SPRING & SUMMER CLASSSES ANNOUNCED AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN

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Featuring Spanish Language Garden Tours, Ms. Smarty Plants™ Explores Plant Adaptations!, Straw Bale Construction Workshop, Introduction to Greywater Systems, Summer Extended Hours and Garden Discovery Camp!

 

May 17, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) —The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to enjoy its 2010 spring and summer events. Classes  help residents save water and money by focusing on water smart landscaping techniques and plants. Classes are taught by experts and topics include lawn removal, water-smart landscape design, backyard composting, irrigation design and gardening for children. Pre-registration is required for all classes. To enroll call 619-660-0614 x 10. For details, scroll down.


Summer Extended Hours

Beginning June 1, the Garden will be open until 7pm every Wednesday so visitors can enjoy the Garden in the cooler summer evenings. The public is invited to bring picnic dinners to enjoy in various settings or just simply stroll or sit in the Garden. Summer hours run June 1--August


Professional Landscape Design Consultations
The Water Conservation Garden offers 45-minute landscape design consultation services. A professional landscape designer who focuses on drought tolerant landscapes will meet with you, one-on-one. You will leave with a design plan and a list of suggested plants. Bring a photo of your house and area you want to re-design, the dimensions of the space, and photos of design styles you like.

 

Wednesday, May 19, 5:30-8:30 pm
Tuesday, May 25, 5:30-8:30 pm
Tuesday, June 15, 5:30-8:30 pm

Call for appointment availability, designer information and reservations. Additional dates are added as needed.
$60 Members, $75 Non-Members 619-660-0614 x10


Ask the Horticulturist Tour
First Sunday of the month, 1:30 pm
May 2, June 6 (no tour July 4th)
Enjoy an informative walk through the Garden with David Yetz, professional horticulturist. Bring your questions and prepare for an interesting tour from the perspective of someone who works in the Garden daily. Free. No reservations required.

 

Special Access Tour
Third Sunday of the month, 9:30 am-10:30 am
May 16, June 20, July 18
This special tour is offered monthly for individuals who may have difficulty navigating the terrain of the Garden. You’ll explore the Garden from the comfort of the Verbeck Shuttle with David Yetz, Garden Horticulturist. This tour seats only 4-5 people. For reservations call 619-660-6841. Advance reservations are required, no exceptions please. Free.

 

New! Spanish Language Tours
The Water Conservation Garden now offers Spanish language tours of the Garden, by reservation only. Please contact Elizabeth Ramos at 619-985-8337. Free. (Donations always appreciated to cover the cost of our Spanish speaking guides.)

Ms. Smarty-Plants™ and the Magic of Water
 

School Assembly
The Garden offers educational tours of the Garden and school assembly programs presented by our own adventurous Ms. Smarty-Plants™! For more information on fees and to book a program, contact Pam Meisner, AKA Ms. Smarty-Plants, 619-660-0614 x16.

 

Home Compost Workshop
Saturday, May 15, 10:00 am-noon
FREE home composting workshop taught by Certified Master Composters in partnership with the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation. Learn the basics of composting, how to compost with worms, and how to save water in the process! A limited number of low cost compost bins will be for sale to residents who reside in the unincorporated areas. To register, please call
The Solana Center at (760) 436-7986 x225.

 

NEW! Color in the Garden
Saturday, May 15, 9:00 am-noon
Professional landscape painter and certified fine arts instructor, Rosalie Dosik, will show you how to choose colors for your garden design. Simplified color theory will be presented so you will know how to select plants, and choose paint colors for walls, trellises, benches and containers. You’ll enjoy a slide show of stunning examples and helpful handouts will be distributed for you to take home. A question and answer session for your individual needs will be held at the end of the class. Bring photos of your garden and home for examples. $20 Members, $30 Non-Members


Spring Season Tamales
Sunday, May 16, 10:00 am - 1:30 pm
Explore the Latin American tradition of making tamales! You will learn a brief history of the tamale, then dive right in to preparing masa, corn husks, and fillings to create two types of tamales, one savory and one sweet. Our savory tamale will use spring vegetables and cheese. You will also learn to make a delicious Mexican hibiscus tea. Each student will leave class with one dozen tamales and recipes. Ingredients include a variety of herbs and spices, and tamales will be vegetarian (but not vegan). Class size is limited, so please sign up early. $55 Members, $65 Non-Members

 

NEW! Vegetable Gardening 101
Saturday May 22, 9:00-11:00 am
Remember the taste of homegrown tomatoes? Gardeners in San Diego County have the luxury of planting edibles year round. If you have always wanted to grow your own, come learn the basics of soil preparation, companion planting, gardening in raised beds, how to protect your plants from critters, and what and when to plant for success. This class is designed for the beginning gardeners and is taught by Kathleen Eagle, horticulturist and instructor in

the Ornamental Horticulture department at Cuyamaca College. You’ll come away inspired! $20 Members, $30 Non-Members


The Protea Species:
Exotic Options for Drought Tolerant Gardens

Saturday, May 22, 1:00-3:00 pm
Come and be one of the first to see the latest and greatest new
grevillea; Peaches and Cream! Walter Parkola, owner of Blossom Valley Protea, will take you on a morning tour to discuss the protea species exhibited at the Water Conservation Garden. Walter shares the history, characteristics, and care of these unique exotics in the Garden’s classroom. A limited number of plants will be available for purchase from Blossom Valley Protea’s nursery. Participants in the class will also be entered in a door prize drawing to win one of Walter’s spectacular plants. $20 Members, $25 Non-Members

 

NEW! Container Gardening with California Natives; Thrillers, Spillers and Fillers
Sunday, May 23, 10:30-noon
Join David Olson, professional landscape designer with The Plant Wiz, to learn how to plant incredible native container gardens with dramatic flair. Find out which spectacular natives will thrill, spill and fill in your containers. David will assemble a beautiful container garden; discuss the soil needed for natives, how to choose containers, plant colors and textures, and how to maintain your native container garden. $15 Members, $25 Non-Members

 

NEW! Introduction to Greywater: Go from Laundry to Landscape
Thursday, May 27, 6:30-8:30 pm
Local water conservation activist and owner of RainThanks & Greywater, Candace Vanderhoff, will introduce you to the basics of using greywater for garden and landscape applications. Her presentation will include hands-on demonstrations and information about using greywater in your landscape and garden. Let’s go grey! $15 Members, $25 Non-Members

 

NEW! Straw Bale Wall Construction Workshop
Learn to construct your own straw bale garden walls in this hands-on workshop. Contact the Garden to sign up on the class list. You’ll need to come dressed to get messy and bring work gloves. Date and time to be determined. Additional information will be posted on the website as soon as available!
$20 Members, $30 Non-Members

 

NEW! Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Explores Garden Critters
A Class for kids ages 4-8 and their adult
Friday, June 4, 6:30-7:30 pm
Join our zany Ms. Smarty-Plants™ to learn about the critters that visit the Garden. You’ll make your own bird feeder in this class to take home with you! By reservation only. $10 per adult/child couple Members, $15 per adult/child couple Non-Members

 

Hillside Gardening
Saturday, June 5, 10:00 am-noon
Landscape Designer Connie Beck will show you how to make the most of gardening on a slope. Topics include erosion control, proper plant choices, terracing, and retaining walls. A colorful
slideshow of several San Diego hillside gardens will reveal the creative possibilities unique to this style of gardening. This class is offered in partnership with Grossmont-Cuyamaca College
District’s Continuing Education Program. For information and to register, call 619-660-4350, or visit www.cuyamaca.edu/preview. $25.

 

Rainwater Collection for the Homeowner
Saturday, June 5, 1:00-3:00 pm
Every drop counts! While we receive little rainfall in Southern California, we can save what we do receive for irrigating our landscape. Rosalind Haselbeck and Rich Alianelli of Building Green Futures Inc. will share options for rainwater harvesting for homeowners. Learn about our current and future water scarcity issues on local, national and global levels, and see samples of rain barrels. A slide show of rainwater harvesting options will be presented. $15 Members, $25 Non-Members


Introduction to Greywater: Go from Laundry to Landscape
Tuesday, June 8, 6:30-8:30 pm
Local Permaculturist and water conservation activist, Brook Sarson, will introduce you to the basics of using greywater for garden and landscape applications. Brook’s presentation
will include information about how she is using rainwater harvesting and greywater to grow a garden of edibles using only ¼ of the water that most San Diegans use each day.
Let’s go grey! $15 Members, $25 Non-Members

 

NEW! Introduction to Hardscape Projects for Homeowners
Sunday, June 13, 9:00-11:00 am
Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture instructor, Kathleen Eagle will show you how to use stacked keystone pavers, how to install stepping stones, how to create gravel designs and use broken concrete as a recycled material for projects in your landscape. Come with work gloves and dress to get dirty as you learn by doing. $20 Members, $30 Non-Members

 

Ms Smarty-Plants™ and the Magic of Water Show
at the San Diego Botanic Garden

Family Fun Night-Free with admission
Thursday, June 17, 6:00-7:00 pm
Join the Garden’s enthusiastic Ms. Smarty-Plants™ as she uses her magic to show you how to save water in this fun, family-friendly show at San Diego Botanic Garden. For more information, contact Diana Goforth at 760-436-3036 x204. Brought to you through the generous support of Sempra Energy Foundation.

 

Water Smart Edibles in Your Landscape
Saturday, June 19, 10:00 am-noon
Yes, you CAN grow fruit while conserving water! Join Garden Horticulturist David Yetz for an informative and delicious exploration of fruit that can be grown in a water conserving landscape. You’ll be introduced to a variety of interesting edibles, enjoy a few samples, and see some of these plants growing in the Garden. Dave will discuss proper planting, drip irrigation and maintenance of these desirable plants that contribute more than just beauty to your landscape. $20 Members,
$30 Non-Members

 

Toss the Turf; Less Grass, Less Water, More Fun!
Saturday, June 26, 10:00 am- noon
Come to the Garden for a short course in turf removal. Get tips for evaluating soil, tuning up your irrigation system, and creative ideas for a beautiful, water smart landscape in lieu of lawn. Class will be taught by David Yetz, Water Conservation Garden horticulturist. $20 Members, $30 Non-Members. Special stimulus pricing! Two registrations for the price of one. Same household only please.


Ms Smarty-Plants™ and the Magic of Water Show
at the San Diego Botanic Garden
Family Fun Night-FREE with admission

Thursday, July 1, 6:00-7:00 pm
Join the Garden’s enthusiastic Ms. Smarty-Plants™ as she uses her magic to show you how to save water in this fun, family-friendly show at San Diego Botanic Garden. For more information, contact Diana Goforth at 760-436-3036 x204. Brought to you through the generous support of Sempra Energy Foundation.


NEW! Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Goes Buggy!
A Class for kids age 4-8 and their adult
Friday, July 2, 6:30-7:30 pm
Join our zany Ms. Smarty-Plants™ to learn about spiders, worms and bugs of the Garden. Create and enjoy an edible, gummy worm habitat. $10 per adult/child couple Members, $15 per adult/child couple Non-Members. By reservation only.

 

Irrigation 101-The Basics of Irrigation
Saturday, July 10, 9:00-noon
Horticulturist Kathleen Eagle will cover the basics of irrigation; retrofitting, drip irrigation applications and installation and how to determine the water content of your soil. Kathleen covers methods for determining how long to run your sprinklers and how to customize an irrigation schedule for your garden. Learn how to set your irrigation clock and when and how long to irrigate your landscape. This class is designed for homeowners with little to no irrigation knowledge or experience. $15 Members, $25 Non-Members

 

Garden Discovery Day Camp
Tuesday, July 13 through Friday, July 16, 9:00am-noon
For ages 7-11 years
Explore the magic of nature at Garden Discovery Day Camp! The children will create colorful mosaics, do woodworking projects, harvest fresh vegetables, cook delicious snacks, create a container garden, meet new friends and have fun enjoying nature! Families are invited to come to the Garden on Wednesday evening, at 6:30 pm to enjoy the Ms. Smarty-Plants™ and the Magic of Water Show. $80 Members, $100 Non-Members.

 

Wild Wes in Concert: A Musical Experience for Kids
Tuesday, July 20, 10:00-11:00 am
Join the Garden for a rollicking fun concert for the young and young-at-heart, featuring Wild Wes, local eco-friendly children’s musician. Wes will have the kids howling like a wolf, participating in a singing competition, dancing on stage and other wild antics in this interactive concert. $4 per person pre-purchased tickets, $5 at the gate. Group rates available for local schools and summer camps.

*Please note the Garden will be closed on July 4th.

 


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