Gardeners are enjoying a seasonal series of shows and sales by local garden societies. This column has recently highlighted events by the local chapters of the California Native Plant Society, the American Dahlia Society and the Cactus and Succulent Society of America.

There’s more to come.

The Santa Cruz Orchid Society and the Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai club will co-host their respective shows on Saturday and Sunday at the Capitola Mall (in the space previously occupied by the Sears store). Admission will be free.

This extraordinary combination event gives gardeners opportunities to learn about and appreciate two very different kinds of locally grown plants and provides the host organizations with a cost-effective approach to advancing their objectives.

The show has been designed to present how growing bonsai and orchids outdoors can be successful in our favorable climate, inform visitors on the processes each plant group requires, share growers’ experiences and explore why gardeners like growing and conserving these plants.

Visitors will learn how orchids and bonsai can be shared in a garden. To encourage people to grow plants outside, this event will display a variety of plants: orchids, bonsai, unusual and rare plants, carnivorous plants, California natives, many succulents and ferns, all available at the show. These can be regarded as companions of orchids, ready to share the same growing area. Patrick Jagger’s orchid photos will be available for purchase.

There will be demonstrations on both days. For example, see a bonsai member transform a common nursery stock tree into a bonsai in a small pot. Other mini demonstrations will focus on origami, sumi-e Japanese ink painting and bonsai designing and wiring demonstrations. A newly created bonsai tree will be offered in a beneficial drawing after each demonstration.

An orchid society member will demonstrate how to successfully move an orchid into a larger container. The event will include an American Orchid Society-judged exhibit.

Brief overview of orchids

Of the two very large families of flowering plants, the aster plant family (Asteraceae) is the largest, and the orchid plant family (Orchidaceae) includes about 28,000 currently accepted species in 702 genera.

Orchids are found in almost every habitat on Earth except glaciers, with the richest diversity of orchid genera and species found in the tropics.

These plants are distinguished by two growth habits: terrestrial and epiphytic. Epiphytic orchids grow upon trees, rocks or other supports, and can be grown in well-drained, airy environments. They have modified aerial roots that can be quite long. Terrestrial orchids grow in soil and have rhizomes, corms or tubers.

Some cultivars of each type thrive in the Monterey Bay area’s Mediterranean climate. Here are notable selections of each type.

Terrestrial orchids for the Monterey Bay climate

• Boat orchid (Cymbidium spp.)

• Reed-stem orchids (Epidendrum spp.)

• Lady’s slipper (Paphiopedilum spp.)

• Zygopetalum hybrids

• Bamboo orchids (Sobralia spp.)

• Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata)

• Philippine ground orchid (Spathoglottis plicata)

Epiphytic orchids for the Monterey Bay climate

• Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)

• Corsage orchid (Cattleya)

• Australian rock orchid (Dendrobium spp.)

• Soft-cane dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile hybrids)

• Dancing lady orchid (Oncidium)

• Mexican laelia (Laelia anceps)

• Australian butterfly orchid (Sarcochilus spp.)

• Cool-growing pleurothallids (Masdevallia)

Orchid care requirements vary with cultivars and environmental conditions. Key considerations include irrigation, fertilization, light exposure and protection from predators. The American Orchid Society has posted useful online information on orchid care: browse aos.org/orchid-care. For the care of specific genera, scroll to Orchid Care and Culture Sheets.

For detailed information about these plants, visit the website of the American Orchid Society (aos.org).

Brief overview of bonsai

The practice of cultivating miniature trees began over a thousand years ago, in China. By the 6th century, it began in Japan, where it became known as bonsai, a term that means “plant in a tray.” Bonsai is beyond horticulture. It’s a meditation reflecting patience, discipline and appreciation of nature’s beauty.

Bonsai design focuses on representing the plant’s natural setting. The design principles include proportion, balance, movement, simplicity and asymmetry.

The techniques for cultivating bonsai include pruning to control growth, wiring to guide branch development, repotting to prevent root-binding, selecting well-drained soil and maintaining appropriate moisture levels.

Popular choices for bonsai trees include juniper, pine, maple, Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), ficus and jade (Portulacaria afra).

Bonsai styles follow natural tree forms. The style terms, with their Japanese names, are formal upright (chokkan), informal upright (moyogi), slanting (shakan), cascade (kengai), semi-cascade (han-kengai), broom (hokidachi) and forest (yose-ue).

Bonsai expert Peter Chan has created a rich source of online information on the Herons Bonsai website. Visit herons.co.uk/Video-Tutorials.

The Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai

This organization began in late 1987, soon grew and joined the Golden State Bonsai Federation and Bonsai Clubs International. The Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai’s objectives are to promote interest in and expand knowledge of the art of bonsai through continuous study and education. It meets on the third Saturday of each month in the Live Oak Grange Hall, featuring an individual with a particular bonsai expertise, teaching and demonstrating methods and techniques that increase our appreciation and awareness of this ancient art. Guests are welcome to attend. The group also holds an annual show, usually in March or April of each year.

Mark your calendar

The UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties will conduct their online Spring Plant Sale, featuring seasonal herbs and vegetables ready for the garden, water-wise California native plants and shrubs, bulbs, pollinator-friendly plants, succulents and sages, succulent plants and indoor plants.

The online nursery will open from Monday to May 4. The plant list will be posted on the website mbmg.ucanr.edu before the sale begins.

Visit the online nursery to select plants for your garden. Once you complete your purchase, the group will set aside your plants and email an order confirmation with instructions for scheduling a pick-up appointment at either the group’s Salinas Greenhouse or Pinto Lake County Park in Watsonville. When you go to your pick-up appointment, bring your order number or a copy of your order.

This sale can be time-efficient and convenient. As with all plant sales, order early for the widest range of selections.

Enjoy your garden!

Tom Karwin can be reached at gardening@karwin.com.