Volunteers needed to help landmark site while learning about rose care
This is the McKinley Park Rose Garden in its full blooming glory. Achieving this in 2023 is the goal of the January Prune-a-thon. Debbie Arrington
It’s back! In January, rose lovers and gardeners of all ages will come together for Prune-a-thon – a community effort to help the McKinley Memorial Rose Garden.
In years past, volunteers pruned the garden’s entire collection of 1,200-plus roses in one day. The upcoming 2023 Prune-a-thon will stretch over two Saturdays – Jan. 7 and 14. Each pruning session will run from 9 a.m. to noon with a light lunch available for participants.
Experienced rosarians from the Sacramento Rose Society and Sacramento parks staff will supervise volunteers.
Registration and parking are free. No experience is necessary, although volunteers under age 18 must have a parent’s or guardian’s signature to participate. Tools and instruction will be provided. Bring gloves and, if possible, bypass pruners.
The Prune-a-thon is a great opportunity to learn about roses or reinvigorate pruning skills. It’s also a wonderful chance to show this historic rose garden some love.
This month, the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department took over management of the rose garden as well as Clunie Community Center and the Shepard Garden and Arts Center from Friends of East Sacramento. In addition to tackling pruning (the biggest chore in any rose garden), the Prune-a-thon will serve as a recruiting event for year-round rose garden volunteers.
Prune-a-thon participants should dress warmly. Closed-toe shoes are required. Water will be provided.
For details and to register in advance via QR code: https://bit.ly/3HQU9JM
Want to learn more about rose care? Here are a few of Debbie's previous posts:
December rose care: Start pruning now
Grow your own vase-worthy roses
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Local News
Sites We Like
Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
Powered by California Local
