Project Tree is about helping restore the City of Alameda’s treescape. Learn more here, ..and here. Attend the January 26th Project Tree meeting with Alameda Backyard Growers at Rythmix Cultural Center and drive over to Ploughshares afterwards for a workshop about pruning with the excellent Jeremy Watts of Edible Ecology!

Fruit Tree Pruning and Care with Jeremy Watts January 26th 12-1:30  We can increase the production, appearance, and overall health of our fruit trees with dormant-season pruning.   Learn how and when to cut back your trees for optimum production, as well as the basics of planting, pest management, tool maintenance, and grafting for diversity and…

Wild Birds of Alameda FREE PRESENTATION Saturday January 19, 12-1:30pm Wondering why there are so many birds on the bay shore now?  And what are all those birds with the long legs?  What’s that bird with the yellow rump that wasn’t here last month? Learn the answers to these questions and many more.  Join Linda…

Plant these now …

Use Cloud Cover Spray to prevent Christmas Tree drying out.  Cloud Cover imitates plant’s own waxy covering, locking in moisture and reducing the speed by which your Christmas tree becomes dry, brittle and a fire danger.  Just spray all over the tree and let dry for three hours before hanging lights and ornaments. Cloud Cover…

Manzano Red Pepper is a perennial frost resistant pepper from Bolivia with a pre-Inca history of use as food and medicine.   If you are getting ready to make llajwa you absolutely require one for your garden.  Plant in a container and bring inside to a brightly lit area of the house when there is danger…

It’s time again to sow wildflower seeds in the garden.  You can broadcast these mixes of native and pollinator friendly seeds in a base of potting soil and sand.  Or you might choose to prepare small areas bare of established plantings with a nice potting soil, disperse the seed and cover over with a half…

edible viola’s for salad, garnish or desert 4″ pot $3.99 each

Celeriac is a type of Celery grown for it’s delicious root.  Give 10″ between each start and harvest in 90-120 days! Celeriac is high in vitamins C and K, and various B vitamins such as, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), and vitamin B6. It is rich with calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese,…

6 packs of Sweet Peas for trellis, good in pots or the ground: $4.99 each

Wild Birds of Alameda FREE PRESENTATION Saturday November 17, 12-1:30pm   Wondering why there are so many birds on the bay shore now?  And what are all those birds with the long legs?  What’s that bird with the yellow rump that wasn’t here last month? Learn the answers to these questions and many more.  Join…

Plants with a rich history of use by native people of California which represent a unique heritage benefiting our society and environment. September 2018 Rubus spectabilis SALMON BERRY This berry producing bramble inhabits riparian corridors from Alaska to California and can be found East as far as Idaho.  Salmon Berry also does well in any…

Some of the plants we have mentioned from  2016 to 2018 as ‘Pollinator Power Plants’ Why? Because they are a great benefit to pollinating animals!   July 2018 Gomphocarpus physocarpus is an African Milkweed loved by monarchs for feeding and reproduction.  Expect 3-4ft of upright growth consisting of pinnate leaves in lush profusion.  Small clusters…

Native Plant Workshops All Month (October is the Perfect Time to Plant Natives)  October 5, 12, 14 and 26th 12 noon to 1:30 pm Fall is the right time to install native plants in the garden.  Native plants use less water and and support local ecologies of animals and insects we depend upon for a…

A big Thank You to Pacific Home and Garden for a huge donation of pottery.  Come on in and check out the giant Grecian style pottery they sent us and take advantage of equally big savings.   Remember if you visit the website linked above we can probably order in any of the pottery you…

Gomphocarpus physocarpus is an African Milkweed loved by monarchs for feeding and reproduction.  Expect 3-4ft of upright growth consisting of pinnate leaves in lush profusion.  Small clusters of white and pink flowers give way to interesting seed capsules whose appearance invites comparisons ranging from alien eggs to male anatomy depending on the ambient giggle factor.  …