SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Rose pruning schedule posted

The Monterey Bay Rose Society will be hosting its Annual Rose Pruning Classes. American Rose Society Consulting Rosarians and Master Rosarians will demonstrate the proper way to prune your roses for beautiful results in the spring. The discussion will include, fertilization, watering, pesticides and other rose gardening subjects. No reservation needed. Event is free.

Annual Rose Pruning Class schedule is as follows: Jan. 11-12 at 10 a.m. Monterey Bay Rose Society Display Rose Garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville (use livestock entrance); Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Alladin Nursery & Gift Shop, 2905 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville; Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. at the San Lorenzo Garden Center on 235 River St., Santa Cruz; and Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. once more at the Alladin Nursery & Gift Shop in Watsonville.

Contact Janey Leonardich at 831-722-7958 for more information.

MONTEREY

Discussion on Earth-friendly gardening

What you do in your garden can have a big impact on our environment. Check out a discussion on Earth-friendly gardening while protecting wildlife and the environment at the Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific St., Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Learn what you can do to provide food, water and shelter for beneficial insects and birds; how to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers; and to reduce water usage.

Visit montereypl.libcal.com/event/13192432?mc_cid=6dbfca2575 for more information.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Fruit tree pruning online class

Join the community from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 11, for a free online workshop, “Winter Fruit Tree Pruning,” to learn about trimming fruit trees for growth. Winter is the best time to prune fruit trees because they’re dormant and you can see the tree structure. Proper pruning timing and technique allows your trees to produce the best fruit.

Come join us for a free online workshop, presented by UC Master Gardener Allen Buchinski. Learn the why, how and when of pruning for best structure and fruit production. Buchinski has worked at the Emma Prusch Park Farm High-Density Fruit Orchard, where the trees are kept small and at a reduced height to make harvesting ladder-free.

Registration is required on the Mountain View Public Library’s website at mountainview.libcal.com/event/13142369. Sign up to receive Zoom information the morning of the event.

APTOS

Gardeners’ Club monthly meeting, plant sale

The Gardeners’ Club monthly meeting and presentation will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday Jan. 9, at the Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista. The Gardeners’ Club consists of gardeners living in Santa Cruz County with a shared love of plants and their nurture. Plants at bargain prices are also featured at the monthly plant sale.

Gardeners of all skill levels and from all areas are welcome. Visitors are also invited to attend. Monthly club members enjoy featured speakers at monthly meetings, a monthly newsletter, plant sale table and friends to share and learn with. This month’s meeting will focus on “Caring for Orchids at Home.” Explore the fundamentals of growing orchids with Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection’s lead horticulturist, Justin Kondrat. He will walk you through each element needed to successfully grow orchids at home, including how to encourage reblooming. Topics discussed include common challenges and best practices for watering, choice of nutrients, repotting methods, light requirements, air circulation and the optimal supplies required for home orchid cultivation. The meeting place is handicapped accessible. There will be refreshments.

For more information visit thegardenersclub.org.

SANTA CRUZ

Second Friday Orchid Society meetings

Want to connect with others interested in orchids? The Santa Cruz Orchid Society meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Friday of every month at the Live Oak Grange Hall, 1900 17th Ave. Meetings typically feature a presentation from an orchid expert, a show-and-tell table of blooming plants brought in by members, plants for sale and light refreshments. Guests are welcome to attend.

Setup begins at 7 p.m. For questions visit, santacruzorchidsociety.org.

CAPITOLA

Housing Matters offers weekly outreach

The Housing Matters Outreach Team will be available from 1-4 p.m. every Tuesday in the Barbara Gorson Multipurpose Room at the Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road, for families and individuals experiencing homelessness to help them access resources, navigate housing and meet with Housing Matters representatives. This is a drop-in service; first come, first served.

For more information about this outreach visit santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/12691252. For more information about Housing Matters call 831-458-6020, housingmatterssc.org">contact@housingmatterssc.org or visit housingmatterssc.org.

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.