MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 1

GARDENING ON THE EDG E

NEWSLETTER OF THE MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS
Number 125 — August/September 2007

Report of the 2007 Smart Gardening Faire — Tom Karwin, MG99

On June 23, the Smart Gardening Faire provided another Christina Kriedt (’06) designed and maintained the Faire’s
annual opportunity for the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners presence on the Internet, through both montereybaymas
organization to pursue its educational mission. tergardeners.org and smartgardening.org, and she and
This year, the Faire focused on three themes: Kathleen Sonntag (’06) published the Faire’s progress
1. The basic message advocates sustainable gardening and reports (including the one you are reading now) in Gardening
landscaping, through the application of research-based, on the Edge.
environmentally friendly practices. The Faire Players
2. The additional (and wholly compatible) message en- When the day of the Faire arrived, an enthusiastic group of
courages using water wisely, a particularly important issue Master Gardeners came forward with their knowledge,
during this year’s drought conditions. talent and energy, and made the day succeed. Here are the
3. The third message raises awareness of how the Light Faire Players for 2007:
Brown Apple Moth currently threatens both ornamental
horticulture and commercial agriculture within the Paula Anthony ’06 John Kiegelis ’06 Dennis O'Hara ’01
Monterey Bay region and throughout the state. Dan Bowman ’06 Janet Maleski ’04 Amy Savage ’06
Mary Bowman ’06 Nancy Martella ’06 Tammy Tahara ’06
In addition, the Faire provides a unique occasion for the Mary Bull ’06 Candice McLaren ’01 Kathryn Tobisch ’04
region’s garden-related organizations and businesses to Sue Forson ’04 Paul Milladin ’06 Brenda Wood ’06
collaborate in creating a celebration of home gardening, Darcy Horton ’06
generating revenues and recruiting members or clients.
The Faire Leaders Local Boy Scouts helped exhibitors and visitors by moving
This year’s members include Cynthia Jordan (’94), Tom their items to and from the parking area in little red wagons
Karwin (’99), Sheryl McEwan (’03), Bonnie Pond (’00), borrowed from Cabrillo College’s Horticulture Department.
Betsy Shea (’04), Randa Solick (’06), Simon Stapleton (’06)
and Rina Weingold (’06). continued next page

Smart Gardening Faire Report TOUR: Evolution of a Westside Garden

TOUR: Tickets and Eats & Treats TOUR: The Homeless Garden Project
TOUR: Maps Confessions: Floral Fulfillment
TOUR: Hillside Garden in Rio Del Mar Al’s Corner: Birdbaths, Self-Tending
TOUR: Petit Garden: A Manageable Oasis Update: Growing Tomatoes Upside Down
TOUR: Rooms What’s Blooming in Your Garden?
TOUR: A Hobby Farm Etcetera
2 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS
The MBMG Info Tent (Cynthia Jordan, coordinator)
As the Faire’s visitors arrived, they first encountered the
MBMG Info Tent, which identified the Monterey Bay Master
Gardeners as the host organization and provided a variety of
services. In addition to providing information about the Faire
itself, and distributing the program published by Metro Santa
Cruz, the volunteers at the Info Tent told people about
UCCE’s Master Gardener Program, answered questions about
trees and general gardening (including questions about the
Light Brown Apple Moth, compared with the California
Oakworm), raffled container gardens created by Fran
Albrecht, managed a holding area for plants, recognized the
Faire’s sponsors with a large banner, sold birdhouses and
compost sifters from the Youth Garden and conducted a
popular give away of seeds from Shepherd’s Seeds and garden
catalogs, magazines and other publications.
Smart Gardening Speakers
The central function of the Faire was to present highly
qualified speakers on numerous gardening topics. We are
most grateful to these speakers, who voluntarily shared their
expertise with the Faire’s visitors. Here are the speakers of the
2007 Smart Gardening Faire, with their topics.
Fran Albrecht, Albrecht–Souza Designs: Creating Deer-
resistant, Drought Tolerant Container Gardens
Joe Biondo, Sun & Wind Nursery: The World of
Succulents
Mark Bolda, University of California Cooperative
Extension, Santa Cruz County: Invasion of the Light
Brown Apple Moth
Sherry Bryan, Ecology Action: Biological Agents in the
Garden (IPM)
Barrie Coate, Consulting Horticulturist: Trees in the
Home Garden Landscape
Roxanne Evans, Ecocentric Designs: Your Garden as an
Ecosystem: Providing Habitat for Birds, Butterflies and
You
Angel Guerzon, Silver Tree Designs: Invasive Plants
Introduced through Horticulture
Kevin Larkin, Corralitos Gardens & Monterey Bay Dahlia
Society: Cultivating Dahlias
Monique Smith Lee, California Bat Conservation Fund:
Bats – Our Friends in the Garden
Otto Lund, Monterey Bay Rose Society: Unusual Roses
for the Garden
Bobby Markowitz, Earthcraft Landscape Design:
Rainwater Harvesting in the Home Garden
Fred and Lisa McAndrews, Horticulture Department,
Cabrillo College: The Gardens at Cabrillo College
Linda McNair, Surf City Growers: Organic Ornamental
Gardening Made Easy
Fred Mc Pherson, San Lorenzo Valley Water District
Board: A Watershed Runs Through Us: A Watershed
Approach to Gardening
Alrie Middlebrook, Middlebrook Gardens: Designing
California Native Gardens (her timely new book, with
Glenn Keator)
Monterey Bay Master Gardeners (Panel): Planning &
Creating a Garden in Your Child’s School
Robin Sanders, Monterey Bay Master Gardeners:
Propagating Plants in the Home Garden
Diane Sampson, Monterey Bay Iris Society: Cultivating
the Iris Rainbow
Renee Shepherd, Renee’s Garden: Rainbow Gardening –
The Ultimate Kitchen Garden
Colin Smith, Santa Cruz Orchid Society: Three Orchids
for Novices
Thomas Wittman, Gophers, Limited: Non-toxic
Burrowing Rodent Control
The Faire’s Exhibitors
The 2007 Faire had forty-eight exhibitors, all of whom were
listed in the Faire’s program and are still listed on
smartgardening.org. We were particularly pleased that
seventeen (35%) of these exhibitors were plant societies and
other garden-oriented non-profit groups or public agencies.
We encouraged the exhibitors to contribute their
perspectives to the educational mission of the Faire. They
brought to the event a wealth of expertise and strong
commitment to environmentally sound gardening practices.
The most popular exhibitors (and there were many more)
included The Bat Lady (Monique Smith Lee & Friends), The
Gopher Guy (Tom Wittman), the 4-H Clubs of Felton and
Scotts Valley (Ben Wildman & Friends), and the Life Lab of
Gateway School (Caprice Foster & Friends).
Special Events and Food
This year’s Big Event was a very popular pond-building
demonstration conducted by Brookside Garden, which came
from Santa Clara, California. This great demonstration was
the first stop of the 2007 Parade of Ponds, as part of a co-
promotion agreement between the Faire and the Parade of
Ponds, which happens on the same weekend as the Faire. By
promoting each other’s event rather than competing, the two
groups shared the weekend’s visitors and both succeeded.
Other special events included:
Music by Bluegrass Stomp (a.m.) and the Cabrillo College
Farmer’s Market String Band (p.m.), with comfortable
hay bale seating in the gazebo, close to the food vendors.
Guided Tour of the Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants in
Skypark’s Nature Walk.
Home Composting Workshop conducted by Santa Cruz
County Home Composting Program.
Excellent food was provided by Agape Feast, Fat Cat Deli,
La Bruschetta and the Santa Cruz County Foster Parents
Association.
Promotion of the Faire by Betsy Shea and Christina Kriedt
MG Betsy Shea masterminded the Faire’s publicity campaign,
as she did in 2006. She built on last year’s experience and was
successful in the ever-challenging task of raising the general
public’s awareness of the upcoming event. In addition to
publishing the Faire’s program in a special supplement of the
weekly Metro Santa Cruz, Betsy created several display ads
and press releases for publication in local newspapers, public
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007
service announcements aired on KAZU-FM radio station, a
“rack card” and a poster which were distributed through local
garden centers and other businesses in the Monterey Bay area.
The Faire also benefited significantly from the promotional
activities of other organizations. Notably, the Water
Awareness Committees of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties
jointly funded a large number of public service
announcements that were aired on KWAV-FM and KPIG-FM
radio stations during the week prior to the Faire. In addition,
several local garden-related groups published lengthy reports
based on the Faire’ releases.
Our promotional efforts included our “high-tech” channel:
smartgardening.org. This website, developed by Christina
Kriedt, provided prospective exhibitors access to an
application form. It provided prospective visitors with up-to-
date information on the Faire’s exhibitors, speakers and
special events. In response to requests, we added driving
directions and a link to information on local lodgings. We also
included an audio file of the public service announcement that
the two Water Awareness Committees produced.
Monthly usage statistics for smartgardening.org show that it
was visited 2,135 times during June, for a daily average of 71
visits. The usage nearly doubled the typical usage in May and
previous months, so our publicity campaign apparently
encouraged visits to the website.
Attendance at the Faire
Our best estimate is that 3,000 people attended this 2007
Smart Gardening Faire. The photographs taken during the day
show that the number of visitors was clearly much greater
than in 2006, when we estimated 1,500 visitors.
The 2008 Smart Gardening Faire will be on the Summer Solstice, Saturday, June 21st. Mark your calendar!
3
Sponsors of the Faire
The 2007 Faire received substantial support from several
sponsors in addition to MBMG. The Gold Sponsors included
the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and the Scotts Valley
Water District. The in-kind sponsors at the gold level
included the City of Scotts Valley, Metro Santa Cruz, the
Water Committees of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties,
Shea-Campbell & Associates and Thomas Karwin &
Associates.
The 2007 Faire’s Silver Sponsor was the City of Santa Cruz
Water Department.
The Bronze Sponsors included Goldsmith Seeds, Peaceful
Valley Farm & Garden Supply and the Valley Women’s Club.
We are very grateful for the participation of these sponsors.
Their financial support covers most of the Faire’s actual
expenses and their in-kind contributions allow us to avoid
other expenses that otherwise would be unavoidable.
What We Learned for 2008
We are still learning! Several of the exhibitors reported good
sales and new contacts. Visitors liked the spacious layout, the
huge selection of plant material, the good prices and the mix
of vendors. In the near future, we will send a brief survey to
the Master Gardeners who attended and the exhibitors to
invite their suggestions for improving the event in 2008.
We have already heard the following big ideas for next year:
• Have the rental company set up the canopies, tables and
chairs, and remove them at the end of the day;
• Have just two speaking venues, at least until the
audiences grow to warrant a third venue; and
• Provide shuttle services from the parking area. Î
4 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

2007 Masters Garden Tour

—Advance Ticket Sales
You can purchase your 2007 Masters Garden Tour tickets
at these fine stores (links to websites):
Aptos Monterey
Hidden Gardens Swenson & Silacci Flowers
Native Revival Nursery Moss Landing
Carmel Elkhorn Native Plant Nursery
Homescapes, Carmel Pacific Grove
Brinton’s Pacific Grove Florist
Carmel Valley Salinas
FezQ Gardens Bokay Nursery
Valley Hills Nursery McShane’s Nursery & Landscape
Corralitos Swenson & Silacci Flowers
Aladdin Nursery Santa Cruz
Felton The Garden Company
The Plant Works Lumbermens Garden Center
Gilroy Far West Nursery
West Side Nursery Scotts Valley
Hollister Scarborough Gardens
Paidl Gardens & Accents Watsonville
Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens
Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour at the garden of
Ann Weeks, 6060 Freedom Boulevard, Aptos, and the Homeless Garden
Project, on Shaffer Rd. off Delaware Ave. in Santa Cruz.

Tour Eats and Treats—Sharon Ettinger, MG00

There’s no shortage of good places to stop for a bite along the
MBMG Garden Tour trail. There are two main areas…the
west side of Santa Cruz and Aptos.
West Side of Santa Cruz
Mission Street (Highway 1) is filled with numerous places
to eat, including many fast food restaurants, pizza parlors
and a Carpos. But if you’re looking for something unique for
breakfast or lunch, try Café Brasil at 1410 Mission St. (on the
north side of Mission just west of Bay). They’re known for
their omelettes, unusual smoothies and Brazilian specialties.
Check out their menu at CafeBrasil.com. New Leaf Market at
2351 Mission (south side of Mission) offers healthy fare with
a deli for sandwiches and Beckmann’s Old World Bakery is next
door.
As you travel to The Homeless Garden Project, turn off
Mission onto Swift Street (towards the ocean) and look for
the Swift Street Courtyard on your left (corner Swift and
Ingalls). In this artfully restored warehouse complex you will
find Kelly’s French Bakery, where, along with delectable
pastries, you can order eggs and Peet's coffee for breakfast.
Or if you end up in that vicinity at lunchtime, Kelly’s also
serves a variety of items including salads, pressed sandwiches
and fish tacos. Enjoy dining in their charming courtyard
shaded by umbrellas.
Aptos
There are two shopping centers with many dining choices.
Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center (with Safeway) off State
Park Drive and Deer Park Shopping Center (with Deluxe
Foods) off Rio Del Mar Blvd.
In the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center you’ll find Starbucks
inside the Safeway and Aptos Coffee Roasting Company next
door. Continue towards Aptos Cinemas and surrounding a
courtyard for alfresco dining, you’ll have your choice of Aptos
Burger Company, Erick’s Deli Café, Sofia’s Taqueria, Showtime
Pizzeria and Baskin Robbins. If that doesn’t suffice, across the
street is Sushi on the Run.
On the way to Claudia Bolton’s garden, you’ll be near Deluxe
Foods of Aptos (783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. just past the Arco
station). Deluxe Foods includes a salad bar, sandwich deli,
Peet’s coffee bar, as well as anything else you’d expect from
an upscale grocery store. Upstairs there’s The Red Apple Cafe
for a sit down breakfast or lunch and Pizza Amore that sells
pizza by the slice. Bittersweet Express, behind the Arco station
offers pastries, breakfast burritos, soups, salads and
sandwiches to take out or enjoy outside at bistro tables. Both
Deluxe Foods and Bittersweet Express would be ideal for
selections to take home for dinner. Bon appetit! Î
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 5

Santa Cruz: map continues below

1 — The Homeless Garden Project

2 — Pat Davis
3 — Barbara Gordon
4 — Candice McLaren

Mark your calendar

for the 2007 Masters
Garden Tour

Saturday
September 8th
Your ticket will include a
complete map, addresses,
and information about
special events such as the
Plant Sale, Raffle, Arts and
Crafts, Youth Garden
display, and Grant display.

continued from above

Aptos:

5 — Claudia Boulton
6 — Ann Weeks
6 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

A Hillside Garden in Rio Del Mar — Claudia Boulton, MG99

Only five years ago,
my garden was a steep
hillside covered with
mown weeds that
could be viewed from
the back deck of the
house 30 feet above –
but who would want
to? The only dash of
color and cultivation
in this wasteland was
a raised bed in three
tiers built for the
roses I missed from
my former garden “over the hill,” but the roses didn’t like the
fog in Rio Del Mar, and getting to the garden was a dangerous
trek down a slippery hill.
My husband Warwick, also a long-time gardener in
England’s wet climate, thought the area was worth
developing. We had some help designing and installing the
hardscape in the spring of 2003, but we created the rest of the
garden ourselves. Today it is a series of garden “rooms,” and
includes a winding path down the hill through the California
Native area to a series of terraces, bursting with color and a
charming mix of native and Mediterranean plants, old
favorites and the new plants that I constantly experiment
with for my recently launched garden design business.
You will see the Shade Garden with camellias, rhododen-
drons, hydrangeas and ferns under the spreading branches of
a Monterey cypress. Across from that lies the California
Cottage Garden filled with a mix of salvias, gaura,
alstroemeria, succulents and the roses that survive in this
summer fog belt. Edging the lower seating terrace is a mixed
border of hollyhocks, ginger lily, borage, forget-me-nots and
one of my favorite plants, Himalayan gloxinia (Incarvillea
arguta). This is backed by a mixed hedge of cotoneaster,
pyracantha, myoporum and Carpenteria californica, lovingly
maintained by my husband. And everywhere there are
foxgloves – lavender, rose, pink, yellow, white. They seem to
love this microclimate and seedlings appear everywhere –
look for some at the plant sale.
The newest development is the Companion Planting area,
added this year. Because of a persistent scourge of rose slugs
attacking my roses over the last 3 years, I decided to combat
them the Master Gardener way – naturally. Inspired by an
article written by Rich Merrill, former head of the
Horticulture department at Cabrillo College, I packed a small
area with plants that attract predators and parasitoids, the
insects that eat the insects that spoil our ornamental plants.
It includes too many plants to list here, but look for a hand-
out about companion planting when you tour my garden. Î
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 7

Petit Garden: A Manageable Oasis — Pat Davis, MG06

When I moved into my patio home, the only tree I planted
was a Blenheim Apricot tree. After ten years it may be too
large for the space, but the apricots (when the tree produces)
are tasty and make delicious jam. My grandson particularly
likes the jam on French toast. Each year my neighbors keep
their fingers crossed for a good crop and a jar of apricot jam.
Perhaps you are wondering “What is a patio home?” In this
case, it is a home with a patio in the front and a patio in the
back. All the rooms in my home have sliding glass doors
looking out to either the front or the back patio, so I consider
my garden to be an extension of my home.
Once when I was in New Orleans, I peeked behind a
deteriorating gate and saw a very private lush garden
surrounded by high walls—the contrast was a lovely
surprise. It is no wonder that when you open my weathered
gate there is a contrast of foliage – some colorful, some a
backdrop for the walled-in garden; perhaps a tiny memory of
that New Orleans garden.
Container gardening works well for me, and I like to grow
Cymbidiums, geraniums, and succulents in containers. Master
Gardeners gave me the idea to install a drip system, and with
the help of The Garden Company it is up and running.
Some succulents were left by the previous owner, and I have
added to that family because I am fascinated by their
diversity and ability to survive and thrive with little care–
except that a few of my favorites spent the coldest winter
nights inside.
The passion flower was hit hard by the winter freeze as was
the Crotalaria agatiflora (canary bird bush) but both are
coming back, and should be healthy and maybe even
blooming on September 8 for the Garden Tour. I get very
excited when the tree fern (also severely damaged in the
frost) puts forth another frond.
The Cymbidiums started out as my choice of colorful flowers
inside the house (instead of cut flowers) and when the
blooming period was over, I moved them outside and
replaced them with another blooming Cymbidium. Now, all of
a sudden, I have a collection!
This small garden attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and a
wren who takes her daily bath in the fountain. After having
lived on acreage for over 20 years, I find this to be a very
manageable garden – it gets weeds and snails, of course, but
most of the time they are harvested before they get out of
hand. Î
8 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

Rooms—Barbara Gordon, MG06 On one side of the house, three raised beds contain vegetables
I started this garden in with one espaliered fruit tree at the back of each. On the
Santa Cruz 12 years ago shaded side, under a Leptospermum tree and a Callistemon
by "Rounding Up" the citrinus, there is my woodland, "White Garden," with white
ubiquitous Bermuda azaleas, white Japanese anemones, white Euphorbia, white
grass, watering and Astilbe and others.
"Rounding Up" again
As you approach the back of the house using the railroad-tie
then hauling off about 4
inches of soil to the steps, you pass a rock garden with many Sedum and a naval
dump, boo hoo!! New orange tree. In back of the house I have three types of
soil was brought in and compost demonstrations; one a worm bin, another worm
Red Ruby clover tower and one conventional, slow-compost, tiered Smith and
inoculated with Hawkins bin. On the side away from the house between two
bacterium was planted; redwood retaining walls is a terraced "Australian perennial"
after about 1 month all plants were turned into the soil and a garden.
combination of perennials and edibles were planted. Since Down three steps to the hillside is a narrow uneven pathway
then, berms have been created and now the garden surrounds where a plethora of California natives and three fruit trees
all four sides of the house including the sloping hillside can be viewed. Turning the third corner, you view a succulent
behind the house. I call the gardens " Rooms." garden in pots hung on a grapestake fence, then a gate to
another four fruit trees and raised beds with herbs and
In the front, one side is rather contemplative: my "Japanese
lettuces.
style" garden with a bench and a 40-50 year old Michelia tree
and a younger, Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' on a berm There are seating areas in almost all the garden rooms, plus
with a ground cover of woolly thyme. The other side is my some humorous sights and tiny goddesses, if you take time to
"English garden" is a berm with natives including two Ribes. look carefully! Î
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 9

A Hobby Farm—Bonnie Pond, MG00

The garden of Master Gardener Ann Weeks and her
daughter, Cindy Ellis, is a working small farm. The garden/
farm is located on three levels.
The top level of the garden contains a pumpkin patch,
sunflowers, trees and a cutting garden full of flowers for
bouquets. This area is subject to gopher activity and is under
constant siege from the nasty varmints.
Growing on the middle level are fruit trees, flowers and
raspberries. The berries are subject to deer damage.
The entrance to the farm area features a recycled wooden
water tank that has been turned into a Honey Hut. Honey
from the bee hives is processed for sale. The roof is an upside
down recycled satellite dish. Recycled tile steps lead into a
red door. The windows are decorated with red shutters and
window boxes. Behind the Honey Hut is a hillside of grasses
and planted “Christmas” trees.
On the first level, chickens of many varieties and sizes are
housed in interesting coops. The chickens, as well as several
varieties of ducks, serve as a natural way to reduce the bug
and snail population of the garden. One coop is a tiki hut,
another is a gazebo. The chicken house is a barn. Other
buildings on this level are a greenhouse and prep areas.
All around the garden are areas for sitting and enjoying the
ambience. Look closely up, down and around to see the many
unique and interesting garden items located throughout the
garden. There are wonderful birdhouses everywhere and a
scarecrow in a sweatshirt. Items on poles indicate which
garden area you are entering. Ann and Cindy are always
finding both old and new items that make interesting art and
decorations. Stacked bottles and dishes make a great bird
feeder, or a “just for fun” item. Old garden chairs become
planters for succulents and perennials. There is even a pony
cart.
This working garden/farm is a very special place and has
something for every gardener/farmer. I know you will enjoy
your visit. Î
10 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

Evolution of a Westside Garden—Candice McLaren, MG01

I guess I’ve always It wasn’t until one year after watching my vegetable garden
loved to garden. I slowly be consumed by a gopher, that I added the raised beds
grew up in a small with gopher wire bottoms. On the far side of the vegetable
northern California area is a compost box and a new addition, a worm bin, a gift
town and being the from a friend. The tall semi-dwarf fruit tree is a Shinseiki
first kid up at 6 AM Asian pear and to the left and front of it is a dwarf Fuji apple.
on a Saturday or The patio area is sunny and warm in the summer and a good
Sunday morning, I place to put color in the winter. Containers provide the
took up a quiet hobby continuous blue color (my favorite) and plants in plastic
of pruning and dead containers can be changed. Two large ‘Golden Showers’
heading my Mom’s climbing roses struggle along the fence. A raised brick planter
geraniums until the with dwarf white mar-
other kids would come out to play. My parents always had a guerites divides the
vegetable garden and planted many fruit trees, some from patio from the rest of
stock carried from my Grandfather’s peach trees in Ohio. Our the garden.
summer vacations were spent on my Mom’s family ranch in
Over the years plants
Washington State where we helped my great aunt in a huge
come and go but the
garden. (Probably the entire size of my city lot!)
basic design remains.
A career in Interior Design and later Project Management has It’s a small garden but
kept me inside office buildings, but at every opportunity and it’s a whole lot of fun!
in everyplace I’ve lived, I managed to plant a garden. My Î
garden style is very eclectic—vegetables, fruits, and flowers
all mixed together! It’s like mixing antiques with contem-
poraries but plants are a lot harder to work with than static
interior elements!
My current garden project started almost ten years ago when
I purchased my home. Both the front and back yards were
blank slates that needed imagination and many trips to the
garden and building supply stores. I went about removing
tons of brick pavers, pathways; metal pipe clothes lines and
broken glass (was used to fill up gopher holes) and replacing
the fences. My niece, Gina and her friend dug the trenches
one hot summer week for the backyard water system (still
not connected to electrical).
The front yard continues to evolve as I move toward more
drought tolerant plants. There large boulders create a focal
area in front of the large, dominating orange tree. Sonoma
fieldstone surrounds a circular path of mariposa slate. Using
my design background, I sketched out a meandering path for
the backyard that would break up the garden into smaller
planting areas and gives a different view as one turns
directions on the path. It took a while to teach the new
puppy, Calvin to stay on the path and not take the direct
route, but he’s got it now.
The large yellow and white daturas along the back fence are
making a comeback after being frozen this past winter.
Under these trees grow catmint, Peruvian lilies, and dahlias.
A stone bench made from more of my favorite rocks is a good
place to sit and smell the heavenly scent of the Datura in the
evening. Along the house, in one of the sunniest areas, are
colorful dahlias in reds, pinks and white. A redbud tree
(‘Forest Pansy’) planted in memory of my mom is now the
focal point looking from the patio to the back fence.
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 11

Natural Bridges Farm —Darrie Ganzhorn, Worker Services Director

The Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm has been
cultivated since 1995. The Project’s farm site, Natural Bridges
Farm produces vegetables, flowers, herbs, nursery plants and
trees, and most of all, opportunities for people to learn about
and work on an organic farm. The farm focuses on cool
weather crops that thrive in our coastal climate. We also
specialize in the production of our famous strawberries and a
diverse group of flowers both for fresh bouquets and drying.
The Farm uses a wide array of sustainable practices that help to
bring diversity on site including a hedgerow that both brings in
beneficial insects and highlights some of the great stock in our
nursery. We grow all our own starts from seed. On a day to day
basis, the Farm is worked by two garden staff, and about ten
crew members/trainees and many volunteers. Since our current
Farm site is temporary, in the future, the Project hopes to move
up to a permanent site at the Pogonip.
The Enterprises—The crops grown at Natural Bridges Farm
are available as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
shares (regular and You-Pick) and at the Homeless Garden
Project’s shop, From Our Garden. Our nursery, Homegrown
Gardens, located at Natural Bridges Farm, offers organic starts,
landscaping plants and fruit trees. The CSA harvest season
runs June through October—we still have shares available, and
the price is prorated. From Our Garden features dried floral
wreaths, lavender potpourri, jams and cookie mixes made from
flowers and herbs grown at the farm; also, beeswax candles,
fresh flower bouquets and other gift products. For more
information on our enterprises, see our website,
www.homelessgardenproject.org
The Training Program—Our training program is open to
people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Trainees
are paid minimum wage with increases possible after staying
for 4 months, one year, and when “task sheets” have been
completed. Trainees may stay in the program up to three years.
Trainees work with staff to set and achieve goals meaningful to
them—such as housing, health care, employment, or returning
to school. There is a weekly lecture series, April through
November, focusing on horticultural topics, taught by staff and
community members. If you’re interested in giving a lecture,
please ask us—it’s a great way to brush up on your public
speaking skills.
The Community—People of many ages and backgrounds
volun-teer at Natural Bridges Farm. Beyond the crew who is on
site every day, there is a youth garden, planted and tended by
the many youth and school groups that come through our
Cultivating Community program. Laurel Street, a day center
for people with developmental disabilities tend their own
garden patch also. Finally, there are countless volunteers,
interns, and community members who help to make the Project
possible by generously donating their time and energy with us
throughout the year. We are grateful for their continued
presence with us and welcome anyone who wants to come out
to learn and work with us and share a meal. Î
12 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

Confessions of a Reluctant Gardener: Floral Fulfillment

— Christina Kriedt, MG06
September in my garden. All is in readiness as visitors queue Every plant has squeezed out the maximum number of
up for the pleasure of wandering among my enchanting flawless, prize-winning flowers. Not one ailing or critter-
plantings. They are greeted by a proud red Japanese maple bitten leaf or petal is in evidence. Not one undesirable plant
standing youthful sentry over pink and white anemones and appears among the best—that is to say, no weeds live here.
luxuriant ferns. That crazy nameless rose that never stops Every plant has a label, and every label has the correct names,
blooming is at it again, smothered in bridal-white bouquets. Scientific and common, inscribed in flowing calligraphy.
Hummingbirds waltz on perfumed air among the impeccable
Impressed guests snap countless photos of the beautiful
gardens: humble natives, gaudy cutting beds, eerily
unblemished succulents, fascinating Aussie imports, and vistas; plants pose as if for Vogue, every snapshot cover-
impossibly riotous borders. Ebullient hanging baskets worthy. There is a continual exultant murmur punctuated
brazenly flaunt colossal blossoms. Rampant vines scramble by the occasional: How perfect! How fabulous! How does she
happily over every fence, one more heavily flowered than the do it?
next. Trinkets and treasures tucked here and there are Well, she doesn’t and probably never will. She would like to
discovered to the audible delight of my guests. Majestic one day when she becomes a real gardener, but for now it is
redwoods keep silent vigil. just a summer fantasy. The maple, redwoods and endlessly
The only insects in evidence are beneficials; they are slow and blooming rose with no label are all real. And I have a nice pot
fat as they ate all the leaf-munchers for breakfast. Right on of Lily of the Nile.
cue, the squirrels perform their adorable fence-top racing Of course, it’s one of those eye-of-the-beholder things, but,
routine, and then scamper back into the neighbor’s yard. The generally speaking, backyard gardens aren’t born beautiful.
neighborhood crows have respected the restraining order, as Many unglamorous people-hours go into the creation of a
have the gophers, wasps and mosquitoes. A flock of ducks space that pleases all the senses – and all the Masters Garden
dropped in early in the morning and ate all the snails and Tour guests. The weeding, watering, deadheading, hauling in,
slugs, sow bugs and earwigs on the way to Neary Lagoon. hauling out, and so on and so on are back-breaking non-
fiction. The result is Fabulous, Dahling. Î
Masters Garden Tour lovelies -- Clockwise from top left: Matricaria chamomila, Ann Weeks.; Dahlia
hybrid, Claudia Boulton; Fragaria × ananassa, The Homeless Project’s Natural Bridges Farm;
Chrysanthemum hybrid, Pat Davis; Achillea sp., Candice McLaren; Romneya coulteri, Barbara Gordon
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007
Al’s Corner: Birdbaths, Self-Tending — Al Derrick, MG06
Here in the heat of summer our wildlife needs water more
than anything else. With a large picture window facing
north, we enjoy watching our three bird drinking and bathing
pools. Each is connected to one of our drip irrigation zones.
Three times a week each container is well flushed with fresh
water that overflows and eliminates any problem with
mosquitoes. Any puddle from the overflow water makes a
source of water for the butterflies. Our resident flock of quail
usually prefers a dust bath but does drink the water as well,
using one of the taller birdbaths for perching and as lookout
for the many baby quail. This time of year the best dust for
bathing is under the roses. Earlier they chose the peony bed
that is now too full of foliage.
Dust bath for quails One of three birdbaths in Al’s yard
Ground-level birdbath Rabbit birdbath
Update: Topsy Turvey Tomato Plant— Pat Davis, MG06
There are lots of flowers, many small green tomatoes, and...
there is one tomato that is beginning to turn red.
I have an Alyssum near the tomato plant because I read that
the Alyssum is a good companion plant for a tomato –
apparently it attracts a fly that is the enemy of the whitefly.
When checking out the tomatoes the other day, I panicked
because out flew some of the dreaded whiteflies. At dusk I
carefully sprayed insecticidal soap on the back of some of the
tomato leaves. The next day the leaves were wilted, and a few
13
The birdbath with the rabbit, a gift from daughter-in-law
Kay, has the water tubing tucked under the rabbit’s arm. I
had to drill a hole in the other two birdbaths to allow for the
water tubing. Except for an occasional scrubbing to remove
any algae from the bottoms, they require no care. I try and
keep the ground level birdbath clear of any cover that could
be used by a hunter cat. We no longer have any cats but they
do pass through here once in a while. Our drip system is only
on during the night so no showers are allowed for our birds.
We do have a friendly fox who drinks from the ground level
bath and I am sure skunks and raccoons drink at night.
Living in the woods as we do, there is some damage from the
wildlife but we enjoy their company. Î
Pat’s tomato in bloom
days later the leaves turned brown. I thought I killed my
tomato plant, but I sprayed it gently with some water, gave it
an aspirin, and promised no more insecticidal soap. I also gave
it a new Alyssum.
The plant is not as healthy looking as it was before I did the
deed, but it is still alive, and I learned a BIG lesson!!!
Remember that I told you I bought the Topsy Turvey from a
good salesman at the San Francisco Garden Show for around
$24.00. The Topsy Turvey is available at local nurseries for
$14.95. Oh! Well! Î
14 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

What’s Blooming in Your Garden in August and September?

The following is exerpted from the What’s Bloomin’ database which is based on observations made by Monterey Bay Master
Gardeners in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. The entire database is online at http://www.montereybaymaster
gardeners.org. Please send your data to Annette Longuevan at bloomingepoll@gmail.com.
Abutilon spp. Cosmos spp. Helianthus annuus Penstemon spp.
Agapanthus hybrids Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Heliotropium arborescens Perovskia atriplicifolia
Alcea rosea Cucumis sativus Hemerocallis spp. Petunia hybrida
Alstroemeria hybrids Cucurbita spp. Hydrangea spp. Phaseolus coccineus
Amaryllis belladonna Cuphea hyssopifolia Impatiens spp. and hybrids Phlox paniculata
Anemone hybrida Dahlia hybrids Indigofera spp. Phygelius capensis
Anethum graveolens Dianthus barbatus Ipomoea spp. Pieris japonica
Anigozanthos spp. Dietes iridioides (D. vegeta) Jasminum polyanthum Plumbago auriculata
Asclepias tuberosa Echinacea purpurea Lavatera assurgentiflora Pyracantha hybrids
Aster spp. Epilobium canum (Zauschneria) Lavendula spp. Rosa spp. and hybrids
Begonia sp. and hybrids Erigeron karvinskianus Leonotis leonurus Rosemarinus officinalis
Bergenia sp. and hybrids Erysimum spp. Lilium hybrids Salvia leucantha
Brugmansia spp. Escallonia spp. and hybrids Limonium spp. Sedum spp.
Buddleia spp. Eschscholzia californica Lonicera spp. Sempervivum tectorum
Callistemon spp. Euphorbia spp. Lorapetalum chinense Solanum lycopersicum
Campanula spp. Fragaria chiloensis Malva neglecta Sutera cordata
Canna hybrids Fuchsia hybrida Mirabilis lindheimeri Tagetes spp.
Carpobrotus edulis Gaillardia spp. Monarda spp. Tropaeolum majus
Chrysanthemum spp. Geranium spp. Nandina domestica Verbena bonariensis
Citrus spp. Gerbera jamesonii Nemesia strumosa Veronica spp. and hybrids
Citrus X limon Gladiolus hybrids Ocimum hybrid Vitis vinifera
Cleome spinosa Grewia occidentalis Oenothera spp. Zantedeschia aethiopica
Coreopsis spp. Hebe spp.and hybrids Pelargonium spp. Zingiber officinale
Zinnia spp. & hybrids

Echeveria sp. Antirrhinum majus Clivia miniata

Special guests at the Smart Gardening Faire Faire smiles

MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 15

Peonies

Sources and Credits —Christina Kriedt, MG06

Sponsors
Sierra Azul Nursery http://www.sierraazul.com, 763-0939
San Lorenzo Lumber Company http://www.sanlorenzolumber.com/santacruz.html,
423-0223
The Garden Company http://www.thegardenco.com/, 429-8424
FezQ Carmel Valley, 659-1268
Bokay Salinas, 659-1268
Hidden Gardens Aptos, 688-7011
The Potting Shed Aptos, 685-1626
Wild Rose Landscape Design Aptos, 539-5841

Photo Credits
page 1: Leora Worthington
page 3: top center by Tom Karwin, all others by Leora
Worthington
page 5: Maps, Leora Worthington
page 6: top three, Claudia Boulton; bottom five,
Christina Kriedt
page 7: Honey Hut by Bonnie Pond; all others by
Christina Kriedt
pages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12: Christina Kriedt
page 13: Birdbaths, Al Derrick; Tomato, Christina Kriedt
page 14, Flowers, Christina Kriedt; Faire, Leora Wortington
pages 15, 16: Christina Kriedt

I appreciate the misunderstanding I have had with Nature over my perennial border.
I think it is a flower garden; she thinks it is a meadow lacking grass,
and tries to correct the error. ~Sara Stein, My Weeds, 1988
16 August September 2007 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS

Etcetera: Relevant Internet Miscellany—Christina Kriedt, MG06

I searched for ‘master gardener tours’ online and found these
interesting tidbits: The Rhode Island (URI) Master
Gardeners Association is sponsoring a tour this month, but
they feature 29 private and four public gardens scattered
throughout the state. Granted, it’s a small state by CA
standards, but 33 gardens!!!. Î
Carpenteria californica, page 4, is just one of many natives with
beautiful flowers. It is the only species in its genus and is
related to Philadelphus. According to the Sierra Foothill
Conservancy, Carpenterias or tree anenome, is rare in the wild
and seemingly ill-suited to its natural environment. Read
more: http://www.sierrafoothill.org/carpenteria.htm. Î
Crotalaria agatiflora (canary bird bush), page 5, is in fact
poisonous--every part of it. But, on a happy note, it is fairly
drought tolerant and blooms nearly year-round in frost-free
areas. Î
Most widely known as California lilac (Ceanothus), one of the
other common names for this California native is soap bush.
It turns out that the flowers make a soapy substance when
crushed with water. Some sources said that the soap is good
for removing dirt, but is not effective for removing oils. Give
it a try next spring when the beautiful blue (or white)
flowers are abundant and your hands get dirty in your
garden. (Kathleen Sonntag) Î

Euphorbis sp. succulent whorl Gingko biloba

G A R D E N I N G ON T H E ED G E
Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners
Editor Kathleen Sonntag
Assistant Editors Sharon Ettinger & Christina Kriedt
Design/Layout Christina Kriedt
Circulation Jan Olafsson

CONTRIBUTORS
Tom Karwin Barbara Gordon
Kathleen Sonntag Claudia Boulton
Christina Kriedt Sharon Ettinger
Pat Davis Darrie Ganzhorn
Bonnie Pond Leora Worthington
Candice McLaren Al Derrick
Hotline: 831-763-8007

Copyright © 2007 MBMG. All rights reserved

MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î August-September 2007 17