Today's column continues to explore ways gardening can bring joy.
After reviewing practical gardening tools, thinking about gardening, and learning about gardening, the logical next topic is organizing a garden lesson.
Again, the Joy for Gardening series of columns includes photos from the Gardening category. You are invited to choose the category of the week. Decide the category before looking at the answers at the bottom of the column.
© Contributed by Santa Cruz Sentinel English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) originally grew in the Mediterranean area, but is called English lavender because it grows in the British climate. English lavender varieties are used more in cooking than other lavender varieties. This semi-woody plant grows up to 3 feet tall and has narrow gray-green leaves on square stems. In late spring and early spring, it produces the final spikes of purple flowers. (Tom Carwin)Let's begin the study of organized gardening.
After learning more about gardening, you'll find a variety of topics covered by editors and authors in gardening magazines, books, websites, and blogs: b. Recently mentioned. This applies to creators of horticulture workshops, courses and undergraduate programs.
The creators of this information are well-meaning and well-informed, but share their own priorities and perspectives on various gardening issues. They intend to match the needs of some gardeners who achieve their production.
Visualize two interlocking circles—one for gardener/teacher creativity and one for gardener interest. The size of the overlap can vary widely over time, the larger depending on the gardener's history of interest and the smaller based on immediate need.
A similar overlapping circle can be considered for commercial horticultural consignments such as plants, tools, equipment, clothing, etc. It may indicate that they may be informational or direct sales, but still aim to attract buyers. The two circles represent the seller and the buyer, and the overlap is very small depending on the buyer's current needs. If you're not currently interested in buying garden supplies, your club doesn't necessarily overlap with the seller.
© Courtesy of Santa Cruz . Different varieties have red, pink, purple, white or yellow flowers, and their shape varies from single to semi-double and double. It grows in early spring. Medium green leaves are divided into very oval or lanceolate leaves. (Tom Carwin)The relative size of these circles should also be considered. The universe of information and products related to gardening can be the same as a circle representing the long-term interests of all gardeners. However, the circle that represents your current needs is relatively small.
As you expand your access to park-related information, you may come across many things that are not interesting or useful to you. You may feel the need to remember information that seems interesting or may be useful in the future, or you may feel overwhelmed.
This does not support the pursuit of joy in gardening!
Educational goals
One strategy to find joy in gardening is to define two 100% overlapping circles: one for your goals and one for the resources you need.
© Courtesy Santa Cruz Sentinel David Austin Rose (Rosa 'Golden Celebration') is one of the largest English roses with large yellow petals. A 4.5 x 4.5-foot round shrub with lush foliage and beautiful flowers on long, twisting branches. (Tom Carwin)Your educational goals can include short-, medium-, and long-term concepts. It's good to have long-term goals like "be a good gardener" or "grow a beautiful garden." However, focusing on short-term goals leads to realistic and satisfying learning activities and practical steps towards medium- and long-term visions.
Start with a short list of learning goals. What are you interested in or want to know about gardening right now? When you have to accept what you already know about gardening, you should be open to updates.
Additionally, participants in the Master Gardener program are experienced gardeners who recognize that their accumulated knowledge is incomplete or even deficient and develop a lifelong commitment to learning about gardening. (See mbmg.ucanr.edu/Learn_To_A_Master_Gardener/ for information about this program.)
Your list of short-term goals should clearly state the desired and achievable results. For example, your goal might be: "Grow three types of annual flowers from seed and plant them at the right time of year."
• Study a seed catalog or seed pot to decide what plants you want in your garden;
• See information about the release of selected seeds;
• Look for planting tools and supplies in catalogs or at your local garden center.
• Search the Internet for when and how to plant seedlings in the garden.
Your goal may be more complex than this example, but the main goal is to have clear, achievable goals and achieve them with available resources. The key to organizing a garden is to focus on your personal goals and find the resources you need.
© Courtesy Santa Cruz Sentinel Common white lilac (Syringa vulgaris 'Angel White') is an upright, multi-stemmed, shrub in the olive family. It reaches a height of 16 feet and a width of 15 feet. It is native to Southeast Europe and has been introduced throughout Europe (since the end of the 16th century) and North America (introduced by colonists at the beginning of the 17th century). (Tom Carwin)We have used the potential garden of artificial intelligence as a powerful resource for learning. Artificial intelligence technologies have the potential to transform self-directed learning and make learning in the garden more efficient and meaningful. We still see rapid developments in AI resources, and having experience in this technology is very useful. The easiest way to do this is shown below.
Improve your gardening knowledge.
One of the first AI gardening apps, Seed to Spoon is a chatbot that sends information about growing vegetables, fruits and herbs to your phone. Chatbots are computer programs that simulate human speech and facilitate human interaction with online services using natural language. Visit seedtospoon.net to try this free tool.
The book in this series is Well-Thinking: Restoring Nature by Sue Stewart-Smith. It has been described as "the healing power of gardening and the inspiring and mindful practice of relieving stress and promoting spiritual well-being in our daily lives." This book is a Times Bestseller and Book of the Year and has been translated into 17 languages. The author will be a speaker at the Garden Conservancy's 2023 Spring Tour on March 10, which will include a tour of the historic Filoli House and Gardens. For more information, visit gardenconservancy.org.
The California Native Plant Society is hosting a webinar on bird attraction and watershed health on the afternoon of February 23rd. "Birds are happy to be in our gardens and perform many important services, from pest control to pollination. Antonia Pickard, Park Habitat Certificate Program, shows you how creating a bird-friendly environment doesn't strain our water balance." To register for this free event, visit tinyurl.com/38726bfd.
Photo category of the week
Today's column covers the category of plants with scents that attract pollinators and add to the mood swings in our garden. This sample is from my garden. Other fragrant flowers are winter laurel, hyacinth, gardenia, jasmine, moon flower (Ipomoea alba), carnation, cocoa (Berlaneidera lirat), fragrant wood (Gallium odoratum), chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). A garden designer chooses wonderful plants that bloom at different times and at different times of the year for different experiences and share their fragrance by arranging them separately in the garden.
Enjoy your garden!
Tom Carwin is a past president of the Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and past president of the Monterey Bay Iris Society, past president and member of the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society, and UCLA Senior Gardener for Life (1999-2009). . ). Today he is a board member of the Santa Cruz Hostel Association and active in the Pacific Horticultural Society. https://www.facebook.com/ongardeningcom-566511763375123/ to see daily pictures of your garden. For gardening information and an archive of gardening columns, visit ongardening.com. Send comments or questions to gardening@karwin.com.
