 I hope no one minds if I do not discuss gardening this week—there are too many horticulturally oriented events scheduled during the next few days. Fortunately, three of the events are concerned with winter pruning, a topic that I have been emphasizing the importance of without actually describing.
Arborist Ray Morneau will be conducting an arboricultural class on pruning at the Summer Winds Nursery at 905 Yuba Drive in Mountain View beginning at noon on Jan. 11. Arborists are an odd breed, but Morneau really knows trees and correct arboricultural procedures.
Starting at 2 p.m., horticulturist Dan Smith of Pacific Growers will discuss bare-root trees and pruning of fruit trees. Each hour-and-a-half to two-hour lecture is a rare opportunity to learn from real professionals. More information is available by calling the Mountain View Summer Winds Nursery at 650.967.3154. Admission to both lectures is free.
Also on Jan. 11, the Santa Clara chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers will be conducting their annual Scion Exchange from noon to 4 p.m. Scions (grafting wood) and cuttings (for rooting) of various exotic and rare fruit trees will be available, as well as inexpensive pamphlets with information on growing rare fruit. There will also be a grafting demonstration. The annual Scion Exchange takes place at the South Side Community Center, 5585 Cottle Road in San Jose (north of Poughkeepsie Road). Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
If that is not enough to choose from for one day, Carole Kraft will be conducting her rose pruning class at Common Ground Garden Supply and Education Center from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Topics include proper winter pruning, rose culture, soil, soil amendments, mulching, drainage and installation. Participants will also visit a nearby garden for a demonstration. Admission is $19; preregistration should be arranged by visiting Common Ground at 559 College Ave. in Palo Alto, by calling 650.493.6072 or by visiting www.commongroundinpaloalto.org.
The Gardening With Natives group of the California Native Plant Society will meet for a program called "Manzanitas in the Garden" at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9. Installation, culture and propagation of the various species and cultivars of manzanita (ground covers, shrubbery and small trees) will be discussed informally among garden enthusiasts and experts. "Manzanitas in the Garden" will be held in the Raptor Suite of PCCF/Acterra at 3921 East Bayshore Road in Palo Alto. (Doors open into the parking lot.) For more information, call 408.629.8004 or send email to stephlmorris@hotmail.com.
Annie's Annuals in Richmond is already announcing its open house schedule for 2003. The schedule can be found at Annie's Annuals' website, www.anniesannuals.com. All open house events will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., regardless of weather. Like many growers, Annie's Annuals will be exhibiting at the San Francisco Landscape and Garden Show March 19 through 23.
Tree of the Week: Mexican Blue Palm
The tree that I know as the blue palm is actually the pindo palm. The "real" blue palm is the Mexican blue palm, Brahea armata. It is not common but is perhaps the toughest of the palms found in the Santa Clara Valley. It easily tolerates cold, heat, wind and drought. The blue or gray fronds resemble those of the Mexican fan palm or the California fan palm (Washingtonia spp.) but are less than 31/2 feet long and somewhat rigid.
Growth is slow and usually limited to about 30 feet tall. Few specimens are old enough to have reached their vertical limit. Pale white flowers and subsequent black berries would not be showy but are borne on abundant, disproportionately long and arching stalks. Most specimens are too young and short to suspend their floral stalks high enough to avoid dragging on the ground.
Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be
contacted at 408-358-2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.
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Photograph by Shari Kaplan