Gardening and ecology
We are so blessed to live in this incredibly beautiful place surrounded by creative and innovative people. Two botanical treasures in Occidental are the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center at 15290 Coleman Valley Road and the Western Hills Garden at 16250 Coleman Valley Road.
I contacted Sophie Haag at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center for information about their programs and facility. OAEC is an 80-acre nonprofit research, demonstration, advocacy and organizing center that has been operating for more than 30 years. Some of their many programs include hosting retreats for movement-building and social change groups, the WATER Institute’s Bring Back the Beaver Campaign, the Wildlands Restoration Program, and the annual Chautauqua Revue.
Visitors are welcome to join Garden Volunteer Day every Wednesday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or opening in April, stop by the OAEC Nursery Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Public tours of the site and gardens are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month, April-October. Check out their video celebrating the Mother Garden’s history of seed saving and sharing. For more information visit www.oaec.org.
Hadley Dynak at the Western Hills Garden offered this beautiful description: Perched above Occidental, Western Hills Garden comes alive in spring. Fresh growth pushes through every corner of the three-acre landscape—buds unfurl, bark gleams, and long-held plant experiments reveal their next act.
The garden was founded in 1959 by Lester Hawkins and Marshall Olbrich, two men who set out from SF to West Sonoma County with a dream. Today, it is a stunning example of cultivated biodiversity—with more than 750 trees and thousands of shrubs, perennials, bulbs, ferns and groundcovers. In recognition of its extraordinary living collection, Western Hills was just recently accredited as an official arboretum.
Spring is one of the most rewarding times to visit. Maples leaf out, rare eucalyptus begin their seasonal push, and understory plantings shift almost daily.
Now a nonprofit public garden, Western Hills is expanding its public programs alongside the spring bloom. Upcoming offerings include hands-on pruning classes, botanical drawing workshops, guided garden walks and an Arbor Day celebration that highlights the garden’s exceptional trees.
Come for the spring bloom—leave with a deeper sense of how gardens grow, over time and with care.
Open Sat/Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekdays by appointment. Learn more at westernhillsgarden.com/programs.
Annual Fool’s Day Parade on April 4
This year marks 50 years of foolishness! Since declared so by Emperor Zero the Clown (aka Ramon Sender) in 1976, the village of Occidental has been the epicenter of an Annual Fool’s Parade on the first Saturday of April. The roads close at 12:30 p.m. and fools of all ages meet up at the Occidental Community Center to parade in their finest silly attire and wind through downtown led by the Hubbub Club marching band to the Occidental Center for the Arts for a community party.
Family-friendly fun includes live music by Casual Country, art activities, circus performers, giant bubbles, great food and more. There will be a prize for the silliest costume. All are welcome at the Fool’s Party, which is a free event.
Upcoming events at OCA
For tickets and more information, go to www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org
Glass Brick Boulevard on Sunday, March 1, 3-5 p.m.
Don’t miss Greg Johnson, Celso Alberti, Paul Hanson and Rob Fordyce as they take us on a journey to Planet Jazz.
Bluegrass Jam Night on Tuesday, March 3, 7-9 p.m.
Bring your instrument down to OCA for our Bluegrass Jam Session!
OCA Academy of Visual Arts on Fridays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Drawing and Painting Classes for All Adults
Electric Tumbleweed & Marshall House Project on Saturday, March 7, 8-11 p.m.
Two of Sonoma County’s hottest bands team up for an unforgettable night of psychedelic jams and jazzy funk.
Intro Storyteller Workshop on Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Join our introductory class to learn about narrative, truth telling, what storytelling isn’t and get a chance to start creating your Moth style story for an upcoming 7minutesMax storytelling at the Occidental Center for the Arts.
Book reading: Shah Razad and the Djins Who Loved Her with author Jazzmyn Inisis on Sunday, March 8, 4-5:30 p.m.
7 Minutes Max Storytelling on Friday, March 13, 7-8 p.m.
Theme for March: Furthering. An evening of 7 live stories told in 7 minutes or less.
Wild Women of Song! On Saturday, March 14, 7-9 p.m.
Great Gal Composers of the Jazz Era
Karaoke Night! On Friday, March 20, 7-9 p.m.
Dublinesque on Saturday, March 28, 7-9 p.m.
Enjoy Irish stories and songs from this all-star ensemble of talented musicians.
Occidental Fool’s Parade and Party on Saturday, April 4, 1-4 p.m.
This fun, family-friendly event includes a whimsical parade through the village of Occidental led by the Hubbub Club marching band, followed by a community party at Occidental Center for the Arts. Free event!
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