Placer master gardeners host ‘Apple Extravaganza’
It’s all about apples Saturday, Nov. 8, when the Placer County master gardeners host an “Apple Extravaganza” at their Loomis Library demonstration garden.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, the master gardeners will spotlight a favorite local fruit with speakers, tastings, demonstrations and family fun. Admission and parking are free, and children are welcome to attend.
Placer County is famous for its apple orchards. Learn – and taste – which varieties grow best in foothill gardens (and valley gardens, too). Mark Fowler will discuss “Choosing Apples in Placer County” at 11:45 a.m. In addition, Hathaway Hills Orchards will have a booth offering apple-based products.
“Come on out and celebrate the season with us,” say the master gardeners. “Enjoy some good old-fashioned fun with apple tasting, stamping and fresh cider from our cider mill.”
Besides all the apple fun Saturday, the master gardeners will be selling their 2026 gardening guide and calendar. This year, the group is skipping the Mountain Mandarin Festival (its usual venue for selling this popular publication), so the Apple Extravaganza will be one of the best opportunities to pick up the new gardening guide and calendar in person.
The 2026 theme is “Meet Me in the Garden” and spotlights the personal connection gardeners have with what they grow – and other gardeners. It’s an information-packed bargain at $12 – just a dollar a month.
“Looking for something to keep you and your garden on track? Look no further than the 2026 Gardening Guide and Calendar!” says master gardener Pauline Sakai, among those spearheading this annual fundraiser. “Included are tips on what to do, what to look for, and how-to tips for each week throughout the year. Things like plant care, pest control info, when to prune, when to fertilize … the information to help you do the right thing at the right time.
“There are monthly articles on gardening, what to plant each month, and what’s in season at markets,” she adds. “The calendar is suitable for climate zones from California’s Central Valley to the foothills.”
Co-chair of the calendar committee Angie Dixon adds, “Gardening has seen a surge of interest in recent years and this calendar taps into that enthusiasm and highlights how gardening is more than planting; it’s about connection to nature, community and tradition.”
Can’t make Apple Extravaganza? The gardening guide and calendar can be purchased online at https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/2026-gardening-guide-and-calendar
Loomis Library and Learning Center is located at 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.
For details and directions: pcmg.ucanr.edu.
