Classes offered at Teaching Garden
The Community Teaching Garden at Shasta College is offering four classes on plants and gardening in May and June. The classes are:
“Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants,” 10 a.m. to noon May 21. Includes a walk to look for wild plants. Wintu herbalist and native plant expert Ted Dawson is teacher.
“Transplanting Vegetable Seedlings,” 10 a.m. to noon May 22. Teacher is organic farmer Wayne Kessler of Shambani Organics in Shingletown.
“Managing Water and Moisture,” 10 a.m. to noon June 12. Learn how to manage garden irrigation for efficiency and plant health. Kessler is instructor.
“Growing Superior Tomatoes,” 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. June 25. Class will cover germinating seeds, transplanting, watering and trellising. Teacher is Mary Ocasion of Churn Creek Meadow Organic Farm in Redding.
All sessions will be at the Community Teaching Garden on the northeast side of the college off Old Oregon Trail. Cost is $15 for each class. Register at www.shastacollege.edu/EWD (click on “Pathways”) or call 225-4835.
Koi club plans tour of ponds
Tickets for Shasta Koi Water Garden Club’s Pond Tour go on sale Monday. The tour of private ponds and water gardens in the Redding area is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 25.
Tickets are $10 and are available at Sunset Koi, Jose Antonio’s, Linda’s Hallmark, Wyntour Gardens and Axner Excavating, all in Redding; Happy Valley Nursery and Vic Hannan Landscape Materials in Anderson; Shasta Feed in Cottonwood; and Red Bluff Garden Center and Mike’s Pools More in Red Bluff.
Shasta Koi Water Garden Club meets the third Saturday of each month at a member’s home to share information about water gardening. Find out more at www.shastakoiclub.com.
Traveling birds need your help
Today is International Migratory Bird Day. The Nature Conservancy encourages homeowners to provide migrating birds with places to nest or rest.
Some birds are moving through California on their way to breeding grounds in the Arctic, while some songbirds are returning from wintering grounds in Central and South America, notes a press release from The Nature Conservancy. The organization offers these recommendations for helping the birds:
Put up a birdhouse. Birdhouses provide homes for many types of birds, and the birds will provide free pest control.
Provide a hummingbird feeder.
Provide a birdbath. A slowly dripping garden hose above a wash tub or plastic container will attract a variety of birds in the heat of the summer.
Plant native plants that have fruits and berries. They provide important food resources to a variety of birds, especially in the fall and spring.
Article source: http://www.redding.com/news/2011/may/13/HG_briefs/