Gardening on the Edge Newsletter, August-September 2007 ~ Monterey Bay Master Gardeners

8/9/2019 Gardening on the Edge Newsletter, August-September 2007 ~ Monterey Bay Master Gardeners

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MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS August-September 2007

Smart Gardening Faire ReportTOUR: Tickets and Eats & Treats

TOUR: MapsTOUR: Hillside Garden in Rio Del Mar

TOUR: Petit Garden: A Manageable Oasis

TOUR: RoomsTOUR: A Hobby Farm

TOUR: Evolution of a Westside GardenTOUR: The Homeless Garden Project

Confessions: Floral FulfillmentAls Corner: Birdbaths, Self-TendingUpdate: Growing Tomatoes Upside Down

Whats Blooming in Your Garden?Etcetera

GARDENING O N T H E E D G EN E W S L E T T E R O F T H E M O N T E R E Y B A Y M A S T E R G A R D E N E R S

Number 125 August/September 2007

Report of the 2007 Smart Gardening FaireTom Karwin, MG9

On June 23, the Smart Gardening Faire provided anotherannual opportunity for the Monterey Bay Master Gardenersorganization to pursue its educational mission.

This year, the Faire focused on three themes:1. The basic message advocates sustainable gardening and

landscaping, through the application of research-based,environmentally friendly practices.

2. The additional (and wholly compatible) message en-courages using water wisely, a particularly important issueduring this years drought conditions.

3. The third message raises awareness of how the LightBrown Apple Moth currently threatens both ornamentalhorticulture and commercial agriculture within theMonterey Bay region and throughout the state.

In addition, the Faire provides a unique occasion for theregions garden-related organizations and businesses tocollaborate in creating a celebration of home gardening,generating revenues and recruiting members or clients.

The Faire Leaders

This years members include Cynthia Jordan (94), TomKarwin (99), Sheryl McEwan (03), Bonnie Pond (00),Betsy Shea (04), Randa Solick (06), Simon Stapleton (06)and Rina Weingold (06).

Christina Kriedt (06) designed and maintained the Fairepresence on the Internet, through both montereybaymtergardeners.org and smartgardening.org, and she aKathleen Sonntag (06) published the Faires progrereports (including the one you are reading now) in Gardenon the Edge.

The Faire Players

When the day of the Faire arrived, an enthusiastic group Master Gardeners came forward with their knowledgtalent and energy, and made the day succeed. Here are thFaire Players for 2007:

Local Boy Scouts helped exhibitors and visitors by movin

their items to and from the parking area in little red wagoborrowed from Cabrillo Colleges Horticulture Departmen

continued next p

Paula Anthony 06Dan Bowman 06Mary Bowman 06Mary Bull 06Sue Forson 04Darcy Horton 06

John Kiegelis 06Janet Maleski 04Nancy Martella 06Candice McLaren 01Paul Milladin 06

Dennis O'Hara 0Amy Savage 06Tammy Tahara Kathryn Tobisch Brenda Wood 0


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August September 2007 MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDEN2

The MBMG Info Tent (Cynthia Jordan, coordinator)As the Faires visitors arrived, they first encountered theMBMG Info Tent, which identified the Monterey Bay MasterGardeners as the host organization and provided a variety ofservices. In addition to providing information about the Faireitself, and distributing the program published by Metro SantaCruz, the volunteers at the Info Tent told people about

UCCEs Master Gardener Program, answered questions abouttrees and general gardening (including questions about theLight Brown Apple Moth, compared with the CaliforniaOakworm), raffled container gardens created by FranAlbrecht, managed a holding area for plants, recognized theFaires sponsors with a large banner, sold birdhouses andcompost sifters from the Youth Garden and conducted apopular give away of seeds from Shepherds Seeds and gardencatalogs, magazines and other publications.

Smart Gardening SpeakersThe central function of the Faire was to present highlyqualified speakers on numerous gardening topics. We are

most grateful to these speakers, who voluntarily shared theirexpertise with the Faires visitors. Here are the speakers of the2007 Smart Gardening Faire, with their topics.

Fran Albrecht, AlbrechtSouza Designs: Creating Deer-resistant, Drought Tolerant Container Gardens

Joe Biondo, Sun & Wind Nursery: The World ofSucculents

Mark Bolda, University of California CooperativeExtension, Santa Cruz County: Invasion of the LightBrown Apple Moth

Sherry Bryan, Ecology Action: Biological Agents in theGarden (IPM)

Barrie Coate, Consulting Horticulturist: Trees in theHome Garden Landscape

Roxanne Evans, Ecocentric Designs: Your Garden as anEcosystem: Providing Habitat for Birds, Butterflies andYou

Angel Guerzon, Silver Tree Designs: Invasive PlantsIntroduced through Horticulture

Kevin Larkin, Corralitos Gardens & Monterey Bay DahliaSociety: Cultivating Dahlias

Monique Smith Lee, California Bat Conservation Fund:Bats Our Friends in the Garden

Otto Lund, Monterey Bay Rose Society: Unusual Rosesfor the Garden

Bobby Markowitz, Earthcraft Landscape Design:Rainwater Harvesting in the Home Garden

Fred and Lisa McAndrews, Horticulture Department,Cabrillo College: The Gardens at Cabrillo College

Linda McNair, Surf City Growers: Organic OrnamentalGardening Made Easy

Fred Mc Pherson, San Lorenzo Valley Water DistrictBoard: A Watershed Runs Through Us: A WatershedApproach to Gardening

Alrie Middlebrook, Middlebrook Gardens: DesigningCalifornia Native Gardens (her timely new book, withGlenn Keator)

Monterey Bay Master Gardeners (Panel): PlanningCreating a Garden in Your Childs School

Robin Sanders, Monterey Bay Master GardenPropagating Plants in the Home Garden

Diane Sampson, Monterey Bay Iris Society: Cultivatthe Iris Rainbow

Renee Shepherd, Renees Garden: Rainbow Gardenin

The Ultimate Kitchen GardenColin Smith, Santa Cruz Orchid Society: Three Orchfor Novices

Thomas Wittman, Gophers, Limited: Non-toBurrowing Rodent Control

The Faires ExhibitorsThe 2007 Faire had forty-eight exhibitors, all of whom wlisted in the Faires program and are still listed smartgardening.org. We were particularly pleased tseventeen (35%) of these exhibitors were plant societies aother garden-oriented non-profit groups or public agencWe encouraged the exhibitors to contribute th

perspectives to the educational mission of the Faire. Tbrought to the event a wealth of expertise and strcommitment to environmentally sound gardening practices

The most popular exhibitors (and there were many moincluded The Bat Lady (Monique Smith Lee & Friends), TGopher Guy (Tom Wittman), the 4-H Clubs of Felton aScotts Valley (Ben Wildman & Friends), and the Life LabGateway School (Caprice Foster & Friends).

Special Events and FoodThis years Big Event was a very popular pond-builddemonstration conducted by Brookside Garden, which cafrom Santa Clara, California. This great demonstration w

the first stop of the 2007 Parade of Ponds, as part of a promotion agreement between the Faire and the ParadePonds, which happens on the same weekend as the Faire.promoting each others event rather than competing, the tgroups shared the weekends visitors and both succeeded.Other special events included:

Music by Bluegrass Stomp (a.m.) and the Cabrillo CollFarmers Market String Band (p.m.), with comfortahay bale seating in the gazebo, close to the food vendo

Guided Tour of the Wild Edible and Medicinal PlantsSkyparks Nature Walk.

Home Composting Workshop conducted by Santa C

County Home Composting Program.Excellent food was provided by Agape Feast, Fat Cat D

La Bruschetta and the Santa Cruz County Foster PareAssociation.

Promotion of the Faire by Betsy Shea and Christina KrieMG Betsy Shea masterminded the Faires publicity campaas she did in 2006. She built on last years experience and wsuccessful in the ever-challenging task of raising the genepublics awareness of the upcoming event. In additionpublishing the Faires program in a special supplement of weekly Metro Santa Cruz, Betsy created several display and press releases for publication in local newspapers, pub


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The 2008 Smart Gardening Faire will be on the Summer Solstice, Saturday, June 21st. Mark your calend

service announcements aired on KAZU-FM radio station, arack card and a poster which were distributed through localgarden centers and other businesses in the Monterey Bay area.The Faire also benefited significantly from the promotionalactivities of other organizations. Notably, the WaterAwareness Committees of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties

jointly funded a large number of public serviceannouncements that were aired on KWAV-FM and KPIG-FMradio stations during the week prior to the Faire. In addition,several local garden-related groups published lengthy reportsbased on the Faire releases.

Our promotional efforts included our high-tech channel:smartgardening.org. This website, developed by ChristinaKriedt, provided prospective exhibitors access to anapplication form. It provided prospective visitors with up-to-date information on the Faires exhibitors, speakers andspecial events. In response to requests, we added drivingdirections and a link to information on local lodgings. We alsoincluded an audio file of the public service announcement thatthe two Water Awareness Committees produced.

Monthly usage statistics for smartgardening.org show that itwas visited 2,135 times during June, for a daily average of 71visits. The usage nearly doubled the typical usage in May andprevious months, so our publicity campaign apparentlyencouraged visits to the website.

Attendance at the FaireOur best estimate is that 3,000 people attended this 2007Smart Gardening Faire. The photographs taken during the dayshow that the number of visitors was clearly much greaterthan in 2006, when we estimated 1,500 visitors.

Sponsors of the FaireThe 2007 Faire received substantial support from sevsponsors in addition to MBMG. The Gold Sponsors incluthe San Lorenzo Valley Water District and the Scotts VaWater District. The in-kind sponsors at the gold lincluded the City of Scotts Valley, Metro Santa Cruz, Water Committees of Santa Cruz and Monterey CounShea-Campbell & Associates and Thomas Karwin Associates.

The 2007 Faires Silver Sponsor was the City of Santa CWater Department.

The Bronze Sponsors included Goldsmith Seeds, PeacValley Farm & Garden Supply and the Valley Womens Cl

We are very grateful for the participation of these sponsTheir financial support covers most of the Faires acexpenses and their in-kind contributions allow us to aother expenses that otherwise would be unavoidable.

What We Learned for 2008We are still learning! Several of the exhibitors reported gsales and new contacts. Visitors liked the spacious layout,huge selection of plant material, the good prices and the mof vendors. In the near future, we will send a brief surveythe Master Gardeners who attended and the exhibitorinvite their suggestions for improving the event in 2008.We have already heard the following big ideas for next yea Have the rental company set up the canopies, tables chairs, and remove them at the end of the day; Have just two speaking venues, at least until audiences grow to warrant a third venue; and Provide shuttle services from the parking area.


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Theres no shortage of good places to stop for a bite along theMBMG Garden Tour trail. There are two main areasthewest side of Santa Cruz and Aptos.

West Side of Santa CruzMission Street (Highway 1) is filled with numerous placesto eat, including many fast food restaurants, pizza parlorsand a Carpos. But if youre looking for something unique forbreakfast or lunch, try Caf Brasil at 1410 Mission St. (on thenorth side of Mission just west of Bay). Theyre known fortheir omelettes, unusual smoothies and Brazilian specialties.Check out their menu at CafeBrasil.com. New Leaf Market at2351 Mission (south side of Mission) offers healthy fare with

a deli for sandwiches and Beckmanns Old World Bakery is nextdoor.

As you travel to The Homeless Garden Project, turn offMission onto Swift Street (towards the ocean) and look forthe Swift Street Courtyard on your left (corner Swift andIngalls). In this artfully restored warehouse complex you willfind Kellys French Bakery, where, along with delectablepastries, you can order eggs and Peet's coffee for breakfast.Or if you end up in that vicinity at lunchtime, Kellys alsoserves a variety of items including salads, pressed sandwichesand fish tacos. Enjoy dining in their charming courtyard

shaded by umbrellas.

Aptos

There are two shopping centers with many dining choicRancho Del Mar Shopping Center (with Safeway) off StaPark Drive and Deer Park Shopping Center (with DeluFoods) off Rio Del Mar Blvd.

In the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center youll findStarbuinside the Safeway and Aptos Coffee Roasting Company nedoor. Continue towards Aptos Cinemas and surroundingcourtyard for alfresco dining, youll have your choice ofApBurger Company, Ericks Deli Caf, Sofias Taqueria, ShowtPizzeria and Baskin Robbins. If that doesnt suffice, across tstreet is Sushi on the Run.

On the way to Claudia Boltons garden, youll be near DelFoods of Aptos (783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. just past the Arstation). Deluxe Foods includes a salad bar, sandwich dPeets coffee bar, as well as anything else youd expect froan upscale grocery store. Upstairs theres The Red Apple Cfor a sit down breakfast or lunch and PizzaAmore that sepizza by the slice. Bittersweet Express, behind the Arco statioffers pastries, breakfast burritos, soups, salads asandwiches to take out or enjoy outside at bistro tables. BoDeluxe Foods and Bittersweet Express would be ideal selections to take home for dinner. Bon appetit!

Tour Eats and TreatsSharon Ettinger, MG00

Aptos

Hidden GardensNative Revival NurseryCarmel

Homescapes, CarmelBrintons

Carmel ValleyFezQ GardensValley Hills Nursery

CorralitosAladdin Nursery

FeltonThe Plant Works

GilroyWest Side Nursery

HollisterPaidl Gardens & Accents

2007 Masters Garden TourAdvance Ticket Sales

Monterey

Swenson & Silacci FlowersMoss LandingElkhorn Native Plant Nursery

Pacific GrovePacific Grove Florist

SalinasBokay NurseryMcShanes Nursery & LandscapeSwenson & Silacci Flowers

Santa CruzThe Garden CompanyLumbermens Garden Center

Far West NurseryScotts ValleyScarborough Gardens

WatsonvilleSierra Azul Nursery and Gardens

You can purchase your 2007 Masters Garden Tour ticketsat these fine stores (links to websites):

Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour at the garden ofAnn Weeks, 6060 Freedom Boulevard, Aptos, and the Homeless GardenProject, on Shaffer Rd. off Delaware Ave. in Santa Cruz.


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Mark your calendarfor the 2007 Masters

Garden Tour

SaturdaySeptember 8th

Aptos:

5 Claudia Boulton6 Ann Weeks

continued from above

map continues belowSanta Cruz:

1 The Homeless Garden Project2 Pat Davis3 Barbara Gordon4 Candice McLaren

Your ticket will include a

complete map, addresses,

and information about

special events such as the

Plant Sale, Raffle, Arts and

Crafts, Youth Garden

display, and Grant display.


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Only five years ago,my garden was a steephillside covered withmown weeds thatcould be viewed from

the back deck of thehouse 30 feet above but who would wantto? The only dash ofcolor and cultivationin this wasteland wasa raised bed in threetiers built for theroses I missed frommy former garden over the hill, but the roses didnt like thefog in Rio Del Mar, and getting to the garden was a dangeroustrek down a slippery hill.

My husband Warwick, also a long-time gardener inEnglands wet climate, thought the area was worthdeveloping. We had some help designing and installing thehardscape in the spring of 2003, but we created the rest of thegarden ourselves. Today it is a series of garden rooms, andincludes a winding path down the hill through the CaliforniaNative area to a series of terraces, bursting with color and acharming mix of native and Mediterranean plants, oldfavorites and the new plants that I constantly experimentwith for my recently launched garden design business.

You will see the Shade Garden with camellias, rhododen-

drons, hydrangeas and ferns under the spreading branches ofa Monterey cypress. Across from that lies the CaliforniaCottage Garden filled with a mix of salvias, gaura,alstroemeria, succulents and the roses that survive in thissummer fog belt. Edging the lower seating terrace is a mixedborder of hollyhocks, ginger lily, borage, forget-me-nots andone of my favorite plants, Himalayan gloxinia (Incarvilleaarguta). This is backed by a mixed hedge of cotoneaster,pyracantha, myoporum and Carpenteria californica, lovinglymaintained by my husband. And everywhere there arefoxgloves lavender, rose, pink, yellow, white. They seem tolove this microclimate and seedlings appear everywhere

look for some at the plant sale.

The newest development is the Companion Planting area,added this year. Because of a persistent scourge of rose slugsattacking my roses over the last 3 years, I decided to combatthem the Master Gardener way naturally. Inspired by anarticle written by Rich Merrill, former head of theHorticulture department at Cabrillo College, I packed a smallarea with plants that attract predators and parasitoids, theinsects that eat the insects that spoil our ornamental plants.It includes too many plants to list here, but look for a hand-out about companion planting when you tour my garden.

A Hillside Garden in Rio Del MarClaudia Boulton, MG99


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When I moved into my patio home, the only tree I planwas a Blenheim Apricot tree. After ten years it may be large for the space, but the apricots (when the tree producare tasty and make delicious jam. My grandson particulalikes the jam on French toast. Each year my neighbors ketheir fingers crossed for a good crop and a jar of apricot jam

Perhaps you are wondering What is a patio home? In tcase, it is a home with a patio in the front and a patio in back. All the rooms in my home have sliding glass dolooking out to either the front or the back patio, so I consimy garden to be an extension of my home.

Once when I was in New Orleans, I peeked behinddeteriorating gate and saw a very private lush garsurrounded by high wallsthe contrast was a lovsurprise. It is no wonder that when you open my weathegate there is a contrast of foliage some colorful, sombackdrop for the walled-in garden; perhaps a tiny memorthat New Orleans garden.

Container gardening works well for me, and I like to grCymbidiums, geraniums, and succulents in containers. MasGardeners gave me the idea to install a drip system, and wthe help of The Garden Company it is up and running.

Some succulents were left by the previous owner, and I hadded to that family because I am fascinated by thdiversity and ability to survive and thrive with little caexcept that a few of my favorites spent the coldest winnights inside.

The passion flower was hit hard by the winter freeze as wthe Crotalaria agatiflora (canary bird bush) but both coming back, and should be healthy and maybe eblooming on September 8 for the Garden Tour. I get vexcited when the tree fern (also severely damaged in frost) puts forth another frond.

The Cymbidiums started out as my choice of colorful flowinside the house (instead of cut flowers) and when blooming period was over, I moved them outside replaced them with another blooming Cymbidium. Now, ala sudden, I have a collection!

This small garden attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, anwren who takes her daily bath in the fountain. After havlived on acreage for over 20 years, I find this to be a vmanageable garden it gets weeds and snails, of course, most of the time they are harvested before they get outhand.

Petit Garden: A Manageable OasisPat Davis, MG06


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RoomsBarbara Gordon, MG06I started this garden inSanta Cruz 12 years agoby "Rounding Up" theubiquitous Bermudagrass, watering and

"Rounding Up" againthen hauling off about 4inches of soil to thedump, boo hoo!! Newsoil was brought in andRed Ruby cloveri n o c u l a t e d w i t hbacterium was planted;after about 1 month all plants were turned into the soil and acombination of perennials and edibles were planted. Sincethen, berms have been created and now the garden surroundsall four sides of the house including the sloping hillsidebehind the house. I call the gardens " Rooms."

In the front, one side is rather contemplative: my "Japanesestyle" garden with a bench and a 40-50 year old Michelia treeand a younger, Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' on a bermwith a ground cover of woolly thyme. The other side is my"English garden" is a berm with natives including two Ribes.

On one side of the house, three raised beds contain vegetabwith one espaliered fruit tree at the back of each. On shaded side, under a Leptospermum tree and a Callistemcitrinus, there is my woodland, "White Garden," with whazaleas, white Japanese anemones, white Euphorbia, whAstilbe and others.

As you approach the back of the house using the railroadsteps, you pass a rock garden with many Sedum and a naorange tree. In back of the house I have three typescompost demonstrations; one a worm bin, another wotower and one conventional, slow-compost, tiered Smith aHawkins bin. On the side away from the house between tredwood retaining walls is a terraced "Australian perenngarden.

Down three steps to the hillside is a narrow uneven pathwwhere a plethora of California natives and three fruit trcan be viewed. Turning the third corner, you view a succul

garden in pots hung on a grapestake fence, then a gateanother four fruit trees and raised beds with herbs alettuces.

There are seating areas in almost all the garden rooms, psome humorous sights and tiny goddesses, if you take timelook carefully!


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The garden of Master Gardener Ann Weeks and herdaughter, Cindy Ellis, is a working small farm. The garden/farm is located on three levels.

The top level of the garden contains a pumpkin patch,sunflowers, trees and a cutting garden full of flowers for

bouquets. This area is subject to gopher activity and is underconstant siege from the nasty varmints.

Growing on the middle level are fruit trees, flowers andraspberries. The berries are subject to deer damage.

The entrance to the farm area features a recycled woodenwater tank that has been turned into a Honey Hut. Honeyfrom the bee hives is processed for sale. The roof is an upsidedown recycled satellite dish. Recycled tile steps lead into ared door. The windows are decorated with red shutters andwindow boxes. Behind the Honey Hut is a hillside of grassesand planted Christmas trees.

On the first level, chickens of many varieties and sizes arehoused in interesting coops. The chickens, as well as severalvarieties of ducks, serve as a natural way to reduce the bugand snail population of the garden. One coop is a tiki hut,another is a gazebo. The chicken house is a barn. Otherbuildings on this level are a greenhouse and prep areas.

All around the garden are areas for sitting and enjoying theambience. Look closely up, down and around to see the manyunique and interesting garden items located throughout thegarden. There are wonderful birdhouses everywhere and ascarecrow in a sweatshirt. Items on poles indicate which

garden area you are entering. Ann and Cindy are alwaysfinding both old and new items that make interesting art anddecorations. Stacked bottles and dishes make a great birdfeeder, or a just for fun item. Old garden chairs becomeplanters for succulents and perennials. There is even a ponycart.

This working garden/farm is a very special place and hassomething for every gardener/farmer. I know you will enjoyyour visit.

A Hobby FarmBonnie Pond, MG00


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Evolution of a Westside GardenCandice McLaren, MG01I guess Ive alwaysloved to garden. Igrew up in a smallnorthern Californiatown and being thefirst kid up at 6 AMon a Saturday orSunday morning, Itook up a quiet hobbyof pruning and deadheading my Momsgeraniums until theother kids would come out to play. My parents always had avegetable garden and planted many fruit trees, some fromstock carried from my Grandfathers peach trees in Ohio. Oursummer vacations were spent on my Moms family ranch inWashington State where we helped my great aunt in a hugegarden. (Probably the entire size of my city lot!)

A career in Interior Design and later Project Management haskept me inside office buildings, but at every opportunity andin everyplace Ive lived, I managed to plant a garden. Mygarden style is very eclecticvegetables, fruits, and flowersall mixed together! Its like mixing antiques with contem-poraries but plants are a lot harder to work with than staticinterior elements!

My current garden project started almost ten years ago whenI purchased my home. Both the front and back yards wereblank slates that needed imagination and many trips to thegarden and building supply stores. I went about removing

tons of brick pavers, pathways; metal pipe clothes lines andbroken glass (was used to fill up gopher holes) and replacingthe fences. My niece, Gina and her friend dug the trenchesone hot summer week for the backyard water system (stillnot connected to electrical).

The front yard continues to evolve as I move toward moredrought tolerant plants. There large boulders create a focalarea in front of the large, dominating orange tree. Sonomafieldstone surrounds a circular path of mariposa slate. Usingmy design background, I sketched out a meandering path forthe backyard that would break up the garden into smallerplanting areas and gives a different view as one turns

directions on the path. It took a while to teach the newpuppy, Calvin to stay on the path and not take the directroute, but hes got it now.

The large yellow and white daturas along the back fence aremaking a comeback after being frozen this past winter.Under these trees grow catmint, Peruvian lilies, and dahlias.A stone bench made from more of my favorite rocks is a goodplace to sit and smell the heavenly scent of the Datura in theevening. Along the house, in one of the sunniest areas, arecolorful dahlias in reds, pinks and white. A redbud tree(Forest Pansy) planted in memory of my mom is now thefocal point looking from the patio to the back fence.

It wasnt until one year after watching my vegetable gardslowly be consumed by a gopher, that I added the raised bwith gopher wire bottoms. On the far side of the vegetaarea is a compost box and a new addition, a worm bin, a from a friend. The tall semi-dwarf fruit tree is a ShinsAsian pear and to the left and front of it is a dwarf Fuji appThe patio area is sunny and warm in the summer and a goplace to put color in the winter. Containers provide continuous blue color (my favorite) and plants in placontainers can be changed. Two large Golden Showclimbing roses struggle along the fence. A raised brick planwith dwarf white mar-guerites divides thepatio from the rest ofthe garden.

Over the years plantscome and go but the

basic design remains.Its a small garden butits a whole lot of fun!


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Natural Bridges FarmDarrie Ganzhorn, Worker Services DirectorThe Homeless Garden Projects Natural Bridges Farm has bcultivated since 1995. The Projects farm site, Natural BridFarm produces vegetables, flowers, herbs, nursery plants trees, and most of all, opportunities for people to learn aband work on an organic farm. The farm focuses on weather crops that thrive in our coastal climate. We

specialize in the production of our famous strawberries andiverse group of flowers both for fresh bouquets and dryThe Farm uses a wide array of sustainable practices that helbring diversity on site including a hedgerow that both bringbeneficial insects and highlights some of the great stock in nursery. We grow all our own starts from seed. On a day to basis, the Farm is worked by two garden staff, and about crew members/trainees and many volunteers. Since our curFarm site is temporary, in the future, the Project hopes to mup to a permanent site at the Pogonip.

The EnterprisesThe crops grown at Natural Bridges Fa

are available as Community Supported Agriculture (Cshares (regular and You-Pick) and at the Homeless GarProjects shop, From Our Garden. Our nursery, HomegroGardens, located at Natural Bridges Farm, offers organic stalandscaping plants and fruit trees. The CSA harvest searuns June through Octoberwe still have shares available, the price is prorated. From Our Garden features dried flwreaths, lavender potpourri, jams and cookie mixes made frflowers and herbs grown at the farm; also, beeswax candfresh flower bouquets and other gift products. For minformation on our enterprises, see our webwww.homelessgardenproject.org

The Training ProgramOur training program is openpeople who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Trainare paid minimum wage with increases possible after stayfor 4 months, one year, and when task sheets have bcompleted. Trainees may stay in the program up to three yeTrainees work with staff to set and achieve goals meaningfuthemsuch as housing, health care, employment, or returnto school. There is a weekly lecture series, April throNovember, focusing on horticultural topics, taught by staff community members. If youre interested in giving a lectplease ask usits a great way to brush up on your puspeaking skills.

The CommunityPeople of many ages and backgrouvolun-teer at Natural Bridges Farm. Beyond the crew who isite every day, there is a youth garden, planted and tendedthe many youth and school groups that come through Cultivating Community program. Laurel Street, a day cenfor people with developmental disabilities tend their ogarden patch also. Finally, there are countless volunteinterns, and community members who help to make the Propossible by generously donating their time and energy withthroughout the year. We are grateful for their continpresence with us and welcome anyone who wants to come to learn and work with us and share a meal.


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Confessions of a Reluctant Gardener: Floral FulfillmentChristina Kriedt, MG0

Masters Garden Tour lovelies -- Clockwise from top left: Matricaria chamomila,Ann Weeks.; Dahlihybrid, Claudia Boulton; Fragaria ananassa, The Homeless Projects Natural Bridges Farm;

Chrysanthemum hybrid, Pat Davis; Achillea sp., Candice McLaren; Romneya coulteri, Barbara Gord

September in my garden. All is in readiness as visitors queueup for the pleasure of wandering among my enchantingplantings. They are greeted by a proud red Japanese maplestanding youthful sentry over pink and white anemones andluxuriant ferns. That crazy nameless rose that never stops

blooming is at it again, smothered in bridal-white bouquets.Hummingbirds waltz on perfumed air among the impeccablegardens: humble natives, gaudy cutting beds, eerilyunblemished succulents, fascinating Aussie imports, andimpossibly riotous borders. Ebullient hanging basketsbrazenly flaunt colossal blossoms. Rampant vines scramblehappily over every fence, one more heavily flowered than thenext. Trinkets and treasures tucked here and there arediscovered to the audible delight of my guests. Majesticredwoods keep silent vigil.

The only insects in evidence are beneficials; they are slow andfat as they ate all the leaf-munchers for breakfast. Right on

cue, the squirrels perform their adorable fence-top racingroutine, and then scamper back into the neighbors yard. Theneighborhood crows have respected the restraining order, ashave the gophers, wasps and mosquitoes. A flock of ducksdropped in early in the morning and ate all the snails andslugs, sow bugs and earwigs on the way to Neary Lagoon.

Every plant has squeezed out the maximum number flawless, prize-winning flowers. Not one ailing or crittbitten leaf or petal is in evidence. Not one undesirable plaappears among the bestthat is to say, no weeds live heEvery plant has a label, and every label has the correct nam

Scientific and common, inscribed in flowing calligraphy.Impressed guests snap countless photos of the beautivistas; plants pose as if for Vogue, every snapshot covworthy. There is a continual exultant murmur punctuatby the occasional: How perfect! How fabulous! How does sdo it?

Well, she doesnt and probably never will. She would like one day when she becomes a real gardener, but for now it

just a summer fantasy. The maple, redwoods and endlesblooming rose with no label are all real. And I have a nice pof Lily of the Nile.

Of course, its one of those eye-of-the-beholder things, bugenerally speaking, backyard gardens arent born beautifuMany unglamorous people-hours go into the creation ofspace that pleases all the senses and all the Masters GardTour guests. The weeding, watering, deadheading, hauling hauling out, and so on and so on are back-breaking nofiction. The result is Fabulous, Dahling.


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Here in the heat of summer our wildlife needs water morethan anything else. With a large picture window facingnorth, we enjoy watching our three bird drinking and bathingpools. Each is connected to one of our drip irrigation zones.Three times a week each container is well flushed with freshwater that overflows and eliminates any problem with

mosquitoes. Any puddle from the overflow water makes asource of water for the butterflies. Our resident flock of quailusually prefers a dust bath but does drink the water as well,using one of the taller birdbaths for perching and as lookoutfor the many baby quail. This time of year the best dust forbathing is under the roses. Earlier they chose the peony bedthat is now too full of foliage.

The birdbath with the rabbit, a gift from daughter-in-Kay, has the water tubing tucked under the rabbits armhad to drill a hole in the other two birdbaths to allow for water tubing. Except for an occasional scrubbing to remany algae from the bottoms, they require no care. I try akeep the ground level birdbath clear of any cover that co

be used by a hunter cat. We no longer have any cats but thdo pass through here once in a while. Our drip system is oon during the night so no showers are allowed for our birWe do have a friendly fox who drinks from the ground lebath and I am sure skunks and raccoons drink at night.

Living in the woods as we do, there is some damage from wildlife but we enjoy their company.

Als Corner: Birdbaths, Self-TendingAl Derrick, MG06

There are lots of flowers, many small green tomatoes, and...there is one tomato that is beginning to turn red.

I have an Alyssum near the tomato plant because I read thatthe Alyssum is a good companion plant for a tomato apparently it attracts a fly that is the enemy of the whitefly.

When checking out the tomatoes the other day, I panickedbecause out flew some of the dreaded whiteflies. At dusk Icarefully sprayed insecticidal soap on the back of some of thetomato leaves. The next day the leaves were wilted, and a few

days later the leaves turned brown. I thought I killed tomato plant, but I sprayed it gently with some water, gavan aspirin, and promised no more insecticidal soap. I also git a new Alyssum.

The plant is not as healthy looking as it was before I did deed, but it is still alive, and I learned a BIG lesson!!!

Remember that I told you I bought the Topsy Turvey fromgood salesman at the San Francisco Garden Show for arou$24.00. The Topsy Turvey is available at local nurseries$14.95. Oh! Well!

Dust bath for quails

Ground-level birdbath

One of three birdbaths in Als yard

Rabbit birdbath Pats tomato in bloom

Update: Topsy Turvey Tomato PlantPat Davis, MG06


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Whats Blooming in Your Garden in August and September?The following is exerpted from the Whats Bloomin database which is based on observations made by Monterey Bay MaGardeners in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. The entire database is online at http://www.montereybaymastergardeners.org. Please send your data to Annette Longuevan at [email protected].

Antirrhinum majusEcheveria sp. Clivia miniata

Abutilon spp.

Agapanthus hybrids

Alcea rosea

Alstroemeria hybridsAmaryllis belladonna

Anemone hybrida

Anethum graveolens

Anigozanthos spp.

Asclepias tuberosa

Asterspp.

Begonia sp. and hybrids

Bergenia sp. and hybrids

Brugmansia spp.

Buddleia spp.

Callistemon spp.

Campanula spp.

Canna hybridsCarpobrotus edulis

Chrysanthemum spp.

Citrus spp.

Citrus X limon

Cleome spinosa

Coreopsis spp.

Cosmos spp.

Crocosmia crocosmiiflora

Cucumis sativus

Cucurbita spp.Cuphea hyssopifolia

Dahlia hybrids

Dianthus barbatus

Dietes iridioides (D. vegeta)

Echinacea purpurea

Epilobium canum (Zauschneria)

Erigeron karvinskianus

Erysimum spp.

Escallonia spp. and hybrids

Eschscholzia californica

Euphorbia spp.

Fragaria chiloensis

Fuchsia hybridaGaillardia spp.

Geranium spp.

Gerbera jamesonii

Gladiolus hybrids

Grewia occidentalis

Hebe spp.and hybrids

Helianthus annuus

Heliotropium arborescens

Hemerocallis spp.

Hydrangea spp.Impatiens spp. and hybrids

Indigofera spp.

Ipomoea spp.

Jasminum polyanthum

Lavatera assurgentiflora

Lavendula spp.

Leonotis leonurus

Lilium hybrids

Limonium spp.

Lonicera spp.

Lorapetalum chinense

Malva neglecta

Mirabilis lindheimeriMonarda spp.

Nandina domestica

Nemesia strumosa

Ocimum hybrid

Oenothera spp.

Pelargonium spp.

Penstemon spp.

Perovskia atriplicifolia

Petunia hybrida

Phaseolus coccineusPhlox paniculata

Phygelius capensis

Pieris japonica

Plumbago auriculata

Pyracantha hybrids

Rosa spp. and hybrids

Rosemarinus officinalis

Salvia leucantha

Sedum spp.

Sempervivum tectorum

Solanum lycopersicum

Sutera cordata

Tagetes spp.Tropaeolum majus

Verbena bonariensis

Veronica spp. and hybrid

Vitis vinifera

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Zingiber officinale

Zinnia spp. & hybrids

Special guests at the Smart Gardening Faire Faire smiles


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Peonies

SponsorsSierra Azul NurserySan Lorenzo Lumber Company

The Garden CompanyFezQBokayHidden GardensThe Potting ShedWild Rose Landscape Design

http://www.sierraazul.com, 763-0939http://www.sanlorenzolumber.com/santacruz.html,423-0223http://www.thegardenco.com/, 429-8424Carmel Valley, 659-1268Salinas, 659-1268Aptos, 688-7011Aptos, 685-1626Aptos, 539-5841

Sources and CreditsChristina Kriedt, MG06

Photo Creditspage 1: Leora Worthingtonpage 3: top center by Tom Karwin, all others by Leora

Worthingtonpage 5: Maps, Leora Worthingtonpage 6: top three, Claudia Boulton; bottom five,

Christina Kriedtpage 7: Honey Hut by Bonnie Pond; all others by

Christina Kriedtpages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12: Christina Kriedtpage 13: Birdbaths, Al Derrick; Tomato, Christina Kriedtpage 14, Flowers, Christina Kriedt; Faire, Leora Wortingtonpages 15, 16: Christina Kriedt

I appreciate the misunderstanding I have had with Nature over my perennial border.

I think it is a flower garden; she thinks it is a meadow lacking grass,

and tries to correct the error. ~Sara Stein, My Weeds, 1988


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Copyright 2007 MBMG. All rights reserved

G A R D E N I N G O N T H E E D G E Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners

Editor Kathleen SonntagAssistant Editors Sharon Ettinger & Christina KriedtDesign/Layout Christina Kriedt

Circulation Jan Olafsson

Hotline: 831-763-8007

CONTRIBUTORS

Tom KarwinKathleen SonntagChristina KriedtPat Davis

Bonnie PondCandice McLaren

Barbara GordonClaudia BoultonSharon EttingerDarrie Ganzhorn

Leora WorthingtonAl Derrick

Etcetera:RelevantInternet MiscellanyChristina Kriedt, MG06

I searched for master gardener tours online and found theseinteresting tidbits: The Rhode Island (URI) MasterGardeners Association is sponsoring a tour this month, butthey feature 29 private and four public gardens scatteredthroughout the state. Granted, its a small state by CA

standards, but 33 gardens!!!.Carpenteria californica, page 4, is just one of many natives withbeautiful flowers. It is the only species in its genus and isrelated to Philadelphus. According to the Sierra FoothillConservancy, Carpenterias or tree anenome, is rare in the wildand seemingly ill-suited to its natural environment. Readmore: http://www.sierrafoothill.org/carpenteria.htm.

Crotalaria agatiflora (canary bird bush), page 5, is in poisonous--every part of it. But, on a happy note, it is fadrought tolerant and blooms nearly year-round in frost-areas.

Most widely known as California lilac (Ceanothus), one ofother common names for this California native is soap buIt turns out that the flowers make a soapy substance whcrushed with water. Some sources said that the soap is gfor removing dirt, but is not effective for removing oils. Git a try next spring when the beautiful blue (or whflowers are abundant and your hands get dirty in ygarden. (Kathleen Sonntag)

Gingko bilobaEuphorbis sp. succulent whorl


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Documents

Gardening on the Edge Newsletter, August-September 2007 ~ Monterey Bay Master Gardeners