If you are a Placer County UC Extension master gardener, you are probably familiar with the Fair Oaks Horticultural Center. I think many gardeners in Placer County may not be familiar with this horticultural center.
On Saturday, Aug. 4 Harvest Day 2007 will be held at the FOHC. The event is free but donations are accepted.
I have never been to previous Harvest Days, but this year I'm planning on attending. I'll be at the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Harvest Day 2007 is presented by University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners in association with Fair Oaks Recreation and Parks District, the Fair Oaks Water District and Regional Water Authority.
Harvest Day has been evolving since the early '80s. It began when the Fair Oaks Community Garden gardeners opened their garden to the public and has grown into a major horticultural event in the Sacramento area. Last year the attendance was around 1,700 people. The Fair Oaks Horticulture Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary later this year.
The center has a water efficient landscape demonstration garden.
"The purpose of the FOHC is to teach people different ways to manage their garden that are environmentally sound," said Susan Poirier, UC master gardener in Sacramento County. "That is one of the reasons we have the water-efficient garden to show people that they can grow a garden without a lot of water."
Water conservation specialists will give irrigation and water conservation advice on how to manage water usage to maintain a healthy, beautiful landscape.
Representatives from more than 18 horticulture-related organizations will have educational tables located under the shady oaks and will share information on topics such as ecological landscaping, native plants and community gardens.
There will be a plant clinic staffed by Sacramento County UC master gardeners.
Also, gardeners can get a head start on planning next year's garden.
One of the highlights of the day is the vegetable and fruit sampling tables including cherry tomatoes and melons plus stone fruit from Dave Wilson Nursery.
Also, local vendors will be selling plants.
There will be speakers on the half hour all day beginning at 8:30 a.m. Auburn resident Ken Menzer, city of Folsom arborist, will be speaking at 10:30 a.m. on "Landscape Trees - Not the Usual Suspects."
Half-hour demonstrations will be held all day on the hour beginning at 9 a.m. Chris Aycock of El Dorado Nursery will speak at noon on "Exciting Items for Your Garden this Year."
"One can learn a lot about how to grow a garden, have the opportunity to talk with a lot of knowledgeable people, listen to some interesting speakers and see some interesting demonstrations," Poirier said. "This year we have ethnic-themed gardens -- Asian, Mexican, Italian, and French vegetable gardens -- plants that would be used in ethnic cooking. Also the fruit orchard is always interesting to see how it is managed. We also sell cuttings of grape vines from the FOHC that can not be bought in the local nurseries."
Harvest Day 2007 is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fair Oaks Horticultural Center, in Fair Oaks Park on Fair Oaks Boulevard, just south of Madison Avenue.
For more information, call (916) 875-6913 or see Web site http://cesacrameento. ucdavis. edu.
Saul Wiseman can be reached at swiseman368@sbcglobal.net