Garden Activities: December 2, 2025

A lot got packed into this Tuesday. Four activities were pursued including: 1) Bill Dobner managing the compost operation; 2) Introducing new volunteer Callie Shaffer to the Tuesday Crew and garden; 3)  Introducing ~25 members of the new Master Gardener Class of 2026 to CVBG, and 4) doing the regular work of the garden!

Doing the latter were: Dale Harshberger, Katie Shank, Anna Wiktor-Becker, and Callie Shaffer.

Anna, Dale, Katie and Callie working in the Native Section near the old Garden 

Entrance. Once finished deadheading hummingbird sage, they moved up to the new salvia garden to make sure it was as well-tended as possible given that it was a past Master Gardener hands-on project. This was going to be a key stop along the MG tour of the garden.

Before the tour, we congregated in the KAG for an introduction to the garden and specifically to discuss opportunities for volunteer work at the KAG. Serendipitously, Jean Reily had sent me images of the KAG from Sunday that demonstrate the beauty of the KAG that the MG students were able to enjoy.

The cherry tree where the welcome table is set up, and...

…the red hot pokers that were in full bloom.

Managing the tour were Nancy Taylor Walker, Daryl Stutley and myself. Nancy discussed activities that take place in the KAG to provide information to those interested in other forms of volunteering other than or in addition to working in the garden itself. Then we talked about the native sections (where of course I had to point out the Santa Cruz ironwood trees we hope will form a copse in future years) then onto the Chilean Garden and Service area where we talked about the activities of the propagation operation. We then proceeded up the zig zag path pointing out the Herb Garden, Butterfly Garden, Bird Habitat and Australian Garden. Across from the latter, we discussed the Trail of Trees. Heading up the top zag of that trail, we discussed the Rare Fruit Orchard and then the service road side of the S. African Garden on our way to the top of the hill.

At entrance B of the Nature Trail, everyone in rapt attention to…???

…me doing my best Caruso imitation!  It takes effort to have my raspy voice heard!

At the top of the hill, we were gratified to see the cactus, we planted just before the rains, looking happy.

On the way back down we followed the path to the east of the service road first stopping at the Tranquility Garden where we discussed the challenges of gardening where there is very little soil covering the bedrock.

The cairns to my left give the location away.

Then onto the S. African Garden, then the new Salvia Garden where we stopped and discussed the MG project of a few years ago. Of course we had to stop on the way to check on the single acorn we bagged on the island oak. It had dehisced from its cap, and had I had a pair of clippers I would have collected it for propagation. Next week.

The precious acorn.

The last highlight was the view of the redwoods on the way back to the main entrance from which the group wrapped up their tour and departed.

Many thanks to all for their help in making the day a success in all aspects and thanks to Nancy and Daryl for their images! Hope Callie had a good experience on a fairly chaotic day!

The trails are in good shape, so enjoy the garden until it rains again…KMM