What to Expect!
Photo: Sikes Adobe
- Register for Hands-on Workshops
- Attend Free, Engaging Lightning Talks and Demonstrations
- Visit Informational Booths and Exhibits
- Free Tool Sharpening
- Free Succulent Swap
- Ask a Master Gardener
- Shop Garden-related Retail: Locally Grown Farmer's Market, 1000s of Plants, Unique Birdhouses, and More!
Learn all about seed starting, vegetable gardening, native plants, garden art, food preservation, irrigation, and more. Bring the whole family to enjoy a day of learning and fun outdoors.
Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead
Tool Care Cleaning at Our Event!
Keeping your garden tools clean, sharp and in good condition is key to efficient gardening. Bring a tool an we'll show you what tool care looks like!
Our Tool Care Team from the UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County will be at our event to clean and sharpen one pair of pruners or loppers per person. Pruners or loppers must be in reasonable working condition (limited rust, operational, no divots or bent blades). Because of time constraints we will sharpen only 2-inch blades or smaller - no hedge shears or serrated edges. Keeping it clean in the Garden San Diego!
Photo: MGASDC
Lightning talks are quick 30-minute presentations. They are free and do not require registration. You'll find these talks past the adobe farmhouse and just beyond the herb garden.
10:00 AM
Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary in Your Backyard
Learn how to attract butterflies and native bees to your garden and create a wildlife sanctuary at your home. UC Master Gardener Sharon Reeve will teach us about the best plants with the highest wildlife value and the bees and butterflies you are likely to see as a result.
11:00 AM
Planning and Enhancing You Earth-Friendly Garden
Tired of fussy, thirsty plants? Join UC Master Gardener Debby Dunn to learn about the many easy-going water-wise plants that could take their place in your garden. Right after her talk, Debby will lead a tour for you to see some of these easy-going plants in the Sikes Adobe Farmstead garden. Debby has won the Earth-Friendly Gardens award at the San Diego County Fair for three years in a row for her designs and gardens!
12:00 PM
Squeeze the Day: Lemon Preserving Basics
Discover how to make the most of every lemon in this talk led by UC Master Food Preservers, Anne Caprioglio and Jodi Bay. You’ll learn the basics of safely making classic Mediterranean salt-preserved lemons, plus smart, practical ways to save lemon juice and zest for future use. The presentation covers simple preservation techniques, storage tips, and food-safety best practices, all designed to help you reduce waste and add bright citrusy flavor to your dishes year-round.
1:00 PM
Welcome to Living Wild! Native Plants in Containers
There are many California natives that can be grown successfully in containers. This talk with UC Master Gardener Latisha Reed will share how to care for your California native plants in containers and tips to keep them happy and thriving. Topics will include which plants might work best for containers. You'll also learn which natives are thriving in Spring in the wild and how to bring seasonal California into your space.
2:00 PM
Bananas and Beyond: Growing Subtropical Fruit in Southern California
We are lucky to live in a climate that allows us to grow thousands of plant species, and nothing can be better than having a landscape that is both beautiful and produces edible delicacies. UC Master Gardener Richard Reid will share tips on how to grow subtropical fruit in San Diego county, enhancing both your garden's appeal and your fruit basket.
Photo: MGASDC
Shop from thousands of plants! Vegetable Starts, Berries, Fruiting Plants, Natives, Houseplants, Staghorn Ferns and more!
Photo: MGASDC
Our Hands-on Workshops require registration and a fee. They sell out quickly so pre-registration is greatly encouraged.
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
From Seeds to Healthy Plants
Location: Greenhouse $35
Have you looked at a seed catalog and wished you could grow the plants on those beautiful pages? Or have you wondered why your seeds didn’t germinate? UC Master Gardener My Thanh Kim will help you know what to do when your seeds sprout and what do you need to do to turn them into strong healthy plants? This workshop will provide the knowledge you need to become successful at all stages from seeds to plants. In this hands-on workshop you will practice caring for a set of seedlings in various stages and you will go home with seedlings to begin your spring/summer garden.
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Blueberries: From Bush to Jar
Location: Adobe Back Porch $35
Get ready for a fun, hands-on workshop that takes you from backyard berries to beautiful jam! UC Master Gardeners kick things off by sharing tips to growing blueberries here in sunny San Diego. Then a UC Master Food Preservers will show you how to turn blueberries and fragrant lavender into a delicious blueberry lavender jam and safely seal it all up using a water bath canner. You will leave with the know-how to grow blueberries at home and a jar of your own homemade jam.
10 AM to 11:30 AM
Let's Get the Garden Planted
Location: The Orchard $40
This class will be a three part, hands-on activity where you will get your hands dirty assessing the soil condition in a raised bed, plus learn how to amend it. Next, the irrigation demo will provide firsthand experience in drip irrigation installation followed by the third step, planting seedling starts and transplants. This class will be led by UC Master Gardeners Niki Vollrath and Jay Davis. You'll go home with vegetable starts for your home garden.
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Mosaic Garden: Birds, Blooms, & Hearts
Location: Adobe South Yard $65
Photo: Judy MacKenzie
Come join us for a creative workshop where we'll make a six-inch mosaic piece on a stake that is sure to be a unique addition to your garden or potted plant. In just over four hours, you'll learn the art of mosaic by transforming a simple foam and concrete board into a vibrant jewel for your garden. This will be a glue to grout project, and all materials will be provided. This workshop will be taught by UC Master Gardener Judy MacKenzie. You'll create a beautiful heart, bird or flower mosaic that you take home to brighten up your garden!
11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
The Art of the Staghorn Fern: Mounted & Mossed
Location: The Creamery $40
Be a part of this hands-on, make-it-and-take-it staghorn fern workshop. An experienced Master Gardener will demonstrate the techniques for separating a “pup” from the large mother-plant. Then join in the fun as the new pups are mounted onto a ready-to-hang backboard you can take home and display on your patio. All materials will be provided and support staff will assist in each step of the process. It’s educational, it’s fun, and you will go home with a mounted staghorn fern worthy of bragging about.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
From Seeds to Healthy Plants
Location: Greenhouse $35
Have you looked at a seed catalog and wished you could grow the plants on those beautiful pages? Or have you wondered why your seeds didn’t germinate? UC Master Gardener My Thanh Kim will help you know what to do when your seeds sprout and what do you need to do to turn them into strong healthy plants? This workshop will provide the knowledge you need to become successful at all stages from seeds to plants. In this hands-on workshop you will practice caring for a set of seedlings in various stages and you will go home with seedlings to begin your spring/summer garden.
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Let's Get the Garden Planted
Location: The Orchard $40
This class will be a three part, hands-on activity where you will get your hands dirty assessing the soil condition in a raised bed, plus learn how to amend it. Next, the irrigation demo will provide first hand experience in drip irrigation installation followed by the third step, planting seedling starts and transplants. This class will be led by UC Master Gardeners Niki Vollrath and Jay Davis. You'll go home with vegetable starts for your home garden.
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Growing & Preserving Herbs: From Garden to Pantry
Location: Adobe Back Porch $35
Photo Credit: pixabay
UC Master Gardeners and UC Master Food Preservers pair up to explain how to grow culinary herbs and preserve their flavor all year long. They’ll cover simple techniques for growing, harvesting, drying, freezing, and infusing herbs. In this hands-on class, we'll also make a Blueberry Basil Vinegar and learn how to safely preserve it using a water bath canner. Leave with new skills and your own jar of homemade infused vinegar.
Thank you to our Partners!
Together we grow a better San Diego.
