Willow Glen, California Since 1992
Gardening
I am often asked if I ever lack interesting topics to write about. The answer is most emphatically "no!" In fact, there are too many horticultural events to discuss this week to leave room for discussion of actual gardening. This weekend, July 27 and 28, the Northern California Cactus and Succulent Association will conduct its annual show and sale. This event features hundreds of rare and "weird" species, with several thousand specimens available for sale. Free seminars address topics such as potting, propagating and soil mixes. The Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale takes place at the San Francisco County Fair Building, located at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free. More information can be obtained by calling Marilyn Pekasky at 510.236.6090. The Friends of the Guadalupe River Park & Gardens will conduct the first of a two-session workshop, "All About Dahlias: A Workshop for Beginners," on July 27. The first workshop offers information about the history, hybridization and care of dahlias, as well as a dahlia plant for each participant. The second session continues on Sept. 14 as a hands-on workshop concerning the various forms and functions of the flowers and seasonal maintenance, and will be conducted in the John E. Stowell Dahlia Society Demonstration Garden, located in the courtyard garden. Master gardener Sue Evanicky, a member of the John E. Stowell Dahlia Society, will host both workshops, which take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Guadalupe Garden Center, 715 Spring St. in San Jose. Admission is $15 per session or $22 for both sessions. Reservations can be made by calling 408.298.7657 or by visiting www.grpg.org. (Admission prices will be discounted for members of the John E. Stowell Dahlia Society.) The annual Iris Rhizome Sale will be conducted by the Clara B. Rees Iris Society Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the De Anza Flea Market in De Anza College parking lot C, row E, spaces 31-32. This annual sale is an excellent source of a very broad range of iris species, including many esoteric cultivars. Information about the Clara B. Rees Iris Society will be available from members staffing the sale. The Home Composting Education Program for Santa Clara County is currently recruiting candidates for the master composter training class of 2002. This 10-week course concerning the art and science of backyard and worm composting is free to anyone within Santa Clara County. Classes will be on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and are located in north San Jose. Applications and more information are available from the master composters at 408.918.4640 or online at compost@pln.co.scl.ca.us. Applications are due by Aug. 15. I would like to encourage anyone with information about events that may be of interest to garden enthusiasts to keep me informed (not that I need anything more to write about). However, I need relevant information at least two weeks prior to the date it should be featured in this column so that it can be properly processed. Preferred dates of discussion of submitted topics are also greatly appreciated. Succulent of the Week: Split rock "Living rocks," "pebble plants," "stoneface" and "split rock" are all common names for the various species of Lithops, an interesting but downright ugly succulent from South Africa. ("Split rock" is actually the correct common name for species belonging to the related genus Pleiospilos.) None are very common and only a few may be obtained from collectors or from the Northern California Cactus and Succulent Association's annual Cactus and Succulent Show (see above). They perform best when grown indoors in very well-drained soil with minimal irrigation. Rot may be a problem if irrigation is too generous, particularly during cool weather. In fact, they prefer to be considerably dry through winter. The thickly succulent leaves appear in pairs separated by a fissure from which emerges either disproportionate flowers or new leaves. Flowers resemble those of the ice-plant but are not nearly as large, profuse or brightly colored. The diminutive foliage is usually less than three inches tall, with flat tops. The most popular species exhibit smaller and more finely textured foliage. Foliar color includes tortoiseshell green, grayish green, pinkish brown and beige. Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408-358-2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com. |
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