LIVE OAK

Evening garden exchange held midweek

Kick off 2025 with fresh gardening inspiration. Join the garden community for this month’s evening garden exchange and workshop from 5 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 and every second Wednesday of the month, in the parking lot of Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave. Park in the northern rows of the parking lot away from the building. Gardeners are welcome to bring seeds, bulbs, succulents, houseplants, veggies, fresh flowers, informational material or any garden-related items to trade within the garden community. You do not need to bring something in order to participate and you must take back anything not given out. Spread the word and tell your friends.

For questions, call 831-515-7162 or email santacruzgardenexchange@gmail.com.

WATSONVILLE

Birdsong Orchards presents Winter Workshops

December through February is time to prune most of your deciduous fruit trees. Visit Birdsong Orchard from 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday on the farm located at 613 Lakeview Road, for a workshop covering winter pruning and care of fruiting trees, to set them up for a fabulous growing season next year. Pruning new, young and mature trees will be covered including a discussion on appropriate tools and different pruning styles. The workshop includes walking through the orchard, looking at how pruning decisions affect growth and productivity in walnuts, peaches, nectarines, plums, figs, apples, pears and persimmons. There will also be a discussion on what not to prune in the winter, watering and fertilization.

Suitable for ages 16 and up. Limited to 25 people. Attendees are encouraged to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle. There will be about a 1-2 mile walk on a gentle slope.

If rained out, the event will be rescheduled.

Visit birdsongorchards.com/products/winter-pruning-workshop-feb-1 for tickets.

December through February is also time to prune your roses, and it’s vital to their health that you do. Join Nadine at Birdsong Orchard from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, on the farm located at 613 Lakeview Road, for a workshop covering winter pruning and spring fertilization of roses, to set them up for a fabulous growing season next year.

You will cover pruning shrubs, garden variety and climbing roses at different ages of growth with a live demo in the rose field. There will also be a discussion on fertilizing in spring for new growth and preparing the ground for planting new roses in the winter as well. To keep things intimate, this workshop is limited to 25 people and is suitable for ages 16 and up.

Attendees are encouraged to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle. There will be about a half mile walk total on a gentle slope.

Visit birdsongorchards.com/products/winter-roses-workshop-february-2 for tickets.

SOQUEL

Rare plant swap announces February event

Come spread the love of plants at the February rare plant swap event. Happening in person from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Anna Jean Cummings County Park, 461 Soquel San Jose Road. This plant swap is a buy, sell, trade and hangout event. No need to bring anything, just come and meet other local collectors in the Santa Cruz area. You are welcome to bring rare/uncommon plants, cuttings, corms, nodes, any plant accessories like pots, leca, soil additives or freebies. Be sure to bring a bag or container to hold all your new plant/items. Please remember to keep it rare/uncommon plants only. Plant sales are allowed but Santa Cruz Rare Plants are not responsible for any sales or trades not conducted personally. Hope to see you there. Please contact any of the admins if you have any questions at fb.me/e/200FdwUXO.

SANTA CRUZ

Volunteer work day slated in March

Spend the morning Saturday, March 1 from 9 a.m. to noon, working in the UCSC Farm Garden, 152 Farm Road, with fellow volunteers and Center for Agroecology staff. Tasks may include pruning, harvesting, mulching or weeding. Please come prepared with adequate shoes, water and sun protection. All the necessary tools will be provided. Heavy rain will cancel the event.

Visit calendar.ucsc.edu/event/volunteer-workday-in-the-garden for more details.

The Garden Digest is compiled by Jesselyn Rego. To submit items for the calendar including events, meetings, resources or anything garden related, email sentinelhomeandgarden@gmail.com.