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Whether you’re looking to sharpen your gardening skills, want to take in the pre-spring flower blossoms or learn about how to build a backyard ADU, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in our February home & garden events calendar.
Daffodil flora party at Filoli
10 a.m.-noon & 2 – 4 p.m., Feb. 5–6 | Filoli Historic House & Garden, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside| $160 | Advance tickets required
The daffodils are in bloom. Get a jump start on spring at Filoli’s Daffodil Flora Party where participants will make their own floral arrangements. Guided by Filoli staff, guests are invited to artfully combine a mix of fresh flowers and greenery to make their showstopper arrangement. Enjoy light bites and beverages as you unleash your creativity and take inspiration from the Garden around you. Fee includes all material needed to create a floral arrangement, instruction from Filoli’s expert floral designers, general admission to Filoli, and light bites and beverages.
‘Growing Fabulous Fruit’
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11 | Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St., Mountain View | Free | Registration required
Early spring is the time to prune and feed your citrus trees and to plant new varieties in your garden. Learn how to select and plant citrus trees and how to take care of them to get the best harvest during this 1-hour event sponsored by the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Master Gardener Candace Simpson will discuss pruning, fertilizing, watering and managing pests.
Tips for adding an ADU to your backyard
6-7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, 6-7 p.m. | online | Zoom registration required
As California state laws continue to make it easier to build backyard ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), more homeowners are taking advantage of this opportunity.
Building an ADU can be a great way to house extended family, add more housing to the community and add value to your property. If you’re thinking about building an ADU, join the ADU Resource Center of San Mateo County for a free webinar about the ADU construction process, how to set your project up for success and how to avoid potential pitfalls along the way. Hear from local industry experts with experience building ADUs across San Mateo, including Carrie Diller from Inspired ADUs and Sergio Rodriguez from Integrum Construction. You’ll also hear from a homeowner who has recently completed an ADU.
A ‘Wild and Weird Valentines’ hike
10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat., Feb. 15 | El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve, Redwood City | Free
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and, not coincidentally, many animals act on their “spring feelings” around the same time. Docent naturalists Annette Herz, An Scharlaken, Jan Hintermeister and Melissa Hero will explore the different adaptations nature deploys for procreation during this 5-mile hike along the Fir and Tafoni trails. Some species’ tactics will likely be familiar to you while other species’ will be very, very different!
Bring a lunch to enjoy and be prepared for wintery redwood temperatures.
(Notes: Please evaluate if this guided activity is appropriate for your child due to the content being about mating and procreation; heavy fog or light rain will not cancel this hike.)
Meet at the Caltrans Skeggs Point Parking Area on the east side of Skyline Boulevard, about 4 miles north of La Honda Road (Highway 84) and 1.5 miles south of Kings Mountain Road.
The mysteries of purple veggies
7- 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19 | Orchard Room, Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos | Free
It’s time to start thinking about planting spring and summer vegetables. Join UC Master Gardener Maria Guerra for this talk on purple vegetables that grow in our Zone 9B and 10A. This includes a variety of both Indian and Asian vegetables, such as eggplant, microgreens (including Mizuna), lettuce, peas, beans, Chinese cabbage, carrots, radicchio, basil and more. Guerra, who also is a Master Food Preserver and a Master Composter, will share lots of good information for garden selections.
How to recognize, report and prevent invasive pests
Noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20 | online | Free| Zoom registration required
California’s landscapes face growing threats from invasive pests, but informed action can make a real difference. This webinar, offered by UC Integrated Pest Management, offers insights into key invasive species, their distribution and impacts, quarantine measures, emerging threats and resources to empower you in preventing and reporting these threats effectively.
Pruning and tree maintenance workshop
10 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Feb. 22 | Redwood City Public Library, 1044 Middlefield Road | More information and registration
Board members from the nonprofit CityTrees will present a tree pruning workshop on basic tree biology, reasons for pruning, priorities of street-tree maintenance and safe work practices. As part of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to practice their new skills on trees growing near the library.
This workshop is ideal for those who would like to learn about taking care of trees. Completion of the workshop qualifies participants to volunteer at future street tree pruning events with CityTrees.
‘Love Your Santa Clara County Clay!’
1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23 | Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto | Free
Working with clay soil doesn’t need to be a battle. Clay soil has great advantages in the garden if you handle it properly. Learn how to make clay the basis for productive vegetable beds, fruit trees or waterwise ornamental plants in your home garden. UC Master Gardener Candace Simpson will discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy soil ecosystem, along with digging techniques, appropriate amendments and fertilizers, cover crops and mulches.
For those who are interested, a follow-up demonstration about working with clay soil will be held Saturday, March 1 from 10 -11:15 a.m. at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto.
From private home to public space: The founding of Gamble Garden
2 – 4 p.m., Sunday, March 2 | Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto | Registration required
Learn about the founding and history of Gamble Garden during the kick off of the historic home and garden’s 40th anniversary celebration. A founders panel, co-hosted by the Palo Alto Historical Association, will share details and stories about the work members did 40 years ago to ensure that the Gamble property would remain a garden, open for the public to enjoy, learn and support. Moderated by Gamble Garden Executive Director Mica Pirie, the panel will feature Karen Olson and Herb Fong, members of the original Gamble Garden Executive Committee, as well as Scott Loosley, Gamble Garden’s first horticulturist.
Household hazardous waste drop-off
7:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Thursday – Saturday, year-round | various locations | Appointment required: Santa Clara County, San Mateo County
Through the Household Hazardous Waste Program, Santa Clara and San Mateo county residents can dispose of unwanted household products labeled as flammable, toxic, corrosive or reactive for free at designated drop-off sites.
In Santa Clara County, permanent drop-off sites are located in San Jose or San Martin. Along the Peninsula, temporary sites in Los Altos, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara are open on select Saturdays in April.
In San Mateo County, drop-off events occur in Daly City, East Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, La Honda, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Mateo and South San Francisco.
Once you make an appointment, the address of your drop-off location will be emailed to you.
Common products that can be dropped off include auto fluids, batteries, electronics, fluorescent and LED lightbulbs, garden chemicals, household cleaners, paint and many other products that require proper disposal to prevent harm to humans and the environment.
Note: Palo Alto residents who want to schedule a drop-off need to contact their city’s household hazardous waste program at 650-496-5910.
