Plant Annuals Ahead of the Heat
Spring is still going strong, but now it’s time to think about summer. May is the month to plant the annual flowers and vegetables that make summer so splendid, including those American favorites, the marigold and tomato. Big planting projects should be finished fast. Otherwise, the plants will need almost constant watering.
Look for annual bedding plants that like the summer sun and bloom straight through, including ageratum, alyssum, balsam, celosia, bedding dahlia, annual petunia, summer phlox, portulaca, bedding salvia, verbena and zinnia. In the shade, try bedding begonia, caladium, coleus, forget-me-not, mimulus and impatiens.
From the Los Angeles Times California Garden Calendar
Garden Tours
The eighth annual Venice Garden Tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $50. Proceeds benefit the Neighborhood Youth Assn.’s Las Doradas Children’s Center. Information, (310) 390-6641, Ext. 226, or visit www.venicegarden tour.org.
The Sixth Annual Camarillo Hospice Garden Tour of six residences, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: $20. Information, (805) 389-6870.
Springtime Splendor Garden Tour of five Palos Verdes Peninsula private gardens, sponsored by Palos Verdes Woman’s Club. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $25. Information, (310) 541-3063 or (310) 375-4970.
Self-guided tour of five Brentwood gardens, and plant sale sponsored by the Brentwood Historical Society, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Fee: $25. Information, (310) 472-8034 or (310) 820-5070.
Shows and Sales
The 32nd annual plant sale at the Arboretum of Los Angeles in Arcadia, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free with $5 admission to the Arboretum, 310 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Information, (626) 821-3222 or visit www.arboretum.org.
South Bay Epiphyllum Society’s annual show and sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at South Coast Botanic Gardens, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula. Gardens admission: $5. Information, (310) 544-1948.
Cactus and succulent show sponsored by La Ballona Bromeliad Society and Sunset Succulent Society, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave., Culver City. Free. Information, (310) 230-4262.
San Diego’s Rose Society’s 75th Diamond Jubilee Rose Show, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Balboa Park Club, Balboa Park, San Diego. Admission: $2.50. Information, (619) 463-6977.
Other Events
Pressed-flower workshop by botanical artist Lynn Pitts, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fullerton Arboretum, Associated Road at Yorba Linda Boulevard. Fee: $30. Reservations required; call (714) 278-3579, press 0.
Talk on growing a 500-pound pumpkin by Stuart Shim, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Sherman Library and Gardens, 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Free. Information, (949) 673-2261.
Send garden announcements to Garden Events, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, or e-mail to garden@la times.com at least three weeks before the event.
