October 2010 Gardening Events & More....

This month is super busy! There is a lot to do to inspire you and best of all it is one of the best months of the year to plant in Southern California. So…if you haven’t planned your fall garden, get crackin’ or CALL ME!



As always, I want to remind you to shop local, and get the freshest produce around by heading out to the local Farmer’s Markets in Santa Clarita:

Sundays 8:00am – noon
College of The Canyons Parking Lot
Don’t forget to visit my friend Sarah from Worldwide Exotics – put her on your list and utilize her expertise!
There is also another great Farmer’s Market:
Thursdays in Old Town Newhall from 3-7pm.

Sat - 10/2/10 11:00 am – 4 pm
Bromeliad Plant Show and Sale
Tio Chucha’s Centro Cultural 13197 Gladstone Ave. in Sylmar, CA
You can grow epiphytic and terrestrial Bromeliad plants in Southern California. Bromeliads are plants of the America's that occupy dry environments to rainforests.
info@tiachucha.com

Sat & Sun - 10/2/10 – 10/3/10 9:00 am – 6pm
Festival of The Arts – Old Town Newhall, Main Street
This exciting two-day festival sponsored by Lockheed Federal Credit Union will be located along Main Street between Lyons Avenue and 5th Street. This year the highlight of the festival is the process of art. All weekend long, watch street painters, visual, digital, and multimedia artists create a works of art, from a beginning conception to the final masterpiece. For more information, contact the City’s Arts & Events Office at (661)286-4018 or visit the website.

Saturday - 10/3/10 - 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden (Bamboo Room)
Plant Information
A free class on a variety of plant-related topics, with botanist Frank McDonough

Sat - 10/9/10 - 9:30 – 11:30 am
Beginning Smart Gardening Workshop - Composting Info
William S. Hart Park 24151 N. Newhall Ave. Newhall, 91321
Attend a FREE Smart Gardening Workshop and learn more about backyard composting, worm composting, grass recycling, water-wise gardening, and fire-wise gardening! Compost bins can be purchased at the subsidized prices of $40 each for a backyard compost bin and $65 each for a worm compost bin (this price includes 1/2 lb of worms).

As a note, I bought my worm bin at the class and then found almost the same worm compost bin at a nursery the cost on that bin was $149.99! Quite a savings if you purchase at the class. My worms are happily eating my table scraps in the shade of my backyard and I have less waste!



Sat. 10/9/10 – 1 pm - Center Circle
Camellia Collection Sneak Peak
Descanso Horticulturist Wayne Walker leads a tour of Descanso’s famed camellia collection. Discover the many varieties of this beloved flower in our Garden – including the camellia leaf that is the basis for ordinary tea.
Free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children 5-12.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-7980

Thursdays 10/7/10, 10/14/10, 10/21/10 & 10/28/10
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Garden Talks with Lili Singer
Fall 2010: 8 Thursdays, September 16-November 11
9:30am–Noon / Palm Room
$100 for the series, $20 per class / Reservations or you may pay at the door
Information and registration: 626.821.4623 or jill.berry@arboretum.org

Sun - 10/10/10 – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bow Wows & Meows Pet Fair – William S. Hart Park 24151 Newhall Ave.
Santa Clarita, California 91321
Come and celebrate our 10th Annual Pet Fair! FREE to all, this years fair is sure to be our BEST yet! Over 70 vendors of pet related supplies and services, raffle, yummy people food, "kidz zone", demonstrations, animal photographer and artist, pet psychic, shows, low cost vaccine clinic, and of course: lots of dogs, cats, puppies & kittens from all 6 LA County Animal Shelters, available for adoption - in search of their forever homes! Pets on leashes are welcome. Info: Yvonne Allbee 661-297-5961 or info@BowWowsAndMeows.org

Sat 10/16/10 – 10:00 – 11:30
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Around the World in 127 Acres - Frank McDonough, instructor
Arboretum Edibles
Take a tour of some of the Arboretum's eminently edible plants with a possible taste tasting included.
$5.00 Members/$7.00 Non-Members

Sat & Sun 10/16/10 & 10/17/10 – 10 am – 4 pm
Autumn Air
Descanso Gardens will celebrate the changing of the seasons and a California artistic tradition with “Autumn Air” on Oct. 16-17.
Local artists who will be creating at easels set up under Descanso’s famed oaks, and observe masterpieces in the making. Artists will also have works for sale at Autumn Air. The event is free with admission to Descanso Gardens. Participants can also register for special workshops during the event. There are workshops for children & adults. Space in the workshops is limited; advance registration is recommended. To register for the workshops, phone (818) 949-7980. Fees for classes and programs include Gardens admission.
Free (except for workshops) with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children 5-12.



Sat - 10/16/10 – 11 am
Paint Your Garden With Wildflowers
Toss seed balls into the garden to spread colorful wildflowers throughout. This event runs concurrently with the Autumn Air art event. Adults will create seed balls in this class. Space limited; advance registration recommended.
$20, $15 for members
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-7980

Sun - 10/17/10 – 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Breakfast with the Gibbons – Santa Clarita Gibbon Conservation Center
19100 Esquerra Road Santa Clarita, California 91390Clarita, California
$10-$40 Children 5 and under are free.
This is the annual fundraiser for the rare singing apes of Santa Clarita at the Gibbon Conservation Center, across from Lombardi Ranch off of Bouquet Canyon. Vegan breakfast, childrens area, entertainment, silent auction, raffle and special tour of this world-famous facility. For more information and tickets: www.gibboncenter.org

Sun - 10/17/10 – 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Oktoberfest – Saugus Swap Meet 22500 Soledad Canyon Rd Santa Clarita, California $1.50 adults, Kids under 12 FREE,
A German Band will entertain and set the mood. And of course there will be German food and beer to complete the Oktoberfest experience.
Contact: 661.259.3886 sandra.speedway@yahoo.com

Fri – Sun - 10/22/10 – 10/24/10 - 9 am – 4 pm
Harvest Festival and Plant Fair
Autumn is peak gardening time in Southern California. Lots of events – see details.
The Harvest Festival and Plant Fair is free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students and $3 children 5-12.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr.
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-7980



Sat 10/23/10
Out of The Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention
Please join my friend Candice Hirst & I along with Team Mo in our walk in Santa Monica for this amazing organization. If you can’t walk, please think about donating. I will be joining with thousands of people nationwide to walk in AFSP's Los Angeles WalkOut of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I would appreciate any support that you give me for this worthwhile cause. Check out My donation page

Sat 10/23/10 – 10:00 – 11:30
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Around the World in 127 Acres - Frank McDonough, instructor
World Wide Weavers An introduction to the uses, history and anthropology of the fabric-producing plants that grow at the Arboretum.
$5.00 Members/$7.00 Non-Members

Tuesday - 10/26/10 – 6pm
Santa Clarita Valley Green Drinks Meetup
New Moon Restaurant
28281 Newhall Ranch Rd
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 257-4321
Green Drinks allows for anyone concerned about environmental issues to get together over a drink. Green Drinks events are very simple, informal, unstructured, and self-organizing. We bring together the environmental community and have fun doing it! Please join
Green Drinks SCV MeetUp


This amazing Jack-o-lantern was made by my wonderful friend, Keith Dudley, of Blackstar Amplification.

Sat 10/30/10 – 10:00 am – 2:00pm
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Goblins In the Garden
Celebrate Halloween and explore the wonders of the Arboretum grounds with activities for children ages 10 and younger including nature-related crafts, art and gardening activities, botanical demonstrations, games, face painting, photo opportunities and lots of tricks and treats! Special surprises for all children dressed in costume.
Information call Nancy Carlton at 626.802-8471 or email nancy.carlton@arboretum.org.
$5.00 per child for Arboretum members/$10.00 per child for non-members; regular Arboretum admission fees apply for non-members.

10/30/10 - 9:30 – 11:30 am
Beginning Smart Gardening Workshop - Composting Info
Castaic Lake Water Agency 27234 Bouquet Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita, 91350

Attend a FREE Smart Gardening Workshop and learn more about backyard composting, worm composting, grass recycling, water-wise gardening, and fire-wise gardening! Compost bins can be purchased at the subsidized prices of $40 each for a backyard compost bin and $65 each for a worm compost bin (this price includes 1/2 lb of worms).

As a note, I bought my worm bin at the class and then found almost the same worm compost bin at a nursery the cost on that bin was $149.99! Quite a savings if you purchase at the class. My worms are happily eating my table scraps in the shade of my backyard and I have less waste!

For more on my designs, check out my NEW website!