Door Prizes include:

• Tickets to California Musical Theatre: Frost/Nixon
• Gift Certificate to Cabo’s Mexican Restaurant
• Two  Tickets to Fleetwood Mac Concert & Dinner for Two
• Two  Tickets to Fight Night at the Red Lion
• Gift Certificate to Café Ettore
• Gift Certificate to Brew It Up

Plus, lots of great vendors. For more information, click here.

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Whether you live where it rains or where it pours, there’s a great, easy way you can conserve water for garden use.

Where I live (Calif.) that’s a very big deal, as we Californians head into a third consecutive drought year.

Rain “harvesting” isn’t a new concept, but let’s just say this oldie is a goodie.

It’s as simple as setting up a simple capture system to redirect rainwater off the roof to a barrel.

Collecting Water - photo by Prem Anand

Whether you use a wine barrel to collect rainfall from your rooftop or recycle waste water from household sinks, bathtubs, showers and washing machines, you’re doing your water bill and the planet good.

If all this sounds like too much work, there’s always a very easy way to save–turn off the sprinklers during the winter, sunless it’s really dry and windy, in which case run them every so often. Get to know your sprinkler system and learn how to turn it off.

According to local experts in my hometown, Sacramento residents devote 60 percent of residential water use to their outdoor irrigation, and of that, 40 to 60 percent is wasted, as most homeowners over water by 200 to 300 percent.”

You can buy rain barrels here. Or buy a whole rain water collection system here. Or, take a baby step and turn off your sprinklers in the winter time.

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These dog-shaped planters are made from recycled polyethylene and are waterproof, colorfast and maintenance-free for indoor/outdoor use. They are available in Terrier, Golden, French Bulldog and Dachshund, and are $79.95 each. Buy them here.

 
 This Dachshund Whirlygig is handcrafted–when the wind blows, the front flower spins and the dog’s mouth opens and closes, while a flexible spring lets the tail wag, too. It’s $49.95 here.

This Rock Hound is handcut by California artist Susan Regert and costs $49.95 here.

These mini indoor/outdoor pup planters are sculpted with eccentric glee in steel with a rustic patina. They are available in Muttley, Pug, Dachshund, Yorkie, and Chihuahua for $19.95 each here.

 
These Sculptural Topiaries arrive lush and maintain their verdant hue.  Breeds include Chihuahua, Dachshund, Jack Russ, and Poodle for $139 each here.

This Silver Washer Dog has been handcrafted in metal with colored glass eyes and a springy head and tail. It costs $49.95 here.

These Lighted Wire Art sculptures are wound with decorative white lights that give off a soft, enchanting glow. The sturdy, rust-resistant metal wire frames have a double-epoxy powder coating. They cost $139 each here.
 

These Metal Dog Planters are perfect indoors or out. Their heads move, and tails wag in greeting. Available in Gertrude, Buddy, Heddy, Scout, and Ugga, for $39.95 each here.
 

These Haute Steel Garden Stakes are cut from steel, rusted and sealed with clear acrylic. There are 25 breeds available, each was $49.95, but are currently on sale for  $39.95 each here.

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The Recycled Glass Hummingbird Feeder (pictured above) is eco-friendly and attracts hungry hummingbirds in country and urban gardens alike. The 100% recycled glass has been mouth blown by artisans, and each feeder is one of a kind. Dimensions: 40.0″Dia. x 6.0″W x 6.0″D x 8.0″H. Get yours here.

The Uccello Birdhouse (above) was handcrafted on a potter’s wheel in Italy, and features a unique gourd shape. Dimensions: 4.0″ Dia x 11.0″H. Buy it here.

This Water Wiggler silently ripples the water in a birdbath, which prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs and eliminates stagnant water.
Place wiggler in the center of any birdbath and it will operate 24 hours a day, up to 2 months. Two D batteries required; batteries not included. Dimensions 6.5″W x 6.5″H. Buy it here.

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Winter is tough on plants, which are often exposed to hard wind, rain and freezing temperatures, not to mention snow.

Luckily, there are ways to protect the pants in your garden and yard from frost. When the temperature drops to freezing, or 32 degrees, frost damage can be minimal and only affect a leaf or two. But if the temperature continues to drop, plant cells will freeze, and non hardy plants will die.

Of course the best way to protect your garden from frost is to only grow plants that can withstand the frost. Ask a qualified local nurseryman what plants are suitable to grow in your area.

If the forecast calls for frost where you live, cover your garden plants before dusk. Use newspaper, cardboard, plastic tarps, bed sheets or any other lightweight material to create a tent of protection. Remove the covers in the morning after the frost has thawed.

Potted plants can be brought indoors overnight, or brought under cover on a porch or patio.

If despite your best efforts, frost damage occurs, leave the dead or damaged parts intact, as they will provide limited insulation from further frost damage.

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Believe it or not, winter is the perfect time to prune fruit trees. According to certified arborist Michael Farmer, who resides in Sacramento, Calif., pruning fruit trees in the early Spring allows wounds to heal, and also allows you to see the buds to avoid.

Fruit tree pruning is beneficial in that it promotes fruit tree health, disease management, and better fruit yield. In addition, fruit tree pruning helps control the size and shape of your tree.

There are three types of fruit tree pruning, and each is conducted according to the type of tree in question.

The Central-Leader System
Apple, pear and sweet cherry trees rely on a “central leader”, or a main stem or trunk of the tree from which other lateral branches develop. These trees are pruned by thinning the lateral branches.

The Open-Center System
Peach, plum, nectarine, apricot and sour cherry trees rely on this system, as there is no dominant, vertical trunk (central leader). For these trees, pruning is based around three or four main limbs set at wide angles with about five lesser branches on each.

The Modified-Leader System
Nut, apple and pear trees can be pruned using this method, which is based upon giving the central leader and three or four lateral branches equal importance.

For specific instructions on fruit tree pruning, click here. http://www.lawn-and-gardening-tips.com/fruit-tree-pruning-instructions.html

For a more detailed description of fruit tree pruning, click here. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag29.html

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The next time you’re at the nursery, or browsing for seeds online, be sure to check out where you are on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, which divides North America into 11 separate zones.

Each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone.

When you see a “hardiness zone” in a catalog or plant description, it’s most likely referring to this USDA map.

To find your USDA Hardiness Zone, enter your zip code here. You’ll also find a regional report, public gardens in your zip code, plants in your zone, and local events of interest.

I’m in Zone 8A. What’s your zone?

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