Is it a Green Thumb, a Smart Thumb or a Blue Thumb? You decide...

From GalTime - EarthDay, April 22, 2010:

I’ve been training as a “Green Gardener” and learning a lot that makes sense when it comes to smart and sassy garden methods for the 21st century. (Recently, I had the opportunity to create a flower show garden using these principles, but more about that later!) Here are 4 principles that will help you earn your green thumb...
read more

Happy Earth Day!

A Song For My Home Planet...

Something You Can Do To Love the Motha...
Check out the “Blue Thumb” water smart campaign being run by the Regional Water Authority (and, even if you're not from this region, the principles still apply). Go to “Take the Pledge” and you could (and probably will) win a prize!
...if you listen closely, you'll know the Motha says, "Thank you, sweetheart!"

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com.

Last Half of April Gardening News

Happy Gardening! Happy Spring!

What's happening in the Sac Valley? Well, for one thing, we’re half way thru April and I’m finally getting this newsletter out. Whoops! But, there are still some interesting events happening and I want to report on them. So, here we go...

April Events

Sacramento Perennial Plant Club - 4/22, 7 pm
Patio Ponds and More, with Marco Tjaden of Flora Tropicana Aquatics

Lotus Valley Nursery Spring Sale & Art Show - 4/23,24,25, 9-5 pm
30% off all plants! "Celebrate Earth Day by planting a grass. Grasses as a group are the most adaptable to a variety of soil types and water requirements. And best of all, they do not need fertilizing. Most commercial fertilizers are derived from petroleum. Go Green."

Curtis Park Home and Garden Tour – Saturday, 4/24, 10–4 pm
Great day to spend a day in this lovely historic neighborhood that features Craftsman and Bungalow houses from the early 1900’s. There will be music, self-guided tours, refreshments and vintage cars. For more info,

Sacramento Green Expo - 4/24-25, 10–6 pm
A green living expo for the entire family, keynote speakers, hands-on demonstrations, multiple kid's zones, the freshest local farmer's market, a green job fair, tasty organic goodies, contests, and so much more.

Folsom Garden Club’s 10th Annual Tour - 4/24-25, 11–4 pm
Self-guided tour features, tropical, drought tolerant, natural, children’s gardens and more.

UC Davis Urban Horticulture Center – Friday, 4/30, 8–4 pm
You will learn from industry experts and University of California researchers the best management practices for establishing and caring for roses in this comprehensive, hands-on workshop.

And, of course...there's always take a walk, go for a hike, or visit a cemetery...

I spent some time this last weekend at Sacramento’s Historic City Cemetery at Riverside and Broadway. I mainly wanted to check out the California Native Plant Demonstration Garden (where I snapped the pics of the CA Poppy and the Flannel Bush, but the Heritage Rose Gardens were also gorgeous (plus there was a sale…). Everything’s in bloom so try to get over there soon in you’re so inclined. Here’s a slide show of Sacramento Regional Native Plants from the local chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Isn't spring great? Jeannie
P.S. Let me know about your gardening events and I’ll put them on my list for May!

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com.

Flower Show Wrap-up & Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day

April 15, 2010

I'm a day late for GBBD, the monthly garden event hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens. But, I have an excuse: I just completed my first show garden display and am getting caught up with my regular life (laundry)(bills)(taxes).
It took the entire month to get ready for the California State Flower and Garden Show. This is how the hall looked on the first day of installing the gardens...a bit overwhelming. The only sign that this was my space was my name written in chalk on the floor and 4 little corner markings! Oh, my...

But, this is how it looked at the show...I had such beautiful elements to work with, recycled copper panels and hand-made metal hanging lights from Living Green Design Solutions, a charming large bird cage (where's the bird!) from High Hand Nursery in Loomis and a genuine antique Spanish daybed from Riley's Antiques and Artifacts at the Antique Trove in Roseville.


I used Mediterranean and California native plants, amongst them, this lovely California penstemon, which I refused to return to the nursery and will soon be part of my own garden! It will join the front yard mix, which is gradually replacing the lawn. I have a hot area that will be all drought tolerant natives!


My front border is lookin sweet right now...Mex. Feather Grass, Sparakis, Bridal Wreath Spiraea, Centranthus, Bidens, Lavender  and Euryops. This is an existing border at my house that currently is all reds and yellows

My Cecile Brunner climbing rose is going into it's full glory stage!

I'm excited...there was a lot of interest at the show regarding replacing the front lawn with natives and I'll be getting to work with some of these visitors, doing consultations or designs or coaching. What a pleasant reward for working so hard (sound of patting myself on my back). To read more about the show, click here. I'll be posting more about the show and my great vendors in upcoming posts. Their generosity made the entire experience a joy (except that last day, shoveling bark into piles...that wasn't fun).

For more blooms from around the world, or to participate with your own bloggin blooms, visit May Dreams Gardens, the hostess of this fun event.

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com.

California State Flower & Garden Show Mixer

You're invited

How would you like to meet IN PERSON (!!!!!) some of the people whose blogs you follow or who you twitter with? Well, join us tomorrow, April 10 at 4 o'clock at the wine garden (across from my garden, California Days, Moroccan Nights). We'll have snacks at my place :-D
Jeannie
Spend the day at the show, see the gardens and some very groovy vendors. Some great speakers lined up as well...

Building the Exhibit CA State Flower & Garden Show

Yea...something is happening, and it's my garden, "California Days, Moroccan Nights"! We've got these beautiful stone columns to announce the entrance to the pergola (if you're Moroccan do you call it a pergola?).

...also notice the recycled copper panels. They're "show-stoppers"...everybody loves them!

Tomorrow morning we'll be on T.V., so if you're up at 7 a.m., tune in to Good Day Sacramento on Channel 31. Julissa Ortiz will be broadcasting live from the exhibit hall. Grab a cup of cold coffee and put on your hard hat and steel-toed boots. We'll be having some crane & forklift action happening!!!

The show runs from April 8 - 11th at Cal Expo. To find out more about the vendors, the speakers, visit the California Flower & Garden website, or the Facebook Fan Page, or both! Tomorrow I'll share some more about my Moroccan garden! Please feel free to join in the discussion.

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.