Whether your rent or own your home, a free eco-friendly garden tour, plant sales and a repair fair will help you make the place where you dwelling a little nicer.
Free garden tour showcases eco-friendly landscapes
Gather tips and tricks for your own home or just go for the eye candy at the 15th annual Eco-Friendly Garden Tour May 10 put on by the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership.
The self-guided tour includes 19 inspirational gardens that incorporate low water use design features. Participating gardens include private home gardens, school gardens and public gardens in Sonoma and Marin counties. There will be experts, information and tours at the various stops. Although there is no cost, participants must register. To sign up and for details about the participating gardens, as well as information about water saving rebates and programs visit www.savingwaterpartnership.org.
French Garden Market offers chic goods for the home and closet
You can experience the charm of an outdoor market in the French countryside without leaving Sonoma County May 10 at Dry Creek Vineyard. Sip wine and listen to live music while shopping for clothing, jewelry and things for the home made by local artisans. A vintage Citroën mobile bar named Claudine, the heart of the wine garden, will offer refreshments and small bites will be available from Gabacool Pizza and Mamadios. Attendance restricted to people 21 and older. No pets. Noon to 4 p.m. 3770 Lambert Bridge Road. drycreekvineyard.com
Santa Rosa
Free talk on creating a healthy ecosystem at home
What can home gardeners do to support the environment during a time of climate change? Master Gardener Suzanne Clarke will suggest ways to make your garden come alive by attracting beneficial insects and butterflies during a free talk May 17 at the Rincon Valley Library. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is required at sonomamg.ucanr.edu Upcoming Events to complete your registration. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk.
Petaluma
Local gardener to talk about home garden and arboretum
Well known Petaluma gardener and plant collector Sara Malone will talk about her home garden — featured in books, articles and magazines — during the May 12 meeting of the Petaluma Garden Club.
Malone is a serious tree collector and has turned her own property into an arboretum that is home to more than 1700 conifers and other trees, shrubs and succulents. 10 a.m. Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 S. Petaluma Blvd. For more information visit Petalumagardenclub.org.
Sebastopol
Buy plants from Luther Burbank’s farm
The original farm where horticulturist Luther Burbank developed iconic plants like the Shasta Daisy and the Santa Rosa Plum will open up for a tours and a big plant sale May 17.
The three-acre Luther Burbank Experiment Farm is home to many historic plants and trees as well as Burbank’s own cottage. Docents will lead walking tours of the property, offering perspective on the famed plant breeder and his impact on the plant world.
They will also have plants for sale, including locally grown plants and plants created by Burbank himself, all suitable for Sonoma County conditions. Look for fruit trees, perennials, succulents and more. Fruit tree experts will be on hand to answer questions and help people select the right tree or plant for their own garden. People are invited to bring a picnic. Donations appreciated. The event is hosted by the Western Sonoma County Historical Society. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 7777 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. www.wschs.org
Repair Fair brings broken stuff back to life
Gather up your broken stuff and bring it to the Sonoma Community Center May 17 where volunteers and specialized repair professionals may be able to bring it back to life.
The Repair Fair keeps items in use and out of the landfill. People are invited to bring things like lamps, small appliances, textiles or bikes in need of a tune-up. Stay with your item while volunteers work on it so you can learn how to maintain it or repair it yourself from volunteer repair coaches.
There will also be a clothing swap in tandem with the fair hosted by the Sonoma Community Center and Refill Madness Sonoma. Bring clean clothing (no underwear) in good condition May 12-15 to Refill Madness, 500 W. Napa St., in the Sonoma Valley Center. The clothing will be sorted and brought to the fair for swapping.
Anyone wanting to bring an item for repair is urged to register it at reusealliance.org to allow volunteers a chance to prepare for it. There is no guarantee that it can be fixed.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma.
Food for Thought garden holds plant sale
This storied garden has been feeding people will health issues for decades. For two weekends on May 9-10 and May 16-17 they will sell vegetable starts grown in their own greenhouse and by their partners. Shoppers may also take self guided tours of the garden or join the Food for Thought garden manager for a guided tour at noon each day of the sale. They anticipate having beans, basil, eggplant, watermelons, lettuce, herbs, eggplants, flowers, peppers, onions, tomatoes, summer squash and peppers. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. all four days. 6550 Railroad Ave., Forestville. fftfoodbank.org
Santa Rosa
Plant sale offers everything for the garden
This annual sale May 10 by the Santa Rosa Garden Club features more than just plants. Look for containers, garden tools and more. The sale includes surprises because you never know what club members will bring or dig up for the sale. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 10 at the Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa.
Cotati
Workshop teaches secrets of growing dahlias and lilies
Amy Crawford of Heritage Farm Florals and Savita Wilder of Bulb Bliss team up May 18 for a workshop sharing all the tricks of their flower trade.
Crawford will focus on growing gorgeous dahlias and Wilder will go deep on lilies. Every one goes home with a cloned dahlia plant and instruction booklet. Requested donation of $25-$60. Heritage Farm Florals, 810 Helman Lane, Cotati. For more information or to sign up, email: [email protected]
Santa Rosa
School nursery boasts thousands of plants
The Willowside School Nursery will be open May 17 with a huge stock of plants at bargain prices. The nursery offers low water and drought tolerant perennials, California natives, a multitude of succulents, grasses, salvias and a big array of ornamental plants that bring beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. They will also have more than 50 varieties of specialty Japanese maples from 3-8 feet tall for $30 to $60. 5285 Hall Road at Willowside Road.
You can reach Staff Writer Meg McConahey at 707-521-5204 or [email protected].
