Santa Rosa Gardens is having their summer clearance sale with plants discounted to $1.99 each.

Annie's Annuals and Perennials in Richmond is taking 20% off mail order plants through July 5th.

Sunnyside Nursery
in San Anselmo is having a growing grounds sale July 10, 11,12, 17, 18, 19 2009.

Sloats in Kentfield is having 20% off sale on their pottery July 16th, 17th, and 18th.

An article in the Los Angeles Times tells about new and growing approaches for soil-starved urbanites who want to garden.

http://www.

In Southern California, waiting lists are nothing new. Residents are willing to bide their time for schools, for housing, and now for dirt.

With demand outpacing supply, grass-roots efforts are underway to help apartment dwellers and condo owners who have the will to till, but not the land. Some call it share-cropping, though others prefer terms such as garden swapping or yard sharing. The idea is the same: Would-be gardeners get a place to plant and tend, and homeowners lacking the time or interest to garden themselves can share the fruits of someone else's labor.

SPAWN begins botanical walks on Fridays.
A series of free, monthly botanical walks in the Lagunitas Watershed will take place this year Friday June 19, 2009. Each tour will cover a different plant community in the Valley. The walks are free to members and open to the public and are led by SPAWN Watershed Botanist, Rob Katz. A $5 donation is encouraged to support Valley native plant conservation efforts. For further information please contact Rob Katz, SPAWN Watershed Botanist at Robert Katz robcats@wildmail.com or, Paola Bouley, SPAWN's Conservation Program Director, PH. 415 663-8590 ext.111, Paola@SpawnUSA.org

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley
Garden party fundraiser for the UC Botanical Garden includes a fashion show of sustainable and local designs. 2 p.m. June 28. $95-$115. Redwood Grove Amphitheater, UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley. (510) 642-7082.

Ecology Center
Ecology Center Dance Party
The Wild Buds and Country Joe McDonald perform at this fundraiser for the Ecology Center. $10. 7 p.m. June 28. Ashkenaz, Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5054.

SummerTini
Friday, June 19th
Join chefs from some of San Francisco's top restaurants at this annual event to benefit CHEFS (Conquering Homelessness Through Employment in Food Service). $75-$100. 6 p.m. Fri. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission St., S.F. . (Read more about
City Dirt.

San Francisco Botanical Garden
"Oh Deer! Coping with Bambi in the Garden" -- 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 11. Horticulturist Bob Hornback shares techniques that will help gardens coexist peacefully with deer. $45/$55. Pre-registration required.
Surviving the Drought -- 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. July 18. Local garden experts will show how to create and maintain a gorgeous garden during dry times. Plants will be available for sale. $65/$75. Pre-registration required. San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum, Golden Gate Park, Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. 415-661-1316,

Peninsula Permaculture
Permaculture Design Course -- 10 a.m. July 13-6 p.m. July 25. Two-week course for homeowners and professionals that focuses on regenerative, holistic land management principles. Course held at Tunitas Creek Ranch, Half Moon Bay. $1,350 includes camping and meals with discounts for early registration.

Bay Friendly Gardening
Composting workshops (free), videos, information and discounted bins for Alameda County residents. 510-444-SOIL (444-7645).

Corpse Flower Ready To Bloom @ Huntington Garden

LOS ANGELES (KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO) -- The countdown's on... and people are holding their noses while waiting for the "Son of Stinky" to bloom. The Huntington Library and Garden in San Marino has a rare corpse-flower that's about to bloom in all its smell glory. It's the offspring of one that bloomed seven years ago, and it has the overpowering smell of rotting flesh.

Friends of mine in Los Angeles have a dog, Apoo, that was found dumped on a highway. This sweet-natured pooch has abandonment issues and can't be left home alone. So when we set out for a dog friendly trip, Carmel By-The-Sea was a natural choice.

The beach is leash free, there are "dog pounds" in restaurants, like the lovely Forge in the Forest where dogs get water, biscuits and meat dishes can be ordered off the "dog" menus.

When we walked the streets of Carmel with Apoo, people often stopped us and asked what kind of dog he was. He's a handsome, white and brown blend, but nowhere else have people thought he might be a rare breed. So we told them "A Hungarian Poodle" and they seemed satisfied.

This canine-fest was started by Doris Day at her establishment, The Cypress Inn. They plan dog birthday parties and other special events.

Here the patio garden has a dog wash so they can get the sand off from the beach. Dogs gather and dig in the mulch while their owners enjoy acoustic guitar.

One little lap dog had its own carriage--note, this is not just a baby carriage being used for a dog. I've seen that before; rather, this is actually a carriage made for lap dogs.

When landscaping your yard, check in with the ASPCAfor a list of pet friendly plants.

A tenacious wildflower has reappeared in San Francisco...

The Smooth Owl Clover had not been seen at the former military base since 1917 when Presidio Trust naturalists stumbled across a surprise bloom while collecting seeds near Fort Scott. Read the full article:
Here.

Middlebrook Gardens has started an "Artist of the Month" program

Saturday, June 20, 10am - 12pm, and 2pm - 4pm
Artist of the Month Workshop & Tour
On the third Saturday of each month, the artist will conduct a materials and techniques workshop at Middlebrook Gardens Nursery from 10am-12noon. The fee for each workshop is $25.00.

In the afternoon from 2-4pm, the artist will lead a tour of garden sites where his/her art can be viewed. The fee for the tour is $15.00. The combined fee is $40.00. California Native Garden Foundation members' discount fee is $35.00 for the combination. No discount for single event selection.

The first artist is Carol Braham . Carol will be conducting her Workshop and Tour on June 20, 2009, at Middlebrook Gardens, 76 Race St., San Jose, CA 95126.

In my former life, before living in California, avocados always seemed to be the hallmark of California cuisine. But nothing really made me feel like I lived here until my own little artichoke bloom sprouted. (Mine is the tiny one at the bottom. And I think it's too cute to eat.) Now gardens and farmer's markets around the bay area are thick with these eye catching Mediterranean vegetables. Since I can't bring myself to eat my own, I purchased small ones at the farmer's market and looked for a new recipe. (For simplicity, sometimes I just sliced them thinly and bake them with chicken, lemon and garlic.) But I think I'm going to try the tunisian cauliflower, artichoke and potato salad from the cookbook Mediterranean Fresh by Joyce Goldstein.

Frog's Leap Vineyard in Rutherford California is as much a homestead as vineyard and one of my favorite places to visit Napa Valley.

Right now their flower garden is in full bloom you can wander the paths from huge clusters of Matilda poppies to swaths of lamb's ears and clusters of yarrow and lavender.

They have a chicken coop and right now, goats are on loan to help mow high weeds and grasses.

Their dwarf fruit trees are starting to fruit, and lucky visitors during peach season get sent home with fruit.

After touring the gardens and grounds, sit on the porch and have a leisurely wine tasting. A flight of four wines and small plate of cheese, crackers and dried fruit cost $15.00. It is a great deal and even a few hours here will make you feel like you've been on vacation.

Make a reservation for a farm tour and tasting at 800-959-4704 or email ribbit@frogsleap.com.

This video accompanied the article It's Salad Day for Weeds in the Wall Street Journal.