A new season of Master Gardener Workshops is about to start! The series begins February 3 with a timely session on starting summer vegetable plants from seed and concludes at the end of May with an exploration of weeds – how to identify common weeds, and what their presence can indicate about the health of your soil. In all, this Spring Series totals 20 workshops, including five all-new topics. There is something here for every type of gardener and every size of home garden, whether you maintain a balcony of plants in containers or produce fruit and vegetables on a large plot for your family, friends, and neighbors. For full descriptions of all the workshops and to register, visit our website.
The many fascinating ways in which California native plants have adapted in order to succeed despite our hot, dry summers is the focus of a new workshop. And if harvesting plants in their natural habitat for medicinal use interests you, Jules Pecson of Fiona's Forest will be returning to teach a workshop on the practice of wildcrafting.
When you are adding more native plants to your own garden why not make choices that also help attract and support birds? We've got a new workshop on creating a bird-friendly garden that also appeals to humans. And don't forget about the bees! Our workshop on native bees will help you understand their plant and habitat needs and provide you with the information you need to support these valuable pollinators.
We've got workshops on caring for roses and cultivating succulents. If you are interested in adding food plants to the ornamentals in your garden, our workshop on edible landscaping is for you. Adding some fruit trees is one way to incorporate edibles into your garden, and our popular workshop on fruit tree care is being offered twice.
Of course, gardening does not come without its challenges, which often arrive in the form of noxious weeds. But the appearance of weeds can also provide valuable information about the health of your soil, a topic covered in our workshop on weed identification. As gardeners we also grapple with challenges presented by all kinds of pests; our workshop on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is designed to help you address pest problems safely.
Finally, no gardener gets younger as time marches on. Our “Gardening for a Lifetime” workshop offers plenty of practical advice to help transform increasingly difficult chores into sustainable activities, so we can continue to be active in the garden as we age.
Most of the workshops will be held in the outdoor classroom located in the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden or inside Pat's Barn; both are located at the Patrick Ranch (10381 Midway, between Chico and Durham). Other locations include the Terry Ashe Recreation Center on Skyway; the Paradise Veterans Hall; and the OLLI classroom at The Social residence halls in Chico. The Fruit Tree Care workshops will be held at a private residence, and the Edible Landscaping workshop will be presented via Zoom. While most of the workshops take place during morning or early afternoon hours, the workshops on soil health and edible landscaping are offered later in the afternoon.
The following is a list of workshop topics and dates. All workshops are free, but they do require advance registration. For full descriptions of all the workshops and to register, visit our website.
FEBRUARY
Seed Starting (Saturday 2/3). Learn to start your own plants from seed. The focus here is on tomatoes and peppers. Many options for seed starting indoors will be covered, including proper lighting and temperature control.
Gardening for a Lifetime (Wednesday 2/7). Practical advice about plants, labor-saving techniques, tools, and exercises to help us continue to garden successfully as we (inevitably) age.
Wildcrafting (Monday 2/12). Learn from experienced herbalist Jules Pecson of Fiona's Forest as she discusses the practice of harvesting plants in their natural habitats and their uses in medicinal remedies, tinctures, and salves.
Rose Care and Propagation (Tuesday 2/20). Keep your roses healthy throughout the year! From preparing the soil through planting, fertilizing, watering, pruning, and pest management, Butte Rose Society Consulting Rosarian Gwen Quail will share a wealth of guidelines, tips, and how-to's for happy roses.
Gardening in the Foothills (3/11). The focus here is on the rewards and challenges faced by those who garden in our foothill areas. Topics include soil structure, biochar and soil building; water-wise gardening; pest management; planting systems for different landscape types; solar impact; and plant selection.
Edible Landscaping (Monday 3/18). You can have a productive AND beautiful edible landscape by incorporating fruit and nut trees, vegetables, and herbs into the garden. This workshop focuses on the use of food plants as design features that contribute aesthetic value as well as tasty food to the garden.
“Black Gold” – Vermiculture (Wednesday 3/20). This workshop will teach you how to create rich, nutritious compost with help from worms. A Certified Composter will show you how to get started and how to keep the worms happy so they continue to create valuable Black Gold for your plants.
Propagation (Saturday 3/23). Come to learn when and how to propagate woody perennials and divide plants; leave this workshop with plant cuttings from our Demonstration Garden to start at home.
Fruit Tree Care (Wednesday 3/27). What are the best practices for cultivating fruit trees? Orchardist Tom Hansen covers pruning, irrigation, fertilizers, and cultural practices in this information-packed workshop (also offered on 4/13).
Soil Health (Monday 4/1). The three most important things you can do in your garden for healthier plants, more nutritious food, and a waterwise landscape are the focus of this workshop. Specifically: no till; no bare soil; and no herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Learn how soil health, plant health, and people's health are all connected.
Native Gardens for the Birds (Friday 4/12). Make your garden a habitat that supports birds throughout the year. Learn which bird species you can expect to attract; the plants they like; and how to arrange different types and sizes of plants in order to provide food, shelter, protection, and nesting sites.
Fruit Tree Care (Saturday 4/13). What are the best practices for cultivating fruit trees? Orchardist Tom Hansen covers pruning, irrigation, fertilizers, and cultural practices in this information-packed workshop (also offered on 3/27).
Irrigation (Wednesday 4/17). Drip irrigation is arguably the most efficient method of providing water to trees, crops, gardens, and landscapes. This workshop provides an overview of different options available for drip irrigation systems and covers how to install, inspect, troubleshoot, and repair them.
Succulents (Friday 4/19). Succulents do well in our climate because their thick, fleshy leaves retain water during long dry summers, and their striking appearance makes them great choices for ornamental gardens. This workshop covers heat and water requirements; which types do well in containers and which ones are happy when planted in the ground; and includes a tour of our new Succulent Garden.
Composting (Friday 4/26). Learn to make wonderful soil-enriching compost from leaves, garden waste, and kitchen scraps. This workshop covers the different ways to create compost, using techniques that range from simple to complex. Knowing the choices can help you choose the style that best fits your own resources and needs.
Firewise Gardening (Thursday 5/2). This presentation covers fire behavior, State guidelines for defensible space, and how to create and maintain defensible space around your home. Examples of firewise plants, as well as of plants that should be avoided in a firewise landscape, will be included.
Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees (Wednesday 5/8). Did you know that 1600 species of native bees can be found in California? This workshop focuses on a few of them: bumblebees, leaf cutting bees, mason bees, and carpenter bees. Understanding the bees' lifespans and their plant and habitat needs will help you support these valuable pollinators.
Pest Management (Friday 5/17). In this interactive class learn the basics of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) so you can solve your pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
Weed Identification (Monday 5/20). Using our Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch as a lab, a team of Master Gardeners will show you how to identify common weeds and explain what their presence might reveal about the health of the soil. Armed with this knowledge, you can manage your own soil more efficiently. Using mulch to control weeds will also be discussed.
How Does Your Garden Grow? Adaptations of California Native Plants (Wednesday 5/22). Plants are adapted to the specific conditions of their native environments. In this workshop our own Wildflower Maven, Cindy Weiner, discusses the variety of adaptations which allow California natives to succeed in Butte County despite our hot and dry summers.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.