Think it's too late to plant a vegetable garden? Not so, thanks to Southern California's year-round growing season. Discover which vegetables grow beautifully in our "second season" and how healthy soil and good garden design can give an abundant harvest -- with less work. Digitalseed Master Gardener, Tammy Tatum, will be teaching a Winter Vegetable Gardening Class at Bell Gardens in Valley Center on Sunday, November 15 (1-3pm). Call 760-749-6297 to register ($2 supply fee). Class size is limited, so sign up early!

Be a Master Composter! The San Diego Master Composter Program is currently accepting applications. Applications are due by August 21, 1998. Get trained and certified as a Master Composter. [more info]

Free Guided Tour - Subtropical Fruit Garden at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas - Tuesday, August 4. Led by Carol Frye Graham, UCCE Master Gardener. This is the only fruit demonstration garden open to the public in San Diego County (more details)

The Del Mar Fair will be open from June 16th through July 15th. Time your visit to the Fair to coincide with the event or talk of your choice. Check out the schedule of gardening-related presentations.

This Saturday, June 13, the San Diego Master Composters and Solana Recyclers will be hosting a Sustainable Gardening Workshop Festival in Encinitas. Local television celebrity and eco-journalist, Loren Nancarrow, will be in attendance, signing copies of his new guide to gardening and composting with worms, The Worm Book.

Save $10 on your next visit to Evergreen Nursery with this coupon...

This Saturday, May 16, from 1-4 pm, the San Diego Master Gardeners will be holding a "plant clinic" at University Town Center in La Jolla. Plants that pioneer horticulturist Kate Sessions introduced into San Diego County, will be on display. Master Gardeners will be there to answer home gardening questions. The new Master Gardener cookbook will also be available.

We just got a press release about a short course on soils being offered next month to be held in the Valley Center area (San Diego County). The deadline for early registration is June 1.

San Diego County: The Spring Garden Festival is this Saturday, May 9 on the campus of Cuyamaca College, El Cajon. An opportunity to meet and hear top garden advice from professionals in many horticulture related fields. The long-awaited Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamca College is also officially breaking ground this day.

For the entire month of April 1998, Balboa Park will be aflame with the brilliant colors of over 50,000 blossoms, during its first annual Buds 'n Blooms! A Floral Fiesta celebration.

San Diego County: Compost Sale...Dirt Cheap! A fundraiser for the San Diego Master Composters -- Fri & Sat, March 27-28. [ details ]

The next Backyard Composting Workshop and Organic Gardening Workshop will be offered in May. Register early!

New look for the main index page. Actually a modified old look. Put the What's New update back on the first page. People were missing the new resources. We're doing this with some misgivings - makes the page a little too cluttered for our taste. Let us know what you think.

The Kate Sessions Statue dedication ceremony will be held on April 1 (info). Information about this event and other gardening-related attractions can be found in the new Gardening-Related Attractions Section of the San Diego Gardener.

Also, the Common Ground discussion forum is now available without frames.

Added a series of pages on Southern California's soil, water, and climate conditions. Check out the cool maps!...

• USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: California
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: Southern California
• Generalized Western Plantclimate Zones: California
• Generalized Western Plantclimate Zones: Southern California
• Generalized Western Plantclimate Zones: San Diego County

Working on GWP Zone maps for Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside (west), San Bernardino (southwest), Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties.

Added a list of gardening education opportunities to the San Diego Gardener. Some highlights...

• Two workshop announcements: Backyard Composting Workshop & Organic Gardening Workshop ... by Digitalseed's chief gardening expert, Tammy Tatum.
• San Diego Home Gardening Seminar ... the biggest gardening education event in San Diego!
• A list of public educational institutions that offer gardening classes.
• A short list (soon to be expanded) of private organizations and nurseries that offer gardening-related classes and demonstrations ... We're thinking of putting all this info into a searchable database that nurseries can update online (free of charge!) - It all depends on if we can get the necessary cooperation.

New Resources...

The January and February Garden Guides are done. Just five more months left.

Also, check out the two new additions to the Digital Gardener; The Fruit Orchard and The Vineyard.