I recently had the good fun of accompanying a visiting native bee specialist to a few of our local gardens. He was looking for one or two area gardens to monitor over time for bee activity and behavior. All of the gardens we visited were lovely, beginning to bloom and green with spring rains, buzzing with bees and other life. The last garden we visited was the largest of them, a peaceful, many-roomed and casually welcoming gardening with dappled light here, and warm sun here. Cascading roses and fireworks of alliums here, a tree heavy with blood oranges there. No perfect lawn, no tidy edges just a profusion of garden blending seamlessly with life around it. When we left this garden, my guest turned to me and said: Isn’t it nice to just BE in a garden like that sometimes? Photo: A heritage single rose in spring bloom.

As your garden – be it a balcony of containers or an acre of market crops - grows along into the fullness of the season – I hope you get some time between planning, planting, pruning, harvesting, feeding and watering to just be there in it during this magical month of may. Photo: An enthusiastic North State public garden in May. (more…)

This week In a North State Garden has the pleasure of interviewing Scott Huber, Education and Research Coordinator of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves (BCCER) located near Forest Ranch. Scott talks to us about the reserve’s spring hike series, which really brings this large expanse of beautiful natural land to life for the public visitor. Many groups in the North State offer guided hikes in State and National Parks, Forest Service Land, Bureau of Land Management lands and more. There is a lot to be learned and enjoyed in the company of these groups with knowledgeable people leading the way. This week’s essay discusses the BCCER, and its spring hike series, as well as lists nature hikes/walks being offered by other groups of interest in the region. Some of the most consistent of these groups include the Shasta Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, the Mt. Lassen Chapter of the CNPS, the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club. With this much opportunity - you have no excuse - get out and take a hike! (more…)

“A little madness in the spring is wholesome even for the King!”

I like to think that when Emily Dickinson wrote these words, she included some heady joy in the word madness, and she included us all in the wholesome benefits. Spring makes many of us feel a bit kingly – a bit more expansive in our energies.

So much comes to life in the garden in April! Winter crops like bok choy and hardy lettuce are finishing, bolting, blooming and going to seed; spring crops are at their peak; summer crop-seedlings of peppers, tomatoes, eggplants and squashes are busting out of pots in greenhouses across the region - eager to get into the ground. Perennials like peonies, roses and herbal oregano and calamenthe are poking up and leafing out. Early blooming daffodils, witch hazel and red bud are turning over the stage to the next in line. Early seasonal farmers markets are opening: on Thursday April 5th the Chico Thursday Night Farmers Market returns, and on Saturday April 7th, the Redding Saturday Market opens for its season.

And in between rain, snow, wind and cloud cover which move swiftly across the landscape, warm pools of sunlight intermittently illuminate my bright spring blooms. In golden California poppy cups, on acid-yellow bok choy flowers, and Ceanothus the color of lapis lazuli, you can hear and see the positively kingly buzzing of our many pollinators – bees, butterflies, flies and more - at their work of collecting pollen and nectar. Their work is of course at the same time accomplishing work for both the flowers and plants and for us the gardeners who love and cultivate these plants for food and for beauty.

April is a good time in the garden for heading off the now-sprouting weed seeds in our borders, for saving or sowing seeds, for giving your trees and shrubs a feeding with a balanced slow-release fertilizer, for applying iron-supplements to acid loving plants that may look a little chlorotic (my gardenias and camellias like this boost!), and for preparing and amending soil in areas of the garden with compost. For heavy feeding beds, like vegetable beds or rose beds, I add manure-enriched compost. Because many of our native pollinators are ground nesters, I also try to leave areas of bare soil on the outskirts and native plant areas of my garden, these are generally less-watered areas of my garden, with plants that don’t want a lot of cover over their roots and around their crowns anyway.

Good things to direct seed into the garden this month include: beets, beans, leeks, lettuce (unless we get a heat wave), and radish, if you still have seed potatoes, get them in the ground! Once your area gets just past average last frost (mid-April in the Valley), you are fairly safe to sow corn, cucumbers, eggplant, pumpkins and squashes. Some interesting cut-flowers to direct seed outdoors this month include aster, celosia, cleome, cosmos, marigolds, salvia, scabiosa, sunflower and zinnia.

Some months the regional calendar of gardening events seems to have a theme of its own – that seasonal cycle of purpose. This month is buzzing with Pollinators and Pollination Passion!

The On-line Calendar of North State Gardening Events at jewellgarden.com adds events throughout the month. I do my very best to keep the calendar up to date and accurate, please confirm all events with the event host. If you have an event you would like listed or if you are aware of a mistake on the calendar, please send all pertinent information to: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com! Thanks!

March 30 - April 1 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip together with Altacal Audubon: Pinnacles National Monument, San Benito County. Late March is a great time for wildflowers and nesting song birds at Pinnacles NM south of Hollister in San Benito County. Come together with wildflower and avian enthusiasts to soar with California condors after hiking the well groomed, 2 mile trail to the “High Peaks”. Then look west across the Salinas Valley toward the Ventana Range and elsewhere across the green, rolling ridges of the inner Coast Range. Shorter trails access upland habitat and through a jumble of boulders that create cool caves along a water course tumbling from an upper reservoir where water fowl are found. Nesting habitat for easy bird watching is abundant in the stream wash next to the campground on the east side of the Monument. Condors can be seen at dawn roosting in the conifers on the ridge above. The Monument’s large campground for tents and RVs (full hookups available) is a 5 hour drive from Chico down I-5 and via Hwy 152 over Pacheco Pass. Reservations for a group camp site or circle of camp sites will be made. Contact Woody at woodyelliott@gmail.com or 530 342-6053 to sign up. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

March 31 - Forest Ranch: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves, CSU, Chico Spring Hike Series: Outdoor Survival Skills 1 (moderate) Scott Grist Join Scott Grist for a day of learning ancient wilderness survival techniques as used by the Native Americans of this area. We will focus on the bow drill fire starting technique using natural materials found in the area. There will be a fire-making workshop where everyone can get their hands on the materials and take home their own bow drill kit. The workshop will be followed by a plant walk where we will learn the uses of some of our native edible and medicinal plants in the reserve. Scott received a degree in Geology from CSUC and has since been practicing wilderness survival in several different environments across the country. These hikes range in levels of difficulty from moderate to strenuous. Advanced signup is required via e-mail to bccer@csuchico.edu or by calling Leana at (830) 898-5010. Each hike will accommodate a limited amount of hikers so you are encouraged to sign up early.

March 31 - Chico: Friends of the Chico State Herbarium Workshop Emerging Botanical Field Methods: Using new technologies to identify, map, and explore wild diversity by Dan Gluesenkamp 9:30 am - 4 pm; Rm 129 Holt Hall, CSU, Chico. Learn how to use your iphone, android, tablet or GPS camera to precisely map plants. Find out how to report beautiful or important plant discoveries and explore plants from mountaintop, desktop or laptop. This workshop will introduce the use of all of the latest technology to be ready for your best spring wildflower season ever! This workshop will meet Saturday, March 31, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Holt Hall room 129 at CSU Chico. The registration fee is $100.00 personal, $125.00 business, $40.00 student (only 2 seats at this price), $90.00 for members of Friends of the Herbarium. Please register in advance; class size is limited to 25 participants (class cancelled without a minimum of 10 participants). For more information about workshop content please con- tact Dan Gluesenkamp at dan@calflora.org or 415-939-6681. For more in- formation about workshop registration please contact the Biology office at (530) 898-5356 or jbraden@csuchico.edu.

March 31 - Oroville: California Dept of Fish & Game WILDFLOWER TOURS OF North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: 10 am and 1 pm each Saturday in March and April. Each 2 hour/2 mile tour is free, but limited to 25 attendees and attendees MUST pre-register on-line at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region2/northtable.html. For more information: 916-358-2869.

March 31 - Vina Plains Preserve with the Nature Conservancy - Vernal Pool Tours: 10 am - Noon. Enjoy a 1 mile hike across some of our most beautiful and interesting scenery in Northern California. Tours will be led by California Native Plant Society botanists, knowledgeable in the plants and ecology of these rare treasures. Wear Boots for uneven and muddy terrain, bring binoculars, snack and water - no DOGS, To register or for more information: nature.org.

March 31 - Arcata: Humboldt Permaculture Guild’s 14 Annual Seed And Plant Exchange 11am - 4pm, admission is free. Arcata Community Center. Workshops, speakers, live music, food, raffle, seeds including Redwood Seeds, and starts. 321 Community Park Way, Arcata.

March 31 - Sacramento: Sacramento: Gardens Gone Native 10 am - 3pm 10am to 3pm Tickets: Free, attendance is limited & registration is required Contact: gardensgonenative@gmail.com, Attn: Tara For more information: (916) 374-8116 or cnpsgarden@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaliforniaNativePlantGarden.

March 31 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Walk With Lisa Endicott, Horticultural Manager 11 am. Bring your notebooks and camera! We’ll make our way through the Gardens with frequent stops for discussions about (what else?) plants! Free with Park or Garden admission. Meet at West Garden Entrance. Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Parking lot and entrance are on the left. More info: 530-242-3178 or www.turtlebay.org/nursery

March 31 - Paradise: Mendons Nursery hosts Selby Apiaries Beekeeping Classes: 10am and 2 pm. Help save the honeybees! Pick up live beehives perfect for home gardens. For more information call Fred Selby: 530-566-4736.

APRIL

April 1 - Chico: The Plant Barn and Gifts Workshop “Designing with Succulents” 2 - 4 pm. Call for more information. 406 Entler Ave Chico, Ca 95928 530-345-3121/fax 530-345-5354 www.theplantbarn.com

April 1 - Chico: Breaking Bread, Breaking Ground - building a new Community Garden 4:30 - 8 pm. Help Us Build a New Community Garden Doors open at 4:30 — Dinner at 5ish Local gourmet meal, Silent Auction, No-Host Bar Music by Stevie Cook (4:30) and The Railflowers (6:00) Tickets are $25 each Table of eight is $200, and includes two bottles of wine Hosted by the Butte Environmental Council and Cultivating Communities Tickets available soon. ARC Pavilion 2020 Park Avenue Chico. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/393182280698183/

April 2 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening April Classes: Worm-Farming 101! Compost, Vermacompost, and Worms! 6:30-8:30 $10.00 at the door. Join us for an informational evening with Mark Purser of THE WORM FARM and learn how to transform kitchen food waste into the best compost money can buy through WORMS! Mark will teach us how to house, feed and put worms to use to produce year-round soil enhancing nutrients for your garden and plants. A method so easy and efficient you can even keep your worm bin in the house! In “Worms Eat My Garbage” by Mary Appelhof, 1lb of redworms will eat 1/2lbs of garbage per day easily transforming daily waste into rich fertilizer, saving energy, reducing waste disposal cost and saving you money because you will have your own supply of compost. Mark is a great speaker, passionate about the topic of worms, vermacomposting and compost in general and will help you launch the system that’s right for you in order to enhance the productivity of your garden or farm and save you money and energy as well. If you’ve wanted a compost system but didn’t want to strain your back or give it much thought, Mark will teach you how to start with worms. As one Chico worm enthusiast says, “My worm bin not only eats my garbage daily but I always have worms to fish with, feed my chickens for extra protein and jump-start my clippings and leaves pile. Plus, I don’t have to turn my worm bin and strain my back!” Monday April 2, Matthews Café, 1600 Mangrove.

April 4 - Chico: Gateway Science Museum MWOW presents: “Keeping Company with Flowers: a glimpse into the world of pollinators”, by John Whittlesey, plantsman and owner of Canyon Creek Nursery & Design 7:30 pm CARD Center in Chico. Gateway’s Museum Without Walls Spring 2012 Lecture series is titled: Butterflies, Bees & Bats! Native Pollinators of Northern California. The series runs every Wednesday from April 4th to May 2, 2012. Chico Area Recreation District (CARD) Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico. A donation of $3 per adult is requested. Students with ID are free. Question and answer period will follow each program.

April 4 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Regular Monthly meeting and Program: Exploring the Outback at Kangaroo Lake, presented by Marjorie McNairn 7:30 pm Butte County Library, Chico. In the Klamath National Forest, Kangaroo Lake Botanical Area is located along the spine of the Scott Mountain Range in the southeastern edge of the Scott River Ranger District. It is the most easily accessible of several adjacent Botanical Areas noted for high elevation ultramafic soils and home to many rare and sensitive plant species. The Fen Trail is representative of this unique environment and the plants that inhabit it. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

April 6 - FULL MOON

April 7 - Redding: Roses & Rust Vintage Home and Garden Market 8 am - 5 pm Redding Civic Auditorium from 8 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee is $5.00, with children under 16 free. The Market is presented by 4 creative ladies, which include Bonnie Burhart as the director, Lynni Miller, Zizi Ukestad and Kimberly Snowden. Awarded the honor of being one of the Top 10 Romantic Flea Markets in the Nation by Romantic Homes Magazine in August 2011, we are even more inspired to create an event that showcases businesses and provides beauty and inspiration to all who attend.What you will find is fabulous treasures for your home and garden from French Chic to Rustic Farm Chic, Up-cycled, Salvaged and Re-Purposed goods, plus hand-crafted jewelry, food, music, and more! Visit our blog at www.RosesandRust.blogspot.com and our Facebook page: Roses AndRust http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002674864446&sk=wallwww.RosesandRustVintageMarket.blogspot.com

April 7 - Oroville: Oroville Wildflower Festival hosts Selby Apiaries Beekeeping Classes: 10am and 2 pm. Help save the honeybees! Pick up live beehives perfect for home gardens. For more information call Fred Selby: 530-566-4736.

April 7 - Oroville: California Dept of Fish & Game WILDFLOWER TOURS OF North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: 10 am and 1 pm each Saturday in March and April. Each 2 hour/2 mile tour is free, but limited to 25 attendees and attendees MUST pre-register on-line at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region2/northtable.html. For more information: 916-358-2869.

April 7 - Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Guided Tour: Plant Sale Preview2 p.m., Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive, UC Davis; Gardeners thinking about adding new plants to their home landscapes can visit the demonstration plantings at the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery during a special tour on Saturday, April 7. The tour will focus on the best plants for our garden climate, including the Arboretum All-Stars, plants selected by the Arboretum’s horticultural staff for their beauty, reliability, heat and drought tolerance, and value in attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. There will be time for questions and answers about participants’ own gardens and any special problems they might have. No plants will be for sale during the guided tour, but visitors will get a special preview of the plants that will be for sale at the Arboretum’s spring plant sales on April 14 and May 19. The tour will meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Arboretum Teaching Nursery, on Garrod Drive across from the School of Veterinary Medicine on the UC Davis campus. Free parking is available along Garrod Drive and in Visitor Lots 50 and 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

April 7 - Redding: Wyntour Gardens Kids Easter Basket Planting 10 am - noon. Kids get to plant a basket of pansies. Free. 8026 Airport Road, Redding CA. More info: 530-365-2256/wyntourgardens.com

April 8 - Forest Ranch: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves, CSU, Chico Spring Hike Series: Flower Identification Hike (moderate) Robert Fischer This hike is meant for the wildflower enthusiast of any skill level. Our goal is to learn a few new foothill plants, take photos, share any knowledge we have on the characteristics that separate our local species, and learn their common or Latin names. We will develop a sharper eye for plants, large and small, and a few of the details that separate them from each other. For further details, such as the on-site meeting spot, call Robert Fischer 343-3620 or write to rdfischer@comcast.net. Bring your favorite identification book and a hand lens if you have one. These hikes range in levels of difficulty from moderate to strenuous. Advanced signup is required via e-mail to bccer@csuchico.edu or by calling Leana at (830) 898-5010. Each hike will accommodate a limited amount of hikers so you are encouraged to sign up early.

April 9 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening April Classes: Canning, Drying, Freezing & Putting Up. Now that you’ve grown it What To Do With It? with Mary Berglund 6:30-8:30 $10.00 at the door. Mary Berglund will show us how to preserve our garden food. After raising her family on fresh fruits and vegetables from her backyard Chico garden, Mary is the master of “Putting Food By” and will impart her knowledge in this informative, practical workshop. Simplicity, variety and a bit of daily diligence is the key to fitting it all into a busy life and Mary specializes in growing it and getting it to the table all year ‘round. Her genius is in her own technique of blending the elegant and beautiful with presentable home-grown product. Tonight we will hear all about it and be able to pick Mary’s brain! A Not-To-Be-Missed Class, this is the one I get the most requests for and the beginning of the season is the perfect time to plan for what to do with all that bounty….from Asparagus to Zucchini! Mon April 9, Matthews Café, 1600 Mangrove, 6:30-8:30 $10.00 at the door.

April 9 - Paradise: Paradise Garden Club Monthly Member Meeting and Program 1 pm. Terry Ashe Rec Center Paradise. For more info: http://paradisegardenclub.org/

April 11 - Magalia: Magalia Beautification Association Regular Monthly Meeting & program: The MBA meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the POA Racine Center in Magalia (map); 12:30 for lunch, 1:00-3:00 for business. Please join us! The sole qualification is an interest in gardening, horticulture, civic art, and/or beautification in Magalia. For more info: http://magaliagardeners.webs.com/aboutus.htm

April 11 - Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Walk With Warren Noon. 12 p.m., Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center, Old Davis Road, UC Davis; Join Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts for a lunchtime stroll in the UC Davis Arboretum’s native plant collections on Wednesday, April 11. Enjoy the early spring weather, learn about the Arboretum’s collections, see spring wildflowers in bloom, and get a little exercise. Meet at noon at the Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center, located on Old Davis Road at Mrak Hall Drive, across from the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour. Parking is available for $7 in Visitor Lots 1 and 2 and the Mondavi Center parking structure. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

April 11 - Chico: Gateway Science Museum MWOW presents: “Nectar and Pollen in Northstate Wildflowers: Food for a Diversity of Native Pollinators”, by Dr. Rob Schlising, professor emeritus of Biological Sciences, CSU, Chico 7:30 pm CARD Center in Chico. Gateway’s Museum Without Walls Spring 2012 Lecture series is titled: Butterflies, Bees & Bats! Native Pollinators of Northern California. The series runs every Wednesday from April 4th to May 2, 2012. Chico Area Recreation District (CARD) Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico. A donation of $3 per adult is requested. Students with ID are free. Question and answer period will follow each program.

April 12 - Oroville: Lake Oroville Area Garden Club Regular Monthly member meeting Meetings are held September-June on the 2nd Thursday of the month. “Coffee, Cake and Conversation” from 9:30 to 10:00am with the General Meeting beginning at 10:00am. Meetings are generally adjourned around 11:30am although this may vary depending upon that month’s scheduled program. Meeting location is Trinity Presbyterian Fellowship Hall at 2350 Foothill Blvd, Oroville, CA (North of Olive Highway on Foothill Blvd.). We invite guests to attend +++ your first meeting is FREE. For More Info: http://www.loagardenclub.com/

April 13 & 14 - Redding: McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens 20th Annual Spring Plant Sale! Friday, 5:00-8:00pm, Turtle Bay Members Night Event (Memberships available at the gate) Saturday, 9:00am-2:00pm, General Public Sale! Our ever-popular, heirloom vegetables are a main feature of the spring plant sale - and they sell out fast! In addition, we have available an enormous stock of unusual, drought-tolerant, and hard-to-find perennials, shrubs, and trees, as well as California native plants and a wide variety of sought after ornamental grasses, all grown here in our Nursery and acclimated to Redding’s vigorous climatic conditions. Sale includes a discount for the public, and an even greater (than the everyday 20% off) discount for Turtle Bay members. FREE admission into the Gardens. Arboretum & Gardens Nursery 1100 Arboretum Drive (Next to Greenhouse in Nursery) Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Nursery on immediate left.

April 14 - Forest Ranch: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves, CSU, Chico Spring Hike Series: Wildflowers, Geology, and Natural History (strenuous) Dr. Paul Maslin Dr. Maslin has spent the last twelve years learning, understanding, preserving and restoring the 4,000 acre Reserve and has an intimate familiarity with it’s natural history. Join him for an insightful exploration of the property. This hike is several miles on trails but over some rough terrain. Hikers should be in good physical condition. These hikes range in levels of difficulty from moderate to strenuous. Advanced signup is required via e-mail to bccer@csuchico.edu or by calling Leana at (830) 898-5010. Each hike will accommodate a limited amount of hikers so you are encouraged to sign up early.

April 14 - Redding: Shasta Chapter California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Yana Trail area of the Sacramento River Bend Recreation Join Jay & Terri Thesken for an 8- to 9-mile hike to the Yana Trail area of the Sacramento River Bend Recreation Area north of Red Bluff. The bluffs adjacent to the Sacramento River are typically covered with wildflowers at this time of year. This will be a long, all-day hike that requires good hiking boots, water, and lunch. No dogs, please. Space will be limited, so call Jay & Terri at 221-0906 for time, directions, and further information. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org/calendar.html

April 14 - Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Plant Sale: 3Bs—Birds, Bees, and Beneficials 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Arboretum Teaching Nursery, Garrod Drive, UC Davis; Central Valley gardeners can enhance their gardens with beautiful spring plants from the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum plant sale on Saturday, April 14, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at the Arboretum Teaching Nursery. The sale will feature hundreds of different kinds of plants, most of which have been grown in Davis and will thrive in Central Valley conditions, including newly-introduced and unusual garden plants that are hard to find or not available in commercial nurseries. This sale has a special focus on plants that attract and support pollinators in the home landscape. Many of the Arboretum All-Stars, the Arboretum’s top recommended plants for Central Valley gardens, will be for sale. Experienced gardeners will be on hand to advise on the best plants for shoppers’ garden conditions. At the Plant Doctor booth, plant pathology graduate students will diagnose plant pests and diseases—shoppers can bring samples of problem plants in a sealed plastic bag for advice. Anyone can join the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum at the door and receive a 10% discount on purchases. New members get a coupon worth $10 off their purchases in addition to the 10% member discount. The Arboretum Teaching Nursery is located on Garrod Drive across from the School of Veterinary Medicine on the UC Davis campus. Free parking is available along Garrod Drive and in Visitor Lots 50 and 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

April 14 - Oroville: California Dept of Fish & Game WILDFLOWER TOURS OF North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: 10 am and 1 pm each Saturday in March and April. Each 2 hour/2 mile tour is free, but limited to 25 attendees and attendees MUST pre-register on-line at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region2/northtable.html. For more information: 916-358-2869.

April 14 - Vina Plains Preserve with the Nature Conservancy - Vernal Pool Tours: 10 am - Noon. Enjoy a 1 mile hike across some of our most beautiful and interesting scenery in Northern California. Tours will be led by California Native Plant Society botanists, knowledgeable in the plants and ecology of these rare treasures. Wear Boots for uneven and muddy terrain, bring snack, binoculars and water - no DOGS, To register or for more information: nature.org.

April 14 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden Workshop “Non-Toxic Insect Management”, presented by Jim Collins 1 - 3 pm. Shasta College Main Campus. Insect problems are generally an indicator that the gardener needs to correct something out of balance. Pesticides further degrade this balance leading to more and worse problems and sending the gardener backwards in her efforts to grow nutritious food, like the children’s game chutes and ladders. Garden Manager Jim Collins will be discussing new developments in ecoagriculture and sustainable practices, as well as time-honored methods of managing problem insect populations while simultaneously encouraging pollinators and other beneficials— nearly impossible if you use pesticides. There will be ample time for questions and specific problem-solving. Presenters: Jim Collins Fee: $15.00. For more info or to Register on-line at www.shastacollege.edu/EWD and click on Pathways. Or, call: 530.242.7630

April 14 - Chico: Gateway Science Museum Sustainability Gardens Workshop: Full of Beans: A Legume Extravaganza 2 - 4pm. Gateway Science Museum outdoor amphitheater. Join Kalan Redwood of Redwood Seeds and GRUB for this hands on workshop all about dry beans, including a hands-on bean art activity. Beans offer a valuable source of protein and nutrition in a small homestead or urban garden. Learn the ins and outs of planting, seed saving, harvesting, and cooking. Part of the class will include a “taste testing” event with many varieties of dry beans, including Tiger Eye and Orca, cooked up for eager taste buds. If you grew dry beans this year and want to include your beans in the Taste Test contact Kalan Redood at info@redwoodseeds.net. This workshop is FREE, but does not include admission to the museum. Please note, if you wish to visit the Gateway Science Museum, general admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children over the age of 3, and free for children under the age of 3. For more info: www.gatewayscience.org

April 14 - Redding: Wyntour Gardens 20th Anniversary Celebration 10 am - noon. Fun-filled day of classes, workshops, specials! 8026 Airport Road, Redding CA. More info: 530-365-2256/wyntourgardens.com

April 15 - 22 - California Native Plant Week!

April 15 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: NOMLAKI TRAIL MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST Meet at Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) at 9 am. The hike area is located about 27 miles northwest of Corning, CA. We will walk downhill through the regrowth of an old burn area in chaparral, and expect to see Indian warrior, late fawn lilies, wooly sunflower, Ithurial’s spear, and various shrubs. Bring lunch, water, sun protection, and hiking shoes for a 4-mile round-trip walk. Bring money for ride sharing. Call for secondary meeting place. Leader: Marjorie McNairn 530-343-2397 For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

April 15 - Redding: Shasta Community Teaching Garden Workshop “Permaculture: Re-Thinking the Way We Use Our Yards”, presented by Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper 1 - 3 pm. Shasta College Main Campus. Permaculture is the practice of working with, rather than working against nature. Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper will introduce you to permaculture philosophy, ethics, principles and goals, and teach you the basics of designing an ecological landscape. Stephanie is a certified Permaculture Landscape Designer, co-owner with her husband of Gaia Creations in Chico, providing landscape design services in Butte County and the Northern California region. Presenters: Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper Fee: $15.00. For more info or to Register on-line at www.shastacollege.edu/EWD and click on Pathways. Or, call: 530.242.7630

April 16 - Chico: Chaffin Family Farms and Weston A. Price Foundation present famed-family-farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms 5:15 pm doors open Neighborhood Church of Chico. Ticket Price: $12 per ticket paid online. Joel’s newest book, “Folks, This Ain’t Normal” speaks to consumers about how far we’ve gotten away from common sense and what really works in the natural world. It talks about the trade-offs we’ve made for the conveniences of our modern society. So while I think Joel will spend a brief amount of time recapping his farm and all the amazing work he does, this year his lecture will be completely different and dive to a whole new level of depth surrounding food, farming, and culture. I saw part of his new lecture recently and I have to admit it’s funnier than ever. If you know Joel, than you know you get lots of humor mixed into his sobering message. I think you’ll leave not only educated but also inspired to create change and support our local community in new ways. Chico Neighborhood Church 2801 Notre Dame Boulevard, Chico, CA For tickets go to http://salatinchico.eventbrite.com/

April 18 - Chico: Gateway Science Museum MWOW presents: “Bees and Flowers, the Love Affair Continues”, by Dr. Gordon Frankie, professor and research entomologist in the Division of Insect Biology, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley 7:30 pm CARD Center in Chico. Gateway’s Museum Without Walls Spring 2012 Lecture series is titled: Butterflies, Bees & Bats! Native Pollinators of Northern California. The series runs every Wednesday from April 4th to May 2, 2012. Chico Area Recreation District (CARD) Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico. A donation of $3 per adult is requested. Students with ID are free. Question and answer period will follow each program.

April 18 - Redding: Shasta Rose Society Regular Member Meeting and Program with Carole Schmitz, Consulting Rosarian, with a program on Propagating Roses from Cuttings. 7 pm. City of Redding Corporation Way, 2055 Viking Way, Building 4, room 401. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. www.shastarosesociety.org

April 19 - Redding: Shasta Chapter California Native Plant Society Regular Member Meeting and Program 7 PM at the Shasta College Health Science & University Programs building in downtown Redding, 1400 Market Street, Community Room 8220 (clock tower building at the north end of the Market Street Promenade; enter on south side of building). A Board meeting will be held before the regular meeting, at 5:30 PM at Angelo’s Pizza Parlour in the Foundry Square, 1774 California Street, Redding.

April 19 - 21- Redding: Shasta College Spring Plant Sale This 3-day spectacular spring plant sale will be held at the greenhouse/horticulture area of Shasta College. We will be selling our spring-blooming native plants, so call Jay & Terri Thesken at 221-0906 to volunteer for a few hours to help out. Set-up is on Wednesday, April 18, from 4 PM to 6 PM. The plant sale is 8 AM to 5 PM on Thursday and Friday, and 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org/calendar.html

April 20 & 21 - Oroville: Butte College Campus Nursery annual spring plant sale Friday Apr 20 from 9am - 5pm and Sat Apr 21 from 9am - 3pm. There is an early bird special from 9 am - 10 am on both days, plus 30% off all plant material and 50% off of selected items. We will have lots of veggies along with plants and trees. Butte College Campus off of the number 4 parking lot (follow the signs). For more info: Allison Burns: msaliburns@yahoo.com

April 21 - Chico: Landforms, Soils, and Vegetation of Upper Bidwell Park, led by Andrew Conlin, NRCS soil scientist stationed at the Chico Cooperative Soil Survey Office 9 am - 1 pm. Meet at parking area B (second parking area on your left) in Upper Bidwell Park at 9 am for this 2 - 4 hour stroll through soil and time. The best way to understand why things live and grow where they do is to understand the soils and landforms beneath them. Andrew Conlin has spent the last 20 years conducting soil surveys of areas including Butte County and Lassen Volcanic National Park and has created the soil map covering Butte County. Join us to gain a ‘deeper’ understanding of how what you see relates to what’s beneath your feet, and the intricate association between soil, vegetation and wildlife and human history. Walking tour - please wear sturdy walking shoes and appropriate clothing. For more information: www.gatewayscience.org

April 21 - Chico: The Plant Barn Nursery & Gifts hosts Selby Apiaries Beekeeping Classes: 10am and 2 pm. Help save the honeybees! Pick up live beehives perfect for home gardens. For more information call Fred Selby: 530-566-4736.

April 21 - Oroville: California Dept of Fish & Game WILDFLOWER TOURS OF North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: 10 am and 1 pm each Saturday in March and April. Each 2 hour/2 mile tour is free, but limited to 25 attendees and attendees MUST pre-register on-line at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region2/northtable.html. For more information: 916-358-2869.

April 21 - Redding: McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens Vegetable Gardening Class 10 am - 12 noon. Join local organic gardener Cleo Lane for a lively discussion of vegetable gardening in our climate with a focus on: seasonal planting, growing more tomatoes, gardening with children, pollinators, pests and diseases, and organic gardening methods. FREE for Members, $3 for Nonmembers. Meet at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office (1135 Arboretum Drive next to Nursery Greenhouse)

April 21 - Sacramento: Historic City Cemetery OPEN DAY in the Gardens 9:30 am - 2 pm. Come enjoy spring in the California Native Plant Demonstration Garden, The Rose Garden and the Perennial Garden. The Old City Cemetery Committee, Inc. provides unique events for people of all ages. FREE - Donations are always appreciated.Parking within the cemetery is very limited. Please park across the street at the Sacramento Works building and enter the Cemetery at the main gate on 10th Street and Broadway.

April 21 - Chico: Chico Creek Nature Center “Celebrate the Jewel!” Earth Day festivities celebrating all things Bidwell Park. MOUNT LASSEN CHAPTER OF CNPS SPRING PLANT SALE!! 11 am - 3 pm. More details at http://www.bidwellpark.org/page/calendar/events.php?mo=4&yr=2012

April 21 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society RARE PLANT TREASURE HUNT: PULGA TO MAYARO, FEATHER RIVER Meet at Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) at 9 am, with lunch, water, and walking gear. Thomes Creek Ecological Reserve northeast of Corning: looking for dwarf downinga, Ahart’s nailwort, Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop, and Henderson’s bent grass. For details and to sign up, email: rareplantschair@mountlassen.cnps.org For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

April 21 & 22 - Chico: Leo T. Clark annual Iris Show and Plant Sale! April 21-22, 2012; Place: Chico Mall, 1950 East 20th Street, Chico, CA Show Chair: Claudia Owen, 837 Miller Ave., Chico, CA 95928; Phone: 530-899-7784

April 22 - EARTH DAY

April 22 - Forest Ranch: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves, CSU, Chico Spring Hike Series: Spring Bird I.D. (moderate) Dawn Garcia 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Join master bird banding expert and Altacal Audubon Society’s Conservation Chair Dawn Garcia on a bird identification walk through the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. Expect to see early arriving migrants like black-headed grosbeak, warbling vireo, Bullock’s oriole and yellow warbler. We’ll meet at the Chico Park-n-Ride (east lot) at 8:30 am and have you back to your vehicle at 12:30 (app.) These hikes range in levels of difficulty from moderate to strenuous. Advanced signup is required via e-mail to bccer@csuchico.edu or by calling Leana at (830) 898-5010. Each hike will accommodate a limited amount of hikers so you are encouraged to sign up early.

April 22 - Redding: Shasta Chapter California Native Plant Society Plant Propagation/Clean-up Session Two-hour work session starting at 10 AM at the Shasta College greenhouses. The greenhouses are located at the back of Shasta College, near the livestock barns. We will be sprucing up, weeding, and potting up nursery starts and rooted cuttings. Bring rooted plants, clippers, and any other tools you might need. Please call Susan Libonati at 347-4654 or Jay & Terri Thesken at 221-0906 for further information. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org/calendar.html

April 23 - Colusa: Garden Club of Colusa County Regular Monthly Meeting & Program 6:30 pm. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church, 642 Webster St. in Colusa. We have a short social time with refreshments followed by a short business meeting and a program. For more info: http://colusa-garden-club.webs.com/

April 24 - Northstate Public Radio: In a North State Garden One-Hour, Live, Spring-Special Call-In: The North State Food Shed: an Overview Panel Discussion with Earl Bloor of Edible Shasta Butte, Noelle Ferdon of Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Wayne Kessler of Shasta Community Teaching Garden and Chris Kerston of Chaffin Family Farm. Join us! 10 - 11 am on fm 91.7 in Chico, or fm 88.9 in Redding. For additional translators or to stream-live go to www.kcho.org, or www.kfpr.org.

April 24 - Chico: 2012 Chico Organic Gardening April Classes: TUESDAY All Things Tomatoes Class & SALE! Growing Heirlooms, Best Varieties for Our Area, and Secrets to Growing Mouth Watering Tomatoes AND Plant Sale! with Nancy and Brian of Sawmill Creek Farms 6:30-8:30 $10.00 at the door. Nancy and Brian of Sawmill Creek Farms sell some of the most diverse tomato plants obtainable and they are Passionate about growing tomatoes. Want to know what heirlooms are, which ones do well here and how to grow them? Want to know determinant vs. indeterminant and which is best for you? Get ready to not only hear all the tricks of the tomato-growing-trade but also bring home beautiful, robust, hardy, ready-to-plant tomato starts and know exactly what you’re getting and how to grow them. Even a novice or seasoned tomato grower will love the Passion and knowledge these farmers have for their tomatoes! Save the Date-Plan to Get Your Tomato Starts Here-It’s Worth the Wait! Tues. April 24, Matthews Café, 1600 Mangrove, 6:30-8:30 $10.00 at the door.

April 24 - Chico: Butte Rose Society Regular Monthly Meeting and Program 7 pm. General meetings of the Butte Rose Society are held on the last Tuesday of the month January-May and August-November. Meetings begin at 7 pm and are held at the Chico Veterans Memorial Hall at 554 Rio Lindo Ave. Membership is open to all interested in roses, but anyone may attend the General Meetings. Membership is $20.00 per year and provides you with the monthly award winning newsletter and special invitations to members-only events held throughout the year. CONTACT US AT: Butte Rose Society, PO Box 8888, Chico, CA 95927. http://www.butte-rosesociety.org/

April 25 - Chico: Chico Horticultural Society regular member meeting and Program on Gardening for Pollinators with Statewide Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program, Pam Geisel 9:30 am gather, 10 am program. Butte County Library, Chico. PUBLIC WELCOME. For more info email jennifer@jewellgarden.com

April 25 - Chico: Gateway Science Museum MWOW presents: “Bats of Northern California”, by Mary Jean “Corky” Quirk, founder of NorCal Bats 7:30 pm CARD Center in Chico. Gateway’s Museum Without Walls Spring 2012 Lecture series is titled: Butterflies, Bees & Bats! Native Pollinators of Northern California. The series runs every Wednesday from April 4th to May 2, 2012. Chico Area Recreation District (CARD) Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico. A donation of $3 per adult is requested. Students with ID are free. Question and answer period will follow each program.

April 27 - Oroville: Friends of the Chico State Herbarium Workshop “Reproductive Biology of Table Mountain Wildflowers” with Dr. Rob Schlising and Dr. Adrienne Edwards 9:30 am to 4 pm. This workshop will meet in the field, on Friday, 27 April 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Table Mountain, approximately 5 miles north of Oroville. Gain intimate knowledge of the plant- and pollinator-strategies for survival on the Lovejoy basalt! Enjoy a day really getting to know the wildflowers on world-famous North Table Mountain, near Oroville, California. This workshop will include a long walking tour to examine and determine distinguishing features of Table Mountain flowers and fruits in this wildflower meadow. Attention will focus on at least four aspects of plant biology: 1) pollination, 2) life form and phenology, 3) propagule dispersal, and 4) seed and seedling biology. The registration fee is $100.00 personal, $125.00 business ($90.00 for members of Friends of the Herbarium), $40.00 student (only 2 participants allowed at this price). Registration must be completed by Wednesday 25 April; class size is limited to 16 partic- ipants (class cancelled without a minimum of 10 participants). For more information about workshop content please contact either instructor at aledwards@csuchico.edu or rschlising@csuchico.edu. For more information about workshop registration contact the Biology office at jbraden@csuchico.edu or (530) 898-5356. Registered participants will be emailed a map of the meeting site on 25 April.

April 28 - Davis:UC Davis ArboretumYour Sustainable Backyard: Pollinator Gardening 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., room 1001 Giedt Hall, UC Davis; Fee: $45, includes coffee/scones and boxed lunch. Learn how to support pollinators and enhance the environmental potential of your home landscape during a special workshop on Your Sustainable Backyard: Pollinator Gardening. Sponsored by the California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis, the workshop is designed to inspire gardeners and show them how simple gardening practices can support healthy populations of pollinating insects. Following talks by entomologists, horticulturalists, and garden design experts, participants will have the opportunity to tour the Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven Garden and talk to bee habitat experts. Then visit the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery to tour the pollinator plantings and enjoy a special pollinator plant sale. The workshop will take place on Saturday, April 28, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., in room 1001 Giedt Hall at UC Davis. The fee is $45 and includes parking, morning coffee, tea and scones, and a gourmet boxed lunch. For more information or to register, visit ccuh.ucdavis.edu or contact Missy Gable at 530-752-6642 or mjborel@ucdavis.edu.

April 28 - Forest Ranch: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserves, CSU, Chico Spring Hike Series: Identifying Spring Bird Song (moderate) Scott Huber 7:00 am – 12:30 pm. Learning to identify bird song will increase your ability to detect the presence of many bird species and greatly enhance your enjoyment of time spent in the outdoors. Scott Huber has led numerous workshops and field trips on western bird song identification, and in addition to pointing out songs, calls and the species they belong to, he will share tips and clues to audio identification. Bring your binoculars – you’ll want to match the visual field marks of the birds you see to their songs! Meet at the Chico Park-n-Ride (east lot) at 7:00 am and be back to your vehicle at around 12:30. These hikes range in levels of difficulty from moderate to strenuous. Advanced signup is required via e-mail to bccer@csuchico.edu or by calling Leana at (830) 898-5010. Each hike will accommodate a limited amount of hikers so you are encouraged to sign up early.

April 28 - Oroville: California Dept of Fish & Game WILDFLOWER TOURS OF North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: 10 am and 1 pm each Saturday in March and April. Each 2 hour/2 mile tour is free, but limited to 25 attendees and attendees MUST pre-register on-line at www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region2/northtable.html. For more information: 916-358-2869.

April 28 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Whole Earth Day and Watershed Festival 2012 Whole Earth Day and Watershed Festival Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day at Redding City Hall Visit Turtle Bay’s Forestry Learning Center to learn about the important role forests play in our world. The purpose of this event is to increase the awareness of the fragile state of our planet and share information about how individuals and our communities can work together to help the Earth thrive. By bringing together numerous organizations, businesses, and individuals in celebration of Earth Day, we hope to inspire commitment to live more sustainably, build community, and have fun! Visit www.wholeearthandwatershedfestival.org for more information. Free community event! Redding City Hall Community Room and Sculpture Park

April 29 - Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society Field Trip: PULGA TO MAYARO, FEATHER RIVERMeet at Chico Park & Ride west parking lot (Hwy 99/32) at 9 am, with lunch, water, and walking gear for a drive along the PG&E power line road above the Feather River with several stops to look at Fritillaria, snowdrop bush, bleeding heart, and many others. The road is rough and mostly 1-lane. At Pulga we start in the serpentine and higher up we run into granite and quite a different plant community. The road is gated above Mayaro but we will hike along it for a short distance. A gorgeous waterfall at Camp Creek is near the lunch stop. Call for directions to alternate meeting place. Leaders: Wes Dempsey, 530-342-2293 and Gerry Ingco, 530-893-5123. For more information: http://mountlassen.cnps.org/

April 29 - Davis:UC Davis ArboretumArboretum Nature Discovery Drop-in 1–3 p.m., Wyatt Deck, Old Davis Road, UC Davis; Got nature? Naturalists of all ages are invited to visit the UC Davis Arboretum for a special chance to explore, observe, investigate, and enjoy hands-on activities. Who knows what plant and animal treasures you’ll discover when you drop by! All ages welcome. The Nature Discovery Drop-in will take place on Sunday, April 29, 1–3 p.m., at the Wyatt Deck, located on Old Davis Road next to the redwood grove in the UC Davis Arboretum. Free parking is available in Visitor Lot 5, at Old Davis Road and A Street. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

April 29 - Redding: Shasta Chapter California Native Plant Society Field Trip: Davis Gulch Trail The Davis Gulch Trail is a fairly easy 3.5-mile walk at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, but does have some rough terrain, so some agility is required. The trail starts out under a canopy of canyon live oak and black oak with an understory of snowdrop bush; transitions to bigleaf maple and white alder in a canyon with sword fern, chain fern, bracken fern, and maidenhair fern; climbs through chaparral and a thick grove of Brewer’s oak; and ends in a grove of ponderosa pine. Participants will receive a copy of our ever-increasing plant list for this trail. Meet at Redding City Hall’s south parking lot on Parkview Avenue at 9:30 AM, or at the trailhead at 10 AM. Parking permits are required at the recreation area. No dogs, please. For more information, call David Ledger at 355-8542. For more info: http://www.shastacnps.org/calendar.html

Like Jewellgarden.com/In a North State Garden on Facebook

To submit plant/gardening related events/classes to the Jewellgarden.com on-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events, send the pertinent information to me at: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com

Did you know I send out a weekly email with information about upcoming topics and gardening related events in the North State region? If you would like to be added to the mailing list, send an email to Jennifer@jewellgarden.com.

In a North State Garden is a weekly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California. It is made possible in part by the Gateway Science Museum - Exploring the Natural History of the North State and on the campus of CSU, Chico. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell - all rights reserved jewellgarden.com. In a North State Garden airs on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time. Podcasts of past shows are available here. Weekly essays can also be found at ANewsCafe.com.

In the chilly (32 degrees) dark of 5 am this morning, as I gave my dogs their morning biscuits, I admired the form of the ‘Big Dipper’ almost directly overhead. I stood, bundled up, in the center of my starlit back garden - just admiring. Five am at the height of summer, I can be getting my coffee and heading out to begin playing in the garden, but in mid-December, as we near the richly-storied winter solstice - the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere - crisp early mornings make for a great star-gazing; the entire garden is a virtual planetarium. Photo: The Moon and Jupiter in close proximity in the winter night sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, several well-known constellations are associated with winter. While many people of think of the ‘Big Dipper’ as a constellation, it is in fact more accurately an asterism - or part of a constellation or larger group of stars. The ‘Big Dipper’ is a commonly recognizable asterism of the larger constellation known as Ursa Major.

As gardeners, perhaps, we are even more aware than many of the shifts in light and its relative availability throughout the seasons and the year. Cultures across the globe have long celebrated the winter solstice and held it dear as the day on which the dark has reached its peak. As of the winter solstice, with every subsequent day, we are headed back toward the life-renewing light - the full intensity of the Sun’s energy.

Many gardeners time their planting and harvest - both the time at which they plant and harvest as well as what they are planting and harvesting - based on the phases of the moon. They do this in order to take full advantage of the powerful influence of the Moon’s on Earth as seen through tidal shifts, etc. In particular, the gardening/agricultural philosophy known as Biodynamics uses the phases of the moon as one of the critical markers for gardening tasks. According to Biodynamics.com, biodynamics, based on the teachings of Rudolph Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy, is “a type of organic farming that incorporates an understanding of “dynamic” forces in nature not yet fully understood by science. By working creatively with these subtle energies, farmers are able to significantly enhance the health of their farms and the quality and flavor of food. It is ….. A recognition that the whole earth is a single, self-regulating, multi-dimensional ecosystem. Biodynamic farmers seek to fashion their farms likewise as self-regulating, bio-diverse ecosystems in order to bring health to the land and to their local communities.”

In thinking about the solstice and winter night sky in relation to my garden, I wondered about what the solstice actually was. To find out, I turned to friend and colleague Dave Schlom. Dave is a full-time science educator, and longtime host of Northstate Public Radio’s weekly program on planetary (including Earth) science, The Blue Dot Report. This week on In a North State Garden, Dave talks about what a solstice is and how it impacts us.

Let’s start with planet Earth and how it is positioned in space. The equator is what we call the great imaginary line (line of latitude) around Earth’s circumference. The equator lies half-way between the North Pole and the South Pole. Earth’s rotational axis is tilted 23.5° relative to the Sun. The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are lines of latitude 23.5° north and south, respectively, of the equator (Figure 3). The Sun is always directly above a point between these latitudes. In our winter, the Sun is south of the equator and in our summer it is north. What we in the Northern Hemisphere call the winter solstice, is the day that the Sun is 23.5° south of the equator, or directly above the Tropic of Capricorn. During the summer solstice, the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, or 23.5° north of the equator. “That is why what we call the winter and summer solstices are perhaps more accurately referred to as the southern and northern solstices respectively,” explains Dave. Photo: NASA’s diagram of Earth’s position relative to the Sun at the time of a Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice.

“In Latin,” he goes on, the word “’solstice” means ’sun stop’ because as ancient Roman people were tracking the arc of the Sun each day, it was at each ’solstice’ that the Sun seemed to stop in its tracks and begin to move back in the other direction - causing daylight hours to either get longer as after the winter solstice, or shorter, as after the summer solstice. The vernal and autumnal equinoxes occur at those moments twice a year when the Sun is directly over the equator, making for equal hours of daylight and dark. http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/imagee.htm

Why is it cold in winter and warm in summer in our part of the world? The seasons change due to Earth’s rotational axis being tilted 23.5° relative to the Sun. So, for half of the year (our winter), the Northern Hemisphere is pointed slightly away from the Sun. This angle makes sunlight hit the ground in the North State at a lower angle in winter than in summer. So energy coming from the Sun is spread out - and thereby made less intense - over a larger area on the ground.

Interestingly, notes Dave, while the winter solstice might mark an official beginning of winter, it is only rarely the coldest day of the year. Because the Northern Hemisphere is moving only slowly more tilted away from the Sun’s rays from the summer solstice to the winter solstice, the mass of the Earth receives warmth from the sun each day and only slowly does it begin to lose more each night than it gains each day. Therefore, it takes a while after the winter solstice for the Earth to cool down as far as it is going to in any given winter.

So while the winter solstice does not mark the end of cold, but is closer to the beginning of the cold stretch for our North State gardens, this cold can be beneficial - killing unwanted fungi, pathogens and others pests. (Protect and cover your citrus and other tender plants so that the cold does not kill them.) The winter solstice does however mark the shortest day of the year - and while the cold temperatures and short daylight hours might slow your garden and you down some - things are only getting brighter from here.

Happy Winter in your North State Garden!

For more information on the solstice and stars in the winter night sky, Gateway Science Museum in Chico will be hosting related Education Station activities on Saturday and Sunday, December 17th and 18th, and on the Winter Solstice, December 21st from 1 - 3 pm each day. Docents will model the concept of a solstice, show you projections of constellations in the winter night sky, and give you pin-hole constellations cards to make and take home. Additionally, on the 21st, stories behind the winter constellations will be read in the Newberry Gallery from 1 - 3 pm.

Also, fellow gardener and star watcher, Karen McGrath wrote in to me with the interesting fact that although the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, the earliest sunsets do not occur on this day! There is an interesting discussion about why at http://earthsky.org/tonight/earliest-sunset-today-but-not-shortest-day, which is a nice additional resource on these types of discussions.

Follow Jewellgarden.com/In a North State Garden on Facebook - become a fan today!

To submit plant/gardening related events/classes to the Jewellgarden.com on-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events, send the pertinent information to me at: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com

Did you know I send out a weekly email with information about upcoming topics and gardening related events? If you would like to be added to the mailing list, send an email to Jennifer@jewellgarden.com.

In a North State Garden is a weekly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California and made possible in part by the Gateway Science Museum - Exploring the Natural History of the North State and on the campus of CSU, Chico. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell - all rights reserved jewellgarden.com. In a North State Garden airs on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time. Podcasts of past shows are available here. Weekly essays are also posted on anewscafe.com a regional news source that is simultaneously universal and positively North State.

Autumn’s arrival for me is accompanied by a renewed sense of community. Perhaps it is the return of regular school schedules, and the return of regular monthly meetings for garden clubs and organizations. Perhaps it is the primal sense of oncoming winter and a need to come together and prepare. Perhaps it’s the anticipation and energy of the harvest – from the vast chartreuse rice fields and the statuesque almond, olive and walnut orchards running through our region, to the end-of-summer tomatoes, peppers, beans, and squash finishing up in our home gardens and now filling our kitchen counters, freezers and shelves. Cool, even cold, nights and days with a prospect of rain are returning. We are gathering, and we are planning and planting for the seasons to come. Photo: Rice fields, Central Valley in October. (more…)

On February 27th 2011 the Gateway Science Museum celebrated its one year anniversary of being open to science and nature lovers from around our region. With a stated mission to “create a life-long learning environment that enables people to explore, interpret, and celebrate the magnificent natural heritage of our region through science, research, and education,” the GSM - and its 26,000 visitors in this first year - has “a lot to celebrate!” said Acting Director Rachel Teasdale of the milestone. School groups, summer camps, dynamic exhibits and on-going educational lectures and outreach are all hallmarks of the young museum. (more…)

November in the Northstate Garden sums up everything I love about living and gardening here – richness, abundance and diversity.

November mornings are crisp and dark, November afternoons often offer a warming sun. Light is dappled - revealing the garden and its beauty in subtle and nuanced ways. A visit to Dunsmuir recently to visit the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens with a gardening friend – seeing the fall color deepening in our forests, the fullness of our rivers after late October rains, and the snow returned like a winter dress to the sides of Mount Shasta and further peaks, reminded me that the greater Northstate Garden is one of the best inspirations by far for our own North State Gardens.

In Paradise, Sawmill Creek Farms is harvesting dry beans, and roasting the end of season peppers and garlic to grind into spices; in Manton Redwood Seed Farm is planting in the last of the garlic for early summer 2011 harvest. In Redding, Julie Nelson is considering what to make with her quince harvest. Around the region, persimmons and pomegranates hang fat and iridescent on the branches – sweetening up with the cool nights. I am cutting back the dead and the spent, top-dressing my beds - edible and ornamental - with compost mulch, planting some spring bulbs waiting patiently to go in the ground and dividing perennials such as iris, stachys, day lilies and dahlias to rejuvenate the original plantings. The additional plants I get from dividing, but which I have no room for in my garden I will take care of until spring and then donate them to a garden club, native plant or rose society plant sale as needed.

Pam Geisel, Statewide Coordinator of the Master Garden Program sends these tips on the home orchard: “For November in the Orchard…it is still not too late to harvest most varieties of olives for curing, especially if you get out to harvest early in the month. The season is late this year so unless we have a hard frost and as long as the olives are still green, go for it. For great FREE 26 page handbook on safe curing olives go to: http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8267.pdf’

“Pomegranate harvest is just beginning. Most people say wait until they crack to begin harvesting, but to avoid rot AND have the highest sugar content, try to harvest just before they crack. The “Wonderful” pomegranate variety is just becoming sweet.’

“Persimmons are also ripening, try them dried, using the Fuyu fruit (the ones that you can eat hard). Slice them into thin slices and allow them to dry either using a food dehydrator or in a warm dry location, such as the over on its lowest setting. The taste is amazing and makes a great snack…even for people that don’t love persimmons!’

“In the orchard later in the month, you can apply a spray of either copper sulfate or calcium polysulfide after the leaves drop on your peaches and nectarines to help reduce fungi that cause the disease called PEACH LEAF CURL in spring and reduce the likelihood of infection. You can also spray cherries and apricots but only use fixed copper or copper Bordeaux (do not apply materials that contain sulfur). This will reduce the likelihood of shot hole disease (Coryneum blight). You can also plan to spray during the dormant season. For excellent information about preparing and using Bordeaux mixtures, check out our Pest Note at: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7481.html.’

“If you intend to plant bare root fruit trees during the dormant season and your soil has compaction or hard pan/clay pan layers, now is a good time to dig (or drill/pick ax/backhoe etc.) your planting area so that you have a deep wide hole with the compacted layers broken up. Backfill the planting hole with the native soil (no amendments) and allow it to settle for at least 21 days prior to planting your bare root fruit and nut trees.’

“Think about frost protection for sensitive plants. If temps drop below 30 degrees, you could have some tissue damage. Move your container plants to a protected area such as a covered patio or garage (that has light). Wrap tender trees with newspaper, corn stalks or fiberglass insulation or even palm fronds that will insulate them from the cold. This is especially good for young citrus and avocados. Use cardboard boxes to cover smaller shrubs and flowers on those cold nights.” Photo: Members of Chico Horticultural Society at work during a recent potting party, planting up divisions and cuttings for the coming year’s plant sales.

An established regional gardening resource has a new branch. Valley Oak Magazine, had its debut in October and it was every bit as good as you would hope from David Grau, the managing editor. David has been the energizing force behind the Chico Organic Gardening Class series the past two winters, and his endeavor has now grown up and evolved into The Chico Organic Gardening Society (I joined!) and the monthly ValleyOakMagazine.com. Writing in the journal’s first issue, David Grau highlights another local fruit tree guru Carl Rosato of Woodleaf Farm. Carl recommends significant fruit tree pruning mid-October: “For the best results, do your main pruning this month. This is instead of a winter pruning. If you prune now, the tree will have more balanced growth next spring, and not have an overly vigorous “terminal push”. This makes for stronger branches and better fruit set. Carl also does lighter prunings in June and in August.” The whole issue is worth reading.

The foothills have had their first killing frosts, but most of us on the valley floor have not. Don’t be too quick to cut back plants that are still actively flowering – on cold-morning/warm afternoons days the pollinating bees, butterflies moths and hummingbirds are still very active and they will reward your patience. I do have my horticultural fleece row covers and other frost protection ready to go though, to be honest, that first hard frost that knocks back the annual plants (read: tomato, pepper and squash chaos) I have not been able to give up on always comes as something of a relief to me. It’s time.

If you are interested in our regional events, be sure to check the On-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events at jewellgarden.com regularly – events are added almost everyday. I do my very best to keep the calendar up to date and accurate, please confirm all events with the event host’s contact information. If you are aware of a mistake on my calendar, please send me corrected info: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com! Thanks.

NOVEMBER 2010 - CALENDAR OF REGIONAL GARDENING EVENTS

November 3 - Chico: Mt Lassen Chapter Cal Native Plant Society, Regular Member Meeting 7:30 pm Butte County Library. Regular member Meeting and Program featuring “How Do Many Seed Plants Get Around…Without the Help of People?”, by Rob Schlising, retired professor of Biology from CSU, Chico. Public welcome! More information contact President Janna Lathrop: jlathrop4mlc@comcast.net

November 3 – Chico: Gateway Science Museum: Museum Without Walls Lecture Series #1 7:30 - 8:30 pm Fire in the Forest by Kathy Gray, California State University, Chico. Chico Area Recreation District (CARD) Center 545 Vallombrosa Avenue. A donation of $3 per adult is requested. More Info call: 530-898-4121

November 3 – Chico: The 8th Annual Chico Organic Farming and Food Conference, Chico State University Farm 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. As in previous years, this is the day before the beginning of the This Way to Sustainability Conference at Chico State University. This year it will comprise concurrent workshops and presentations in the organic vegetable field, at the organic dairy, and in the pavilion. Topics will include organic crop and dairy management, insect ecology, soil quality, farm financial management, and community food and nutrition programs. The conference is free and open to all members of the campus and community. Students, staff, faculty, farmers, ranchers, and gardening enthusiasts are encouraged to participate! For more information, schedule, and directions, go to http://www.csuchico.edu/~laltier/8thAnnualAgenda.pdf To RSVP or questions, contact Lee Altier by email to LAltier@csuchico.edu or phone (530) 636-2525

November 5 - Chico: Chico State Campus Tree Tours with Wes Dempsey and Gerry Ingco 10 am - 11:45 am. Meet in front of Bidwell Mansion in Chico, on the Esplanade for this informative walks to see and hear about the marvelous old trees on the mansion grounds and adjacent university campus. Over 200 species of woody plants. Many of these trees date back to the original landscaping by Bidwell in the late 1800s. Parking is free. Leaders: Wes Demspey: 530-342-2293; Gerry Ingco: 530-893-5123

November 6 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay Trees in the Landscape Series Workshop 9:30 am Fall is a great time for planting trees in Shasta County, and having a good start is imperative to the long term health of your tree. Turtle Bay’s lead gardener and A News Cafe’s “Tree Goddess”, Marie Stadther, will share tips for developing healthy, well-established trees through proper planting methods, root pruning, fertilizing, mulching and follow-up care. Receive actual hands-on experience planting a tree with Marie in the Botanical Gardens. All tools and gloves will be provided. Come prepared to work outside. (Class will be rescheduled in the event of rain). Tree Pruning will be offered early next year as a follow-up to this workshop. Members and Turtle Bay volunteers FREE, nonmembers $3 (unless otherwise noted) Meet at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office (1135 Arboretum Drive next to Nursery Greenhouse) Take N. Market Street and turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Nursery on immediate left.

November 6 – Redding: Community Teaching Garden: Saving Your Seeds 10 a.m. to noon Presenter: Jim Collins. Fee: $15. Autumn and Winter are the time to think about successfully saving and storing your seeds and planning your spring garden crops. This workshop will introduce the basic methods for saving seed, what kinds of seed can be saved, where to obtain them, how to ensure seed/crop quality and purity as well as proven harvesting, drying and storing techniques. Room 812 Shasta College Main Campus. For registration information, call 530-225-4835

November 6 - Redding: Wyntour Gardens: FALL TREE & SHRUB CARE 11am – Learn what to do now, to improve the health and vigor of your trees, fruit trees and shrubs for next spring. George will demystify the use of dormant sprays, fertilizing and other methods for promoting a healthier yard and garden. This class is Free, please call for reservations. 8026 Airport Rd Redding, CA 96002-9445 (530) 365-2256

November 6 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum: Guided Tour: Native American Uses for California Plants 11 a.m., Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center, Old Davis Road, UC Davis Without a grocery store, where would you find food? Without a drug store, how would you treat your illnesses? For centuries, Native Californians have made skillful use of many of the local plants we take for granted, actively managing the landscape for long-term sustainable yields. The UC Davis Arboretum will present an engaging, family-friendly tour exploring Indian uses of plants for food, medicine, construction, and ritual on Saturday, November 6, at 11:00 a.m. The free tour will leave from the Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center, across from the Mondavi Center on Old Davis Road on the UC Davis campus. Free parking is available in Visitor Lot 1 and the parking garage south of the Mondavi Center. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

November 7 - DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS: Clocks fall back one hour.

November 7 - Chico: Mt Lassen Chapter Cal Native Plant Society - Field Trip: Deer Creek Trail 8:30 am Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwy 32/99). Bring lunch, water, insect/sun protection, and money for ride sharing. This is a gentle two-mile hike down to the falls and fish ladder where we will have lunch. Big leaf maple and dogwood should be in full color along with Indian rhubarb and spicebush. Sierra mint, and California fuchsia should still be in full bloom. Leaders, Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123 and Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293

November 8 - Paradise: Paradise Garden Club monthly meeting Potluck lunch at 12 noon, bring your table setting and a dish to share. 1:00 pm program by Jennifer Jewell on the Seeds that Surround us - the Remarkable beauty of the seeds and seed pods of native plants. Terry Ashe Recreation Center, 6626 Skyway, Paradise.

November 8 - Chico: North Valley Orchid Society General Member Meeting 7:30PM CARD Center “Arts & Crafts Room” 545 Vallombrosa Ave., Chico Speaker will be Nick Burnett of Sacramento- “Species You Can Grow”. More Info: http://www.northvalleyorchidsociety.com or NVOS2010@gmail.com

November 10 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum: Guided Tour: Walk With Warren 12 p.m., Gazebo, Garrod Drive, UC Davis Arboretum Join Arboretum Superintendent Emeritus Warren Roberts for a lunchtime stroll in the UC Davis Arboretum on Wednesday, November 10. Enjoy the crisp fall weather, explore the pleasures of the autumn garden, and get a little exercise. Meet at noon at the Gazebo, on Garrod Drive on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour. Parking is available for $6 in Visitor Lot 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

November 10 - Magalia: Magalia Beautification Society Regular Member Meeting 1:00 pm POA Racine Center at Wycliff Way and Racine Circle in Magalia; 12:30 for lunch, 1:00-3:00 for business. For more information: http://magaliagardeners.webs.com/

November 13 - Chico: Friends of the Chico State Herbarium Workshop: Home Composting and Vermiculture 9 am - 4 pm Taught by Master Composter Ward Habriel, learn the basic what, where and when of home composting in the morning session, followed by an afternoon session of worm composting also known as Vermiculture. Please register in advance. For more information about fees and registration please contact the office at (530) 898-6121 or NS@csuchico.edu.

November 13 – Chico: Gateway Science Museum Museum Educational Days : 10-12 Pine Needle Basket Weaving demonstration; 1-3 Pine Needle Basket Weaving Class (limited to 10 registrants- email gateway@csuchico.edu or call 898 4121 to enroll; must be 16 or older). as part of activities related to the current exhibits. Gateway Science Museum: 625 Esplanade (near Bidwell Mansion), Chico. For more info call: 530-898-4121

November 13 - Redding: Wyntour Gardens: WIRE BASKET WORKSHOP 11am – Plant a wire basket with Ellen, using her unique lasagna layering method. Past classes have used, wire baskets, wrought iron bird cages and even a topiary horse! We will have wire baskets available for purchase, or bring one from home. All participants will receive 10% off on all supplies purchased for the class. Please call for reservations. 8026 Airport Rd Redding, CA 96002-9445 (530) 365-2256

November 14 - Chico: Wes Dempsey Tour/Field Trip: Maidu Medicine Walk 9 am - 12 noon. Meet at the Horseshoe Lake parking Area E in Upper Bidwell Park. Wear Hiking shoes and bring water. About 30 of the plants that the local Maidu Indians used for medicine, food, and crafts will be shown and discussed. Leader: Wes Demspey: 530-342-2293

November 16 - Chico: Chico Horticulture Society Regular Member Meeting, Plant Sale and Holiday Boutique - including Jewellgarden.com’s lines of 2011 calendars, note cards and journals 9:45 – Noon. Regular Member Meeting and Program on Preparing Your Garden for Winter. Chico Library 1108 Sherman Avenue in Chico. More info: email President Jon Bennet at: ChicoGardenClub@yahoo.com.

November 17 - Redding: Shasta Rose Society - Regular Member Meeting and Mini-Rose Show, Public Welcome! 7:00 p.m. City of Redding Corporation Yard On Viking Way. More Info: http://www.shastarosesociety.org

November 19 - Chico: Chico State Campus Tree Tours with Wes Dempsey and Gerry Ingco 10 am - 11:45 am. Meet in front of Bidwell Mansion in Chico, on the Esplanade for this informative walks to see and hear about the marvelous old trees on the mansion grounds and adjacent university campus. Over 200 species of woody plants. Many of these trees date back to the original landscaping by Bidwell in the late 1800s. Parking is free. Leaders: Wes Demspey: 530-342-2293; Gerry Ingco: 530-893-5123

November 20 – Redding: Community Teaching Garden: Composting and Worm Culture 10 a.m. to noon Presenter: Ken Waranius. Fee: $15. Workshop will cover how to make quality compost in your own backyard including and introduction to worm culture. Room 812 Shasta College Main Campus. For registration information, call 530-225-4835

November 20 - Redding: Wyntour Gardens: LIVING CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP 11am – Create a beautiful living centerpiece for your holiday table or to give as a hostess gift! Join Wendy, our Head Designer as she shows you how easy it is, to create a one-of-a-kind centerpiece to enjoy throughout the holidays. Participants will receive a 10% discount on all supplies purchased. 8026 Airport Rd Redding, CA 96002-9445 (530) 365-2256

November 21 - FULL MOON

November 21 - Chico: Old Plant Introduction Station Walk with Wes Dempsey and Gerry Ingco 9:30 am. Meet at the Mendocino Genetic Research center (from Skyway drive South on Dominic Drive to Morrow Lane, left to Kramer Lane, south to Parking by gate). Established in 1904, woody plants form all over the world were planted here by the USDA to test their use in medicine, agriculture, and forestry. Many of the original trees still survive. You will see lacebark pine, shantung maple, mourning cypress, Chinese wingnut, giant bamboo, several species of pistachio, and more. Parking is free. Leaders: Wes Demspey: 530-342-2293; Gerry Ingco: 530-893-5123

November 22 - Garden Club of Colusa County: General Member Meeting and Presentation on Natives in the Garden with Jennifer Jewell 6:30 - 8:30 pm More information: 530-458-2227 jimncyn66@comcast.net

November 24 - Chico: Chico Horticulture Society Evening Gardeners 6:30 pm. Evening Gardeners Program. Chico Library 1108 Sherman Avenue in Chico. More info: email President Jon Bennet at: ChicoGardenClub@yahoo.com.

November 25 - Thanksgiving Day

November 27 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay 9:30 am. A Walk with the Horticulture Manager, Lisa Endicott. Bring your notebooks and cameras for this participant-driven program. We’ll make our way through the Gardens with frequent stops for discussions about (what else?) plants! There’s something new to see every month! Free with Park or Garden admission. Meet at West Garden Entrance. Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Parking lot and entrance are on the left. More info: 530-242-3178 or www.turtlebay.org/nursery

November 27 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum: Guided Tour: The Oak Lifecycle 11 a.m., Gazebo, Garrod Drive, UC Davis Arboretum The UC Davis Arboretum contains one of the nation’s largest collections of oak trees. In fall the oaks are ending their cycle, preparing to drop their seeds, and hunkering down for the winter. Learn more about the stages in the life of an oak during a free guided tour of Shields Oak Grove on Saturday, November 27. The tour will leave at 11:00 a.m. from the Gazebo, on Garrod Drive on the UC Davis campus. There is no charge for the tour, and free parking is available along Garrod Drive and in Visitor Lot 55. For more information, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit arboretum.ucdavis.edu.

November 28 - Chico: Mt Lassen Chapter Cal Native Plant Society - Field Trip: Ten Mile House Trail to Big Chico Creek 9:30 am Meet at Green Gate Entrance to Upper Bidwell Park (drive east on Hwy 32, nine miles from Chico’s Hwy 99/32 interchange.) Bring lunch, water, insect/sun protection, and money for ride sharing. Wear hiking gear. We will follow an old road down to the creek (700 foot drop) for 1. 5 miles past buckeye and black oak in fruit and stop to see if the persimmon tree at the spring is ready to harvest. Leaders, Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123 and Wes Dempsey 530-342-2293

In the Garden: note card, journal and 2011 calendar collections. Support In a North State Garden AND Delight the gardeners, readers, writers and food lovers in your life with thoughtful, sophisticated and artfully unique note card sets, journals and calendars from Jewellgarden.com. Dedicated to the art, craft and science of gardening, produced wholly in the North State on recycled papers, Choose from Holiday Cards (shown above) Natives in the Garden, Edibles in the Garden and the NEW Seed Series. Available now on-line or at local fine shops near you. All of Jewellgarden.com’s cards are printed in Chico by Quadco printing using recycled paper and vegetable-based ink in many cases.

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To submit plant/gardening related events/classes to the Jewellgarden.com on-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events, send the pertinent information to me at: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com

Did you know I send out a weekly email with information about upcoming topics and gardening related events? If you would like to be added to the mailing list, send an email to Jennifer@jewellgarden.com.

In a North State Garden is a weekly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California and made possible in part by the Gateway Science Museum - Exploring the Natural History of the North State and on the campus of CSU, Chico. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell - all rights reserved jewellgarden.com. In a North State Garden airs on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time. Podcasts of past shows are available here. Weekly essays are also posted on anewscafe.com a regional news source that is simultaneously universal and positively North State.

I have said this before: October in the Northstate garden is a sigh of relief. A deep cleansing breath. Summer’s heat has mostly subsided, fall rains are returning, but the garden is not yet done. Its colors are deepening and mellow; October to me is about this seasonal artistry and seasonal surprise. (more…)

The first full moon of summer hung in our night skies last weekend - ripe with the promise of the coming full summer season. After our long, cool and damp spring, the North State is slowly heating up - but again nice and slow - the heat so far is being almost gentle with us. With the long spring and easy entry into summer, wildflowers generally associated with spring on the valley flower have given us an extended show, we have enjoyed spring vegetables a little longer as well, and the summer vegetables are are also beginning to show their ripe promise. I have not had a ripe tomato from my garden yet, but my green ones give me much to look forward to and my basil, cucumbers and squash are coming in nicely. Photo: Native Collinsia in bloom in Upper Bidwell Park, late June.

In the edible farm and garden report David Grau of Valley Oak tool and the Chico Organic Gardening Class series writes that “July is the time to work up soil for planting your early winter crops out in August. He points out that cool season crops like broccoli, cabbage, beets, spinach, and onions often go to seed instead of producing a crop in our climate often because they were planting too late the fall before. We don’t naturally think of planting cool season vegetables in July or especially August, but that is the best time. September is too late. Transplants should be planted in early to mid August here in the north valley. The plants need a lot of sunlight to size up before the days turn short and cool in October and November. If you get your plants in late, they will overwinter, but in the spring when they start to grow, they go directly to seed instead of producing nice big heads of broccoli. Broccoli raab is grown for the leaves and small florets, but you won’t get much if the plant is put in late.” Photo: Ripening plums, late June. (more…)

Over the past few weeks I have had several in-depth conversations about plant names. Specifically, why I chose to include scientific plant names across the front of Jewellgarden’s new note cards and how these names are determined - why are they so confusing? All of these conversations got me thinking about plant names - what purpose they serve, why it is important to me to learn them and thus why they proudly embellishing my new cards. Photo: A black and white note card depicting the California black oak acorn (Quercus kelloggii) from my Natives in the Garden series. (more…)