- Author: Chris M. Webb
On Saturday, May 21 the Ventura County Master Gardeners will hold Summer in the Garden, part of the Mastering Your Home Garden Seasonal Workshop Series. These workshops are specifically designed for Ventura County home gardeners and focus on seasonal garden tasks.
Summer in the Garden will be held at the UC Hansen Agricultural Center. Attendees will receive a half day of informative gardening education, with presentations by horticulture experts and Master Gardeners.
Scheduled topics for the day are:
- All about tomatoes
- Growing orchids
- Summer tasks for the home gardener
The presentations will be held from 8:15 am to noon. Self-guided garden and docent-guided farmhouse tours will be available to attendees. Those who wish to stay for optional hands-on activities in the afternoon should bring a brown-bag lunch.
There is a $25 fee for this event. Space is limited, so please register early. Additional details and registration instructions can be found online. For additional information, please call Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, Leah Haynes at (805) 645-1450.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
A small group of Ventura County Master Gardeners have received additional training which allows them to survey nurseries and provide information to nursery owners. This program is part of a statewide UCCE effort designed to help reduce the spread of invasive plant species.
Currently many nurseries unknowingly sell invasive plant species. Consumers many not realize the plants they are purchasing are invasive and are likely to cause harm to our local ecosystems. The Master Gardener volunteers talk to the nursery owners and provide suggestions to nursery owners for replacement plants, which have similar characteristics to the invasive species as alternatives for their customers.
Many resources are available to help consumers avoid planting invasive species. The UC Davis Arboretum has an extensive database of recommended plants for California gardens. The California Invasive Plant Council has a Don’t Plant a Pest page on their website; in addition to recommending alternatives, photos of commonly seen invasive species are provided. You can also contact our Master Gardener helpline at 645-1455 or by email at mgventura@ucdavis.edu.
Chinese fringe tree Chionanthus retusus
UC Davis Arboretum recommended plant for California gardens
Pigsqueak Bergenia crassifolia
UC Davis Arboretum recommended plant for California gardens
California pipevine Aristolochia californica
UC Davis Arboretum recommended plant for California gardens
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Beautiful gardens are brimming with color and life at the Veterans’ Home in Ventura. These gardens have been planned, planted and cared for by a group of UCCE Master Gardeners and many people in the community.
Flowers and ornamental trees provide color, shade and permanence. Raised garden beds are filled with a wide assortment of vegetables to enhance nutrition and dinner salads of residents. An orchard of donated fruit trees has taken root on the west side of the building. Garden lectures provide enrichment for the mind.
A native garden is well under way. This garden has been created with the guidance of the U.S. Department of Fish and Game to provide a habitat for migrating birds, bees and butterflies. A Memorial Rose Garden, designed in the shape of encircled hearts, has been started -- there is much curiosity as to how the design looks from the air.
An additional vegetable garden and succulent garden are planned.
Started shortly after the home opened, the gardens and the activity they generate provide much joy to the Veterans’ who reside at the home. To learn more, or if interested in becoming involved, please contact Barbara Hill.
We are enormously thankful to everyone who has donated materials, talent and time to make this garden possible! We hope the list of donors that follows is complete. If we have missed your name, please let us know so we can add you. Lisa Wickenden, Tina Van Coops, Sharon McGahan, Peggy Black, Jim Abing, Barbara Hill, Carol Piros, Kathleen Diermier, Kaaren Valdez, Diana Borchard, Robin Beers, Diane Bertoy, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nopalito Native Nursery, Jon’s Nursery of Somis, and the real estate community.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Learn about water wise irrigation from Charles B. Duncan, Master Gardener. The workshop will be held on Saturday, October 30 from 10am to noon. The talk, demonstration and practice session is at the Ojai Enrichment Center campus, 210 Canada Street.
This free event aims to demystify the world of irrigation and to empower people to assess their water application needs in order to make needed changes and repairs.
Mr. Duncan brings considerable expertise to this subject with his degree in Horticulture and many years experience in the field. He has been a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener since 1995 and owned a local landscape business since 2001.
After describing how water moves, Mr. Duncan will discuss water wise application, highlighting drip irrigation.
Drip irrigation is the frequent, slow application of water through emitters that carry water to the root zone of each plant. It works well for vegetable gardens, fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs, vines and container plants. Drip systems can save water and improve plant performance while reducing weed and pest problems.
In the orchard of the Ojai Enrichment Center, Mr. Duncan will demonstrate how to assess existing irrigation systems and transition to a drip system. Participants will look at each component of a drip irrigation system and learn how they are assembled for maximum efficiency.
Everyone will have an opportunity to apply new information and develop skills in small groups with the guidance of Ojai Valley Master Gardeners. After evaluating specific irrigation problems, people will actually modify drip emitters or microsprinklers and observe their efficiency.
In addition to learning by doing, the community participants will be providing service to the Ojai Enrichment Center, a day care program for developmentally challenged adults!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
A unique and wonderful partnership has begun in Oxnard. Last year, in an effort to reduce costs while improving the taste and nutrition of meals and reducing impacts on the environment and economy associated with importing produce, the Senior Nutrition Program Garden grew tomatoes on a quarter acre of land in Oxnard. The land is located behind the Juvenile Justice Center.
County of Ventura Area Agency on Aging, which serves over 200,000 meals annually though senior nutrition programs, collaborated with the Probation Agency Juvenile Justice Facility staff to create this positive program. As word of the project spread many business and organizations have come forward to donate time, expertise and resources; please see the list at end of post.
A year later, the garden has grown to two acres. Fifty fruit tress and a wider assortment of vegetables have been added this year. Ventura County Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners teach youth gardening skills. Senior volunteers work alongside youths, mentoring while tending the garden. All produce grown at the garden is used to feed seniors in our communities through senior meal programs and local food banks.
Getting involved is easy! If interested please contact Meg Horton at Food Share, 983-7100 ext 105; Diane Beeler (Master Gardener) at 652-1456; or Susan White at the Area Agency on Aging at 477-7311.
Local organizations who have generously contributed to the success of this garden include: Rio Mesa Farms, Agromin, S&E Organic Farms, Harry’s Berries, Luna Fertilizer, Coast Water Solutions, Seminis, Green Thumb International, Brokaw Nurseries, Bikers for Christ, City of Santa Paula, Oxnard & Ventura City Corps, Quality Landscape, Vineyard Mutual Water District, The Greek Restaurant, Food SHARE, LBL Equipment, Technical Dynamix LLC, Driscoll Farms, Sierra Cascade Construction, Limoneira, Do Right Nursery.