RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Western Municipal Water District and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Riverside County Master Gardener Program have teamed up to hold three free gardening workshops in the coming months. The workshops will be presented on the second Saturday of the month in Western’s water-efficient garden, Landscapes Southern California Style(SM). Workshops focus on topics that are geared to save community members water and money, such as vegetable gardening and landscaping with native plants.
Workshops schedule:
• Sept. 14, 11 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. – Cool Season Vegetable Garden Workshop
Patti Reiter, a Riverside Country master gardener, will talk about how vegetable gardening is not just about tomatoes and zucchini. She’ll discuss the rewards of growing carrots, rainbow beets and lettuce in the fall.
• Oct. 12, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Edible Landscaping Workshop
Laura Simpson, a Riverside County master gardener, will speak about incorporating edible plants into landscape design. Herbs and vegetables can add beauty to your garden and taste great. Many will also attract beneficial predators, butterflies and birds.
• Nov. 9, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Landscaping with California Native Plants
Susan Jett, a member of the California Native Plant Society and a horticulture expert, will discuss how California natives save water, and animal and insect species. Native plants can be planted at any time but fall and early winter when the soils cool are the best times. The talk coincides with the California Native Plant Society plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Western’s garden.
Landscapes Southern California StyleSM showcases California native and climate-appropriate plants as well as the irrigation systems that improve a landscape’s water-saving ability. The garden, located at the corner of Alessandro Boulevard and Mission Grove Parkway in Riverside, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about master gardeners in Riverside County visit http://ucanr.org/sites/RiversideMG/ or “like” the “UCCE Master Gardeners of Riverside County” Facebook page.
