Hummingbirds at the Arboretum

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum at 120 Arboretum Road has been celebrating hummingbirds throughout March, with two exciting events scheduled to close this celebration.

On Saturday there will be a beginner and family-friendly bird walk with the Bird School Project from 10 a.m. to noon. Sunday will feature a lecture titled “Jewels in the garden: a Darwinian natural history of hummingbirds” at 1 p.m. with Bruce Lyon, professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCSC.

The Arboretum is home to an abundance of native and exotic plants that attract hummingbirds! In fact, many bird species rely upon the Arboretum for food, shelter and raising young. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and youth (4-17) $5. Learn more at arboretum.ucsc.edu/visit/bird-list/index.html.

Good Weeds, Bad Weeds workshop

Attend a workshop hosted by UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology to learn all about weeds from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at 94 Ranch View Road. The Good Weeds, Bad Weeds Workshop will offer a balanced perspective on weeds, exploring their ecological benefits alongside the challenges they pose in gardens. Learn how some weeds support beneficial insects while also understanding their competitive impact on desired plants.

Led by farm adviser Richard Smith, the session will focus on practical weed identification techniques, both by type and by season. Participants will also learn how to independently research and identify weeds, a valuable skill for ongoing garden management. A key component of the workshop will be exploring effective organic management strategies, emphasizing environmentally friendly approaches such as hand-pulling, mulching and other sustainable methods. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own weeds for expert identification and will also participate in a guided “weed walk” for hands-on learning in a real-world setting. Admission is $40.

Registration is required at calendar.ucsc.edu/event/good-weeds-bad-weeds.

Honeybee installation demonstrated

Join the Santa Cruz Beekeepers Guild monthly meeting at 7 p.m. April 2 at the El Rio Mobile Home Park Community Room at 2120 N. Pacific Ave., held the first Wednesday of each month. This month there will be a hands-on bee package installation demo. Perfect for new beekeepers and experienced members alike. Learn proper handling techniques, queen introduction and first week management tips from seasoned guild members. Attendees are encouraged to come with questions.

Do not park inside the mobile home park or along the fence at Lenz Arts. Usage of the Lenz Arts lot is allowed. Metered street parking is also available.

Visit santacruzbees.com.

FELTON

Call for gardening volunteers

Come join other native plant enthusiasts at Felton Discovery Park, 6121 Gushee St., adjacent to the Felton Library, from 9 a.m. to noon April 5. Volunteers will beautify the park by gardening and removing weeds in the native plant beds. Refreshments and tools will be provided.

For more information, email County Parks Volunteer Coordinator Margaret Ingraham at margaret.ingraham@santacruzcountyca.gov.

SANTA CRUZ

California Native Plant Society talk

The California Native Plant Society’s next public meeting and lecture starts at 6 p.m. April 7 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 E. Cliff Drive. A session on using botanical keys for plant identification is planned for 6 p.m. followed by a short general meeting at 7 and a talk by the Land Trust Santa Cruz’s Mark Bibbo about the nonprofit’s current mission, strategy and protection of native plant hotspots such as the Glenwood Preserve in Scotts Valley, the San Vicente Redwoods and over 600 acres of sandhills habitat in Santa Cruz County.

General meetings are open to the public every other month. For details visit chapters.cnps.org/santacruz/events.

LIVE OAK

Evening garden exchange

Stop by the Garden Exchange for some fresh gardening inspiration as spring weather arrives. Join the garden community for this month’s garden exchange and workshop, from 5 to 6 p.m. April 9 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.

This is the ideal time to prepare your garden for a vibrant spring bloom. 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. Bring your questions, ideas and enthusiasm.

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

The Garden Digest is compiled by Jesselyn Rego. To submit calendar items including anything garden related, email sentinelhomeandgarden@gmail.com.