Petaluma
Native Plants in the home garden: Are you a native plant enthusiast? Sonoma County Master Gardener Bill Klausing, Rosemary McCreary and Linda King lead a talk on “Native Plants in the Home Garden” from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Petaluma Bounty Unity Garden, 55 Shasta Ave.
The workshop will discuss California native plants and how they can transform a home landscape. We’ll dive into the nitty gritty of selecting and planting the right plants, understanding plant communities, and creating habitats. We’ll also explore how to promote a sustainable landscape that welcomes all visitors to your garden while fostering a healthy ecosystem. There will be a period for answering all your questions.
Spaces are limited. This is a free event, but registration is required: Go to https://tinyurl.com/ym2eubr2 or http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ Upcoming Events to complete registration.
Healdsburg
Introduction to Composting: Starting at hot pile or worm bin: Sonoma County Master Gardener Jennifer Roberts leads the workshop “Introduction to Composting: Starting a hot pile or worm bin” from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 4 at the Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St.
Learn how to turn yard debris and kitchen scraps into wonderfully rich compost to use as a soil amendment or mulch in your garden. Discover the basics of composting and worm composting and find a system that’s right for you.
Registration required: Go to https://tinyurl.com/y9w3tkry or sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ Upcoming Events to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk.
Santa Rosa
Be nice to the Earth: scraps to soil: In honor of North Bay Zero Waste Week, Sonoma County Master Gardeners is hosting an event featuring hands-on activities, workshops and giveaways for all ages from 10 a.m. to noon. Oct. 11 at Los Guilicos Teaching and Demonstration Garden, 1 Los Guilicos Road.
Featured workshops include the ins and outs of compost, vermiculture and worm wrangling, ancient corn, and sustainable gardening. Several groups will host informational tables, including Sonoma County Master Gardeners, Sonoma County Master Food Preservers, Sonoma County Beekeepers Association and Zero Waste Sonoma.
Registration required: go to https://tinyurl.com/3k9bxnaz or https://sonomamg.ucanr.edu Upcoming Events to complete your registration. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the workshop, including directions to the Los Guilicos Demonstration and Teaching Garden.
Cloverdale
Good bugs vs. bad bugs: Sonoma County Master Gardener Bruce Robinson will discuss how home gardeners can create productive vegetable gardens using insectary plants that are intentionally introduced to attract the “good” bugs to the garden. The workshop is from 10:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 at Cloverdale Regional Library, 401 North Cloverdale Blvd.
These “good” bugs will help to biologically control the “bad” bugs that cause damage to plants.
Registration required: Go to https://tinyurl.com/57nnebr7 or http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ Upcoming Events to complete registration. A confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk will be sent after registration.
Bodega Bay
Choosing landscape plants that thrive on the Sonoma Coast: Fall is the best time to plant, and choosing plants that thrive in our unique coastal zone will help ensure success for your home landscape. Join Sonoma County Master Gardeners for talk about evaluating your space, preparing for sustainable planting, and selecting mostly native plants for easy maintenance, beauty, and attracting pollinators.
The talk is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 18 at the Bodega Harbour Clubhouse, 21301 Heron Drive in South Harbor.
This is a free event, but registration is required: Go to https://tinyurl.com/y42js38n or http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ Upcoming Events to complete registration. For more information contact: Tami at tstolte@comcast.net
Rohnert Park
Adding beauty and interest to your garden with California native plants: There are lots of wonderful California native shrubs and perennials that make perfect additions to existing gardens and are great replacements for better known non-native plants. Learn more about them at a workshop led by Master Gardener Linda King from 2-3:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Rohnert Park Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way.
King will discuss some reasons for adding California native plants to your garden and look at some core native plants that are easy to care for and make great additions to any existing garden.
Registration required: Go to https://tinyurl.com/2heb7nma or http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ Upcoming Events to complete your registration. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk.
Sebastopol
Succulent plant sale: Sonoma County Master Gardeners will host a succulent plant sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High Street.
Succulents are a great fire-wise, water-wise and colorful plant for your garden. Four-inch and one-gallon succulents starting at just $5 will be available along with various container arrangements.
Cash or checks only. Proceeds benefit UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County.
Sebastopol
What does it take to grow ‘great garlic’?: At this year’s annual Community Seed Exchange garlic-growing class, attendees will hear from a panel of enthusiastic and knowledgeable garlic growers about what it takes to grow a great crop of garlic. There are different ways to approach growing garlic. We will be convening a panel of experts to share their approaches and different ways to get a great crop. Join us for the class and then if interested select some garlic to grow for the Chester Aaron Garlic Stewardship Program. Become a garlic steward and help care for our diverse collection. Sara McCamant with 30 years of garlic growing experience will moderate. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Oct. 25, at St.Stephens Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol. Free. Information: communityseedexchange.org
Petaluma
Healthy ecosystems depend on biodiversity: Climate change is creating havoc on the world around us. What can home gardeners do to support the environment around them? How can you make your garden come alive? Master Gardener Suzanne Clarke will suggest ways to attract beneficial insects and butterflies to your garden during a talk from 10:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 25 at Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive.
Registration required: Go to https://tinyurl.com/464r3syy or sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk.
Sonoma County
Curious about becoming a UC Master Gardener?: Have a love for gardening and a heart for community service? Applications are now open for the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County’s Class of 2026.
UC Master Gardeners volunteer their time and expertise to help local residents with all aspects of home gardening and landscaping. As trained educators with the University of California Cooperative Extension, they share science-based horticultural knowledge—from composting and irrigation to fire-wise landscaping and plant health.
Join us at an information session where Master Gardeners will share first-hand what they do and answer your questions about the Master Gardener Program. Four sessions in August to choose from. For more information and to register go to https://tinyurl.com/ymvx4pb2.
Santa Rosa
Public tours continuing through October at Luther Burbank’s Santa Rosa Home & Gardens: Visit botanist Luther Burbank’s gardens in Santa Rosa. Drop-in, guided tours are offered 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays through October. Admission: $12 for adults; $10 for children ages 12-18, seniors and college students; free for children under 12 with an adult are free. Tours include the home with its original furnishings, the greenhouse, a portion of the gardens, and a summary of Burbank’s life and achievements here in Santa Rosa. Group Tours and Children’s Tours are available with advance reservations. Call 707-524-5445 or email burbankhome@lutherburbank.org to confirm availability. Please note: Pets are not allowed in the gardens. Service animals only.
(Send Home & Garden related events to Yovanna.Bieberich@pressdemocrat.com)