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Spring Gardening Tips for a Flourishing Garden
As the vibrant colors of spring burst forth and the air fills with the sweet scent of blossoms, it's the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and tend to your garden. Whether you're a seasoned gar...
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People brave stormy weather to celebrate milestone and see lots of flowers
These were just a few of the camellia blossoms entered for judging at the 100th Sacramento Camellia Show. Debbie Arrington
Updated
Rain couldn’t dampen Sacramento’s love of its favorite flower.
Over a soggy weekend March 2 and 3, more than 3,000 patrons – and hundreds of flowers – packed the Scottish Rite Center for the 100th Sacramento Camellia Show.
“We had more people than we’ve ever had, at least in many, many years,” said Julie Vierra, president of the Camellia Society of Sacramento and the show’s co-chair. “(The flow of people) was constant – it never stopped! We were very busy both days.”
The final tally, finished Monday night, was impressive: Some 47 exhibitors entered 1,743 blooms, Vierra said. More than 3,100 guests attended the show.
“It was the biggest show we’ve ever had, at least since the early days at Memorial Auditorium,” Vierra added.
Living up to Sacramento’s moniker as the Camellia City, the Sacramento Camellia Show is recognized as the nation’s oldest and largest show of its kind. It’s been a highlight of Sacramento’s garden calendar since its 1924 debut. For decades, it filled Memorial Auditorium with flowers as part of the city’s Camellia Festival.
For its century milestone, the show moved from the Elks Lodge in Greenhaven to the larger Scottish Rite Center near Sacramento State in the River Park neighborhood. The new location and extra space were a hit, Vierra noted. “People said how much more they liked it.”
Cold rain and wind – which can quickly batter tender camellia blooms – were an extra challenge for exhibitors. About 1 inch of rain fell on Sacramento between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening. The storm included gusty winds with blasts over 30 mph.
“We were picking (flowers) in the pouring rain on Friday night,” said Vierra, who won nine trophies with her camellias. “It just goes to show how hardy they can be. They can take a lot of beating and still look good.”
Sacramento stalwarts Don and Joan Lesmeister won Best of Show with "Phyllis Hunt," a spectacular Reticulata camellia that measured more than 7 inches across. The light pink variety originated in Australia in 1998.
“It was absolutely perfect – a gorgeous flower,” Vierra said of the winning bloom.
Best large Japonica camellia (the species found in most Sacramento gardens) went to "Black Magic," grown by Kathy Fields.
Dozens of flower arrangements were displayed by members of the Sacramento Floral Design Guild and Ikebana International, Sacramento.
Vierra noted many community members brought flowers from their gardens to enter in the flower show – or just to be identified.
“Sunday night when it was all over, I was really happy,” she said. “I felt good about all the work we did.”
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Garden Checklist for week of May 19
Temperatures will be a bit higher than normal in the afternoons this week. Take care of chores early in the day – then enjoy the afternoon. It’s time to smell the roses.
* Plant, plant, plant! It’s prime planting season in the Sacramento area. If you haven’t already, it’s time to set out those tomato transplants along with peppers and eggplants. Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Direct-seed melons, cucumbers, summer squash, corn, radishes, pumpkins and annual herbs such as basil.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
* In the flower garden, direct-seed sunflowers, cosmos, salvia, zinnias, marigolds, celosia and asters.
* Plant dahlia tubers. Other perennials to set out include verbena, coreopsis, coneflower and astilbe.
* Transplant petunias, marigolds and perennial flowers such as astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia and verbena.
* Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs and aphids that want to dine on tender new growth.
* Feed summer bloomers with a balanced fertilizer.
* For continued bloom, cut off spent flowers on roses as well as other flowering plants.
* Don’t forget to water. Seedlings need moisture. Deep watering will help build strong roots and healthy plants.
* Add mulch to the garden to help keep that precious water from evaporating. Mulch also cuts down on weeds. But don’t let it mound around the stems or trunks of trees or shrubs. Leave about a 6-inch to 1-foot circle to avoid crown rot or other problems.
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