Calendar

FEBRUARY 2012

February 1 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden General Gardening Workshop and Hands-on Work Session 10 am - noon. Shasta College Main Campus. These “FREE” on-going, weekly Community Service Workshops provide hands-on experience as well as instruction in: preparing soil, making beds, planting seeds and transplants, mulching, composting, building irrigation systems, designing garden areas, and dealing with pest and weeds in non-toxic ways. Presenters: Jim Collins, Wayne Kessler, or Pamela Spoto No registration needed for Wednesday workshops only—just show up prepared to work and learn. Be sure to bring water, gloves, and a hat! For more info call: 530.242.7630

February 1 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Regular Monthly meeting and Program "California Native Plants in the Garden - They Belong There" by Jennifer Jewell 7:30 pm Butte County Library, Chico. ennifer Jewell will be speaking on the joys of incorporating natives into the home garden. From formal long-border compositions, to cottage garden herbaceous perennial beds, to more natu- ralistic wildflower meadows and hedgerows, any home garden can and will benefit from Cali- fornia native plants added to the mix. Native plants add a strong sense of place to any home garden while they also help to support beneficial wildlife, polli- nators and seed banks. Equally important, however, to feeding the larger community of life, California native plants are absolutely gorgeous, and when well-chosen, well-sited and well-cared for (which sometimes means leaving them alone!!), they will feed your gardener’s soul. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

February 4 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Charlie Rabbit and Friends 10:30 am. Presented by John & Betty Fitzpatrick. An interactive program in the Children’s Garden (or Greenhouse in rain) for children, their siblings, parents and grandparents. Join Charlie, our adorable jack rabbit puppet, in various gardening activities. Wear your favorite gardening clothes! 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

February 4 - Durham: Hodge’s Nursery Pruning Clinics 10am Clinics on “How To Grow Your Own Fruit Trees & Grapes. Come out & spend the morning with us & learn the most effective & easiest ways to grow & maintain your own fruit trees & grapevines. In our demonstration orchard & vineyard at Hodge’s, you’ll be able to see how easy it is to grow your own food, when you keep the trees & grapevines small & manageable. Come with your questions & ideas. We always have a lively group of people that love to garden. Free 9681 Midway, Durham, CA 95938 · Get Directions 530-894-6598. Website http://www.hodgesnursery.com Opens at 8:30 am.Hours Mon - Sat: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

February 5 - Davis: UC Davis ArboretumWorkshop: Build a Wild Home 
1-5 p.m., Arboretum Gazebo. 
Rain location: 146 Environmental Horticulture 
Join the Wild Campus student group to build bird, owl, bat, and bee boxes that will later be installed in the Arboretum and on campus. All ages welcome—adults will need to supervise their children. Bring a hammer and something to kneel on; we will be working on the ground. No early sign-up required, but you can reserve a project by emailing your name and your preferred project to WildCampus411@gmail.com. The event is free. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

February 6 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening Class Series! 3rd in a series of 8 Mondays Christine Hantelman Wookey Ranch Growing Your Own Starts, Propagation and Herbs 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Matthews Cafe located at 1600 Mangrove Ave, Suite 175 from 6:30-8:30PM. The cost will be $80.00 for the series in advance or $12.00 per class at the door. Presenters will be professionals within the local organic farming community. Subjects covered will range from new growing techniques to old tricks of the trade. These workshops will be geared to the novice as well as the advanced gardener. For more information and to sIgn up log on through meetup.com

February 8 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden General Gardening Workshop and Hands-on Work Session 10 am - noon. Shasta College Main Campus. These “FREE” on-going, weekly Community Service Workshops provide hands-on experience as well as instruction in: preparing soil, making beds, planting seeds and transplants, mulching, composting, building irrigation systems, designing garden areas, and dealing with pest and weeds in non-toxic ways. Presenters: Jim Collins, Wayne Kessler, or Pamela Spoto No registration needed for Wednesday workshops only—just show up prepared to work and learn. Be sure to bring water, gloves, and a hat! For more info call: 530.242.7630

February 8 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum: Walk With Warren 12 noon, Gazebo, Garrod Drive, UC Davis. Join Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts for a lunchtime stroll in the UC Davis Arboretum. Enjoy the crisp fall weather, explore the pleasures of the autumn 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 $7 in Visitor Lot 55, on Garrod Drive at the School of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

February 8 – Sacramento: Sacramento Valley Chapter of the CA Native Plant Society – Regular Monthly Meeting and Programm “Building the Next Generation of Environmental Stewards” by Emily Butler, Executive Director of Sacramento Splash 7pm. Shepard Garden and Arts Center. 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento. Emily Butler, Executive Director, Eva Butler, Sacramento Splash founder, and classroom teacher, Lesley McKillop will give an inspiring presentation on how they blend science and nature to captivate the imaginations of children. The majority of suburban and urban children spend little time in nature. Without positive, first-hand experiences in nature, children are likely to become adults who neither value nor care for their environment. Learn how you can participate in a local movement to build a generation of children who have a passion for their natural world and take an active role in its protection. Event is free and open to the public. Refreshments provided. Seeds, books, and other items available for sale. For more information, please call (916) 929-7896 or visit http://sacvalleycnps.org/

February 11 - Chico: Cultivating Community Garden Workshops: Organic Gardening Part 1 - Garden Planning Lab 1 - 3 pm. Please sign up and then the location will be given. To sign up call Jonah at 530-588-0585, or email: registration@grubchico.org. Topics covered will include techniques to maximize yields, deter pests and improve soil health such as crop rotation, companion planting and more. For more info: cultivatingcommunitynv.org.

February 13 - Paradise: Paradise Garden Club Monthly Member Meeting and Program 1 pm. Terry Ashe Rec Center Paradise. For more info: http://paradisegardenclub.org/

February 13 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening Class Series! 4th in a series of 8 Mondays Mary Berglund Orchard House Farm “Diversity on a Small Scale" Planning, Planting & Managing your Bounty 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Matthews Cafe located at 1600 Mangrove Ave, Suite 175 from 6:30-8:30PM. The cost will be $80.00 for the series in advance or $12.00 per class at the door. Presenters will be professionals within the local organic farming community. Subjects covered will range from new growing techniques to old tricks of the trade. These workshops will be geared to the novice as well as the advanced gardener. For more information and to sIgn up log on through meetup.com

February 15 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden General Gardening Workshop and Hands-on Work Session 10 am - noon. Shasta College Main Campus. These “FREE” on-going, weekly Community Service Workshops provide hands-on experience as well as instruction in: preparing soil, making beds, planting seeds and transplants, mulching, composting, building irrigation systems, designing garden areas, and dealing with pest and weeds in non-toxic ways. Presenters: Jim Collins, Wayne Kessler, or Pamela Spoto No registration needed for Wednesday workshops only—just show up prepared to work and learn. Be sure to bring water, gloves, and a hat! For more info call: 530.242.7630

February 15 - Redding: Shasta Rose Society Regular Member Meeting and Program 7 pm. City of Redding Corporation Way, 2055 Viking Way, Building 4, room 401. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. www.shastarosesociety.org

February 16 - Redding: Shasta Chapter California Native Plant Society Regular Member Meeting and Program 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.

February 18 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Compost 101: The Mysterious Life of Compost 10 am. Turtle Bay Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office at 1135 Arboretum Drive. Members and Turtle Bay volunteers FREE, nonmembers $3 Meet at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office (1135 Arboretum Drive next to Nursery Greenhouse) Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Nursery on immediate left. More info: 530-242-3178 or www.turtlebay.org/nursery

February 19 - Redding: Shasta Chapter California Native Plant Society Plant Propagation Session 10am – 12pm Shasta College greenhouses, near the livestock barns. Plant Propagation Session. Two-hour work session at the Shasta College greenhouses. The greenhouses are located at the back of Shasta College, near the livestock barns. Bring clippers or any other tools you might need. Please call Susan Libonati at 530/347-4654 for further information.

February 19 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: CSU, Chico Greenhouses - The World of Plants Indoors, with Tim Devine Meet at 10 am on the CSU, Chico campus at the parking lot at Warner St and College Ave (entrance to the stadium next to health center) for a two-hour tour of Tim Devine’s fabulous greenhouses. No worries about the vageries of winter weather here as we see hundreds of plants from the jungles and deserts of the world: carnivorous plants, vanilla orchid, coffee tree, banana, and many others. Bring your camera-great pictures. Over at noon. Leader: Tim Devine 530-345-8444. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

February 20 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening Class Series! 5th in a series of 8 Mondays Matthew Martin Pyramid Farms Constructing Shelters and Season Extensions (Build Your Own Hoop House) II.) Kalan Redwood Redwood Organic Farm Seed Saving 101. Covering Cross Pollination, Bagging and Hand Pollination, Heirlooms, Open Pollinated Varieties 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Matthews Cafe located at 1600 Mangrove Ave, Suite 175 from 6:30-8:30PM. The cost will be $80.00 for the series in advance or $12.00 per class at the door. Presenters will be professionals within the local organic farming community. Subjects covered will range from new growing techniques to old tricks of the trade. These workshops will be geared to the novice as well as the advanced gardener. For more information and to sIgn up log on through meetup.com

February 22 - Chico: Chico Horticultural Society regular member meeting and Program 9:30 am gather, 10 am program. Butte County Library, Chico. PUBLIC WELCOME. For more info email jennifer@jewellgarden.com

February 22 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden General Gardening Workshop and Hands-on Work Session 10 am - noon. Shasta College Main Campus. These “FREE” on-going, weekly Community Service Workshops provide hands-on experience as well as instruction in: preparing soil, making beds, planting seeds and transplants, mulching, composting, building irrigation systems, designing garden areas, and dealing with pest and weeds in non-toxic ways. Presenters: Jim Collins, Wayne Kessler, or Pamela Spoto No registration needed for Wednesday workshops only—just show up prepared to work and learn. Be sure to bring water, gloves, and a hat! For more info call: 530.242.7630

February 25 - Chico: Friends of Chico State Herbarium Workshop: Introduction into Mushroom Foraging and Identification with Philip Carpenter 9 am - 5 pm. Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Conference Center. This workshop will be useful for rank beginners as well as for people with some knowledge of mushrooms. 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 ques- tion and answer period. After that, we will go into the field to gather mushrooms, following the advice pro- vided 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. After an introduction to the process of identifying mushrooms, participants will be guided through hands-on use of the book with actual mushrooms to practice the process of identification. The class may close with taste testing of the edibles we find to give participants an idea of how to start cooking with them. With some extra planning, perhaps we can have some bread, cheese and wine to round out the tasting. 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, February 25, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve conference center – go to www.csuchico.edu/bccer/directions.shtml for direc- tions. 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 20 participants (class cancelled without a minimum of 8 participants). For more information about workshop content please contact Philip Car- penter at philandmac@sbcglobal.net. For more information about workshop registration please contact the Biology office at (530) 898-5356 or jbraden@csuchico.edu.

February 25 - Fairoaks: Fairoaks Horticultural Center OPEN GARDEN 9 am - noon.Wander the gardens, ask questions. Watch Master Gardeners groom ornamental grasses, prune shrubs, start a compost pile, set up a worm composting bin, and finish pruning dormant fruit trees. For more info: http://ucanr.org/sites/sacmg/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/

February 25 - Chico: Cultivating Community Garden Workshops: Intro to Seed Starting, Greenhouse and Cold Frame Work 1 - 3 pm. Please sign up and then the location will be given. To sign up call Jonah at 530-588-0585, or email: registration@grubchico.org. Topics covered will includepotting mixes, techniques for different plant families, and how to tend to your seedlings. For more info: cultivatingcommunitynv.org.

February 26 - Chico: GRUB & Chico Permaculture Guild THIRD ANNUAL SEED SWAP 10am-3pm. FREE. GRUB Cooperative House 1525 Dayton Rd. Bring seeds and plant divisions to share potluck style, envelopes, and pen (although it is not mandatory to participate.) Seeds from local seed company, Redwood Seeds, will be for sale as well as veggie and herb starts. Redwood Seeds will be giving a presentation on how to save your own seeds from 2-3pm. There will be info stations and a kid's area during the event. There is limited parking so carpooling or riding bikes is encouraged. For more info: http://grubchico.org/

February 26 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Walk With Lisa Endicott, Horticultural Manager 11 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

February 26 - Davis: UC Davis Arboretum: Native Californian Elderberry Flute-Making Workshop 1–3 p.m., 146 Environmental Horticulture
In this free two-hour workshop, people of all ages will learn how to make and play a Native Californian elderberry flute. East Bay Regional Parks docent Antonio Flores will talk about the culture of flute-making and also about the endangered elderberry beetle. All materials will be supplied. Please bring a sharpened pocket knife. Adults will need to supervise their young children.

February 27 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening Class Series! 6th in a series of 8 Mondays David Grau Tool Designer Tools in the Garden, Sharpening Demonstration and All About the Tools of the Trade II.) Carl Rosato Woodleaf Farms Fundamentals of Fertility & Interpreting your Soil Sample Results 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Matthews Cafe located at 1600 Mangrove Ave, Suite 175 from 6:30-8:30PM. The cost will be $80.00 for the series in advance or $12.00 per class at the door. Presenters will be professionals within the local organic farming community. Subjects covered will range from new growing techniques to old tricks of the trade. These workshops will be geared to the novice as well as the advanced gardener. For more information and to sIgn up log on through meetup.com

February 28 - Chico: Butte Rose Society Regular Monthly Meeting and Program 7 pm. General meetings of the Butte Rose Society are held on the last Tuesday of the month January-May and August-November. Meetings begin at 7 pm and are held at the Chico Veterans Memorial Hall at 554 Rio Lindo Ave. Membership is open to all interested in roses, but anyone may attend the General Meetings. Membership is $20.00 per year and provides you with the monthly award winning newsletter and special invitations to members-only events held throughout the year. CONTACT US AT: Butte Rose Society, PO Box 8888, Chico, CA 95927. http://www.butte-rosesociety.org/

February 29 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden General Gardening Workshop and Hands-on Work Session 10 am - noon. Shasta College Main Campus. These “FREE” on-going, weekly Community Service Workshops provide hands-on experience as well as instruction in: preparing soil, making beds, planting seeds and transplants, mulching, composting, building irrigation systems, designing garden areas, and dealing with pest and weeds in non-toxic ways. Presenters: Jim Collins, Wayne Kessler, or Pamela Spoto No registration needed for Wednesday workshops only—just show up prepared to work and learn. Be sure to bring water, gloves, and a hat! For more info call: 530.242.7630

MARCH 2012

March 3 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Upper Yahi Trail, Upper Bidwell Park 9:30 am Meet at Horseshoe Lake, parking lot E in Upper Park at 9:30 am with lunch, water and hiking shoes. We will drive on up to Diversion Dam and climb up to the north ridge for marvelous views and early spring flowers. Leaders: Wes Dempsey, 530-342-2293 and Gerry Ingco, 530-893-5123. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

March 3 - Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Guided Tour: All Things Acacia 2 p.m., Arboretum Headquarters. Come revel in the yellow blooms of acacia on this tour of the Eric E. Conn Acacia Grove, and see more than 50 varieties of acacia from around the world. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

March 3 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Charlie Rabbit and Friends 10:30 am. Presented by John & Betty Fitzpatrick. An interactive program in the Children’s Garden (or Greenhouse in rain) for children, their siblings, parents and grandparents. Join Charlie, our adorable jack rabbit puppet, in various gardening activities. Wear your favorite gardening clothes! 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

March 5 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening Class Series! 7th in a series of 8 Mondays Carla Resnick, Permaculturalist: Downspout Gardens - Home-Scale Water Harvesting. Fruit Tree Guilds - Using Plants and Animals to Benefit your Fruit Trees 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Matthews Cafe located at 1600 Mangrove Ave, Suite 175 from 6:30-8:30PM. The cost will be $80.00 for the series in advance or $12.00 per class at the door. Presenters will be professionals within the local organic farming community. Subjects covered will range from new growing techniques to old tricks of the trade. These workshops will be geared to the novice as well as the advanced gardener. For more information and to sIgn up log on through meetup.com

March 7 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Regular Monthly meeting and Program 7:30 pm Butte County Library, Chico. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

March 9 & 10 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Arbor Day Celebration at the McConnell Arboretum & Gardens at Turtle Bay! More info: 530-242-3178 or www.turtlebay.org/nursery