It’s a new year. And in the first days of this New Year, I’m planting a new garden. In many ways, this garden – like this year – is a blank slate. The new garden is on an oddly shaped lot, with not even one tree and currently this unlikely-opportunity for a garden is clothed in nearly nothing but a thick layer of decomposed granite – a material most commonly used for creating pathways, rather than mulching whole gardens.
Based on simply its shape, exposure and lack of any existing plant structure, this garden (like this coming year could be) will be very different from previous gardens I have planned and planted. And yet – as we all know – wherever I go, there I am – and so no doubt this new garden – again, just like this new year – will bear the distinctive marks of me – no matter how diligently I may try to transcend and grow beyond some patterns and preferences. Perhaps what’s different this time around – in both the garden and the year – is how deeply aware I am that I have choices and so what parts of my past I bring along, I have chosen to keep with me. What hopes for my future are cultivated and made manifest, I have consciously (for the most part) chosen to cultivate. From the past, I am sure to include spring bulbs, roses, peonies, things planted too closely together, plants with differing water needs combined. With and eye towards the future, its community and sustainability, I am planning a small grove of mountain mahogany, the seeds of which will delight the birds and sparkle in the falling afternoon sunlight, a front courtyard and seating area from which I can chat with passing neighbors, and very very little if any traditional lawn.
This after all is what new gardens and new years are all about, don’t you think? Honoring the past, while being curious about and welcoming toward all that will come in the future.
To the naked eye – our plants and gardens in large part go dormant in the month. But beneath the soil – where it really matters – life is good and busy. Root systems are extending and renewing themselves for the above-ground growing season to come. With the help of the annual crop of seed and plant catalogues to dream over on the rainy or snowy days we hope are coming, we as gardeners rejuvenate ourselves with yearly planning and scheming.
With the help of our standard winter chores such as pruning trees, shrubs, roses and vines, cleaning out tool sheds and cleaning up tools, we as gardeners take stock of where we grew last year and where we hope to grow this year. With the help of long nights and frosty mornings, this spare time of year helps us to see our gardens beyond the plants.
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!
Jan 1 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Annual New Year’s Day Maidu Rock Shelter Hike 10:00 AM. Maidu Rock Shelter – Upper Bidwell Park – Chico. Meet at the upper Horseshoe Lake Parking Lot (E) trailhead. Bring water, lunch and wear cool weather gear. Leaders: Gerry Ingco phone (530) 893-5123 email: genaroingco@aol.com & Wes Dempsey phone (530) 342-2293 email: wdempsey@csuchico.edu.
Jan 1 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS FIELD TRIP: New Year’s Westside Trail Hike. Start the New Year off right with an easy to moderate four- mile walk starting at Mary Lake and proceeding up the Westside Trail through chaparral and oak woodland. We should see manzanita and coyotebrush in bloom. (See Len Lindstrand’s article on coyotebrush on our website at www.shastacnps.org.) Walk leader David Ledger will identify many different plants typical of chaparral and oak woodlands. There are great views of Redding and surrounding areas at the top of the trail. A free plant list will be given to participants. Meet at 9 AM at the intersection of Mary Lake and Lakeside drives. No dogs, please. For more information, call David at 355-8542. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 3: Chico: Butte Rose Society Stansbury House Rose Pruning Demonstration. Butte Rose Society (BRS) presents a free public rose pruning demonstration at the Stansbury House in Chico, California. 10 am – 12 noon or when the job is done. For more information about BRS, visit: www.butte-rosesociety.org
Jan 3 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Charlie Rabbit and His Friends 10:30 am. Join us the first Saturday of every month for an interactive program in the Gardens (or Greenhouse when it rains) for children, their siblings, parents and Grandparents. Join Charlie, our adorable jack rabbit puppet, in various gardening activities. Wear your favorite gardening clothes! Presented by Dennis and Sherrill Bambauer. Free with park admission! Meet at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office (1135 Arboretum Drive next to Nursery Greenhouse)
Jan 4 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Care and Planting of Bare Root Trees 1 pm, Presented by George Winter, Owner of Wyntour Gardens. These classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 5 – FULL MOON (Full Wolf Moon)
Jan 7 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Fruit Tree Pruning Workshops 1 pm, Presented by Michael Tworek, CCN Certified Nurseryman and Hummingbird Farmz. Proper pruning of your fruit trees stimulates growth, controls tree size and improves size and quality of fruit. Pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 9 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Plant Propagation Session 10 am – 12 noon. Plant Propagation Session. One- to two-hour work session starting at 10 AM at the Shasta College greenhouses. The greenhouses are located at the back of Shasta College, near the livestock barns. We will be weeding and potting up/propagating cuttings or seeds. Please call Jay & Terri Thesken at 221-0906 for further information. Shasta College Greenhouse, near the livestock barns. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 9 – Anderson: Anderson Valley Garden Club Monthly Meeting 12 – 1 pm. Anderson City Hall Community Room. Anderson: Anderson Valley Garden Club Monthly Meeting and Program 12 noon, public welcome. Anderson Valley Garden Club meets the 2nd friday of each month at the Anderson City Hall Community Room unless otherwise stated. Meeting begins at noon. For more information call Nancy: 530-365-2014.
Jan 10 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Rose Pruning Workshops 1 pm, Presented by Dean Davis, Master Rosarian/Shasta Rose Society. These pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 11 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Plant Propagation Session. We will likely have loads of plants and cuttings that need to be propagated, and weeding to do, so we will have an extra January two-hour work session starting at 10 AM at the Shasta College greenhouses. The greenhouses are located toward the back of Shasta College, near the livestock barns. Bring clippers and any other tools you might need. Please call Jay & Terri Thesken at 221-0906 for further information. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 11 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Fruit Tree Pruning Workshops 1 pm, Presented by Michael Tworek, CCN Certified Nurseryman and Hummingbird Farmz. Proper pruning of your fruit trees stimulates growth, controls tree size and improves size and quality of fruit. Pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 12 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Rose Pruning Workshops 1 pm, Presented by Dean Davis, Master Rosarian/Shasta Rose Society. These pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 12 – Paradise: Paradise Garden Club: General Monthly Meeting and Program – Public Welcome 12:30 pm, Terry Ashe Recreation Center, Paradise. General Membership Meeting follows program. Plant Sale, Benefit Drawing, Refreshments. For more info: www.paradisegardenclub.org
Jan 13 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Rose Pruning Workshops 1 pm, Presented by Dean Davis, Master Rosarian/Shasta Rose Society. These pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 13 – Chico: Chico Seed Lending Library – Lettuce Get Together 5:30 – 7:30 at the Butte County Library conference room in Chico. We’ve moved our work parties to the meeting room for more space and optional potlucks! For more Info: https://www.facebook.com/ChicoSLL
Jan 14 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Walk with Warren 12 pm, Gazebo. Join Warren Roberts, the Superintendent Emeritus of the Arboretum and famous storyteller and punster for an always engaging noontime exploration of the UC Davis Arboretum’s west-end gardens. The event is free; limited free one hour parking is available along Garrod Drive near the Gazebo or in nearby Visitor Parking Lot 55 where parking can be paid by meter or by purchase of an $8 daily pass. For more information and directions, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/calendar.aspx.
Jan 14 – Chico: North Valley Orchid Society regular member meeting and program 7 pm. Conference room at the Butte County Library on First Ave and Sheridan in Chico. Please remember, donated plants for the raffle table are much appreciated. The funds derived from the raffle help support our club. Do you have plants in bloom? If so, bring them in the share in our Show and Tell. (Same thing if you’ve got a problem with an orchid: bring it in – a paper bag will keep it from infecting healthy plants if it’s sick – we may well be able to diagnose your problem.) You will receive a free raffle ticket for doing a Show and Tell. The raffle is an economical way to build a collection, so share. We look forward to seeing you, so please don’t hesitate to join us for this meeting. You do not have to be a member to attend! Refreshments will be served. For more info: Email: PEdelmann@csuchico.edu
Jan 15 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Chapter Meeting. Barry Rice has had three parallel careers. On one hand, he obtained an undergraduate degree in physics and a PhD in astrophysics, and now works as a full-time professor of astronomy at Sierra College, Rocklin. His specialty is the emerging field of astrobiology. On the other hand, his interest in botany grew from a single Venus flytrap obtained in graduate school, to an entire greenhouse of carnivores. He has traveled extensively in the US to observe, photograph, and study carnivorous plants in the wild. He has written two books on carnivores (Timber Press, Scholastic), was long term managing editor of the journal of the International Carnivorous Plant Society, and was founder of that society’s conservation program. On the third hand (uh, third hand?), he has worked in the biological sciences, for more than ten years as an invasive species scientist for The Nature Conservancy’s Global Invasive Species Team, and now as a scientist for the Center for Plant Diversity (UC Davis). He has also helped manage the carnivorous plant collections at the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory. Barry’s primary research focus is on the distribution of Utricularia, Drosera, and Darlingtonia in California, and the threats facing these species in this age of changing climate. Barry is a big promoter of the excitement of science, and has long maintained a commonly cited, scientifically robust web site on carnivorous plants. He will be bringing this enthusiasm to CNPS in his talk, Murderous Vegetables! Come and learn exactly what science is telling us about carnivorous plants, and also learn a bit of fascinating botanical lore. His jokes and stories will make you laugh, cry, and pity his wife. Meet at 7 PM at the Shasta College Health Science & University Programs building in downtown Redding, 1400 Market Street, Community Room 8220 (clock tower building at the north end of the Market Street Promenade; enter on south side of building). A Board meeting will be held before the regular meeting, at 5:30 PM at Angelo’s Pizza Parlour in the Foundry Square, 1774 California Street, Redding.For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 16 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Monthly Meeting 7 – 9 pm. Chapter business followed by a presentation of a special topic. Shasta College Health Science & University Programs building, downtown Redding, 1400 Market Street, Community Room 8220 (Southwest corner of Market & Tehama Streets). The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 17 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Fruit Tree Pruning Workshops 11 am, Presented by Michael Tworek, CCN Certified Nurseryman and Hummingbird Farmz. Proper pruning of your fruit trees stimulates growth, controls tree size and improves size and quality of fruit. Pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 18 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Plant Propagation Session. We will likely have loads of plants and cuttings that need to be propagated, and weeding to do, so we will have an extra January two-hour work session starting at 10 AM at the Shasta College greenhouses. The greenhouses are located toward the back of Shasta College, near the livestock barns. Bring clippers and any other tools you might need. Please call Jay & Terri Thesken at 221-0906 for further information. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 18th – Chico: Chico Permaculture Guild Monthly Meeting 1 – 4 at the Butte County Library in Chico. CPG EDUCATION: (Always free and open to the public) **We will be continuing our cycle of educational topics. I’ve posted the whole topic schedule for 2015 as a File for you to download/review [https://www.facebook.com/groups/chicopermacultureguild/10152453374217017/]** >>>DESIGN PROCESS #1: MAPPING SHORT COURSE<<< **We only have two hours for this mapping short course so please be on time, we will start promptly at 1:15. **Anyone who took this short course last year are encouraged to come, help us teach others and provide their maps and feedback. **An introduction on how to use Google Earth, Butte County GIS and online soil survey/mapping software (for free) to create base maps of your property. We'll use Brian and Stephanie's property as a teaching example. Then we'll aid you in the process for your own property as we have time. **If you have a laptop computer please bring it along in addition to a mouse (the library internet requires the use a mouse for some reason). This will help you learn the software using your own system -but we will have one available that folks can use as we have time. **Donations to the CPG for this short course are greatly appreciated but not required. For more info contact Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper at modcpg@gmail.com or 530-828-6390. WHAT TO BRING: **Please bring a small dish to share as well as your own dishes, utensils and cup for the POTLUCK at 3:15. There are limited dishes available in the library so please remember to bring your own if you can. **If you have anything in SURPLUS (vegetables, home preserved food, eggs, fruit, seed, plant starts etc.) please bring it along and we’ll ‘Share the Surplus’ after the Potluck.
Jan 19 – Chico: Chico Horticultural Society Regular Monthly Meeting 9:30 am meet/coffee, 10 am program. Butte County Library – 1st Avenue, Chico. For more info: President, Susi G. at gillums@yahoo.com
Jan 21 – Redding: Shasta Rose Society Monthly Meeting 7 – 8 pm. The meetings are held for the purpose of presenting an educational program by an authority on roses and their cultivation. Meetings are open to the public. City of Redding Corporation Yard, 2055 Viking Way, Building 4, Room 401, Redding, California. For more info: http://www.shastarosesociety.org/Shasta_Rose_Society/Home.html
Jan 21 – 25: 15th Annual Snow Goose Festival Participate in one of the many field trips and workshops, attend the banquet, art show or one of the many free events at the Masonic Family Center. For more information and to register, http://www.snowgoosefestival.org/
Jan 24 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS FIELD TRIP: Wintu Loop Trail, Swasey Recreation Area The Wintu Loop Trail is a fairly easy 31?2-mile loop trail with some steep uphill sections. This trail has varied habitat: oak woodland and chaparral, with interspersed knobcone pine and gray pine. There are nice views of Mt. Shasta near a black oak grove on the highest ridge of the trail. Participants will receive a plant list and the walk leader will identify native plants along the trail. Dogs okay on this fieldtrip. Meet at the Mt. Shasta Mall parking lot near Chase Bank at 9 AM, or at the trailhead at 9:20 AM. For more information call David Ledger at 355-8542. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org
Jan 24 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens: Fruit Tree Pruning Workshops 1 pm, Presented by Michael Tworek, CCN Certified Nurseryman and Hummingbird Farmz. Proper pruning of your fruit trees stimulates growth, controls tree size and improves size and quality of fruit. Pruning classes are taught by experts in their fields. They fill up fast, so please call or email to reserve your seat! 8026 Airport Road – Redding, CA. 96002 – 530-365-2256 – Email Us: inform@wyntourgarden.com. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Jan 27: Chico: Butte Rose Society Monthly meetingButte Rose Society (BRS) Monthly meeting and Educational Rose Program 7 pm. Chico Veternas Memorial Hall 554 Rio Lindo Ave., For more information about BRS, visit: www.butte-rosesociety.org
Jan 31 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Walk with Horticultural Manager Lisa Endicott 10:30 am. Bring your notebooks and camera! 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 West Garden Entrance. Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Parking lot and entrance are on the left.
Jan 31 – Chico: Friends of the Chico State Herbarium Workshops: Introduction into
Mushroom Foraging and Identification with Phil Carpenter This workshop will be useful for rank beginners as well as for people with some knowledge of mush- rooms. We will start the day with an hour or so of introduction to the subject – how to get started, what you need to be concerned about in doing identifications, and a question and answer period. After that, we will go into the field to gather mushrooms, following the advice provided in the introduction. When we return from gathering mushrooms we’ll get into the identification part of the workshop using the field guide Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora. The process of identifying mushrooms will be described with the variety of mushrooms that were gathered in the field. Participants should dress for being both indoors, and outdoors in field exploration mode – i.e. with boots, hat, etc. – and with rain gear if conditions require. Bring lunch and water. If possible, please also bring a copy of Mushrooms Demystified and collecting containers (baskets, etc, but no plastic bags). This workshop will meet Saturday, January 31, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Forest Ranch Community Center and the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. PLEASE MEET AT THE EAST END OF THE PARK AND RIDE LOTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 99 AND HWY 32 AT 8:30 A.M. We will travel to the Forest Ranch Community Center first at 15807 Forest Ranch Road, Forest Ranch, CA. After an introduction to mushrooms at the community center we will travel to the reserve. We will return to the community center to identify the mushrooms we found at the reserve (contact Linnea Hanson for information about logistics: linneachanson@gmail.com). The registration fee is $100.00 personal, $125.00 business ($90.00 for members of Friends of the Herbarium). Please register in advance; class size is limited to 30 participants (class cancelled without a minimum of 10 participants). For more information about workshop content contact Philip Carpenter at philandmac@sbcglobal.net. For more information about workshop registration contact the Biology office at (530) 898-5356 or epurvis@csuchico.edu.
Jan 31 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum The Birds and the Trees: Stories in Natural History 3 p.m., UC Davis Arboretum Terrace Garden (next to Whole Foods Market Davis) Rain/cold/wind location: Whole Foods Market Annex
Join us for an hour of captivating storytelling by naturalist Steve Daubert who will read original stories that explore the lives of birds and the natural histories of redwood trees. Light refreshments will be served. Appropriate for adults and older children. Co-sponsored by Whole Foods Market. The event is free; free 3-hour parking is available in the Davis Commons Shopping Center parking lot behind Whole Foods at First and D Streets. For more information and directions, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/calendar.aspx.
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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.
