As part of National Public Gardens Day on May 10 and throughout the month of May, many of Santa Barbara’s garden treasures will offer discounts and activities, including a series of 10 free public Garden Talks featuring some of Santa Barbara’s most notable garden experts, listed below.
SANTA BARBARA’S EXTRAORDINARY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE:
People, Plants, Parks and Gardens
Thurday, May 9, 7:00pm, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Public Library
Susan Chamberlin, Virginia Hayes
Learn the story behind Santa Barbara’s rich horticultural history. Landscape historian and author Susan Chamberlin will share how cultural context and water, or the lack of it, shaped Santa Barbara’s unique landscape over the years. Virginia Hayes, Curator of Ganna Walska Lotusland and author, will talk about influential horticulturists and the plants they introduced to the Santa Barbara area.
FABULOUS HERBS FOR FLAVORFUL FOOD AND COMPOSTING SIMPLY DONE
Saturday, May 11, 10:00am – 12:30pm, Louise Lowry Davis Center, 1232 De la Vina
Presented by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County Join Master Gardeners Steven Lewis and Katy Renner for an informative talk on preparing and selecting plants for your herb garden, unusual herbs, and tips for growing, harvesting, cooking and baking with your herbs. Learn simple steps for preparing your compost, how to incorporate com post into your garden bed preparation and some composting tips for culinary herb gardens.
FIRESCAPE GARDEN TOUR
Saturday, May 11, 1:00pm, 2411 Stanwood Drive/Route 192, corner of Mission Ridge Road. (Parking is allowed in the grass/dirt lot; do not parkat the Fire Station)
Presented by City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program and City Fire Department.
Join Jennifer Voss of Gardefacts Landscape Design and Care, and award-winning landscape designer Arianna Jansma for a tour of this firewise and water-wise garden. Learn how you can incorporate smart, beautiful firewise landscaping into your garden.
GROWING ROSES IN SANTA BARBARA
The Good, Bad Beautiful!
Tuesday, May 14, 7:00pm, Chase Palm Park Center, 236 E. Cabrillo Blvd
Presented by Dan Bifano and the Santa Barbara Rose Society
Everything you want and need to know about growing beautiful roses in Santa Barbara from noted rosarian Dan Bifano. Learn why Santa Barbara is the perfect place to grow roses, what locations are best for growing roses in your garden, proper preparation of a rose garden, organic rose gardening, and design tips such as height and bloom repeat.
HOW TO SAVE WATER AND HAVE AN OCEAN FRIENDLY FRONT YARD
Sat, May 18, 10:00am
12:00n, Louise Lowry Davis Center, 1232 De la Vina S treet
Presented by City of Santa Barbara Water Conservation Program and Parks and Recreation Department
Professionals will walk you through 3 gardens showcasing different approaches to water wise landscaping which can be incorporated into any front yard. The Water Wise Garden replaces turf with a diverse selection of water wise plants to add dimension and color to a front yard. The Subsurface Irrigation Lawn demonstrates how turf can be more efficiently watered with an irrigation system that delivers water right to the roots, significantly reducing evaporation and runoff. The Ocean Friendly Garden converted turfgrass to a native rain garden that receives water from a re- directed downspout.
THE TREES OF SANTA BARBARA:
A Global Collection
Wednesday, May 22, 7:00 pm, Chase Palm Park Center, 236 E. Cabrillo Blvd.
Bob Muller, presented by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Gain a greater appreciation of the variety, origin, and horticultural aesthetics of the trees of Santa Barbara’s urban forest. Noted author and Director of Research at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Bob Muller, will talk about the trees of Santa Barbara’s streets and parks – a legacy from the several plantsmen who contributed so much to the horticultural ambiance of our community.
SEEING ALICE THROUGH A DESIGNER’S EYE
Thursday, May 23, 7:00pm, Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Public Library
Grant Castleberg and Billy Goodnick, presented by the City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department
Become a better garden designer by learning the fundamental visual concepts behind Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, the jewel in the crown of Santa Barbara’s park system. Grant Castleberg, noted Landscape Architect who designed the park in 1976, will be joined by author and Landscape Architect Billy Goodnick for an evening of “Alice.” Grant will share some of Alice’s history and original design concepts and Billy will take you on a slide tour of Alice’s most beautiful planting combinations. Learn the how and why of Alice’s magic so you can take these ideas home to your own garden.
BACKYARD BEEKEEPING AND THE AMAZING HONEYBEE
Sat, May 25, 10:00am – 12:00p, Louise Lowry Davis Center
Presented by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Barbara County
Join avid gardeners and beekeepers Barbara Hughes and Kathy Southard to learn about the history of beekeeping, the life of the honey bee, plants that bees love, and how to get started in beekeeping.
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