UC Master Gardeners of Calaveras County: Summer Open Garden Days

Calaveras County Demonstration Garden

SUMMER HOURS: Thursdays | 9:00AM - 1:00PM

Hoo boy, the hot stuff has arrived for real, hasn't it? Perhaps like us you are upping your watering routines to keep up with all the thirsty plants. The garden is thriving, abuzz with life and activity. We hope you'll visit for fellowship with other garden nerds and to gain inspiration for new things to try at home. You are welcome to ask questions—in fact, we encourage it. We're here to help with science-backed gardening information. Come to the garden and enjoy community with other gardeners (gardenerds?)—and bring your sunhat! 

Rest assured we do have some shade for you. Remember the shade cloth project we reported on recently? It's a big job, still in progress, that will give the plants (and us and our guests welcome moderation of the full summer sun. 

While you're here, take a stroll up to the orchard to see sunflowers and the fruit trees as they start to bear. Also note the dahlias, shasta daisies, chamomile, and strawflowers in bloom in the nearby container garden.

The Plant Sale

In the plant sale area, our wide selection of daylilies is popping off beautifully. We have several colors to choose from. Also visit the succulents area to see vividly blooming geranium. In the shade lovers area, there is a marvelous acanthus mollis blooming to ooooo and aaaaah over. 

Also look for freshly propagated scabiosa, which can be found in the pollinators area right in front of a bunch of mature scabiosa growing in the garden so you can easily see what they look like full grown and in bloom. This hardy beauty works wonderfully in many landscapes. 

Master gardeners spend hours working to propagate various types of plants for the sale area. Occasionally, we get something unusual, such as these ginkgo biloba babies, which started weeks ago from a few precious seeds collected by a community member. A fascinating, ancient species famous for its glowing golden fall color, the ginkgo biloba is so ancient, this "living fossil" has few close relatives. It predates flowers. And bees. Amazing! You can read a short essay about this tree that coexisted with dinosaurs here, or take a deep dive on Wikipedia. 

We watched over the little nursery tray of planted ginkgo seeds as they slowly germinated and sprouted, anticipating being able to transplant them into individual pots. And finally, here they are! They'll be given a chance to recover from their transplanting and then eventually offered for sale. 

We regularly stock dozens of kinds of plants for you to browse, including natives and drought-tolerant species, all locally sourced and propagated, as well as a wide and ever-changing variety of pots, planters, collectibles, and vintage items. The selections evolve rapidly; if you need help finding things, we are here to help; just ask!  All sales help sustain the garden.

The Children's Garden

Fun, impromptu activities are always available for the wee ones in our charming kids' area, and perhaps you'll find inspiration for things to do with the kids in your own garden. Even without a child in tow, it's a pleasant space to visit, vibrant with color and with cutie pie surprises tucked into every corner. This week, come through the gate and look to the right to ogle the bumper crop developing on the thornless blackberry garden.

The Free Produce Stand

Community generosity and local abundance provides for our table of free food items; the selection varies week to week based on what's thriving currently. This week, we'll have plums, potatoes, lettuce, and more. Coming soon: garlic! It's drying now, as seen below. And you never know when a kind soul will put out delectable baked goodies for us. You are invited to take home some freshly harvested yumminess—and feel free to bring your own surplus produce to share with your community.

The Free Community Pantry

Non-perishable food items are available to share. In these trying times, we would love to receive more non-perishable items to build up the pantry's stock. We appreciate your donations, which directly support local families. Thank you so much for your generosity!

The Free Seed Exchange

The seed table is always laden with choices for your planting pleasure. Pick up something new to work into your planting plan or contribute seeds you no longer need to the collection. Master Gardeners will be available to help with your planting questions. Pictured below: a long table covered in clear plastic boxes full of brightly colored packets of seeds. 

Pots needed for propagation

Do you have extra pots lying about? When you purchase a nursery plant, we'd love for you to save those original nursery pots for us. Master Gardeners at work in the propagation area are always in need of pots for the sale area. Standard nursery gallon-size pots are especially useful. Thank you to everyone who has helped us keep stocked up this year!

Monthly Garden Pest Management Checklist

Managing the health of our gardens while minimizing pest damage can sometimes seem overwhelming. Would you like some guidance? Check out the UC IPM's (University of California Integrated Pest Management) Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist for timely actions to keep your garden in full health and those pesky invaders under control. From the linked page, you can review the current month's recommended strategies as well as sign up to automatically receive the list in a monthly email.

The Demonstration Garden is easy to find at 891 Mountain Ranch Road in San Andreas, opposite the Red Barn. We look forward to your visit!

Garden update provided by Holly Croydon, a UC Master Gardener volunteer in Calaveras County.