Home and Garden briefs for Feb. 12

Less guesswork: The Water Conservation Garden in San Diego is offering a full-color plant list with photos called "Nifty 50: Plants for Water Smart Landscapes," which offers gardeners an easy way to select drought-tolerant plants. Each listed plant is attractive, often available in nurseries, noninvasive, easy to maintain and drought-tolerant. Free copies are available at the garden; the list is also online at www.thegarden.org.

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Water-smart topiary debuts: The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas and succulent artist Margaret Jones have replanted the Dorothea into a water-smart topiary, using plant cuttings to mimic a lifesize woman. The topiary, formerly constructed of ivy, is now made of water-saving plants such as echeverias, graptopetalums, crassulas and sedums; go to sdbgarden.org.

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Asian Arts in the Garden event: San Diego Botanic Garden will celebrate the art of Asian horticulture with displays, lectures, and demonstrations at "Asian Arts in the Garden" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 27 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. Floral arrangements created by members of the La Jolla Chapter of the Ohara School of Ikebana will be featured. There will also be a Bonsai Show in the Walled Garden featuring styles of bonsai from Japan, China, Vietnam, and the West. Soryo Ayako Stott will perform a tea ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 27 and the Shokenji Taiko, Japanese style drumming group from the Vista Buddhist Temple, will perform at 2 p.m. Feb. 28. Call 760-436-3036, ext. 206, or visit SDBGarden.org.

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Herb Festival & Tomatomania: The San Diego Botanic Garden presents its annual Herb Festival, Spring Plant Sale, and Tomatomania event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 20 and 21 at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. James Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods: Proven Natural Remedies to Treat and Prevent More than 80 Common Health Concerns," will be the honored guest at this year’s Herb Festival. He will give a presentation each day on foods as medicines, featuring spices especially, and will sign copies of his book. There will also be guided tours of the herb garden, on-going speakers on garden and herb-related topics, the Herb Festival Market-place, the A-Z of Herbs information booths, and the SDBG Spring Plant Sale. Back by popular demand is Tomatomania with lectures and plenty of hybrid tomato seedlings. Children's activities will focus on dill, the Herb of the Year. Call 760-436-3036, ext. 206, or visit SDBGarden.org.

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Gardening seminar: The Spring Home Gardening Seminar, sponsored by San Diego's Master Gardener Association, will return March 27 to UC San Diego's campus in La Jolla. The 20th anniversary event will feature 27 classes on everything from alstroemerias to xeriscape design. There will also be an expanded Seminar Market Place with plants for purchase, birdhouses, seedlings, note cards and more. Attendees choose from classes in three sessions; cost is $20 for one class, $35 for two and $45 for three, and early registration is recommended. Go to www.mastergardenerssandiego.org or call 858-694-2860.

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"Gardens Within Gardens": The town council of Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove will host its 2010 garden festival, called "Gardens Within Gardens," from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 3. Pick up tickets and maps the day of the event at Elfin Valley Nursery, 20110 Elfin Forest Lane; five gardens will be presented. Evelyn Alemanni will also be signing copies of her book, "America in Bloom: Best Ideas," and local vendors will be present. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event, with proceeds benefiting the Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove Town Council; go to www.elfinforestgardens.info.

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Helpline available: The Water Conservation Garden's Water Smart Pipeline is available for those with questions on how to garden in the water shortage. Gardening expert Nan Sterman will answer phone calls and return messages from 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays. E-mail pipeline@thegarden.org or call 866-962-7021.

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Water-efficient garden open: Oasis Water Efficient Garden is now open at 10816 Reidy Canyon Trail in Escondido, next to Fentiman Farms. The garden specializes in cactuses and succulents, as well as other drought-tolerant materials. Oasis is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays; e-mail atrevino@altmanplants.com or call 760-744-8191, ext. 3550.

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Classes

California-Friendly Gardening Workshop: With the Santa Fe Irrigation District and the San Dieguito Water District, the Olivenhain Municipal Water District will host a free workshop on water-wise landscape design, low-water plants and low-water irrigation systems from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 13 at the San Diego Botanic Garden, 230 Quail Gardens Drive. Register at 760-632–4236.

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Drought-tolerant plant event: Landscape designer Doug Kalal will present "30 Great Drought-Tolerant Plants for Your Garden" at 3 p.m. March 6 at the Solana Beach Public Library at Earl Warren Middle School, 157 Stevens Ave., Solana Beach. The free 50-minute lecture will include photos, flowers, foliage and stories; go to www.sdgreatgardens.com or call 619-200-7066.

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San Diego Botanic Garden: These classes are upcoming at the gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. The gardens also have docent-led tours, 10 a.m. Saturdays (free with admission); botanical originals, 9:30 a.m. first Sunday of the month ($20); and bird watching, 8 a.m. first Monday of the month (free with admission). Children's activities are free with membership or admission and include Toddler Tales and Tunes (10 a.m. second, third, fourth and fifth Tuesdays); Garden Arts and Crafts (10 a.m. Wednesdays); Plants, Wings and Crawly Things (10 a.m. Thursdays); and Friday Fun (9 a.m. Fridays). Go to sdbgarden.org or call 760-436-3036, ext. 206.

-- 10:30 a.m. Friday: Hearts, Flowers and Bugs: A Family Valentine Party (ages 2-6); $12 per member child, $17 per nonmember child

-- 9 a.m. Saturday: Build a Sustainable Kitchen Garden Using Hydroponic Wick Method; $70 members, $90 nonmembers

-- 9 a.m. Feb. 27 and 28: Asian Arts in the Garden; free with admission

-- 7 p.m. March 4, 11, 18, and 9 a.m. March 13: Garden-Worthy Natives; $80 members, $100 nonmembers

-- 7 p.m. March 8: Bye Bye Grass! Part I; $45 members, $50 nonmembers

-- 9 a.m. March 13: California-Friendly Gardening Workshop; free

-- 1 p.m. March 13: Bye Bye Grass! Part II; $45 members, $50 nonmembers

-- 1:30 p.m. March 13: Cooking with the Opera Singing Chef ---- Slow Foods: For Every Meal There Is a Season; $25 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 2 p.m. March 14: Contemporary Floral Design; $25 members, $30 nonmembers (register by March 10)

-- 9 a.m. March 20 and 21: Herb Festival, Spring Plant Sale and Tomatomania; free with admission

-- 9:30 a.m. April 1: Lunch with Bunny (ages 2-6); $12 per member child, $17 per nonmember child

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San Diego Natural History Museum: The museum will hold a series of lectures on sustainable food (lectures are $5), as well as food and gardening programs. Go to www.sdnhm.org/sustainableplanet:

-- 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25: Urban Foraging ---- The Good, the Bad and the Fermented (field trip at 9 a.m. Feb. 27); $25 members, $33 nonmembers

-- 10 a.m. Feb. 27: Pressure Cooking ---- Low Carbon-Footprint Meals; $25 members, $33 nonmembers

-- 6:30 p.m. March 2: Victory Gardens: Join the Garden Revolution; $5

-- 10 a.m. March 6: Cooking for the Seasons ---- Spring; $25 members, $33 nonmembers

-- 6:30 p.m. March 11: Start a Vegetable Garden From Seed; $25 members, $33 nonmembers

-- 6:30 p.m. March 16: Mushroom Cultivation ---- Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms; $15 members, $20 nonmembers

-- 6:30 p.m. March 18: Introduction to Sustainable Gardening Techniques; $25 members, $33 nonmembers

-- 6:30 p.m. April 15: Gardening to Save, Conserve and Harvest Rain Water; $25 members, $33 nonmembers

-- 6:30 p.m. May 4: Developing Sustainable Foodsheds: The Next Steps in Eating Local; $5

-- 6:30 p.m. May 20: Growing Food Not Grass ---- Workshop and Lunch (field trip 11 a.m. May 22); $35 members, $43 nonmembers

-- 8 a.m. May 22: Flavors of Guadalupe Valley (field trip); $85 members, $95 nonmembers

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The Water Conservation Garden: Free classes are offered at the Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon, to help residents save water (and money) with landscaping. Registration required; call 619-660-0614, ext. 10, or visit www.thegarden.org. Ask about stimulus pricing when making multiple reservations (same-household 2-for-1 pricing). The garden also offers Spanish-language tours by reservation at 619-985-8837; "Little Sprouts" play group meets at 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of the month, by reservation only ($5 per adult/child couple).

-- 10:30 a.m. Saturday: Proper Pruning Practices; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 11 a.m. Saturday: Meet Nan Sterman (and have your gardening questions answered); free

-- 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Feb. 25: Professional Landscape Design Consultations; $60 members, $75 nonmembers, call 619-660-0614 to reserve a spot

-- 9:30 a.m. Feb. 20: Plant Propagation Made Easy; offered through Cuyamaca College for $25, call 619-660-4350 or go to www.cuyamaca.edu/preview

-- 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21: Special Access Tour; reservations required to 619-660-6481

-- 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23: Create a Butterfly Garden With California Native Plants; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 2 p.m. Feb. 27: Tune-up Your Irrigation and Dive into Drip; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 5:30 p.m. March 4 and 18: Professional Landscape Design Consultations; $60 members, $75 nonmembers, call 619-660-0614 to reserve a spot

-- 9 a.m. March 6: A New California Garden; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 1:30 p.m. March 7: Ask the Horticulturalist tour; free

-- 6:30 p.m. March 11: Designing Landscapes With Native Plants; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 10 a.m. March 13: Water Smart Edibles in Your Landscape; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 2 p.m. March 13: Square Foot Gardening ---- Growing Vegetables the Organic Way; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 9 a.m. March 20: Water Smart Plant Fair

-- 9:30 a.m. March 21: Special Access Tour; reserve to 619-660-6841

-- 6:30 p.m. March 30: Hillside Gardening; offered through Cuyamaca College for $25, call 619-660-4350 or go to www.cuyamaca.edu/preview

-- 10 a.m. April 3: Toss the Turf ---- Less Water, Less Grass, More Fun; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 1:30 p.m. April 4: Ask the Horticulturalist tour; free

-- 5:30 p.m. April 8 and 22: Professional Landscape Design Consultations; $60 members, $75 nonmembers, call 619-660-0614 to reserve a spot

-- 10 a.m. April 10: Water Smart Landscape ---- Beautiful Landscape on a Low-Water Budget; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 10 a.m. April 10: Home Compost Workshop; $10 members, $15 nonmembers

-- 10:30 a.m. April 17: Trees in the Water-Conserving Landscape; $20 members, $30 nonmembers

-- 9:30 a.m. April 18: Special Access Tour; reserve to 619-660-6841

-- 9 a.m. April 24: 17th annual Spring Garden Festival