Plant Talk: Basics of Rainwater Harvesting 

Saturday, Oct 10

10am - 12pm

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr.

Water is a critical natural resource. Doug Mandel, Master Gardener and founder of the educational nonprofit Ghost Pine Native Nursery, will discuss the basics of rainwater harvesting, concentrating on creating rain gardens to support your garden ecosystem. Our extreme Mediterranean climate presents both advantages and challenges to rainwater harvesting. In addition to rain gardens, we will discuss berms and swales, dry creek beds, terraces, and rainwater catchment storage. You will leave this talk with a better understanding of our precious water resource and how to keep it in your unique home watershed.

$10/members and $12/non-members

Plant Talk: Tree Selection and Care

Saturday, Oct 17

10am - 12pm

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr.

Trees are a long-term investment and can be an asset rather than a liability around our homes, our parks, and streets and around our communities when several factors are considered when selecting trees. We will look at and discuss the factors that should be considered when selecting trees for a given site and what cultural factors would be necessary to ensure long term success as your tree matures. Join Consulting Certified Arborist, Horticulturist and Licensed Pest Control Advisor Rico Montenegro, and Formally Chief Arborist for the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation as he shares his expertise about tree selection for hot and drought plagued Shasta County and surrounding areas.  

$10/members and $12/non-members

Plant Talk: Ornamental Grasses in the Garden

Saturday, October 24

10am - 12pm 

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr.

With their variety of form, size and texture, ornamental grasses have long since earned their places in the garden. Join Turtle Bay Horticulture Education Manager Lisa Endicott for this informative class covering grasses, rushes, sedges, and restios, followed by a tour of the many species growing in the Gardens and offered for sale in the Nursery.  

$10/members, $12/non-members

Plant Talk: Garden Bones & Garden Structures

Saturday, Nov 14 

10am - 12pm

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr. 

Lackluster garden? Learn from Landscape Designer Kirkwood Hale about the importance of good “bones.” See how well-placed garden structures, such as walls, paths, and decks, give lasting form to your garden so that it looks good in every season.

$10 for members, $12 for non-members

Plant Talk: Small Garden Design

Saturday, Nov 21

10am - 12pm

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr. 

Small garden spaces can be big on character and include multiple outdoor features. Planning ahead, especially for a small garden, makes sure you have space for your garden dreams! Go through the design process of smaller spaces and how to make the most of your landscape with Danielle Arendt Landscape Designer and owner of local designs.of.thought.

$10 for members, $12 for non-members

Plant Talk: Sustainability in the Landscape

Saturday, Dec 5

10am - 12pm

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr. 

This presentation sprouted from a University of California Master Gardener Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Doug Mandel, a Shasta Master Gardener and founder of the educational non-profit Ghost Pine Native Plant Nursery, will discuss various topics, including managing water use, nurturing the soil, practicing Integrated Pest Management, gardening to conserve energy, and encouraging wildlife. You will leave empowered with at least one idea for change in your more sustainable landscape.

$10 for members, $12 for non-members

Plant Talk: Your Abundant Kitchen Garden - Strategies for a Productive Spring and Summer 

Saturday, Dec 12

10am - 12pm

Turtle Bay Nursery Classroom, 1100 Arboretum Dr. 

Prepare your kitchen garden for a productive spring and summer! Shasta County Master Gardener Cassie Leal will cover how to build healthy soil, planning for maximizing space through intensive and vertical planting and learn about which warm-season vegetables are best suited to the North State. Whether you are starting your first vegetable garden or looking to improve an established kitchen garden, you will leave with practical ideas you can put to work at home.

$10 for members, $12 for non-members

If you would like to register for more than one class, you are able to add one at a time to your online cart, then complete the checkout once all Plant Talk tickets have been added. Thank you so much for your support for our horticulture programming!

If you have any questions about Plant Talks or registering, you can contact Melissa Maney at [email protected] or call (530) 242-3108

If you have any questions about your membership, you can contact us at [email protected] or call (530) 242-3143