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.

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.

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…)

Wow – How about that rain and snow? And more is on the way. Which is wonderful for our plants, soils and watersheds, but when it comes in long stretches of gray days, it can play havoc with my mood (and the power in much of our region). Even a few minutes of fresh air and weak sunshine does me a world of good. You don’t want to walk on planted ground when it is very wet if you can help it, because you will compact the soil to the point of harming its structure. But you can get out and walk on unplanted ground – such as paths. I got so stir crazy in the latest long gray stretch that in the pouring rain I rebuilt my whole compost system and weeded all my pathways. Weeds come out of wet soil so nicely – slick as snot as my father likes to say. Photo: Gray skies hand low and tulle fog fills in the valleys looking southwest from Mt. Shasta in January. (more…)