Master Gardener E-News, Classes, Events & Updates

In the May issue of the Amador/El Dorado County Master Gardener eNews:

• Master Gardener Plant Sales
• Weather & Pesticides
• Ideas For Starting Your Own Compost Bin
• Recycling Materials for Garden Use
• Miners Lettuce
• Updated Pest Notes
• What’s Happening At The Master Gardener Office Gardens
• Garden Tips & Tricks
• Public Education & Events
• Master Food Preservers Classes

The El Dorado County Master Gardeners are gearing up for their Annual Spring Plant Sale. They have a larger plant inventory then ever before. So if you are getting ready to start planting this plant sale should be your first stop. See the plant inventory list on their webpage.

Does the beautiful spring weather make you want to get out in your yard or garden and start working?

Join the Master Gardeners in Amador, Calaveras and El Dorado counties for free gardening classes during April.

Saturday, April 13

• Water-wise Gardening, 9:00 - Noon, Amador County GSA Building, 12200-B Airport Road in Jackson. Hosted by the Amador County Master Gardeners (209-223-6838)
• Organic Gardening II, 9:00-Noon, Veterans Memorial Building, 130 Placerville Drive in Placerville. Hosted by the El Dorado County Master Gardeners (530-621-5512)

 Saturday, April 20

• Salsa Gardening, 9:00-Noon, Veterans Memorial Building, 130 Placerville Drive in Placerville. Hosted by the El Dorado County Master Gardeners (530-621-5512)

 Saturday, April 27

• Calaveras MG Open Garden Day, 10:00 - Noon, Master Gardener Demo Garden, 891 Mountain Ranch Road in San Andreas. Hosted by the Calaveras County Master Gardeners (209-754-2880)
• Landscaping with Trees & Shrubs, 9:00 - Noon, Government Center Hearing Room, Building C, 2850 Fairlane Court in Placerville. Hosted by the El Dorado County Master Gardeners (530-621-5512)

Amador County February Master Gardener Classes – Free!

Unless otherwise noted, all classes are from 9am – noon at the GSA Building, 12200-B Airport Road, Jackson, CA.

February 2:  Living in the Forest & Defensive Landscaping
Amador County Master Gardeners Janice Johnson and Cathy Koos Breazeal explain how to be a good steward of your property by keeping your forest healthy.  Cathy Koos Breazeal is also the Executive Director of Fire Safe and will tell how can save your home and your neighborhood from wild land fire, may help you retain your fire insurance, and may be able to save you money with a Defensible Space. 

February 9:  Grafting
Join Amador County Master Gardeners for a hands-on clinic teaching grafting techniques for home gardeners.  Materials and procedures will be presented; whip, tongue and cleft grafts will be demonstrated and practiced; bud grafts will be discussed.  A variety of fruit tree scions will be available to take home.

February 23: Growing Great Vegetables (Part 1)
This will be the first of a 4 part series of classes to help you get started if you are a new gardener, or add to your skills if you are already growing your own vegetables.  It is hard to beat fresh from the garden produce and you can do it all year long in Amador County.  We will discuss the fabulous cold weather vegetables you may not have tried as well as the more familiar summer crops.  Part 1 introduces our vegetable planting guide which lists seed starting and transplant dates so you can get the most out of your garden.  Master Gardeners with vegetable gardening experience in your area will discuss the basics of organic gardening, watering zones, techniques for extending the gardening season, and the value of raised beds. 

February 23: Prunin

Good Morning,

Enclosed is an updated version of the El Dorado County Master Gardener Class Schedule. Please note a few locations have changed.

In the January issue of the Amador/El Dorado County Master Gardener eNews:

• Controlling Starthistle
• Starthistle Growth Stages & Root System
• Caring For Holiday Plants After the Holidays
• UCCE Gardening Books
• What’s Happening at the MG Office Gardens?
• El Dorado County First Edible Landscaping Workshop
• Last Call! 2013 Amador County MG Training Program
• El Dorado County MG Demonstration Garden
• Master Gardener Public Education & Events
• Master Food Preserver Classes

Edible Landscaping Workshop

Hosted by the El Dorado County Master Gardeners

January 26, 2013

• Check-in: 8:30-9:00am
• Workshop: 9:00am-4:00pm (lunch provided)

Location:

• El Dorado Hills Fire Station #85, 1050 Wilson Blvd, El Dorado Hills, CA (at the intersection of Wilson Blvd & El Dorado Hills Blvd, north of Highway 50)

Pre-Registration Required:

• $15 charge to cover a light breakfast, coffee, and a box lunch
• Register at http://ucanr.edu/edmg-reg
• Registration deadline is January 23, 2013
• Space is limited to 100 participants

Of late, for a number of reasons, there has been a tremendous increase in vegetable gardening among those living in both rural and urban areas. Many people want to grow their own food and not just in a vegetable garden.  The Edible Landscape emphasizes growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs in the context of the ornamental home landscape.  The process of creating an Edible Landscape is the same as one with purely ornamental features, but much more functional and sustainable substituting edible or fruit-bearing plants, where appropriate, for lawn, shrubs and trees.

Topics covered in this 7-hour workshop include an Introduction to Edible Landscaping, Planning & Design, Planting and Maintenance, and Harvesting, Storage and Food Safety.

Download the flyer and help spread the word about this exciting new workshop presented by the El Dorado County Master Gardeners!

The Master Gardeners in both Amador and El Dorado counties are hosting their final class of 2012 on Saturday, December 1, from 9-Noon.

Amador County: Selection & Planting of Bare Root Fruit Trees, Vegetables & Berries
Location: Amador County GSA Building, 12200-B Airport Road, Jackson

El Dorado County: Selection & Planting of Deciduous Fruit Trees
Location: Government Center Hearing Room - Bldg. C, 2850 Fairlane Ct, Placerville

Both classes are free and no reservations are required.

Have you thought about becoming a Master Gardener? Do you like to share your knowledge of gardening with others? If so...

You are invited to one of two informational orientation meetings on either

• Dates: Wednesday, November 28, 2012, or Friday, November 30, 2012
• Time: 9 – 11 am
• Location: Amador County UCCE main conference room, 12200-B Airport Road in Jackson.

You will learn the requirements for volunteering as a Master Gardener and hear details about the interview, selection and training process. Master Gardener applicants are open to anyone in Amador or El Dorado counties; Amador residents having top priority. A background check including fingerprinting is required to become a Master Gardener. You will be given an application at the orientation meeting. The applications are due by 4:00 pm, December 14, 2012.

Please note that the next Amador County Master Gardener Class IS NOT tomorrow. There was a miss-print in the Master Gardener eNews for November. See attached flyer for updated information.

Amador Coutny Master Gardeners Class:
    Fruit Tree Pruning Clinic
    Date: November 17, 2012
    Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    Location: Amador County Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Road, Jackson

In the November issue of the Master Gardener eNews:

• New Butterfly App for Smart Phones
• Edible Landscape Workshop coming in January
• What About End of Season Tomatoes?
• Just Published on the UC ANR Catalog
• Automated Master Gardener Class Reminder
• What's Happening at the Master Gardener Office Gardens?
• Have You Seen a Rain Beetle?
• November Master Food Preserver Classes
• Master Gardener Classes

In the October issue of the Master Gardener eNews:

• Fuzzy Sunflowers & Compost
• Do you want to be a Master Gardener?
• Experience an Olive Harvest to Learn about Olive Trees
• Things I Learned From My Garden, Part 2
• Winterize Your Garden
• More Fall Chores To Do Before It Freezes
• Pruning Fruit Trees
• What’s Happening at the Master Gardener Office Gardens?
• Start Now to Force Bulbs for Holiday Bloom
• Artichokes
• October Master Food Preserver Classes
• Amador County Backyard Beekeepers

Event Reminder: Saturday, October 13 Amador County Master Gardeners are hosting a class: Fall in the Garden from 9am to noon at the GSA Building, 12200-B Airport Road in Jackson. See the download for all the details.

In the September issue of the September Master Gardener eNewsletter:

• Plants, Garden Facts & Fun Garden,
• Food Safety For the Backyard Garden
• All About Honey Bees
• 2013 MG Calendars Available
• What’s Wrong With My…?
• Things I Learned From My Garden
• Fruits of Labor Are Paying Off
• Fall Is For Planting
• MG Classes
• Tomato Tasting
• MFP Classes

In this issue of the August Master Gardener eNewsletter:

Summer Pruning Guidelines, August Garden Planting, Lake Tahoe MGs, Weed ID Tool, Tomato Tasting, Cool Season Veggies, Looking for Empty Feed Bags, Invasive Pest or Treasure?, MGs at Farmers Markets, MG Classes, MFP Classes, Pest Notes

We have added the locations to our August and September classes. Please look at the schedule for details.

In this July issue of the Master Gardener eNewsletter: Peace Valley Lavender Farm, Locust? Or Grasshopper?, How Can I Garden Amongst The Deer?, Amador County Fair!, Master Gardeners At The Farmers’ Market, Shade In The Summer Garden, Lake Tahoe MGs, Discovery May Lead To New Tomato Varieties, Public Education Classes, Of Course I Can!

In this issue of the June Master Gardener eNewsletter: 

MGs At “The Grapest Show On Earth”, About Fertilizing, Oak Trees Dropping Leaves, Search and Destroy: Snails and Slugs!, Do You Have Foaming Plants?, New MFP Program: Amador & Calaveras, Get Ready for Fire Season, June’s List, MG Classes & Events, New Pest Note: Honey Bee Swarms

Still looking for a few more tomato plants to complete your garden?

Come to the annual Amador County Master Gardener Tomato Plant Sale on Saturday, May 19 from 9-11:00 am. 

While you're there, stay for the free class on How to Grow the Perfect Tomato, from 9:30 to 10:30.

In this issue of the Master Gardener eNewsletter:  Fire Adapted Communities Webinar Series, May In My Garden

Happy Gardening, About Pollination, Tomato Sale, Don’t Jump The Gun And Plant Your Tomatoes Too Early , Sock Destroyer, Peppers, Public Education and Events, County Fair

Free Public Education Class: "How to grow the perfect tomato," May 19th in Jackson. See link for more information.

Amador County Master Gardener Plant sale Saturday, April 21st. See link for details.

In this issue of the Master Gardener eNewsletter:  The Bluebirds of Happiness, Fire Season:  Be Prepared, April In The Garden, Just Beginning To Garden?, Fearsome Night Feeder, Amador County MG Spring Expo and Plant Sale, El Dorado County Plant Sale, MG Classes and Events, 2012 MFP Classes

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-News: Spring Plant Sales, Are Backyard Chickens a Trend?, Yellow Starthistle Control and Prevention, Pollinator!, March in the Garden, Yellow Starthistle Workshop, Classes and Events, MFP Fair Entry Class

The Master Gardeners' Spring and Summer Vegetables class has changed locations. Please see the updated schedule for the Master Gardener Public Educations Classes.

Fruit Tree Grafting Clinic:  February 11, plus 2012 Amador Master Gardener Class Schedule 

Join Master Gardener Dennis Miller for a Grafting Clinic in Jackson this Saturday, February 11. The clinic starts at 9am at the GSA building at 12200-B Airport Road, Jackson.

Learn various methods of fruit tree grafting at this hands-on class for home gardeners. Master Gardeners will demonstrate techniques and types of equipment used in grafting. 

We will have a number of scions from many of the more popular apple, peach, and other fruit trees to share.  Generally you can graft fruit tree varieties with pits to other varieties with pits, and fruit tree varieties with seeds to other varieties with seeds.

Please feel free to bring your own scions to share with others.  Use pruners that have been disinfected with 10% bleach water, wrap the scion cuttings in damp newspaper right after cutting them, place them in a plastic bag, label the bag with the variety name, and then store the bag in the refrigerator until you come to class.

See the attached list of free classes offered in 2012 by the Amador Master Gardeners. Mark your calendars and join us throughout the year for gardening information and tips.

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-News:  You Did It!  All of You!, Camino Composting Basics, Fruit Tree Grafting, Horsehair Worm, New Revised USDA Hardiness Zones, February's a Berry Good Month, February To-Do List, Planner's Guidelines for Oak Woodlands, Public Education and Events, Important Facts.

Hi,

There has been a change on the Master Gardener Schedule for their Public Education classes. Please note that their plant sale has moved from May 5th to April 28th.

In this issue of the Master Gardener eNewsletter:  UC Wildlife Research Team Looking for Single Socks, Feed the Soil for Healthy Plants, Erosion: Problems and Solutions for Residential Properties, Be a Beekeeper Not a Bee-Haver, Free MG Classes, 2012 MG Calendars Available, Sowing Seeds with Style

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter:  Meeting the Challenges of a Hilltop Garden, Can You Identify This Fruit?, Get Ready to Prune, Caring for a Living Christmas Tree, Three New Weed Management Educational Videos, Old Christmas Trees, MG Classes, 2012 MG Calendars Available, Rake Leaves to Save Livestock and Deer, Pest Notes.

The New El Dorado County Master Gardener 2012 Class Schedule is up on our website.

Hi,

The El Dorado County Master Gardeners has 2 classes in December that will wrap up their year of Public Education Classes. Selecting & Planting bare Root Trees and African Violets. Look inside this attachment for all the details.

In this issue: Finding the Right Tree Specialist; Win Free Worms/Bin/Compost at the November 12th Amador County MG Class in Jackson; Garden Tasks for November; Public Education Classes coming up; Scat & Scratches; What's That Bug?; Your Basic Bee Book; New ANR Publications; 2012 Master Gardener Calendar; and, Are Weeds Taking Over Your Garden?

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter:  Proper Pruning Makes a Difference, My Garden - October Tasks, Master Gardeners in the Media, Flea and Tick Control, Yellow Starthistle, Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program, Public Education and Events, Free Master Food Preserver Classes

Hi,

The Master Gardener Classes, Lawns, October 1 and Houseplant Design, November 12, 2011 have been cancelled. Please see the attachment for the updated class schedule. Sorry for any inconvenience.

MG Class Lawns, October 1, 2011, has been cancelled.

MG Class Houseplant Design, November 12, 2011, has been cancelled.

The El Dorado County Master Gardeners are getting ready for their Fall Plant Sale. Please see enclosed link for all the information.

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter: My Garden – September Tasks, Unwanted Floral Visitor, From 'Backyard to Belly', MG 18^th Annual Tomato Tasting, What's Wrong with my Butterfly Bush?, March of the Cone Sawfly, Pepper Puzzler, MGs at Farmers' Markets, MG Plant Sale, Pesticide Poisoning in Pets, Controlling Whiteflies, MG Free Classes, MFP Free Classes, 2012 MG Volunteer Training

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter:  My Garden - August Tasks, Onions: Seeds to Harvest, Poisonous Plants and Pets, Tomato Flower Drop and Failure to Set Fruit, My Garden Notes, Gardening Mistakes, Can-It-Forward Day, Where are the Ripe Tomatoes?, Tomatillo Salsa Recipe, Workshop:  Creating Fire Safe Forests, Master Gardeners at the Farmers Markets, El Dorado County MG Plant Sale, Reference Books, MyPlate Makeover Challenge, Protect Your Young Trees, MG Class Schedule, MFP Class Schedule, 2012 Master Gardener Training

How to transform your traditional garden into a beautiful landscape.

Presented by the Sierra Foothills Chapter of the California Native Plant Society with assistance from the UC Cooperative Extension.

See attachment link for more information.

Mountain Democrat Correction.

This Saturday, July 16th the Master Gardeners of El Dorado County are presenting Container Gardening. The class will be from 9:00 to Noon and will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building at 130 Placerville Drive in Placerville. See you there!

Class Information:

Do you want to add a splash of color around your front door?  Are there times that your perennial beds lack color and bloom?  Container gardening is a great way to add new elements of interest and beauty to your garden.  Master Gardener Julianne Melchor will help you create a container garden that suits your needs.

We have attached an updated El Dorado County Master Gardener Schedule. Look for another as we confirm our locations for our classes.

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter: Do you need a jackhammer in your garden, Small Farm Class, Eat Fruits & Veggies, Vacuum Packaging, No Summer Water for Blue Oaks, Name that Veggie, Forceps Please, Free MG and MFP Classes, and more!

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter: Are bees required to make tomatoes?, Bug or Not a Bug?, Food Safety Tips for Your Edible Home Garden, Yarrow, Take Steps Now to Conserve Water, El Dorado County Fair, Flower Color Different than Last Year, Save the Strawberries, Free MG and MFP Classes, and more!

In this issue... May Garden Tasks; Wicked Bugs coming to Sutter Creek; Gardening at higher elevations;Is the time right for your tomatoes?; Healthy chips for smart snacking; and Dates to Remember. Look inside!

The Master Gardeners of Amador County are hosting special event in June. Amy Stewart, author of "Wicked Plants" will be coming to Sutter Creek to make a presentation. Please read the attached flyer for more information.

In this issue you will find gardening tasks for April; when to plant your vegies, Foothill Vegetable Guide; information on frost damage; how to get the best help from your MGs; plant sale dates and more...

This is a notification about the Organic Gardening I & II Classes being combined on April 9th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

In this issue of the Master Gardener E-Newsletter: My Garden-February Tasks, Roses from Hilde, Spring Plant Sales!, Let's Compare Notes, Webinar: Guidelines for Managing Oak Rangelands, AAUW Amador Home Tour, Hybrid vs. Heirloom, Fennel, Recipes for the Season, Free Public Education Classes for Amador and El Dorado Counties, Foothill Vegetable Planting Guide, Pest Notes, Online Gardening Answers

Benefit our future demonstration garden and our community programs.

In this issue; Welcome El Dorado County readers; My Garden - February Tasks; Spring Plant Sales; February Down Slope; Miner's Lettuce; Book Review: The Home Orchard; Battling Codling Moth; and Public Education Class Dates.

In this issue...
Start planning now; Split Pea Soup recipe; Great Garden Catalogs; Carefree Roses; Yellow Starthistle Workshop; Fruit Tree Grafting Clinic; and more...