HOME AND GARDEN NOTES
To submit items, call Melissa Howell at 4753770 or send email to mhowell@oklahoman.com. Reference “Home and garden calendar.” Please submit items at least 10 days before publication.
MEETINGS
Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs, 10 a.m. April 13, Will Rogers Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36. Registration and coffee is at 9: 30 a.m. Program is “Living Walls” by Sandy Casteel. Call 422-2133.
Oklahoma Orchid Society, 1 p.m. April 15, Will Rogers Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36. Jana Butcher and Carolyn McCabe will discuss "Registering and Displaying our Orchids for the Annual Show." Members are encouraged to bring several of their own plants for practice.
Central Oklahoma Cactus and
Succulent Society, 7 p.m. April 19, Will Rogers Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36. Program presented by Mike and Rosario Douglas on “Exploring South Africa and Its Succulents.”
WORKSHOPS COMMONWEALTH URBAN FARMS
The following workshops are located at CommonWealth Urban Farms, 3310 N Olie Ave. Workshops are $10 per session, $15 per couple or pair, and free to volunteers. Full season price is $100 for 18 workshops. Pay on-site with cash or check for individual classes or purchase a season membership online. No registration required. Go to common wealthurbanfarms.com for information or season passes.
Food Forest Part II, 11 a.m. to noon April 7. A permaculture food forest is a low maintenance, sustainable and productive garden of trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables, based on the natural systems found in forests. Learn the principles of forest gardening and do some planting to fill out the growing food forest.
How to Start Growing Food,
11 a.m. to noon April 28. Dale Spoonemore, of From Seed to Spoon, will discuss how to plant, grow harvest and prepare your own food using Spoonemore’s free iOS and Android mobile app. This also will be a hands-on demonstration on how you can use Smart Pots, raised beds and other strategies to simplify the amount of work and effort required to get started.
Growing a Bouquet Garden, 11 a.m. to noon May 12. Learn about the easiest flowers to grow in central Oklahoma, from old friends like zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds and snapdragons to lesserknown beauties such as Asiatic lilies, lisianthus and ammi. Learn how to plan and prepare your garden bed, and discuss seeds vs. transplants, annuals vs. perennials and the benefits of trellising and succession planting. Participants are invited to start some flower seedlings of their own with seeds and supplies provided by CommonWealth. Flower seedlings also will be available for sale.
MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS
The following workshops are located at Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W Reno. Prices vary. Call 445-7080, or go to www. myriadgardens.org for information or to register.
OKSeed Walkups, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays throughout March, Crystal Bridge South Lobby and Garden Room. Drop-in during the “OKSeed Show” to learn even more about seeds. Changes weekly. Cost is $2 for members, $4 for nonmembers.
Soil: The Key to a Healthy Garden, 1 to 3 p.m. April 7, 2nd Floor Conference Room and Garden Grounds. Soil is the foundation of any good garden, and a healthy soil is essential in having healthy plants. In this interactive program, you’ll learn the basics of soil and the simple steps to creating great compost. Cost is $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers. Register by April 3.
All About Starting Seeds,
10 a.m. to noon April 14, Second Floor Conference Room. In this hands-on workshop, learn how to start annual flowers, vegetables and herbs, both indoors and outdoors. Hear about care tips, for when the seeds germinate and grow, and techniques and tools helpful in seed starting. All participants will plant up several containers of a variety of seeds to take home. Cost is $17 for members, $21 for nonmembers. Register by April 10.
Introduction to Growing Plants for New Gardeners, 6 to 7 p.m. April 24, Crystal Bridge 2nd Floor Conference Room. This three-part series serves as an introduction to the basics of growing ornamental garden plants including trees, shrubs and perennial flowers and grasses. Each class includes handouts on plant lists and maintenance guidelines. Cost is $5 for members, $7 for nonmembers. Register by the Friday prior.
EVENTS
Earth Day Celebration, 10 a.m. to noon April 21, on the Great Lawn at Myriad Botanical Gardens. Celebrate the Earth and learn how you can help it at this fun, family event. This walk-up event will include crafts, scavenger hunts and activities all related to helping nature and our planet. Cost is $2 for members and $3 for nonmembers. All ages welcome. Oklahoma Gardeners Association Annual Plant Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28, Urban Mission, 3737 N Portland Ave. New and unusual selections, tried and true favorites and pass-along plants from association members will be available. Experienced gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions and help with selections.
Festival in the Park sponsored by the Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 19 at the Will Rogers Park Senior Activity Center, 3501 Pat Murphy Drive.
HELPLINE: For answers to horticulture questions, call the Oklahoma County Cooperative Extension at 713-1125, 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday and ask to speak to a Master Gardener. Questions via email may be sent to okmganswers@ gmail.com.