In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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« September 2007 | In the Garden front page | November 2007 »

October 31, 2007

Black plants

I read an article the other day about the International Black Plant Society. The subject piqued my interest and got me thinking. Looking back, I realized I’ve come across quite an assortment of black-leaved plants as well as black flowers in my gardening adventures, but never gave it much thought.

Browsing through the nursery recently, I was amazed at just how many “black” plants there are. I really needn’t have looked much farther than my front porch, where I have the black sweet potato vine growing alongside the lime green one. It’s stunning. I’ve also paired the chartreuse-colored sweet potato vine with the dark purple ajuga and with the almost black heuchera.

The author of the short garden blog article, Heleigh Bostwick, says, “While the color black is not a true color in nature, horticulturists have been able to select for the darkest shades of blue (such as Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Black Barlow’) purple (like eggplants or those dark purple pansies) or even deep red like the black rose cultivar. All of these plants are described as black in color and appear so to the eye.” Bostwick notes there are 2,759 black plants according to Karen Platt, author of Black Magic and Purple Passion, and founder of the black plants web site.

A few favorites listed on the Black Plant Society web site are: Agapanthus ‘Black Panther,’ Dahlia ‘Arabian Night,’ Colocasia ‘Midnight Mystique,’ Aeonium ‘Zwartkop,’ Aquilegia ‘Black Barlow,’ Phyllostachys nigra and, top vote getter so far, Corylus avellana ‘Red Majestic.’

Posted by Pat Rubin at 02:36 PM | Comments

October 30, 2007

Flowers bring cheer and happiness to a room

Researchers at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital have discovered something every gardener already knows: fresh cut flowers in the house make you more energetic, less anxious, more compassionate, and happier.

The study followed 54 participants, aged 25 to 60, and had them rate their feelings at various times of day, both when flowers were present and when they were not.

“Participants reported being happier and more energetic after seeing flowers first thing in the morning, especially in the kitchen,” according to the press release. “In addition to the daily cup of coffee, early birds should also consider indulging in another proven pick-me-up, fresh-cut flowers.”

What gardener can resist cutting a few flowers to bring into the house anyway? Flowers add a dash of color, a spot of cheer. They bring a bit of the outside inside.

I try to bring flowers in the house--and the office--every week. When fresh cut flowers from the garden are sparse, I'll buy flowers at the grocery store or local Farmer's Market. And I’m always on the lookout for unusual ways to display them. I have plenty of vases, but I love flowers in quart canning jars, glasses, cans, teapots, whatever strikes me and whatever fits the bouquet. I’ve put tiny sprigs of violets in shot glasses or votive candleholders. I’ve floated camellia and aster blooms in shallow plates or bowls. Having flowers in the house is a definite pick-me-up. The researchers could have asked a gardener.

Bottom line: snip a few flowers to enjoy during breakfast.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 11:42 AM | Comments

October 29, 2007

The Curious Gardener’s Almanac, centuries of practical garden wisdom” Niall Edworthy, Perigree, 192 pages, $16.95.

“The Curious Gardener’s Almanac, centuries of practical garden wisdom” is a compact, little book pushed into a corner of my desk by the computer. I keep thinking I’ll put it on the shelf or give it away. After all, I don’t really need another gardening book.

But I hesitate. Instead of putting it away, I keep picking it up looking for tidbits of information, or perhaps a quote to go along with a story, or inspiration. Each time I’m amazed at how much information author Niall Edworthy has packed into its 192 small pages.

Edworthy himself has written that the book he admits defies description. He calls it “a collection of remarkable facts, curiosities, ancient wisdom and customs, time-honored tips, traditional recipes, lists, quotations, and general ephemera celebrating gardening in all its diversity. Dull or dry information has no place in the Almanac,” he writes.

He covers everything from the best time to transplant trees and shrubs to combinations of food plants that don’t like each other (artichoke & garlic, cabbage & tomatoes, broccoli & strawberries, radish & potatoes), quotes and comments from famous and not-so-famous gardeners, and tidbits (cloves are unopened flower buds). Did you know, for example, that "the black slug has as many as 25,000 teeth. Although it will eat your prized plants, it serves amore welcome purpose by devouring dog and cat poo and turning it into fertilizer.”

That’s good to know. Edworthy quotes everyone from Shakespeare to Charlemagne. It’s a fun book, worth picking up again and again.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 11:28 AM | Comments

October 26, 2007

Another reader weighs in on fall bounty

Yesterday reader Bill Bird bragged about the continuing bounty from his vegetable garden, and another reader, Farmer Fred Hoffman, has responded.

"OK, I'm hungry now," Fred writes, "after seeing your wonderful pictures. That 'mother of all peppers' might be the Red Knight X3R; ours is also putting on a lot of heft right now. And yes, we are still enjoying
fresh tomato salads nightly.

"Among the surprise October performers is the Druzba. This heirloom was one of the first to produce eatable tomatoes back in late June and early July...beating out the Early Girl! And, it has made a fall comeback. The vine is filled with red, ripe tomatoes, with very little cracking and few blemishes...unusually nice looking for October tomatoes. Also, the Early Girl tomato, although smaller now, is looking good with lots of blemish-free and crack-free tomatoes. The tomato salads now are quite colorful, with the Druzba and the Lemon Boy, surrounded by fresh basil (the basil bed is going crazy right now), peppers and fresh mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil. The purple peppers look and taste outstanding right now, including the Tequila, Purple Beauty and Purple Marconi. Plus, the Jimmy Nardello has plenty of red, ripe sweet peppers currently; this one usually is productive all the way through November.

"I'm hoping (barring too many November frosts) that we can still be picking tomatoes for a Thanksgiving salad...If past history is any indication, the cherry tomatoes (Sweet Gold, Sweet Million) will still be producing then."

Thanks, Fred. Anyone else want to weigh in? Click on "answer a question," or send me an email at prubin@sacbee.com.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 11:58 AM | Comments

October 25, 2007

The summer garden goes on...

Some Octobers are chilly, rainy and frosty. Not this year. We’ve had amazingly warm days, and comfortably cool nights. Vegetable gardens all across the Sacramento area are enjoying a resurgence.

Tomatoes are producing better than they did during the summer. Ditto for peppers. Yet the weather is cool enough for lettuce and spinach.

Bill Bird of Natomas reports that summer is definitely not over in his Natomas vegetable garden. He sent this photo, and writes, “ the summer garden is now in full swing -- providing all sorts of bounty!”

After a slow start and problems with wilt diseases, Bird has tomatoes everywhere. He has Kellogg's Breakfast, Zapotec Pleated, and Green Zebra.

“They have been drizzled with olive oil and dusted with salt, pepper and oregano.”

And he has peppers, including Ariane, which he calls "the mother of all bell peppers. It was about the size of a small cantaloupe. There are perhaps three or four cut up peppers in that big bowl. That's all it took -- when you added in the mother of all peppers.

He also prepared green pepper beef, although he used ground turkey. "The recipe is Vietnamese in origin, and the sauce includes beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, ground ginger and a few other spices. Tasty!" he writes.

He figures he'll be harvesting broccoli and spinach in another week or two.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 02:13 PM | Comments

October 24, 2007

Sasanqua camellias

The Sasanqua camellias are already beginning to bloom, and will continue through the Christmas holidays. Native to China and Japan, they differ from the more commonly planted Camellia japonica in several ways: their growth habit is more open and graceful; their flowers are often single and fragrant; their leaves are smaller; and they are very adaptable to different types of soil.

My sasanquas are already starting to bloom. First come the white ones, then the pink ones take center stage.

But my favorite of them all for holiday bloom is called ‘Yuletide,’ illustrated here. Just in time for Christmas it bursts into bloom. Its fiery, bright red petals circle bright yellow stamens.

Best of all, it’s a tough camellia, and performs as well in shade as it does in the sun. It demands regular, though not copious amounts of water. Amazingly, as the sasanquas mature, they seem to need less and less water. I have a white-flowered Sasanqua that is about 20 years old and is planted beneath the shade of a live oak, and it hardly ever gets watered. It’s underplanted with Ribes viburnifolium, also called evergreen currant, and a great plant for dry shade under oaks.

The sasanquas are also easy to prune. I snip any branches that reach out over the paths, but that’s about all. Yuletide is more upright than many Sasanqua camellias, and grows eight to ten feet tall and as wide at maturity. Prune them in the spring. Sasanqua camellias need rich soil with plenty of organic matter. In fact, if azaleas love your soil, camellias will, too. Sasanqua camellias also make nice hedges and are easy to grow in containers.

Camellia ‘Yuletide’ looks great with hellebores, hakone grass or hardy geraniums. It’s easy to find - most area nurseries carry it while it is in bloom.

Illustration by Barbara Stubbs, Sacramento Bee

Posted by Pat Rubin at 12:19 PM | Comments

October 23, 2007

Mums on display at King's

Through the end of November, King’s Mums opens its doors - and its fabulous displays of chrysanthemums - to the public. The nursery, which sells and ships mums all over the world, has been a family owned operation for 40 years. It's headed by mum expert and hybridizer Ted King, pictured in one of his greenhouses.

The collection includes about 400 varieties of mums available at the nursery.
Or you can order a catalog by sending $2 to King’s Mums, P.O. Box 368, Clements CA 95227.

To visit King's Mums, from Sacramento take Highway 99 south. Exit at Liberty Road (just past Galt) and turn east over the freeway. Continue for 11 miles. King's is on the left. You can’t miss it. Look for the colorful mums.

Photograph: Florence Low/Sacramento Bee

Posted by Pat Rubin at 12:18 PM | Comments

October 22, 2007

Chionodoxa, glory-of-the-snow.

For years I’ve heard about this small bulb, and whenever I've heard it mentioned by gardeners, it's always as chionodoxa glory of the snow as though that was its name. Never just Chionodoxa, and never simply glory-of-the-snow, but rather chionodoxa-glory-of-the-snow.

This year I’ve resolved to plant it.

I was surprised to learn that it’s native to the Mediterranean, and an old cottage garden favorite. According to the D. Landreth Seed Company, this little bulb was popular in Victorian gardens and in gardens of the early 20th century. It is among the earliest spring bloomers, and the blooms are delicate, star-shaped, and come in white, pink and blue. Landreth also notes that the plants force well, are hardy and deer-proof, and naturalize. Many of the varieties available today date to the late 1800s. Apparently the hybridizers haven’t tinkered with this bulb.

Plant the small bulbs about four inches deep and four inches apart, according to the Landreth catalog.

I’ll eagerly await spring to see the flowers.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 10:21 AM | Comments

October 19, 2007

Show us your autumn porch displays

Photo by Florence Low, Bee photographer

Pots of brightly colored chrysanthemums, colorful leaves, pumpkins … they all shout “fall” in a beautiful way.

What gardener or home decorator can resist the urge to dress up the front porch with a dash of color, a splash of flowers, or an assortment of gourds, winter squash or pumpkins?

If you like to turn your front porch into an autumn display, let us know. But remember, the theme is fall, not Halloween, so no skeletons, no witches, no jack-o’-lanterns or scary faces.

Send us a photo and tell us briefly how you decorate the front door or the front porch. Send comments photos to h&g@sacbee.com.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 12:39 PM | Comments

October 18, 2007

New nursery in Natomas

Jets taking off from Sacramento International Airport fly right over Clancy’s Garden. If the passengers inside the jets look down as the planes climb, they’d see three acres of plants and garden vignettes below them where just a few months ago the landscape was bare fields.

Jackie Bird, along with her husband Jim, changed all that. The former mortgage banker walked away from the finance industry to pursue her dream of opening a nursery. The couple rented 40 acres of flat, bare fields, and turned about 10 acres into the nursery.

The retail/wholesale plant area covers about three acres, and in addition to hundreds of containers of plants -- everything from mums to camellias to palm trees to flax to carnations to kangaroo paws -- Bird has created vignettes reflecting various gardening styles. There’s a Zen garden, a cottage garden, a contemporary garden and more dotted throughout the nursery. She has two horticulturists on staff to answer even the most perplexing gardening questions.

The impetus to open the nursery, named for Jackie Bird’s childhood nickname, came when the couple was looking for a concrete bench featured in Architectural Digest. “No one in Sacramento carried it,” Jackie Bird remembers. After extensive research, they found the bench. It now sits in the nursery.

“(Clancy’s) is the first nursery opened in Natomas, and I think the first new nursery opened in the Sacramento area in 20 years,” Jackie Bird says. Bird hopes to create an area for educational seminars and demonstrations. She also hopes garden clubs will be able to hold meetings at the nursery.

Clancy’s Garden is open seven days a week, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Take the Sacramento International Airport exit, turn away from the airport, then right on the frontage road.

It’s easy to spot from the freeway: Look for the colorful streamers and a geyser-like spire of water shooting up out of the pond. For questions, call the nursery at (916) 275-9445.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 01:16 PM | Comments

October 17, 2007

Dreaming of a greenhouse

It seems every gardener’s dream, at one time or another, is a greenhouse. We all imagine stepping into a warm greenhouse when the weather outside is cold and stormy, of having a place to sit with cup of hot tea in hand, perhaps a garden catalog or two and let ourselves breathe deeply the warm, rich air.

I used to have a 6x12 greenhouse, and it was a treat to go inside and shut the stormy weather out. Unfortunately, the roof was torn off during a severe storm when wind gusts reached 95 miles an hour. Already old and a bit decrepit, the little building just couldn’t take it any more. I turned the site into a flowerbed, but still think about that greenhouse when I'm in that part of the garden.

A friend has a large, sturdily built greenhouse where he grows cacti and succulents. Each day after work he sits in the greenhouse, unwinding after a long day on the job, looking at his plants. Another friend has a small greenhouse filed with cymbidiums, vines, seedlings and whatever else strikes her fancy. It isn’t heated in the winter, but it’s still a pleasant to slip inside on a stormy day to get out of the weather.

I recently received a catalog in the mail dedicated to greenhouses. If you’re in the market for a build-it-yourself greenhouse kit, browse through Charley’s Greenhouse & Garden catalog. Page after page after page is filled with different styles of greenhouses, some very simple to assemble, others looking very professional and substantial. There are attached greenhouses, freestanding greenhouses, budget greenhouses, and custom greenhouses. If you’re a real do-it-yourselfer, you can even get ideas on building your own greenhouse. The catalog also offers all the items you’d need to keep the greenhouse warm in the winter, cool in the summer.

Of course, the catalog contains many other gardening items, such as garden carts, pruners, watering cans, hoses, and seed starting supplies. I’ve never ordered from Charley’s, but, according to the catalog, Charley Yaw and his wife Carol have been in business for more than 32 years. The catalog is free.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 12:50 PM | Comments

October 16, 2007

Eco-friendly lawns

Large swards of green lawn are not eco-friendly, most green experts say. But Paul Tukey, founder of SafeLawns.org, says that doesn’t mean you have to let the entire lawn go brown.

In a recent press release, Tukey said, “in most cases lawns and gardens could remain green and lush if homeowners and landscape professionals utilize organic methods.” Further, Tukey says, “If you avoid synthetic chemical fertilizers and switch to compost and organic fertilizers, you’ll reduce the need for watering up to 75 percent. These natural amendments help the soil store water and, therefore, help the grass stay green.”

Tukey leaves readers with this comment: “The average 40-pound bag of synthetic chemical fertilizer contains the fossil fuel equivalent of three gallons of gasoline.”

He plans to take his solutions to Washington, D.C. where he’ll participate in the DC Environmental Conference at the University of District of Columbia on Oct. 20.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 10:35 AM | Comments

October 15, 2007

Vermicomposting--call for help

I want to try vermicomposting - letting earthworms turn kitchen scraps into compost - as part of my commitment to being greener in the garden.

I’ve perused a few garden supply catalogs and found some fancy, cleverly designed, albeit pricey, worm composting bins. I’ve also priced the worms, which I’ve learned are not the burrowing earthworms we typically find in the soil.

This is all new to me, so I’m looking for advice, and for readers who have some experience with vermicomposting to talk to for the story and help me along the way. Send me an email at prubin@sacbee.com. I'd love to hear from readers who've already made vermicomposting a part of their daily routine.

Thank you.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 10:53 AM | Comments

October 12, 2007

Solar lantern

I love exploring nurseries, especially ones along back roads or in new cities.

One I've passed by many times, but not had time to stop and explore is the Flower Farm Nursery on the corner of Auburn Folsom Road and Horseshoe Bar Road in Loomis. You’ll recognize it instantly because of the wooden water wheel in the front as well as the masses of flowers blooming in the fields. There’s a bed and breakfast on the property, and a new coffee shop. The owners even have a library of gardening books you can peruse while taking a break from shopping, and some are available to borrow.

I was recently touring the nursery as part of media day for the Placer County Farm and Barn Tour (which happens Sunday, Oct. 14 and the nursery is on the tour) and I came across this hanging lantern. Usually they’re made of paper, but this one is make of a durable, weather-resistant material and it’s solar powered!

I chose a green one, although it comes in several other colors, and it sells for $15.99. I hung it up almost as soon as I got home, and that evening, as the sun finally fell below the horizon, the lantern came on. I’m thinking of buying several more and hanging them from the arbor that leads to the front door.

What a nice welcome that would be!

Posted by Pat Rubin at 04:19 PM | Comments

Why and how we garden

Why, despite drought, gophers, deer, blossom end rot, powdery mildew, and bad weather do gardeners keep planting year after year after year?

Speaking for myself, I can’t imagine a time or a world where I did not have a garden of some kind, whether it was a huge vegetable and perennial garden, or a patio stuffed full of potted plants. For me, gardening is simply who I am. It’s what I do. Sure, there are failures and frustrations, but there are also successes. I find great satisfaction and beauty in the garden, whether it’s a tiny flower, a seedpod or a blazing display of fall color. I believe you’re born a gardener, and you simply can’t help it.

As gardeners we collectively spend huge amounts of money on our yards and for plants for the inside of the house. Gardening, according to some pollsters, is the number one or among the top 10 leisure activities for people. So it's only natural that research groups would want to quantify what we buy and why we garden.

Each year the Garden Writers Association Foundation polls gardeners to come up with information on garden trends. They want to know what projects people are contemplating in the garden, why they garden, what they buy, how much they spend, you get the idea. The 2007 Fall Gardening Trends Research Report is out, and here are a few highlights:

The most popular reasons for gardening are decoration (47 percent) and emotional enjoyment (43 percent).

The number of gardeners that plan to purchase plants in the fall with spring in mind grew from 35 percent in 2006 to 45 percent in 2007.

Mulching yard waste is still a top priority for gardeners. The number of households planning to mulch their fall garden waste with a mower increased from 28 percent in 2006 to 31 percent in 2007.

Households planning to compost fall garden waste rose from 17 percent in 2006 to 21 percent in 2007.

Indoor gardening was the choice of 46.3 million households, or 57 percent of consumers who responded. In the past, lack of time was the number one obstacle to indoor gardening. This year lack of time dropped to number three, and the major obstacle to growing plants indoors is limited space.

In addition, the poll asked gardeners what activities were appropriate for the fall season, and gave them choices, including activities that were typical fall gardening chores and ones that were not. My reaction to that question was "Why?" Was it to determine whether gardeners knew the difference between spring and fall activities? I think the survey could have asked something insightful instead.

Do any of these numbers fit your reasons or style of gardening? Let me know.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 12:14 PM | Comments

October 11, 2007

The southern magnolia in the fall

I’ve always admired the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). The large, leathery leaves look handsome all year. If you turn them over, you’ll see the backside is a golden-tan color, and felty to the touch. And who doesn’t love its huge, fragrant, pristine white flowers that seem to float on the edges of the stems.

But I think what I love best about the plant is its fall seedpods and the red berries than dangle from them. Each autumn I cut a seedpod or two and bring to work to put on my desk. It's a colorful, pleasant and cheerful reminder of gardening, of autumn colors, and of being outside on a cool, crisp day.

The Sunset Western Garden Book cautions gardeners to be aware of a few not-so-endearing qualities about the southern magnolia. It can reach 80 feet tall and spread its limbs 60 feet. It can also take as long as 15 years to bloom. Planted in the wrong place, its roots can lift sidewalks. It does drop leaves, and they can be messy and difficult to clean up. Sunset recommends M. delavayi and M. virginiana for evergreen alternatives to M. grandiflora.

But I think you’ll admit that finding the right place for a plant is the key to success with anything in the garden. The southern magnolia is no exception. So think long and hard, and if you have the right spot for the southern magnolia, consider planting one of these magnificient trees.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 10:48 AM | Comments

October 03, 2007

The idea for this pumpkin vase comes from Better Homes and Gardens. The container for holding the water and flowers is set inside the pumpkin. It’s simple to do.

Cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin big enough for your container to sit inside. Clean out the seeds and make sure the container has a flat place to sit on the bottom of the pumpkin. The container shouldn't extend above the top of the pumpkin. Put the container inside, add water and flowers, and voila! You’re done.

A cut pumpkin will only last a few days to a week before turning moldy and soft, so if you want to use the pumpkin for a centerpiece or to greet company at the front door, don’t carve it too far in advance.

I used corn stalks, pistache berries, coneflowers, bamboo, yarrow, ivy, sedum and Gladwyn iris seedpods and asters in my arrangement. Use whatever is in the garden.

You'll discover it's so simple, quick and easy you'll want to create these pumpkin vases over and over again.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 02:10 PM | Comments

October 02, 2007

Going green

Many of us spend weekends mowing lawns, blowing leaves, fertilizing, spraying and trimming weeds. Look in our tool sheds, and you’ll likely find an impressive array of power tools and chemicals. As gardeners we have a unique opportunity to turn at least our own patches of land into a sustainable paradise that doesn’t deplete the earth’s resources, add to the pollution problem or worsen global warming. Many of these “fixes” are really the guiding principles our grandparents followed.

Here are six simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Start a compost pile: It’s the perfect way to recycle kitchen and garden waste, and an easy way to add organic matter to the soil. You don’t need a fancy bin, and you don’t even have to turn the pile if you want to make compost the slow way. Plus by composting scraps you’re keeping them out of the landfill.

2. Reduce the size of your lawn: We live in a summer desert climate, and lawns account for a lot of water use in the garden. Consider turning part of the lawn into a perennial garden that attracts bees or butterflies. Plant a butterfly habitat garden.

3. Mulch: Mulch protects the soil, conserves water, suppresses weeds and gives the garden a nice, finished look.

4. Replace your gas powered lawnmower with an electric or battery powered one. The pollution from a single gas powered lawnmower running for an hour equals that of 30 or 40 cars at rush time, said DIY GardenSmart show host Joe Lamp’l.

5. Find alternatives to chemicals whenever possible. Hose off aphids or spittlebugs instead of spraying. Use insecticidal soap on aphids, and BT for caterpillars like tomato hornworms or oak worms.

6. Water smart: More plants die from over watering than under watering. Check to make sure your sprinklers are watering the garden evenly. Set out cat food or tuna cans, turn on the sprinklers for about 20 minutes and check the water level in each can. You’ll quickly learn whether some parts of your yard are being flooded while others are being denied water.

Gardeners have been a part of the problem, Lamp'l said, and we can also be part of the solution.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 01:41 PM | Comments

October 01, 2007

Placer County Farm & Barn Tour

For the past few years an October highlight for me is the Placer County Farm and Barn tour. I’ve watched sheep dog and mule demonstrations. I’ve petted llamas, alpacas, donkeys and horses. I’ve toured vineyards, iris gardens, specialty nurseries and mandarin orchards. I’ve tasted homemade butternut squash soup, locally grown wines and olive oil as well as fruits and vegetables. I’ve met local artists and farmers, and watched amateurs and professionals turn produce into works of art. I’ve driven on back roads I never knew existed and seen some beautiful rural areas of Placer County.

It’s all happening Sunday, October 14, 10 am-4 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for kids. Rules are simple: It’s a self-guided tour through the scenic back roads of Placer County, focusing on Auburn, Newcastle, Penryn, Loomis and Lincoln. There’s no smoking on any of the farms, and leave your dogs at home. Wear comfortable shoes, and have fun.

Ten farms/growers have agreed to be part of the tour this year. The lineup is Coffee Pot Ranch, where they raise and sell beef, pork and lamb; Rancho Roble Vineyard & Winery where you can sample locally produced Barbara wines; Gold Coast Daylilies, where you can learn about dividing and hybridizing daylilies; Beard Ranch, a 134 acre working cow/calf operation, Bernhard Museum, originally constructed as a hotel in 1851; Flower Farm Nursery, a 10-acre nursery, bed and breakfast; Secret Ravine Vineyard & Winery, with 3 ½ acres of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Sauvignon grapes; Golden Pond Water Plant Nursery, specializing in aquatic and bog plants, producing all plants onsite with several gorgeous ponds for visitors; Blue Goose Fruit Shed, which for more that 100 years has supported local farmers and is currently the home of the AGROart competition; and Highland Orchard, operated by the Aguilar Family and a must stop for mandarin lovers. Each location also features local artists, refreshments and educational demonstrations. Questions? Call (530) 885-5670 or click on the link provided above.

It’s a great way to spend an autumn Sunday.

Posted by Pat Rubin at 02:10 PM | Comments

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