Robbi Pengelly / The Sonoma Index-Tribune file
Shop for native plants at Sonoma Garden Park in Sonoma. (Robbi Pengelly / The Sonoma Index-Tribune file)
Kenwood
Slow drought ecology journey: Join certified California naturalists and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park docents for this series of meandering explorations starting July 26 at the park, 2605 Adobe Canyon Road.
Each month (weather permitting) visitors will explore one or two of our three accessible trails– the Creekside Trail, the Nature Trail, and the Meadow trail. Suitable for all levels and a range of mobility, these Sunday afternoon adventures will accommodate people using walkers or wheelchairs, young children, parents with babies in strollers, as well as those who just enjoy slow walks in nature that stimulate the five senses.
The July outing is from 4 to 6 p.m. and will focus on the ecology of the Mediterranean summer season at Sugarloaf: how animals cope, late summer wildflowers, and more.
Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children under 18 years of age. All minors must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian. Tickets day-of, on site will be $10 and might not be available. Meet at the White Barn parking lot. To register, visit https://sec.regfox.com/2026-juljourn
There will be frequent stops and opportunities for conversation, photography, nature journaling, wildlife viewing, resting, etc., so bring your nature journal, camera, or binoculars if you have them. Wear comfortable shoes, a hat, sun protection, bring water and if desired, a snack. Parking fees apply.
The Creekside Nature Trail is an ADA-compliant trail 0.9 miles long roundtrip with a slope of no more than 5 degrees. There are at least two benches along the way, as well as a lot of seating at the midway point (the day use picnic area). If further accommodations are needed, contact alma@sonomaecologycenter.org as soon as possible.
Windsor
Windsor Town Green Community Garden: The Windsor Garden Club invites community gardeners to come on out for the Second Saturday Workday from 9 a.m. to noon. Aug. 8 at the Windsor Town Green Community Garden, at the corner of Windsor River Road and Joe Rodota Drive in the Town Hall complex.
Bring a hat, your gloves, water, and your favorite garden tool and spend some time working with fellow gardeners to maintain the common areas of the garden. Tasks include weeding or raking pathways between the beds, cleaning birdbaths, tidying the greenhouse, washing the solar panels — anything that needs sprucing up.
All community garden plot renters are required to put in six hours a calendar year (about a half-hour a month) volunteering to maintain the common areas. Garden lovers, friends and family always welcome. You can help out if you sign the Town of Windsor Liability Waiver. Check in with Second Saturday Garden Leaders about the waiver, and tasks needed this month.
For more information, visit https://www.windsorgardenclub.org.
Santa Rosa
Sustainability and defensible space: UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County presents a class on sustainability and defensible space from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at Los Guilicos Demonstration and Teaching Garden, 7464 Rancho Los Guilicos Road.
Learn how to create and maintain a firewise, sustainable garden that supports biodiversity while meeting County code requirements. This workshop covers plant selection, placement, and maintenance practices that preserve and even enhance wildlife habitat — while keeping your property and neighborhood fire-safe.
The workshop is free, but registration is encouraged by visiting: https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/event/sustainability-and-defensible-space. For more information, email scmglibrary@gmail.com.
Windsor
Sustainability series on gardening: The Windsor Garden Club hosts the Town of Windsor Sustainability Series on Gardening from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at the Windsor Town Library and the Town Green Community Garden, at the corner of Windsor River Road and Joe Rodota Drive in the Town Hall complex.
Put on your sun hat and come down to the Town Green Community Garden for a look at how organic gardening and a drip irrigation system on a timer can create beautiful flowers and a bounty of fruit and vegetables that thrive in Windsor — even in the summer heat.
Windsor Garden Club will have Master Gardeners on hand to answer your questions. Stroll the garden for inspiration, or wander outside the garden fence to the Community Pollinator Garden and stroll through the native water thrifty flowering plants that will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. Learn about the Monarch Waystation program.
Visit https://www.windsorgardenclub.org/ for more information.
Sebastopol
Volunteer days: Interested in lending a hand? Botanica garden (formerly Hidden Forest Nursery) holds a volunteer day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second Friday of each month at 3970 Azalea Ave.
As a volunteer, you will be working alongside a staff member, restoring the garden and learning more about the local flora. Bring a snack, gloves, and any small hand tools you think will be useful. All levels of experience are welcome.
For more information, call 707-823-6832 or visit https://botanicanurseryandgardens.com/
Sonoma
Join a garden club: The Valley of the Moon Garden Club meets every second Thursday of the month in Burlingame Hall at First Congregational Church, 252 W. Spain St.
The evening begins with a meet and greet at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program at 7:15 p.m. There will be a plant draw and refreshments.
Members attend free. A $5 donation is requested from guests and can be applied toward membership, which is $30 per year.
For information, visit https://sites.google.com/view/vomgc/home.
Sonoma
Fill the garden with native plants: Sonoma Ecology Center has a native plant sale from noon to 3 p.m. every Friday at Sonoma Garden Park, 19996 Seventh St. East.
The sale offers a variety of California native plants to help local gardeners create and maintain drought tolerant and pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes.
For information visit https://sonomaecologycenter.org/venue/sonoma-garden-park or email email the nursery manage at hannah@sonomaecologycenter.org.
Healdsburg
Healdsburg Garden Club: The club meets from 1 to 3 p.m. the third Monday of each month September through June at the Villa Chanticleer Annex, 860 Chanticleer Way.
Programs include speakers from all aspects of gardening. Refreshments, including home-made treats, coffee & tea, are served at each meeting. Special events include a holiday party in December, Pop Up Plant Sales in October, November, April, and May, a picnic for members in June, and destination tours of local gardens. Visitors interested in gardening are welcome to attend. Membership is $40 per year.
For more information, visit https://healdsburggardenclub.org.
Sonoma
Pick up fresh produce: The Sonoma Ecology Center presents Saturday Harvest Markets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until December at the Sonoma Garden Park, 19996 7th St. E.
The Harvest Market is a great place to pick up produce, flowers, and eggs harvested from the 6.1 acre sustainable garden. They also sell local honey and olive oil. The market accepts credit cards and Apple Pay. Remember to bring a reusable shopping bag.
For details, visit https://sonomaecologycenter.org.
Online
All about chickens: Alchemist Farm of Sebastopol offers online classes on keeping chickens.
Participants will learn everything from setting up the brooders to managing a flock, trimming wings and working with broody hens. The cost is $97.
Alchemist Farm also offers a master hatching class along with monthly live chicken chats.
For information and to sign up, visit https://alchemistlife.com/farming/
Online
Learn to keep bees: Beekind of Sebastopol is offering a beginner-friendly six-part video series on the essentials of beekeeping.
Beekeeping 101 online video lecture by beekeeper Doug Vincent goes over the essentials of backyard beekeeping, equipment, terminology and must-know first steps.
For details, cost and to sign up for access, visit https://beekind.com/beekeeping-101.
Beekind is located at 921 Gravenstein Hwy. S. in Sebastopol. For information, call 707-824-2905.
Send Home & Garden related events to Yovanna.Bieberich@pressdemocrat.com
Comments are closed.