Registration information, (909) 625-8767 x 224
Sign up for all 4 classes in the series and receive a free copy of Care and Maintenance of Southern California Native Plant Gardens by Bart O’Brien, Betsey Landis and Ellen Mackey; 250 pages, instructional illustrations and full color photographs; Spanish and English in one volume. A $29.95 value.

Soils and Native Plant Gardening
Novice gardeners often overlook the significance of soils when planning a native garden. The type of soil, drainage characteristics and compaction may result in both short and long-term problems with establishing and maintaining plantings. Betsey Landis will assist participants in determining their garden soil types, and will demonstrate how to improve problem soils or drainage.  Ms. Landis will also share a selection of native plants that may perform well in your particular soil type.

Betsey Landis, Garden Consultant
Saturday, September 22; 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
$30 ($36 nonmember); Limit: 15 participants

Designing a Native Plant Garden – A Workshop for Beginners
In this course, participants will learn basic design concepts.  Learn how the wise use of native plants ties in with regional ecology, particularly in Southern California’s wildland-urban interface areas. Bart O’Brien and Rick Fisher will help you evaluate your existing landscape, share ideas about dealing with specific site problems, and assist you in developing a new landscape plan. Participants are encouraged to bring photos, sketches and other pertinent information about their garden site.

Bart O’Brien, Senior Staff Research Associate, RSABG; Rick Fisher, ASLA, Toyon Design
Saturday, September 29; 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
$40 ($48 nonmember); Limit: 12 participants

Irrigation Basics for Native Plant and Water Conserving Gardens
Learn how to design and install drip irrigation systems that help maximize plant growth, reduce time spent with garden maintenance, and lead to substantial water savings. Susan Frommer will discuss the water holding capacity of different soils, and irrigating difficult terrain. She will help you plan an efficient watering regime for new and established plants.

Susan Frommer, Landscape Designer
Saturday, October 6; 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
$30 ($36 nonmember); Limit: 15 participants

Introduction to Gardening with California Native Plants
This course introduces participants to appropriate plant selection, planting techniques and plant maintenance needed to make your native plant garden flourish. Discussions include the water, soil, and nutrient requirements of native plants, and how best to deal with common pest or disease problems. Learn how the location of your home in Southern California will influence which plants will perform best, and how to best select and integrate native and other drought-tolerant plants into existing landscapes.

Barbara Eisenstein, Horticultural Outreach, RSABG; and Ellen Mackey, MWD Ecologist
Saturday, October 27; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
$40 ($48 nonmember); Limit: 15 participants