Neighborhood garden tours to benefit local church

The Gardens for Peace Tour will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Tour five gardens around Santa Cruz featuring different styles: New Zealand, townhome patio, downtown Victorian, roses and mini orchard, and woodland. Each location includes complimentary refreshments and a surprise. Admission is $50 for individuals or $120 for a car full. Proceeds will benefit the Peace United Church of Christ, an open, affirming and inclusive community at 900 High St.

A map will be provided with ticket purchase at eventbrite.com/e/gardens-for-peace-tickets-1302063810909 or contact kacozza@gmail.com.

LIVE OAK

Evening garden exchange held midweek

Join the garden community for this month’s evening garden exchange from 5 to 6 p.m. May 14 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.

Call 831-515-7162 or email santacruzgardenexchange@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

County offers Basic Composting Workshops

County-sponsored composting workshops are open to all residents, with three more Basic Composting Workshops scheduled before the summer break. Upcoming sessions are 2-4 p.m. May 18 at Pinto Lake County Park, 757 Green Valley Road, Watsonville; online via Zoom from 10 a.m. to noon May 24; and 10 a.m. to noon June 14 at the Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz.

The two-hour Basic Composting Workshops cover general principles of composting and provide sufficient detail about backyard and worm composting to help someone get started. There is plenty of time for questions to be answered by experienced composters.

Registration is required online at goo.gl/Fw6BaK or by calling 831-824-6484.

WATSONVILLE

You-pick roses open for reservations

Birdsong Orchard, 613 Lakeview Road, is growing over 500 deeply fragrant and lush roses in every color, and they want to share them with you. Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends.

Hybrid tea roses, floribundas, grandifloras, David Austin, Meilland, Kordes roses — they have them all, in every shade of the rose rainbow, with new varieties added every year. Unlike every other rose garden, you can smell, cut and fill your bucket with amazing blooms to take home. A bucket with water for you to keep will be provided. Each bucket will fit 25-30 stems of 12-18 inches.

Your reservation is for one hour. Each reservation purchase is for one bucket and one car parking spot. No children allowed in the rose field, please. If you are coming in two cars, make a second reservation. Reservations are available for Saturdays and Sundays. Birdsong Orchard can also open on other days for private groups of four or more. Be timely and courteous of other visitors so everyone can enjoy a relaxing time in the rose garden.

Bring a sun hat, water bottle, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, your own clippers and gloves if you have them. If not, they will be provided for you to borrow.

For more information, visit birdsongorchards.com/pages/you-pick-roses.

SANTA CRUZ

Housing Navigation Services offered

Volunteer Housing Navigators will provide housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays in the Life Literacies Center at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Downtown Branch, 224 Church St. Visit santacruzpl.libcal.com.

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.