- Author: Sharon L. Rico
The Wreath Workshop is a month away and Solano County Master Gardeners have been gearing up for this event since September. Ribbon has been purchased in assorted colors and spray paint that will blend and match has been chosen. Wreath forms and paddle wire have been ordered. The date is December 1st from 1PM to 4PM at the Carriage House on the Buck Mansion Estate in Vacaville, (225 Buck Avenue). Sign-ups are happening now.
A spray day was held to color dried items such as agapanthus, hydrangeas, seeds, pods and pine cones. These items will be available at the workshop to place in wreaths as decorations. Fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and quince will be dried to use as unique additions. Those making wreaths can bring their own decorations from home to personalize their wreath. There will be a table set-up and supported by Master Gardeners, who will be creating bows in assorted sizes and colors. If any participant needs assistance with their wreath, a Master Gardener will be available to help or give suggestions.
By the time the workshop arrives, the Master Gardeners have spent several days cutting and collecting greenery so the public will be able to create their own wreath. The greens will be packed into “banana boxes” and each participant will have a full box, a wreath frame and paddle wire. The decoration table will hold an assortment of dried flowers, fruits, and pods ready for embellishing. The “bow table” will have ready-made bows and custom-made bows will be available.
The kitchen will be filled with holiday goodies and drinks, providing lunch for all. Master Gardeners are known for their delicious appetizers and Christmas treats.
Master Gardeners will be showing up at the Carriage House at 10AM to set up and prepare for this yearly event. The wreath workshop of 2012 promises to be a fun-filled, fantastic event for all as it kicks off the 2012 holiday season.
- Author: Jennifer Baumbach
Just two more days until the Master Gardeners hold their annual Public Plant Exchange. They have been working hard at home propagating plants, gathering seeds, digging up bulbs, and collecting their books. This will all be shared with you-the public.
The event is this Saturday, September 8 from 9am until noon. The location is the UC Cooperative Extension office, 501 Texas Street, Fairfield.
Today, we began sorting through our own library collection of books and will be giving away a large assortment of those as well.
If you don't have any plants to exchange it's not a big deal. We hope that you come anyway. See you Saturday!
- Author: Sharon L. Rico
Now that planting the Solano County Fair gardens is history, we can begin focusing on the upcoming Plant Exchange. This will be held on Saturday, September 8th at the Cooperative Extension office, 501 Texas Street, 1st floor conference room, Fairfield, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The plant exchange is open to the public and is a busy, enthusiastic time where everything is FREE. We ask participants to bring a plant to share. Some do and some don’t, but we let everyone join in the fun.
If you haven’t been to the plant exchange in the past, this is the time to come. Many of the Master Gardeners are busy planting seeds, dividing plants, propagating and collecting unwanted or unneeded garden paraphernalia. Anything you want to clean or clear out will work. In the past, I have asked my friends to check for unused items and some have contributed containers, yard art, books and other “hot” items. Remember the saying, “One persons trash is another's treasure”?
You may be good at growing herbs that can be shared. Pot up a few. Do you have winter vegetables started yet? Set some aside for the plant exchange. My yard is getting full of ‘garden art’, so I plan to downsize and bring a few metal fence hangings. My sweet peas were a huge hit this year, so the harvested sweet pea seeds will be placed in envelopes to share. Our two Hibiscus syriacus have volunteer baby trees underneath. These have been potted and labels will be added . It helps if you can provide photos or information on the items you donate. As Master Gardeners, we are there to share and to educate.
Just had to add this, too. Some of my favorite items from previous plant exchanges? The magnificent Ginkgo biloba bonsai (a real treasure), a small green ceramic pot with a frog, reference books and some goofy, unique garden books. Oh, almost forgot; a funky little fork that I use to groom bonsai and succulents planted in small containers. You can find the unusual and the ordinary. So mark your calendar before you forget. See you there!
- Author: Mary B. Gabbard
On Friday, May 11, The Master Gardener Volunteer Program of Solano County graduated its’ 2012 class of Master Gardeners. The setting was apropos, the beautiful gardens at the Buck Mansion. The atmosphere was filled with an air of both relief and excitement as graduation marks the completion of their 5-month training program combined with their eagerness to blossom into the beginning of their career as Master Gardeners. These newly Certified Master Gardeners are geared to head out into their respective communities and extend horticultural information based on research-based information, verified by UC experts. Every year, I look forward to this day and make every effort to clear my schedule to attend; however, my intentions are a bit selfish. To be truthful, my favorite part of the day is catching up with my classmates from 2002 as well as fellow gardeners I have volunteered with over the years. I really can’t say enough about this wonderful group of people and hearing about how they have branched out and developed their expertise in gardening. None of this would be possible without our Program Director who provides the stable base from where the program grows, Jennifer Baumbach. She’s the roots and the trunk that holds everything together. If you find yourself thinking about becoming a Master Gardener, visit the Master Gardener booth at your local Farmer’s Market. Talk to us; find out what’s involved…this may be the group for you!
- Author: Trisha Rose
I was on a gardening outing last week at a local iris farm, and on my drive home my co-pilot gardener and I had to stop by Morningsun Herb Farm since we were driving right by. What fun, we both love to window shop in spring and pick up a few newbie's to try in our gardens. We found a good assortment of basil, squash, and tomatoes. I chose 'Pruden's Purple' as my tomato experiment this year. I have just found that others have grown this indeterminate variety to a size of 6 to 12 feet tall. My, my. The fruit are about one pound each and are similar to 'Brandywine', another of my favorites. So, I thought maybe I should put up some support now. I just happen to have a number of old trellises in storage. Our side fence finally crashed with a recent wind storm. I salvaged a number of trellises and thought "why not!". So this morning I pulled out some leftover acrylic paint and have given three trellises a new purpose.
So now with the trellises and pots this year for the veg garden, trying to be a little neater this year, well at least I will try.