Orange County Master Gardeners speak at many venues throughout the county as well as providing support to school and community gardens. We also staff informational booths at many community events. These are locations where we have a continual presence.
| Casa Romantica | San Clemente |
| Master Gardeners help maintain the many gardens, in particular the California Native and Native American gardens. These reflect plants used by the Native American Indians of the coastal region. Plants used throughout the gardens reflect the gardening styles of the California coastal environment and are adapted for best water usage. Master Gardeners also participate in helping with special events, act as docents for occasional garden tours, and acting as docents for Grade 3 and 4 field trips to Casa Romantica. A new plant research project is under way and Master gardeners are needed to help create a maintenance binder of plants growing in the various gardens at Casa Romantica. |
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Master Gardeners support conservation and preservation of the rose garden and conduct a rose pruning workshop for the public in January. Expansion to other projects is planned as restoration work progresses.
| OC Fair & Event Center Centennial Farm | Costa Mesa |
Farm tours are given for kindergarten, first-grade, and special education children during the school year. Tours consist of the following: tour of the Farm itself featuring the animals, vegetable garden, and fruit and nut trees, and a lesson on fertilized egg to hatching at 21 days, and holding baby chicks. Master Gardeners help children interact with and learn about the various farm animals. Children also plant radish seeds in containers to take home and learn the five things plants need to grow.
During the fair, Master Gardeners have staffed a beekeeping booth, an urban chickens, booth, and have given tours of Centennial Farm.
| Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab | Irvine |
This venue is a demonstration garden which consists of twelve large themed raised garden beds: Pizza Garden, International Garden, Fruit Salad Garden, Sensory Garden, Square Foot Garden, Native Garden, Mission Garden, Edible Garden, Butterfly Garden and Textile Garden. The purpose of the garden is to educate the public about food and its production, nutrition, history and home gardening practices. The garden has a large open area and demonstration tables which are used for public lectures. A lecture series is given by Master Gardeners in fall and spring. |
| Santa Ana Zoo Demonstration Garden | Santa Ana |
Vegetable and fruit garden plots are maintained by Master Gardeners at the Santa Ana Zoo. Master Gardeners are available to answer questions from the public regarding growing vegetables. We also have a booth at the spring Party for the Planet.
| Sherman Library and Gardens | Corona del Mar |
Sherman Library and Gardens has been a Corona del Mar landmark since 1955. It consists of 2 acres of 7 different types of gardens, a restaurant, gift shop, and a research library which contains a large archive of materials from the south western portion of the United States. Many public and private events are held at the gardens.
Master Gardeners who serve as docents provide guided tours to groups of adults and children by appointment. They also maintain a "docent on duty" table in the garden during weekdays to answer questions from the visiting public. Informational materials are also provided regarding garden topics.
Docents also assist at various garden events held there each year, including various flower festivals and the National Garden Open House.
| South Coast Research and Extension Center | Irvine |
South Coast Research and Extension Center is not normally open to the public except when special events are scheduled. These events include an annual Garden Expo and classes which include composting and beekeeping. Master Gardeners also maintain a demonstration youth garden which is used to train teachers and other youth workers in how to start and maintain a youth garden. In addition, Master Gardeners help maintain low water use demonstration gardens and participate in pruning and harvesting fruit from the urban horticulture project.