From friendly fungus and veggie planters to natural beekeeping and flowers paired with sparkling, these Sonoma County events will help you spruce up your garden.
March 3: Good Fungi, Healthy Roots, Happy Plants at the Laguna Environmental Center, Santa Rosa: An event on fungus might not sound very appealing, but these little spore-producing organisms can be very beneficial to your garden. Landscape designer and organic plant specialist Robert Kourik will present all you need to know about friendly fungus, including how to identify which types are best for your backyard and how to help them grow and multiply - you'll even learn how to use fungus for decorative purposes! This is also a great opportunity to explore the unique ecological system that makes up Laguna de Santa Rosa. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Tickets are $12. lagunafoundation.org (Photo by Alvin Jornada)
March 11: Introduction to Natural Beekeeping at SHED, Healdsburg: Beekeeping is creating a buzz at the moment, and for good reason. The wellbeing of bees is beneficial to humans: bees pollinate the many vegetables and fruits we eat directly, as well as the food for the animals that we then consume. And that’s not all bees do for us - honey and wax are two other important products that come courtesy of bees. But honey bees are disappearing at an alarming rate due to pesticides, parasites, and habitat loss, a fact that could have dire consequences for all of us. So be kind to bees or, even better, learn the basics of beekeeping at SHED's beekeeping workshop. Ariella Day, founder of Honey Bee Wild, will teach participants how to start their own hive and practice natural, chemical-free beekeeping. After the workshop, check out SHED's beekeeping supplies and pick up some local honey. $40 per person. healdsburgshed.com
March 17: Essence of the Garden Nature Walk, Quarryhill Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen: Experience the fragrant and natural splendor of magnolias and other blooming plants during a nature walk at Quarryhill Botanical Garden, the largest Asian plant botanical garden in the U.S. Led by Flora of Asia, a company that sells Asian plants, guests will be guided through secluded gardens, tranquil ponds, rolling paths and scenic vistas. Flora of Asia's Kathleen Aspenns will talk about the history of the park, and share botanical knowledge and lore of the plants, as well as growing tips. $40 per person. floraofasia.com. (Photo by Christopher Chung)
Video: Quarryhill Botanical Garden has become a base station for international conservation efforts and a living laboratory for scientific researchers and students. A tranquil refuge from our increasingly urban way of life, the garden is a lush cornucopia of Asian plant life grown from wild seed during the past quarter century. Learn more about the Glen Ellen garden and its efforts to conserve the rare and endangered maple Acer Pentaphyllum in this video. (Video by Joshua Dylan Mellars)
March 24: Getting Your Food Garden Ready for Spring at Bayer Neighborhood Park & Garden, Santa Rosa: Now is the time to start preparing your spring and summer veggie garden. For tips from the pros, attend a free event at Bayer Neighborhood Park and Garden in Santa Rosa hosted by University of California Master Gardeners of Sonoma County. During the event, Master Gardeners will teach participants ways to provide ideal growing conditions for crops, including incorporating winter cover crop, adding organic matter and mulch, and all the details on what the best spring crops are to plant right now. Spanish translation is available. Free. sonomamastergardeners.org (Photo by Sarah Deragon)
March 30: Cesar Chavez Day of Service at Petaluma Bounty Farm: Celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez with a day of service at Petaluma Bounty Farm, a nonprofit operated by Petaluma People Services. The farm, which was founded to provide food security and hunger prevention in Petaluma, will welcome the public to plant for spring, pot plants, weed, and mulch, and help prepare for the farm's annual plant sale (April 22). There will also be a sharing circle to remember Chavez' work in social justice, workers' rights, and non-violence. Free. petalumabounty.org (Photo by Paige Green Photography)
March through October: Cultivation of Asian Medicinal Plants at the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm, Petaluma: Learn how to incorporate Asian medicinal plants into your garden during this seminar series at the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm in Petaluma. Farm owner Peg Schafer, who grows over 260 types of Asian medicinals, will teach participants how to diversify their gardens and how to use select plants for healing purposes. She'll also touch on the Chinese medicinal plant trade, which may be of interest to herbal practitioners. The eight session program runs from March through October, the second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Space is limited. Eight sessions is $800 per person, registration is required. chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com (Courtesy photo)
April 7: Composting & Vermicomposting Workshop at Sonoma Ecology Center, Eldridge: Get all the dirty details on how to turn yard waste and kitchen scraps into rich compost through both traditional methods and by using worms (vermicomposting). Workshop participants will be guided through the steps of composting, including how to get started and materials needed, and learn about compost tea. After the workshop, you'll be creating steaming piles of delicious compost in no time. Free, registration required. Learn more here. (Photo by John Burgess)
April 8: Creating a Fire-Safe Landscape at the American Garden School at Cornerstone Sonoma, Sonoma: As we enter the dry season in Sonoma County, the American Garden School presents a morning workshop about fire-safe landscaping. Fire-safe landscaping, which includes low-flammability plants and defensible space around structures, is also eco-friendly, often filled with native plants that are pollinator and bird friendly. In the wake of the recent wildfires, fire awareness is more important than ever - especially in our gardens. Tickets are $130. americangardenschool.com (Courtesy photo)
April 14-15: Tomatomania at Cornerstone Sonoma, Sonoma: California's largest tour of all things tomato, Tomatomania, returns for its annual visit to Cornerstone Sonoma. For two days, Tomatomania staff will showcase over 300 heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties and sell everything you need to grow them. Enthusiastic staff provide advice on growing and afterwards, you can wander the Cornerstone gardens for additional inspiration. You'll be overflowing with tomatoes before you know it. Free. tomatomania.com (Courtesy photo)
April 22: Bubbles and Blooms Festival at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Winery, Sonoma: Thirsty for garden inspiration and sparkling wine? Head to Gloria Ferrer's annual Bubbles and Blooms Festival. The festival features workshops where you can learn how to improve your plant-centric DIY skills, including wreath making, spring flower arrangements, and creating succulent terrariums. Garden specialists and flower arrangers will speak on various subjects, while sparkling wine is poured and small bites from local food purveyors served. There will also be a retail area with local vendors selling fresh flowers, live plants, and garden decor. Tickets start at $80. gloriaferrer.com (Photo by Jeremy Portje)
Video: Bubbles & Blooms Festival at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma. (Video by Mike Lee)
April 28-29: Blossoms, Bees & Barnyards Babies, various farms throughout Sonoma County: It's that magical time of the year, when pollinators awake from their winter slumber, blossoms burst with color, and baby farm animals learn to walk. Find joy and inspiration during the annual Blossoms, Bees & Barnyard Babies tour presented by Sonoma County Farm Trails. Tour your way through local farms which will offer demonstrations, floral arranging workshops, animal petting, crafts for kids, food tastings, and more. Pack a picnic and bring the family. Free. farmtrails.org (Photo by Christopher Chung)
With spring around the corner, green thumbs are getting ready to prune, plant and prepare their gardens. Sonoma County serves up a series of events in March and April for gardening pros and amateurs looking for inspiration. From friendly fungus and veggie gardens to natural beekeeping and flowers paired with sparkling, click through the gallery above to discover how to spruce up your garden this spring.
