This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Garden Events for Daylight Savers

Upcoming garden events highlight spring's awakening on March 13.

Gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts are counting down to 2:00 a.m on. March 13, when Daylight Savings Time allows one extra hour to hike, bike, or exercise the old fashioned way, pushing a lawn mower.  Here are a few more events to add to the calendar as spring awakens. 

Even those who don’t like to get their hands dirty in the garden, do like to wash up when it’s time to eat. Food lovers will note they have not been shut out of this list.

Garden talk and plant sale: Avocados for the Home Garden

Find out what's happening in Altadenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

March 10, 2:30PM  Free to the public. 

Huntington Botanical Gardens

Find out what's happening in Altadenawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Avocado experts Carl Stucky and Julie Frink explain all there is to know about choosing, growing, and caring for this beneficial fruit tree. No reservations necessary.  Plant sale follows talk.

Pacific Camellia Society Flower Show

March 12 & 13, 1PM to 4:30 Saturday, 9AM to 4PM Sunday.

Descanso Gardens. Free with Garden admission

The show’s not over. Late-blooming camellias blooms will be judged Saturday morning. The show then opens to the public from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information: www.pacificcamellias.org Pacific Camellia Society meetings are held at Descanso Gardens the first Thursday of each month October through April.  Come for a preview of which fancies to select for your home garden.

Organic Edible Gardening

March 12, 19, 26 (3 Saturdays), 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Huntington Botanical Garden

Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne of Homegrown Evolution lead a 3-class, hands-on series packed with information on planning, planting, composting, soils science, pest management and harvesting.  A chance to see the Huntington’s new agricultural Ranch, which is the class workshop area. Members: $120. Non-Members: $135. Registration: 626-405-2128.

Clivia Show and Sale

 March 12&13,  10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Huntington Botanical Gardens

8th annual Clivia Show and Sale, presented by none other than The North American Clivia Society.  Dozens of outstanding varieties plus plant sales, demonstrations, and more. General admission. Botanical Center.

California Native Plant Society Plant Walk

March 13, 09:00 a.m.

Eaton Canyon

Meeting in front of Eaton Canyon Nature Center at 9AM for a guided, leisurely two hour walk, through the native plant garden and nearby uncultivated areas.  CNPS Tour leader Cynthia Null will point out what’s leafing out, budding, flowering, which animal communities is supported by these native plants. Contact www.cnps-sgm.org for details.

Sharpen Your Tools – and Save-Your-Fingers
Saturday

March 19, 11 a.m. 

Descanso Gardens, under the oaks. Free with Garden admission.

Instruction on keeping your garden implements in good shape, and your fingertips where they belong.  Attached! Presented by Descanso Camellia Horticulturist Wayne Walker.

Berry Basics

March 19, 10:00am - 12:00pm.

LA Arboretum, Bamboo Room.

Marc Hall, Instructor.
$25 members/$28 non-members

Learn to grow strawberries, blackberries, cane-berries. “Jam” packed with information. When and where to buy plants, tips for abundant crops, tending and harvesting know-how, soil and fertilizer for optimal production, watering, pruning and disease prevention, and how to control nibbling birds, and more.

Park Clean Up

March 19, 9:00 AM - 12noon

Arroyo Seco-South Pasadena Woodland and Wildlife Park. 

Or Nature Park to you. 

entrance on 100 block of Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Even if you don’t live in South Pasadena, you should take in this pretty three acre park. And take out some weeds, litter and debris on clean up day! Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy a beautiful day in nature. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello. Bring your own water, sunscreen, hat, gloves. Next clean up date scheduled: April 9.  It’s your park. Now clean it up.

The Amazing Lives of Bees, Wasps and Ants with entomologist Eric Grissell

Saturday, March 19, 5:00pm - 8:00pm.

 LA Arboretum, lecture and tour free to public.

5PM Engelmann Oak Grove tour; 6:30pm - Lecture
Co-sponsored by the Theodore Payne Foundation and the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden.

Beneficial insects, including pollinators, are widely appreciated by native plant gardeners, yet few realize that sawflies, parasitic wasps, hunting wasps, bees and ants (Hymenoptera) are among the most numerous and beneficial insects in nature and the garden. Cast your fears aside. Come, learn! A book signing follows the lecture.

Tomato Sale & Talk with Steve Goto

March 23, 10am-12noon.   

LA Arboretum, Palm & Bamboo Room

Pep talk by the energetic, knowledgeable Steve Goto, Tomato Guru, who shares all the tricks to successful planting and harvesting of the best tomatoes for this area. After the class, attend the tomato sale on the patio behind the Gift Shop. Large selection of heirloom plants.  Free with Arboretum admission. No reservations necessary.

54th Annual Bonsai Show

March 26–27, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.  

Huntington Botanical Gardens.  Free.

The California Bonsai Society presents its 54th annual show, featuring more than 100 beautiful specimens created by bonsai masters. Traditional trees and non-traditional bonsai displayed.

Square Foot Gardening Workshop

March 26, 10am-1pm. 

LA Arboretum,  Garden for All Seasons & Education Greenhouse.

Jo Ann Carey, instructor.
$25 members/$28 non-members

Learn this easy, logical method for planning, planting and growing the right amount of food in a tight space. No tilling required.  Recommended reading: All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

Addresses and phone numbers, as available.  Please call location before departure to confirm meeting time and location.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Altadena