SCC, gardeners partner for ?waterwise expo

Homeowners, hobbyists, and professionals all can learn about water-conscious gardening at the Spring Waterwise Garden Expo from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St.

The free event is hosted by the Sonoma Community Center in partnership with the Sonoma County Master Gardeners.

The event offers exhibits, demonstrations, garden tours, an educational talk, and opportunities for one-on-one chats with representatives from the Sonoma County Master Gardeners.

Topics covered will include making the most of an irrigation system, mulching, lawn replacement and rainwater collection. Sonoma Community Center hosts the community educational event in partnership with the Sonoma County Master Gardeners. The event is free and open to the public.

“Since replacing our lawn with Waterwise landscaping and installing a rainwater collection system, we have reduced the amount of water we use for irrigation by an estimated 70 percent annually,” said Sonoma Community Center Executive Director Toni Castrone. “The Waterwise Garden Expo is a chance for us to share what we’ve learned with the community, and hopefully provide support and education for those wishing to conserve water.”

Highlights from this year’s event include:

• VOM Garden Club annual plant sale

• Sonoma County Master Gardeners information table

• Tours of the Waterwise Garden at Sonoma Community Center

• Succulent garden demonstration with Master Gardener Bonnie Walner of Re:Design

• City of Sonoma Water Policy information table

• Sheet mulching demonstration

• Ask a farmer with Austin Blair of Paul’s Produce (star of The Organic Life film)

• Efficient irrigation systems demonstrations

Find more information online at sonomacommunitycenter.org or by calling 938-4626, ext. 1.