The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Native and water-wise plant workshop
Anew year is blooming! For gardeners, that means another chance to try new plants, break out new tools and learn new skills — and there are plenty of events to help them get a head start.
From sales promising unique tomatoes in a rainbow of colors to educational classes on native plants, Southern California will have plenty of events all year long.
Here's a sampling.
`The Seasonally Flooded Alkali Wetlands of Western Riverside County'
Where: 4500 Glenwood Drive, Riverside When: 10 a.m. today
Riverside County residents who want to learn more about their native flora can attend this talk by Fred Roberts, a former botanist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Roberts will discuss the alkali wetlands along the San Jacinto River. He’ll go over the history of the area, the vegetation, past impacts and current threats. Roberts’ talk is one of multiple events planned by the Riverside-san Bernardino chapter of the California Native Plant Society. The chapter will hold presentations at 10 a.m. every third Saturday of the month, and more information about future programs can be found by visiting its website.
Theodore Payne Foundation winter plant sale
Where: 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley When: Jan. 30-Feb. 3
Information: theodorepayne.org
The Theodore Payne Foundation, which seeks to educate the public on native plants and the role they play in Southern California ecology, will hold its first plant sale of the year at its nursery. The sale will give visitors the first glimpse of the annuals the foundation will offer for the season.
Where: 4594 San Bernardino St., Montclair
When: 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 10 Information: cbwcd.org “Choosing, Purchasing, & Planting Waterwise & Native Plants,” a free class at the Chino Basin Water Conservation District’s Waterwise Community Center in Montclair, will go over topics such as how to choose plants for a landscape and where to find them; how to select for healthy plants; and how to keep them healthy as they get established.
OC Home & Garden Show
Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 25
Cost: Event is free; parking is $12.
Information: thebesthomeshow.com Visitors can learn about topics such as farm-to-table gardening, attend do-ityourself seminars and win hourly prizes.
Food preservation workshop
Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
When: March 9
Cost: $40
Information: ocfair.com
Looking for a way to store your garden produce for months to come? At “Centennial Farm Workshop: Make It, Take It,” University of California Cooperative Extension experts will show participants how to preserve their own food. The $40fee covers ingredients, handouts and two half-pint canning jars. Knives will be provided, but guests can bring their own if they desire.
Tomatomania
Where: Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar
When: March 1-10
Information: tomatomania.com
This tomato sale will have more than 300 heirloom and hybrid varieties as well as fertilizer, stakes, pots and other tools. This location is the first of a handful for the event throughout Southern California:
March 8-9, The Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive, El Cajon
March 8-10, Fig Earth Supply, 3577 Figueroa St., Highland Park
March 9-10, Mission Hills Nursery, 1525 Fort Stockton Drive, San Diego
March 14-16, Otto & Sons Nursery, 1835 Guiberson Road, Fillmore
March 22-24, Tapia Brothers Farm, 5251 Hayvenhurst Ave., Encino
UC Riverside Botanic Gardens spring plant sale
Where: Online
When: April 6 for members, April 7 for nonmembers
Information: gardens.ucr.edu
For those who want to skip the crowds and enjoy the ease of online shopping. The sale will include plants that have been propagated from the gardens’ own collection as well as from local vendors. The list of plants includes cactuses, succulents and pollinator-attracting species, according to the gardens’ website. Customers will order their plants on the website and pick them up at the gardens later.
21st annual Theodore Payne Native Plant and Garden Tour
Where: Multiple Los Angeles County locations
When: April 13-14
Cost: $50 for members; $55 for nonmembers
Information: nativeplantgardentour.org This event typically lets participants take a self-guided tour of at least a couple dozen native plant gardens over two days. Tickets give visitors access to all sites and include a printed guide and driving directions. Tickets will be available at nativeplantgardentour.org.
Veggiepalooza edible plant sale
Where: 1900Associated Road, Fullerton When: noon-4 p.m. April 18, noon-4 p.m. April 19, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20 Information: fullertonarboretum.org This Cal State Fullerton sale typically features hundreds of plants, including tomatoes, peppers, herbs and melons. Fullerton Arboretum members can preorder their plants and pick them up on any of the three sale days. How about some handmade swag to go with that heirloom tomato plant? On April 18, a Garden Flea Market will offer items made by the university’s students.
Laguna Beach Garden Club Gate & Garden Tour
Where: The tour starts at the Laguna Beach County Water District, 306Third St., Laguna Beach
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 4
Cost: $60-$80
Information: lagunabeachgardenclub.org Participants will be transported by bus to gardens around Laguna Beach. There will be free homemade baked goods and refreshments, plus Mexican food and margaritas available for purchase.
National Heirloom Exposition
Where: 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura When: Sept. 10-12
Information: theheirloomexpo.com This will be the 11th edition of the National Heirloom Exposition, but the second year the event returns to Southern California. Gardeners will be able to trade seed packets during swap events running from 3-6p.m. each day, listen to talks on topics such as sustainable agriculture and healthy eating, visit an expo hall and shop from vendors. The event will also feature a judged heirloom poultry show.
Theodore Payne Foundation fall plant sale
Where: 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley When: Likely October or November Information: theodorepayne.org
The foundation’s biggest sale of the year coincides with the end of the summer dry season and the beginning of the planting season for native plants. The foundation is encouraging people to join its email list for more information on the sale and its other events. The signup can be found at the bottom of its website.