The Ojai Garden

SANTA BARBARA ORGANIC GARDEN CLUB PRESENTS FREE WORKSHOP ON “SUCCESSFUL SEED PLANTING TECHNIQUES” WITH OSCAR CARMONA AT HEALING GROUNDS SAT, OCT 28, 10 – 12

“SUCCESSFUL SEED PLANTING TECHNIQUES” will be the topic of a free presentation by the Santa Barbara Organic Garden Club on Saturday, October 28th from 10 am – 12 pm. The event will be held at Healing Grounds Nursery in Santa Barbara (www.healinggrounds.org). Co-sponsors include HopeDance magazine, the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network and local sustainability think tank For the Future.

Continue reading "Seed Planting Workshop in SB" »

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 06:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | author bio

Demo Garden volunteers chat with Ojai residents and tourists at Ojai Day. The garden coordinator, a master gardener, a master composter, and an herbalist were among those on hand to answer questions and provide information about the City's Community Demonstration Garden. Photo by Les Dublin.

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

Reader Sasha kindly informs us of the following...

Ceanothus: Gardening with a California Classic
Lecture Oct 13 6:30 p.m. Blaksley Library
An evening filled with dazzling images of the many species and cultivars of Ceanothus. $25 non-members. Reservations required 805-682-4726 ex. 102

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Also Oct 14 - Nov 11
Opening Day Public Sale 2:00 - 5:00pm
Annual Fall Plant Sale - a month-long event
Outstanding Calif. and Mediterranean plants.
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 06:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | author bio

As part of the 80th Anniversary Celebration of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, they are hosting the Great Garden Shoot Out Amateur Photo Contest, culminating on Sunday, May 28. $10 gets you an entry, and winners get photos into the Independent.

As far as I'm concerned, our own Les Dublin is a shoo-in. Did you see that dragonfly pic below? Wow... Thanks to Sasha for the tip.

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

Hello to new readers of The Ojai Garden. We hope you enjoyed the Ojai Garden Tour today, and had the opportunity to check out some beautiful local gardens. This website is a community blog - if you take a look at the right-hand column, you'll see the Ojai Destinations and Ojai Garden Authors who participate by blogging (aka journaling) about their outdoor experiences here in Ojai. If you are interested in being an author yourself, email tyler -(at)- ojaigarden dot com.

Click the "Continue Reading..." link below to see photos from all of the stops on today's Ojai Garden Tour!

Continue reading "Welcome to OjaiGarden.com!" »

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | author bio

Saturday morning, a little gloomy, hopefully the sun will peek out as garden enthusiasts make their way from garden to garden on the 2006 Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Garden Tour. OjaiGarden.com is sponsoring the event, so you'll see a sign at each of the locations. And maybe me too. Enjoy one of the things that makes Ojai truly special and unique.

Fun photo after the jump...

Continue reading "Ojai Garden Tour today" »

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

I am pleased to announce that OjaiGarden.com is a top-level sponsor of the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Garden Tour 2006, a self-guided driving tour of five gardens around the Ojai Valley, taking place May 6. Check out the Chamber's site for info and tickets. I've also put together a little logo for the advertisements and press releases we will be a part of.

Thanks much for your support of this site, our authors, and our beautifully unique Ojai destinations. Spread the word!

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | author bio

Reader Sasha was kind enough to pass on info for this event...

A Summit on Sustaining Agriculture for Ventura County's Future
"Building a Community of Good Stewards"
Thursday, March 30, 2006, 8am to 2pm
Oxnard Performing Arts Center

Continue reading "Sustaining Agriculture for Ventura County's Future" »

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | author bio

Weeds are a readily available source of mulch material at this time of year. The weeds in this bed will help keep the soil moist during the hot, dry days to come. Volunteers pulled weeds and laid them down thickly on the soil in this no-dig bed that currently features garlic.

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

The Lavender Inn has an assortment of gorgeous lavender plants. We are trying to increase our number of varieties of French, English, and Spanish Lavenders. Each one blooms at differents times and reveal their own delicate beauty.

Posted by The Lavender Inn at 06:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

Dedicated Demonstration Garden volunteer Carol Wade will speak Monday night at the Ojai Valley Horticultural Society meeting. The subject of her talk will be "Designing a Multi-use Herb Garden — Culinary, Medicinal and Beautiful!" Carol designed, planted and maintains the Medicine Wheel Herb Garden in the Demonstration Garden. Carol is an herbalist and nutritional counselor here in Ojai. The meeting begins at 7:00 P.M.
Date: March 6, 2006
Location: Kent Hall at Little House (upstairs)
111 West Santa Ana, Ojai – Next to City Hall

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | author bio

John Lamar led an entertaining and informative naturalistic pruning workshop Saturday in the Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. Our first workshop of the year was a huge success; there was a great turnout, the weather was perfect, and the garden looks better than ever!

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 03:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (19) | author bio

The snow has melted in the mountains but masses of tiny snowflakes (Leucojum) still grace the garden. Photo by Les Dublin.

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 06:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | author bio

The humble pot marigold (calendula) self sows and brightens the garden in all seasons. Ever-present, they especially warm our hearts on cold winter days.
Photo by Les Dublin

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 08:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | author bio

The Ojai Community Demonstration Garden is offering a naturalistic pruning workshop with expert gardener John Lamar. Participants will have a chance to try out their new skills in the demonstration garden. The workshop is free and open to the public.

When: Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 10:30 A.M.
Where: The Ojai Community Demonstration Garden, 401 South Ventura Street (behind City Hall)

Posted by Ojai Community Demonstration Garden at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | author bio

The Ojai Garden's name is derived from not only the numerous private gardens found throughout Ojai but also a metaphor of the greater Ojai Valley as a garden to explore, cultivate and learn from. Many gardens throughout the valley blend almost seamlessly into orchards and meadows, and beyond into the millions of acres of national forest bordering Ojai.

Ojai is also home to many businesses and other destinations that maintain stunning gardens that heighten the Ojai experience. From hotels such as the venerable yet newly-remodeled Ojai Valley Inn & Spa and The Lavender Inn, a downtown Ojai bed and breakfast, to healing centers such as the Krotona School of Theosophy and Meditation Mount, Ojai offers endless local outdoor adventures.

This site is a community blog, featuring authors who maintain home gardens to adventurous hikers seeking out flora and fauna to local businesses that take pride in contributing to the beauty of the town. Enjoy your visit and check back in. If you use an RSS reader [?], please add our feed.

Posted by Tyler Suchman at 10:36 PM | Permalink | author bio