeeping intro in Elk Grove; seed exchange in Folsom
Sacramento Valley CNPS event spotlights wildlife-friendly landscapes
See and smell spring beauties – and take some home, too
Ways to cut down on plastics in your own landscape
NEW Strawberries and cream scones with orange zest
Enjoy the sunshine and get ready for summer crops
Look for new SDG signs with recipe links at all seven nurseries
More native plants means more resources for native insects, pollinators and birds
'Summer Strong' contest seeks beautiful landscapes that can take the heat
Discover six private gardens with lots of personality
Get advice from local experts; see how they tackle spring tasks
NEW Strawberries shine, raspberries add color to versatile sauce
Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
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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.