The seeds of much of the spring and summer garden are sown in the short days and early evenings of January’s wintery span. Perhaps these are the figurative seeds of ideas and plans sown in our gardeners brain by beautiful holiday garden books and the winters batch of seed catalogues that inspire us. Perhaps they are the real seeds of warm summer tomato plants sown inside warm, humid greenhouses across our region – tiny sprouts starting on their way to tall, aromatic green indoor expanses eventually pulling us back into spring.
Over the course of December 21 2010, we marked the Winter Solstice, the December Full Moon and the first total Lunar Eclipse in North America in three years according to Dave Schlom of The Blue Dot Report. Seemed to me an auspicious convergence of events to mark the new year for my garden and me as we begin to tilt back toward the sun.
Although our plants and gardens in large part are dormant this time of year, beneath the soil – where it really matters – life is good and busy. Water sources are being recharged, root systems are extending and renewing themselves for the above ground growing season to come. Winter chores such as pruning trees, shrubs, roses and vines, cleaning out tool sheds and cleaning up tools, help to sow the seeds for a healthy, vigorous new year to come.
And as usual, the many fine horticultural and gardening related organizations in our region can help me keep my resolution with classes workshops and events intended to help me grow as a gardener. If you are interested in our regional events, be sure to check the On-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events at jewellgarden.com regularly – events are added almost everyday. I do my very best to keep the calendar up to date and accurate, please confirm all events with the event host’s contact information. If you are aware of a mistake on my calendar, please send me corrected info: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com! Thanks.
January 1 – Chico: Mt Lassen Chapter Cal Native Plant Society – Field Trip: Upper Bidwell Park Banana Belt Hike 10 am Meet at Horsehoe Lake Parking lot in Upper Bidwell Park. Bring lunch, water, insect/sun/cold/rain protection. Wear hiking gear. Start the new year right with a brisk scramble up the North Ridge up above Horseshoe Lake. On windless, cloudless nights, it can be 10 degrees warmer up there due to temperature inversion, hence we often see the first of the new year’s blooms. Leaders, Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123 and Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293
January 2 – Butte Rose Society: Rose Pruning Demonstration 10 am Stansbury House, 307 W. 5th Street Chico. A yearly, fun and educational event teaching rose lovers of all skill levels how best to prune all manner of roses. For more information, contact President Neva Youngs at 530-588-0158. www.butte-rose-society.org.
January 10 -11 – Chico: Northern California Botanists 2011 Symposium California State University Chico, BMU Auditorium. Two days of fascinating presentations and posters of all manner of topic related to botany – from the very general to the highly technical. For Program and Registration Information got to www.norcalbotanists.org
January 11 – Chico: North Valley Orchid Society Monthly Meeting 7:30 pm C.A.R.D. Community Center 545 Vallombrosa, Chico We will have a question and answer session regarding orchids. A panel of experts made up of members from the North Valley Orchid Society will be answering questions on common orchid issues such as repotting, watering, light, pests. Come one, come all with your questions and bring any plants with issues in a bag. Also bring any divisions for the raffle table !!! Just a reminder…. It is also time for renewal of NVOS membership for 2011. NVOS dues are $25 for family and independent memberships. More info: http://www.northvalleyorchidsociety.com/
January 12 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum: Guided Tour: Walk With Warren 12 p.m., Gazebo, Garrod Drive, UC Davis Arboretum Join Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts for a lunchtime stroll in the UC Davis Arboretum on Wednesday, November 10. Enjoy the crisp weather, explore the pleasures of the winter garden, and get a little exercise. Meet at noon at the Gazebo, on Garrod Drive on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour. Parking is available for $6 in Visitor Lot 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.
January 15 – Mills Orchard: Pruning Your Home Orchard 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., cost is $20.00. Please wear warm clothing and be prepared to do hands on pruning. If you have pruning loppers, hand shears, bring them. Gloves recommended. Participants will learn how to plant/train the new fruit tree and how to prune established trees. Taught by Pam Geisel, University of California Master Gardener Program Coordinator & Bill Krueger; Pomologist for UC Cooperative Extension. To register, please go to: http://ceglenn.ucdavis.edu/OrchardCrops_MainPage/ Or call (530) 865-1107. The class will be held at 7782 County Road 16; Mills Orchard, CA (located between Hamilton City and Orland, CA off of Highway 32). Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl
January 15 – Friends of the Chico State Herbarium – Workshop: Care of Trees in the Landscape” 9 a.m – 4:00 pm meet at Chico State Herbarium, Holt Hall room 129 at CSU Chico. In-depth class and hands-on workshop about the proper care and management of trees with City of Chico Urban Forester Denice Britton. 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 24 participants (class cancelled without a minimum of 8 participants). For more information about workshop content contact Denice Britton at DBritton@ci.chico.ca.us. For more information about registration please contact the Biology office at (530) 898-5356 or biol@csuchico.edu.
January 15 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Joy of Indoor Gardening 10 AM – 12 Noon. Do you love houseplants but often end up loving them to death? Turtle Bay Horticulture Manager Lisa Endicott, who has 100 houseplants at any given time will share a list of houseplants that are easy-to-grow and propagate as well as many lessons & techniques learned over the years for successful indoor gardening. Members FREE, non-members $3. Meet at Gardens West Entrance. From N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take right fork. Parking lot and entrance are on the left.. More info: 530-242-3178 or www.turtlebay.org/nursery
January 16 – Chico: 1st in a series of 10 Chico Organic Gardening Class: 1:30 – 3:30 Chico Grange. Whether you are a novice or have gardened for many years, you will enjoy the presentations from experts in growing delicious and beautiful vegetables, fruits, eggs, and more. For more information or to register, go to: http://valleyoakmagazine.com/about/monthly-publication/organic-gardening/chico-organic-gardening-society-cogs/chico-organic-gardening-class.
January 19 – Chico: Chico Horticulture Society: Regular Member Meeting 9:30 – 12 noon. Regular member Meeting and Program by Jennifer Jewell on Seeds that Surround Us: The Artful Seeds of Native Plants. Butte County Library, Chico Branch 1108 Sherman Avenue Chico. More info: email President Jon Bennet at: ChicoGardenClub@yahoo.com.
January 22 – Fair Oaks: Fair Oaks Horticulture Center: 9 am – noon. Sacramento Master Gardeners’ Workshop on what to consider when selecting and caring for berries. How to prune grapes and fruit trees. Maintaining ornamental grasses. Fair Oaks Horticulture Center is in Fair Oaks Park. Questions? Call 916-875-6913, or go to http://groups.ucanr.org/sactomg/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/
January 26 – Chico: Chico Horticultural Society: Evening Gardeners Meeting 7 – 8 pm. Basics of Landscape Design. Butte County Library, Chico Branch 1108 Sherman Avenue Chico. More info: email President Jon Bennet at: ChicoGardenClub@yahoo.com.
January 27 -30 – Chico: Snowgoose Festival – Experience the Wonders of the Pacific Flyway Over 50 guided field trips and workshops; Junior Naturalist Activities; Art Exhibition & Reception and Avenue 9 Gallery & The Artistry; Banquet and Silent Auction – John Muir Law, Naturalist; Exhibits and Vendors Galore! Registration begins in early December: www.snowgoosefestival.org; 530-345-1865; info@snowgoosefestival.org
January 29 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Walk With Lisa Endicott, Horticultural Manager 9:30 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. More info: 530-242-3178 or www.turtlebay.org/nursery
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In a North State Garden is a weekly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California and 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 on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time. Podcasts of past shows are available here.
