Page 2 - Sonoma County Gardeners Resource Guide 2017.indd

Growing this Gardeners Resource Guide
The Sonoma County Gazette’s annual Gardeners Resource Guide has become an annual tradition over the 14 years we’ve been publishing this. We started with nurseries then added many categories and we keep adding and re- arranging as more businesses join us in our mission to encourage gardeners to purchase plants locally grown, and support locally-owned garden businesses. If you love gardens, but not gardening, we have a long list of people you can hire to design, build and maintain your property for you as well.
Dear Readers,
You’ll see we put a lot of emphasis on sustainable practices, from low water use, choosing native plants adapted to our climate, creating gardens that retain water rather than let it run off, etc. There are many reasons to garden using environmentally sound practices. Even a small garden in a tiny back yard can provide habitat for birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Every critter
is part of the system that keeps our air clean, our natural processes heathy and therefore our own lives thriving.
One of the greatest benefits of gardens is that they clean our air and re-charge it with freshly created oxygen. Plants are our natural air filters. And you may also know that they provide a sense of calm for people. Mabe it’s the oxygen, or the hum of life flowing through each plant, and the buzz of life forms that live in soil, on branches, and fly through our atmosphere.
Luther Burbank called our home a gardener’s paradise because our soil is rich and our climate is easy for growing year-round. This year we even have enough water for gardens. But don’t assume it will rain again next year. Always keep in mind that our climate has a long history of extensive droughts. If we garden with the climate in mind, we will be in balance with nature.
Please enjoy and learn from the articles included in this year’s guide, support these locally-owned bsuinesses and please thank our advertisers by purchasing goods and services from them. They make this guide possible, so we are supporting them in any way we can. Part of our reciprocal support is the MAP in the center of this guide to make it easy for you to find them. They are also highlighted in large bold type within our listings.
And remember that every issue of the Gazette has a gardening section with articles, and a gardeners calendar. Kellen Watson of Daily Acts has been
p p r r o o v v i i d d i i n n g g a a c c o o l l u u m m n n o o n n s s u u s s t t a a i i n n a a b bl l e e g g a a r r d d e e n n i i n n g g p p r r a a c c t t i i c c e e s s e e a a c c h h m m o o n n t t h h , , a
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supplement that throughout the year with guest authors.
Pick up a copy of the Gazette all over Sonoma County and
s t ay i n t o uc h at w w w . S o n o m a C o u n t y G a z e t t e . c o m . T T H H A A N N K K Y Y O O U U !
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2 - www.sonomacountynurseries.com - 3/17