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March Members Month, The Backyard Flock: Raising Urban Chickens, Village Aquaponics Workshops, Fall in Love with Bees!, Designing a Small Space Garden and The Spring Garden Festival.
January 10, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)—The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to enjoy its 2012 winter and spring events. Gardening 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.
ONGOING EVENTS
Ask the Designer: 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 redesigned, the dimensions of the space and photos of designs styles you like. Call the Garden office (Tuesday-Friday 9am-4pm) to check availability and make your reservation, 619-660-0614 ext. 10. $60 Members, $75 non-Members. Payment due at time reservation is made.
Ask the Garden Staff Tour
First Sunday of the Month at 9:30 am;
January 8, February 5, March 4 and April 1
Enjoy an informative walk through the Garden with one of our professional staff members. Bring your questions and prepare for an interesting tour from the perspective of someone who works in the Garden daily. Meet at the front entrance of the Garden. Free.
Special Access Tour
Selected Sundays at 9:30 am;
January 22, February 19, March 18 and April 15
This special tour is offered monthly for individuals who may have difficulty navigating the terrain of the Garden. Explore the Garden from the comfort of the Verbeck Shuttle with one of the Garden’s staff members. This tour seats 4-5 people. Reservations are required; please call 619-660-6841. Free.
Spanish Language Tours
The Garden is pleased to offer Spanish language tours, by reservation only. Tours are free of charge but donations are always appreciated to defray the cost of our Spanish language guides. Contact the Garden at 619-660-0614 ext. 14 for reservations. Free.
Homeowner Association Tour
Last Saturday of the month at 9:30 am,
January 28, February 25, March 31
Learn how to save water and money for your homeowner association by designing a beautiful, drought-tolerant landscape. Reservations are required. Minimum five tour participants required for tour to run. Contact 619-660-6841 for reservations and information. $5 per person.
Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Programs
Bring your class to the Garden for a rousing good time and learn how to save the world with your own two hands. Ms. Smarty-Plants will share the secrets of plant adaptations and the magic of our precious water resources. These State Standards-based programs will become treasured memories for your students. Contact Ms. Smarty-Plants (AKA Pam Meisner) at 619-660-0614 ext. 16 for information about programs and program fees. By reservation only.
Home Composting Workshop
Saturday, February 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
FREE home composting workshop taught by Certified Master Composters from the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation. Learn the basics of composting, how to compost with worms, and how to save water in the process! To register for this class, please call The Solana Center at (760)-436-7986 ext 225.
FEBRUARY
NEW! Explore American Sign Language
Saturday, February 4, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Are you curious about Sign Language? Have you wondered how you might be able to use Sign Language in your classroom or with your family? Wonder no more, come and learn for yourself! Join the Garden’s education specialist and her alter-ego, Ms. Smarty-Plants, for this 2-hour, fun-filled class. Learn many basic Signs, as well as a little about Deaf Culture. You will be Signing to music by the time you leave, and handouts will be provided so you can practice at home. FREE for Members, $15 Non-Members
The Backyard Flock: Raising Urban Chickens
Saturday, February 11, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Raise farm fresh eggs in your own backyard! The Garden’s education director, Laurie Furry, will share everything you need to know to start enjoying fresh eggs while keeping your new flock happy and healthy. Topics include determining if you are legally allowed to have a flock in your community, deciding between chicks or laying hens, what to feed and not to feed your hens, housing needs, protection from predators, and the benefits of raising your own hens for eggs. You’ll meet a couple of little ladies from Laurie’s flock in this class and see a slide show of other interesting breeds available for a home flock. $15 Members, $20 Non-Members
NEW! Village Aquaponics Workshops;
Presented By Ecolife Foundation
Saturday, February 11 or 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Aquaponics is the symbiotic growing of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment. Water is cycled between fish tanks and vegetable growing areas, and fish waste acts as a natural fertilizer for plants. Use 90% less water than conventional vegetable gardening; grow fresh fish and vegetables in your own home, school or community! Learn how to build and maintain your own system through demonstration and hands-on practice. Includes light refreshments and a manual. For more information or to register for this offsite workshop, contact Ecolife Foundation at 760-740-1346 or email admin@ecolifefoundation.org. $25 Members, $30 Non-Members to
NEW! Fall in Love with Bees
Sunday, February 12, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Bee Advocate Geoff Kipps-Bolton of bees-on-the-net.com will share the secrets lives of bees and get you excited about the bees visiting your garden. Geoff will share an introduction to beekeeping, removing the shroud of mystery and uncovering what those veiled bee-wranglers are up to. Learn why bees swarm and what to do if a swarm lands on your property. Walk through the Garden with Geoff after your seminar and see the bees in action! FREE for Members, $15 Non-Members
Designing a Beautiful Small Space Garden
Saturday, February 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Good things come in small packages! Learn how to create a sparkling jewel of a landscape for your condominium, cottage, side yard, or smaller front or back yard. Landscape Designer Christiane Holmquist will share important principles of design to consider before beginning your project, show you inspiring visual examples of completed projects, and answer your questions about how to make the most of your small space. This class will also be helpful for anyone interested in dividing larger landscape plans into manageable projects. $20 Members, $25 Non-Members
Hillside Gardening
Tuesday, February 28, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
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 plantings for retaining walls. A colorful slide show of several San Diego hillside gardens will reveal the creative possibilities unique to this style of gardening.
$20 Members, $25 Non-Member
MARCH
MEMBERS MONTH
This month, we celebrate the Garden’s Members with two free seminars and discounts in the Garden’s Nursery. March is a great time to become a member and take advantage of our celebration! Use the form on the back of this calendar, or visit us online.
GARDEN MEMBER PLANT SALE: SAVE 20% on All Plants, All Month
The Garden thrives in large part because of the contributions from our family of members. As a thank-you to this special group of people, the Garden is offering all members a 20% discount on any plants purchased from the Garden’s nursery (Walter Parkola’s plants excluded). Not a member? Become a member on March 3rd and enjoy this month of discounts.
DROUGHT-TOLERANT EXOTICS: SEMINAR AND PLANT SALE
Saturday, March 10, 10:00 am - 12 noon
Learn how to grow and care for the protea species. Walter Parkola of Blossom Valley Protea will discuss these exotic-looking plants, including the stunning pincushion and a favorite of hummingbirds, the unusual grevillea. Walter’s one-hour presentation at 10:00 am will be followed by a sale of gorgeous plants from his nursery from 11am until 12pm. Free for Members, non-Member presentation fee $10. Please register for the seminar by visiting our online class calendar, or calling the Garden at 619-660-0614 ext. 10.
BRILLIANT BULBS FOR THE DROUGHT-TOLERANT GARDEN: SEMINAR AND BULB SALE
Saturday, March 17, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Bulbs bring a touch of the unexpected to any landscape. Mary McBride of Mary’s Garden will share tips for planting and maintaining bulbs, as well as her personal recommendations for specific bulbs as the perfect accessory plant for any garden. Bulbs discussed in the seminar will be for sale after the talk at 11am. Free for Members, non-Member presentation fee $10.Please register for the seminar by visiting our online class calendar, or calling the Garden at 619-660-0614 ext. 10.
Planned Giving Workshop and Breakfast
Friday, March 2, 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Join us for breakfast and learn to build your endowment through a Charitable Gift Annuity Partnership with The San Diego Foundation. There are many planned giving options that help individuals understand the best way for gifting various assets. The most popular life-income option is the charitable gift annuity. During this session you will learn about the basics of the charitable gift annuity and how you can receive fixed income and benefit your charity of choice. Free.
NEW! Village Aquaponics Workshops; Presented By Ecolife Foundation
Saturday, March 10 or 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Aquaponics is the symbiotic growing of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment. Water is cycled between fish tanks and vegetable growing areas, and fish waste acts as a natural fertilizer for plants. Use 90% less water than conventional vegetable gardening; grow fresh fish and vegetables in your own home, school or community! Learn how to build and maintain your own system through demonstration and hands-on practice. Includes light refreshments and a manual. For more information or to register for this offsite workshop, contact Ecolife Foundation at 760-740-1346 or email admin@ecolifefoundation.org. $25 Members, $30 Non-Members to
Secrets of the Best Landscape Designers
Tuesday, March 20; 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Learn the secrets of professional landscape design with local Landscape Designer Connie Beck. She will introduce you to principles you need to know to design beautiful, functional, and low water landscapes you will enjoy for years. Connie will share an inspirational visual presentation to illustrate good design and help you to avoid pitfalls of owner-designed landscapes. $20 Members, $25 Non-Members
NEW! Village Aquaponics Workshops; Presented By Ecolife Foundation
Saturday, April 14, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Aquaponics is the symbiotic growing of plants and aquatic animals in a recirculating environment. Water is cycled between fish tanks and vegetable growing areas, and fish waste acts as a natural fertilizer for plants. Use 90% less water than conventional vegetable gardening; grow fresh fish and vegetables in your own home, school or community! Learn how to build and maintain your own system through demonstration and hands-on practice. Includes light refreshments and a manual. For more information or to register for this offsite workshop, contact Ecolife Foundation at 760-740-1346 or email admin@ecolifefoundation.org. $25 Members, $30 Non-Members to
APRIL
Spring Garden Festival
Saturday, April 28, 9:00 am-4:00pm
Join the Water Conservation Garden, Cuyamaca College’s Ornamental Horticulture Department, and the Heritage of the Americas Museum as we celebrate the spring season with “Urban Farming”. The college will host its biggest plant sale of the year, and the Garden will buzz with experts, workshops and exhibits that will empower visitors to create the drought tolerant landscape of their dreams. The Museum will open its doors free of charge so the public can discover arts, crafts, and history from the Americas. Other activities include animal exhibits, musical guests, dancers, kids’ activities, an international food court, and a raffle chock full of exciting prizes. Watch for more details in the spring, and visit us at www.thegarden.org to stay tuned.
Pre-registration is required for all classes. To enroll visit www.thegarden.org or call 619-660-0614, x10. Payment received before date of class guarantees your reservation. Please register early—a minimum of 10 students needed to hold a class. Refunds cannot be made within three days of the event unless we can fill your space or The Garden cancels the event. Thank you!
About the Water Conservation Garden;
Opened in 1999, the Garden is dedicated to promoting water conservation in the southern California landscape through excellent exhibits and programs that educate and inspire the public. The Garden is supported by memberships, donations, grants, and water agency support. For more information, please visit www.thegarden.org or call 619-660-0614x10.
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