PHOTO: Ripe Ribes sp. (roezlii?).
September in the North State garden begins in earnest our biggest and best window of opportunity to plant in our gardens. From mid-September to the end of October, from Davis to Redding, a generous number of arboreta, plant societies and nurseries will host plant sales to get us started on our annual garden additions. From perennials to fall and winter vegetables, from trees to shrubs and vines and bulbs and even the broadcasting of annual wildflower seeds, from drought tolerant natives to fruit trees – now begins the best time for us North State Gardeners to dream it, plan it and plant it.
I’m not sure if they coined the term or not, but UC Davis refers to the planting urge this year – in the very active wake of our ongoing drought – to remove our water-thirsty and useless front lawns and replace them with lively, lovely low-water herbaceous perennials and shrubs as the New Front Yard movement. I like the feel and implications of this term. It’s fun to see them being worked on here and there all over our regional towns and developments. Each one making a little impact. I want a new front yard!
PHOTO: Celosia a profusion of color in a market gardener’s late summer field.
Whatever you think of as a garden – flowers, trees, fruits, vegetables, all of the above tossed together in a colorful mix – the fall and winter are good times to add more of what you like: get started at some of this month’s gardening events around the region.
PHOTO: Late summer veg.
Tasks for September in the garden are varied – which is nice. The watering, weeding and dead-heading are slowing down as the growing season for many plants is likewise slowing down – their energy focused now on seed production and after that on returning the summer’s spent energy to their root systems. The cutting back and feeding for the winter is underway. As healthy fall leaves start to accumulate, remember that tree leaves make good mulch and can be stored as “mulch” on planting beds and then turned into the compost a little at a time over the winter as green waste accumulates more slowly.
And – Hurray! – as temperatures cool and the rains return (we hope in October) we are entering the very best planting window in our gardening year. In the vegetable garden, it’s a good time to seed or plant starts of garlic, onions, lettuces, hardy greens like bok choy, kale, chard and kohl rabi, broccoli, cauliflower, as well carrots and beets.
You need to keep watering but be careful not to over-water – with less daylight many plants need proportionally less water – up to 20% decrease monthly on trees and perennials. As you work, look around your ornamentals and make lists of plants to add, transplant or edit out all together once the weather has cooled – and don’t forget your fall bulbs.
In the edible garden, market-gardener and author of “Sacramento Feast,” Wolfgang Rougle advises that “as soon as it cools down here, which it seems about to do, direct seed beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, choy, lettuce, etc. and to start in cells (or buy as transplants) kale, cabbage, broccoli, etc. You can wait to sow cover crop, garlic and shallots until just before the first rain. Other than continual summer harvesting (still plenty of time to save seeds, even make crosses, etc.) it’s really just plant, plant, plant until early November!” Photo: Garlic drying at Turkeytail Farm in Yankee Hill.
Pam Geisel, retired Statewide Coordinator of the UCCE Master Gardener program reminds us to: “Harvest and cure green ripe olives later in the month. You can salt cure, brine cure, lye cure and water cure olives. For complete instructions on safe pickling of olives and the details on all these methods, download our free 26 page publication at: http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8267.pdf
Fertilize your fall garden two times this month lightly (every other week) to promote good growth of the vegetable plants prior to flower formation. Most people plant their gardens and then don’t fertilize until it is almost too late in the season to gain much effect. You can use any material that contains nitrogen such as manures, composts, fish emulsion, blood meal, or synthetic fertilizers etc. The key is that the plants must have adequate nitrogen to increase the vigor and size of the plant prior to colder weather setting in and before the spring flower development.”
Plant garlic and onions anytime from now till November both Wolfgang and Pam recommend. Some of the best varieties for our climate zone, according to UC Davis, include: California Late White and California Early white http://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/garlic.pdf “California Late is particularly good because it stores well,” Pam says. She also eally likes the flavor and color of “Music”, which has large reddish tinged cloves.
The On-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events at jewellgarden.com adds events throughout the month. I do my very best to keep the calendar up to date and accurate, please confirm all events with the event host. If you have an event you would like listed or if you are aware of a mistake on the calendar, please send all pertinent information to: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com! Thanks!
AUGUST
Aug 30 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Walk with Horticulture Manager Lisa Endicott 10:30 am. Bring your notebooks and cameras for this participant-driven program. We’ll make our way through the Gardens with frequent stops for discussions about (what else?) plants! Free with Park or Garden admission. Meet at Gardens West Entrance, located off Arboretum Drive next to Turtle Bay’s McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Nursery. More info: http://www.turtlebay.org
Aug 31 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Deadfall Lakes on Mt. Eddy, Shasta-Trinity National Forest Meet in time to leave at 8 am. We’ll drive I-5 to just past Weed and then another 13 miles on Stewart Springs Road to the trailhead. Walking an easy 2 miles to Lower Deadfall Lake at 6300 feet elevation, we expect to see insectivorous pitcher plant, gentians and Lewisia. After lunch some may opt to make the short but strenuous climb to Upper Deadfall Lake at 7100 feet elevation. Call leader Woody at 530-588-255 for information about nearby campgrounds or other local accommodations. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
SEPTEMBER 2014
Sept 3 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society General Member Meeting 7:30 pm, Chico Library. The program will be a chance for members to share a short show and tell of their summer floral adventures. Catie & Jim Bishop will also share their CNPS Baja Adventure. Email Jim cjbishop1991@sbcglobal.net to reserve a spot. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
Sept 6 – Davis:UC Davis Arboretum 2nd Annual FREE Community Sustainability Fair 10 a.m..-3 p.m., Our Garden (located at the corner of North Wiget Land and Shadelands Drive in Walnut Creek) Join Contra Costa County Master Gardeners for a day filled with presentations, demonstrations, and information about creating sustainable landscapes. Learn about topics ranging from building healthy soil to losing your lawn by sheet mulching. Our Director of Public Horticulture Ellen Zagory will also be there speaking about plants that attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The event is free.
Sept 6 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens Nursery Class: Preserving the Harvest Class 10 am. Join Betty and learn to preserve and use what your grow. 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sept 6 – Chico: Patrick Ranch & Butte County Master Gardeners CLASS: PATRICK RANCH IS BUZZING WITH BEES 11 am Patrick Ranch Museum, 10381 Midway, Durham. Patrick Ranch is hosting two workshops on September 6, both starting at 11:00. One workshop is a presentation targeted for adult audiences, and one is a hands on workshop targeted for children ages 5-10 years old. There is a $5.00 fee for adults, children are free. The fee includes a tour of the Glenwood House. The Bee-Friendly Garden Power Point presentation will show you how to create a bee-friendly habitat by making simple adjustments and plant additions to provide food, water and shelter. Bees are one of the abundant pollinators for our gardens, it is important that we learn about their life cycle and habits so that we can attract them and protect them in our gardens. The life cycles of two important native pollinators, the orchard mason bee and the bumble bee, will be covered. Presenters: Jeanette Alosi and Tom Hansen, Butte County Master Gardeners. The workshop for children will include an interactive story about bees. The children will be able to ask and answer questions throughout the story. They will learn why bees are important, how they live, what they eat, and how we can protect them. We will have beeswax to smell and feel, and a live and active bee hive for viewing. Kim Garner, who is a backyard beekeeper, will wear the protective suit she uses to work with her bees while she passes out honey samples. As part of the workshop materials will be provided to make a bee box for Mason Bees for the children to take home. The bee box will come with information on placement and maintenance of the bee box. Presenter: Kim Garner, Butte County Master Gardener and Bee Keeper. Reservations are requested; please call the Patrick Ranch at 342-4359. For the children’s program please indicate the age of the child and indicate if they want to make the bee boxes.
Sept 6 & 7 – Chico: Magnolia Gift & Garden: The Great Garden Art Weekend 12 noon – 7 pm Sat, 11 am – 4 pm Sun. Magnolia Gift & Garden Nursery – 1367 East Ave Chico, Ca 95926. Come out for a spectacular display of garden art from over 15 local artists working in metal, wood, ceramics, and glass. Beer + wine for sale w/ proceeds going to KZFR 90.1 FM and live music by Bogg on Saturday also, yummy treats for sale from Mim’s Bakery. Free Kiddo Crafts: Bring the kids and keep them busy at our kids’ craft table full of garden craft projects like: painted pet rocks garden signs coloring pages and more! For more info: http://magnoliagardening.com/the-great-garden-art-weekend/
Sept 7 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Hat Lake to Paradise Meadow, Lassen Volcanic National Park Trip leaves at 8:30 am..We’ll drive 86 miles to the trailhead at Hat Creek in Lassen Park. Paradise Meadows at 7200 feet is one of the best areas in the park for wildflowers. The trail climbs 700 vertical feet over 1.4 miles from the trailhead to the meadow. Call leader Gerry 530-893-5123 to arrange alternate meeting site. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
Sept 8 – FULL MOON (Full Harvest Moon)
Sept 9 – Chico: Chico Seed Lending Library: Lettuce Get Together Monthly work group 5 – 7 pm. Come pack seeds with us, the second Tuesday of each month at the Butte County Library, Chico. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/ChicoSLL
Sept 10 – Sacramento: Sacramento Valley Chapter General Meeting Our chapter meetings are free and the public is invited to attend. Meetings are start at 7pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (January – June and September – November) at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center, McKinley Park, 3330 McKinley Blvd, 95816. For more info: http://www.sacvalleycnps.org
Sept 13 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Native Plant Gardens of Chico Meet at 9 am at Chico Creek Nature Center, 1968 East 8th Street in lower Bidwell Park for a half day-plus auto tour to several local native plant gardens. We will see and hear of the successes and failures of the gardeners who have installed native plants to conserve water and create a natural aesthetic. Call leader Woody at 530-588-2555 for more information. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
Sept 13 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens Nursery Class: Cool Season Veggies 10 am. Join Ferne and learn to grow a year round garden. 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sept 14 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of CNPS Hosts a Gardening with Native Plants Symposium “Succeed with Natives” Chico Women’s Club, 3rd St. and Pine. Learn how to design a pleasing landscape with native plants, while also using less water and fertilizer. Our 4 first-class presenters are Susan Kryzwicki, State CNPS Horticulture Director; Bernadette Balics, owner of Ecological Landscape Design in Davis; Glenn Keator, author of Designing California Native Gardens; and John Whittlesey, owner of Canyon Creek Nursery and Design in Butte Valley and author of “The Plant Lover’s Guide to Salvias”. Attendees will also have a chance to buy books on native plant gardening and to purchase native plants selected for this area. Cost is $35, $30 for CNPS members and includes lunch. Check our website for registration details. For more info: mountlassen.cnps.org
Sept 14 – Davis:UC Davis Arboretum Butterfly Ecology Talk and Tour 11 a.m.., Trellis at the California Native Plant GATEway Garden (newly-constructed garden at the Arboretum’s east end, just behind the Davis Commons Shopping Center). Join naturalist Steve Daubert and explore the ecology and evolution of butterflies, as we tour the new garden. Learn how the Arboretum functions as a butterfly preserve. All ages are welcome. The event is free;walking or biking to the event is encouraged. Please note that the Davis Commons parking lot is for shopping center customers only. Other parking is available in nearby public parking lots. For more information and directions, please call (530) 752-4880.
Sept 18 – Davis: California Native Grasslands Association workshop: Convert Your Water-Hungry Lawn to a Drought-Tolerant Landscape 8 am – 3 pm, This 1-day workshop will provide participants with in-depth information for converting high-water-use conventional lawns into beautiful low-water-use, attractive, native, and climate-appropriate landscapes. This workshop will provide a variety of landscape options for you to reimagine your lawn area in a number of different styles. Participants will receive detailed information on various species (grasses, flowering herbaceous plants, tress, shrubs) that work best in residential, institutional, and commercial landscapes. Participants will also gain firsthand knowledge of the steps required to convert a traditional lawn to a low-water use landscape, including low water use irrigation and maintenance. There will be a morning classroom session and an afternoon walking tour to look at turf conversion, turf alternatives, and native plant gardens. Material will be relevant for both professionals and homeowners. Registration fee covers morning refreshments and lunch and course materials. You may also register for all-day parking on the UC Davis campus for an additional $9. To register: http://cnga.wildapricot.org/page-1626415
Sept 20 – Fair Oaks: Fair Oaks Horticulture Center OPEN GARDEN 8:30 am – 11:30 am. Ask questions, get advice, take notes. Learn about cover crops, seed saving and the new pests living in our gardens. Get ideas on water-efficient lawn conversions. For more Info: http://ucanr.edu/sites/sacmg/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/
Sept 20 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens Nursery Class: Some Like it Hot – Chili Pepper Day! 10 am – 2:30. Salsa Contest, Pepper Tasting, Roasting, Recipes, Class and Handouts. 10 am Chili Pepper Growing class; 10 – 11 am Salsa entries due; 12 pm Salsa Judging; 12:30 – 1:30 Salsa Tasting; 2:30 Awards. 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sept 20 – Chico: Chico Permaculture Guild Fall Picnic 1 pm The Chico Permaculture Guild is having an Autumn member picnic! For all of you who have attended gatherings in the past (or for whom I have an e-mail address in the CPG contact list) will be invited via an Eventbrite e-mail. Look for it in your inbox! PLEASE NOTE! This will not be held at the library! If you’re not sure if I have your e-mail address to receive an invitation just contact me and we’ll figure it out! If you want to know more please let me know! modcpg@gmail.com
Sept 23 – Autumnal Equinox (Full Harvest Moon)
Sept 21 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh Lakes, Lassen Volcanic National Park Trip leaves at 8:30 am. We’ll drive 81 miles to the trailhead at 7380 feet elevation in the park. The hike is an easy 3 mile round trip in a little traveled area, excellent for birds, wildflowers and deer. On the way we pass Cold Boiling Lake where gas bubbles rise to the water’s surface. At Crumbaugh Lake, elevation 7200 feet, lava cliffs ring the lake’s basin and there are vistas of surrounding peaks. For alternate meeting site call leader Wes at 530-342-2293. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
Sept 27 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: 7TH ANNUAL FALL PLANT SALE Saturday, September 27 Member PreSale 9 – 11 a.m., Public Sale 11 a.m – 1 p.m.Sale includes a 20% discount for the public and a 30% discount for Turtle Bay members! Fall is the best time to plant most hardy perennial plants & shrubs in our area. Our fall sale focuses on hardy perennial plants including California natives, grasses, many unusual flowering plants, evergreen groundcovers and shrubs. Free gardening advice will be available throughout the day from Arboretum and Botanical Gardens staff and volunteers. Free admission to the Gardens all day. Visit www.turtlebay.org/nursery for more information Turtle Bay’s McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Nursery – 1100 Arboretum Drive (Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take right fork in the road and park in parking lot on the left.) Enter Nursery through gate in parking lot. More info: http://www.turtlebay.org
PHOTO: Late summer native bitter cherry (prunus emarginata).
Sept 27 & 28 – Sacramento: Sacramento Valley Chapter CNPS FALL PLANT SALE 10 am – 3 pm. McKinley’s Shepard Garden & Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacto 95619. We are BEE friendly: All plants at the SacValley CNPS Fall Plant Sale are Neonicotinoid Free! What’s a Neonicotinoid? Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine. The use of neonicotinoids was linked in a range of studies to a number of adverse ecological effects, including honey-bee colony collapse disorder and loss of birds due to reduction in insect populations. Increased scrutiny eventually led to restrictions and bans on the use of different neonicotinoids in several countries. Give BEES a Chance! Native Gardening Workshops Creating Bird and Pollinator Friendly Gardens, Bernadette Balics, Ecological Landscape Design: 11:00 – 11:45, Native Plant s & Grasses in Home gardens, Jeff Quiter, Hedgerow Farms: 12:15 – 1:00. For more info: http://www.sacvalleycnps.org
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To submit plant/gardening related events/classes to the Jewellgarden.com on-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events, send the pertinent information to me at: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com
In a North State Garden is a twice-monthly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California. It is made possible in part by the Gateway Science Museum – Exploring the Natural History of the North State and on the campus of CSU, Chico. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell – all rights reserved jewellgarden.com. In a North State Garden airs two weekends a month on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time.
