Local Events

As an avid reader of Sunset Magazine my whole life (since I've been able to read, really), I was pleased to learn about a local event happening this month -- the Fair Oaks Horticultural Center's Harvest Day event. Today!

We went the short trip this morning: free garden swag, nurseries with plants for sale, info booths, demonstration gardens, a community garden, Master Gardeners loitering around giving advice and info, and Horticultural Center, made up this event. Chris and I had a good time looking at their demonstration orchard and getting ideas about how large different types of fruit trees grow. That was very useful info! We also taste tested cherry tomatoes and grapes, and noted our favorites to look for next year:

'Campbell Early' Grape (seeded): although it had enormous seeds, I could just imagine juicing these grapes for their concord grape juice taste! MMMMM!
'Summer Royal' Grape: Sweet for eating
'Beauty Seedless' Grape: Citric acidy taste, more bite than sweeter grapes
'Diamond Muscat' Grape: Reminded me of sweet muscat wine
'Perlette' Grape: Good sour green grape

Chris' picks:
"All of 'em were really good."
'Sun Sugar' Tomato
'Fiesta Seedless' Grape
'Flame Seedless' Grape

As part of our backyard re-do, we want a pergola over the back of our house, because on days like today where it is 1pm and 98^o with 42% humidity, an East-facing location makes it unbearable to be outside! (At least there is almost always a slight breeze because of our foothills location...) They had examples of fruits trained over such pergolas: grapes, kiwis (!), and I believe I also saw figs... Kiwis:
I took pictures and noted how things were trellised. This trellis had wires strung across to posts on either side. Thusly noted!

We also came across a small hop vine tied with thick twine to a large trellis. I've seen this done with tomatoes. The hop vines were very small, but looking at how large the trellis was built makes me think that these are baby plants! Another idea thusly noted!

Hops is a vine that does well in Northern California, and another contender for the pergola. This is so we can make homemade beer. Mmmmm...beer! Then our friends might not think the 20 minute drive to our house is so bad!

My Father-In-Law and Boss who are both the same age and Sacramento natives talk about how Watt Avenue through the middle of Sacramento used to be entirely bordered by Hops vines on both sides. Local trivia I suppose...








I was stunned when I came across monster zinnias! I've talked before about how they have won over my heart this year with their profusion of blooms and good nature with heat, but today I learned about double zinnias, my friends, and I am in love! These plants are at least 3' tall and around. I can't wait to plant them next year!







We also received info about books published by University of California: California Master Gardener's Guide (700 pages about CALIFORNIA!!) and The Home Orchard. We plan on purchasing both. Yay -- more learny things!










And coming into the City of Folsom driving home, the local events board read:
Certified Farmer's Market
Historic Sutter Street
Through 10/7
Sundays 8am-Noon

This is IN ADDITION to the Thursday Night Market I wrote about a few weeks back! Chris and I are excited to go tomorrow and will report back afterwards.

Good weekend so far, except for the heat.... Uuhhhhhhh