SANTA CRUZ
Beekeepers guild meeting focuses on swarm season
Join the Santa Cruz Beekeepers Guild monthly meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. April 1, at the El Rio Mobile Home Park Community Room, 2120 N. Pacific Ave.
This month’s topic, “Swarm Season: Understanding, Catching, and Outsmarting Your Bees,” will walk attendees through what’s happening inside the hive leading up to a swarm, how to recognize early warning signs and what to do when a swarm occurs. The session will also cover what equipment is needed to safely catch a swarm and how to set up a bait hive to attract a new colony.
Guild members will lead the presentation, including a hands-on demonstration of swarm-catching gear and techniques. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase for a chance to win a package of bees, with the winner announced at the meeting. All are welcome, and attendees are encouraged to bring questions.
Remember not to park inside the mobile home park or along the fence at Lenz Arts. Metered street parking is available if the Lenz lot is full. For information, visit santacruzbees.com. Open to members and guests interested in beekeeping.
LIVE OAK
Early morning garden exchange, join garden tours
Join fellow gardeners for the free monthly Santa Cruz Garden Exchanges from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave.
This month’s featured Cottage Food Baker of the Month is Butterfly Garden Bakery, offering small batch sourdough baked goods inspired by seasonal and garden-grown flavors. Attendees are invited to stop by and sample items such as sourdough blueberry lemon pop tarts and sourdough carrot cake bites.
Santa Cruz Garden Exchange 2026 Garden Tours are happening now. There are nine garden tours scheduled from March through September. October is open for anyone interested in booking a fall tour.
Park in the northern rows of the parking lot away from the building. Gardeners are welcome to bring seeds, bulbs, succulents, houseplants, veggies, fresh flowers, informational material, manure or any garden-related items to trade within the garden community. You do not need to bring something in order to participate, and you must take back anything not given out.
To join the garden tours, attend the Garden Exchange that morning to get the tour location from the host. For details, call 831-515-7162 or email santacruzgardenexchange@gmail.com.
CAPITOLA
Pints & Plants spring garden party set for April 26
Pints & Plants San Jose will host a spring garden party April 26 at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, 103 Kennedy Drive. Workshop sessions are scheduled for noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The event combines a casual social gathering with a hands-on planting experience. Each ticket includes a drink and the opportunity to pot a plant to take home. Organizers describe the event as a relaxed way to connect with others while enjoying a spring-themed garden setting.
Space is limited, and advance tickets are recommended. They can be purchased at tinyurl.com/yzjedez5.
SANTA CRUZ
Wilder Ranch State Park seeks artists for spring event
California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks are inviting nature-inspired artists to participate in “Art in Bloom,” set from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 at Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road.
This celebration of spring allows artists to sell their art, interact with nature enthusiasts and spend a day at Wilder Ranch. Artists working in a variety of mediums are encouraged to apply. A $50 vendor booth fee supports local parks, while informational or display booths are free. The deadline to apply is April 4.
For questions, email wilderranch@ports-ca.us.
MONTEREY, SANTA CLARA COUNTIES
Hands-on sourdough workshops offered
Introductory sourdough baking workshops will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. April 19 at El Estero Park Center, 777 Pearl St., Monterey, and from 2 to 4:30 p.m. May 3 at the Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center, 208 E. Main St., Los Gatos.
Hosted by Sourdough Baking — From Starter to Finish, the in-person classes will guide participants through the fundamentals of sourdough baking, including starter cultivation, dough preparation, shaping and baking techniques.
Attendees will learn the science behind fermentation and gluten development while gaining practical skills to create a traditional sourdough boule, as well as other baked goods such as pizza dough, focaccia and baguettes. Participants will take home a starter culture and a ready-to-bake loaf.
The workshop is open to the public. Go to sourdoughfromstartertofinish.com for registration.
CAPITOLA
Spring bonsai, cactus and succulent show and sale
The Monterey Bay Cactus and Succulent Society will be hosting a free weekend-long bonsai, cactus and succulent plant show and sale, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., all at the Capitola Mall in the former Sears location.
The event features 10,000 square feet of plants, pottery and horticulture supplies, two dozen specialty cactus and succulent vendors, handmade pottery, a plant hotel, specimen plant displays, expert advice, live demonstrations and conservation information. There will also be planting and re-potting demonstrations as well as a help desk to answer questions on how to take care of plants throughout the show and sale.
Guests are encouraged to bring a box for purchases or use one provided, and may pay by card, tap or cash. A “plant hotel” will be offered so guests can store purchases while they continue shopping, and wide aisles with multiple checkout stations are designed to make browsing easy. Saturday morning is typically the busiest; Sunday and Saturday afternoon tend to be less crowded.
Volunteer sign-up is open, and attendees can join as members for early entry. There will be free and accessible parking. Members may skip entry lines all weekend. Proceeds support the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society’s education and conservation programs. The event is open to the public. Visit mbsucculent.org/meetings for information.
APTOS
CNPS Santa Cruz to host Spring Native Plant Sale
The California Native Plant Society, Santa Cruz County Chapter, will host its Spring Native Plant Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 11 at Cabrillo College Horticulture, located at the Horticulture Center on Sanders Avenue at the top of the hill on campus.
The sale will feature a wide selection of California native plants suitable for local gardens. A list of available plants will be posted online before the event. Organizers encourage attendees to arrive early, as plants often sell out. The event is held jointly with Cabrillo Horticulture. A shuttle will be available for transportation to the sale location.
Parking reminder: Visitors are asked to park in lower campus lots and take the shuttle or walk to the site so vendors can use the limited parking available near the horticulture area. Information is available at chapters.cnps.org/santacruz.
The Garden Digest is compiled by Jesselyn Rego. To submit items for the calendar including events, meetings, resources or anything garden related, email sentinelhomeandgarden@gmail.com.
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