A Gardener's Dream Day

On a hot and smoky Saturday, equipped with a NIOSH N95 rated respirator mask, and a garden hat, I drove to the 2018 Harvest Day in Fair Oaks. The event was hosted by the Sacramento UC Master Gardeners. They called it “A Gardener's Dream Day,” and they were right on.

There was plenty to see and plenty to do. All the different gardens were fabulous. I was especially drawn
n to the vineyard, particularly after I sampled at least 10 different grapes. I went home with my new favorite the ‘Black Monukka', a large, sweet and crisp purplish-black grape.

Black Monukka grape (photos by Tina Saravia)

There were educational talks on various topics. I attended one on grape pruning. I've allowed my three grape vines to grow “wild” and they need to be trained so I can have space to grow more plants.

I also attended a talk on unusual edibles with names like Cucamelon (Melothria scabra), a vine native to Mexico and Central America, where it is called sandiita (little watermelon); and hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta), native to Japan, Korea, Northern China, and Russian Siberia. It produces a small fruit resembling the kiwifruit, but with smooth skin.
 

There were many garden-related vendors. I went home with a moisture meter that I won from a spinning prize wheel. One vendor gave me an irrigation riser with a spray mister that resembles a magic wand.

I also brought home a silk scarf I dyed myself with beet juice, decorated with different flowers and leaves.

The food was amazingly good and reasonably priced. I had a plate of delicious Ethiopian food served with the traditional injera bread, a flatbread made with yogurt. It was truly a gardener's dream day.

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