What a fabulous looking booth & beautiful stuff! And those birdhouses rock oak deer, nothing short of amazing! I am the next person in line to agree with the others when they say to mingle with your customers in a sort of chatty, neighborly manner. Sometimes some things need a little explanation in either the design or thought behind it & some things just almost sell themselves with just a bit more of a nudge from you the seller. You can bet that if you are selling something that is different & a good seller, someone next year will be copying your stuff & they'll be at the same show. I like to try to change things up from year to year, but still do some of the same things, just kickin' em up a notch, if you know what I mean. Some of the reasons that one booth might do better than another is if you can find your stuff cheaper & sell it cheaper, your gonna make more sales. That's why I love refurbishing junk & GS finds. You have next to nothing in it & can turn it around & make a good chunk of change off it if you can think of the right thing to make it into. One year, me & DH made some unique signs & was selling them for $20. No one bought a single one, but I had 3 men literally taking measurements & notes on how they were made. I never seen them being sold anywhere else, but I didn't sell them either, only to friends & personal acquaintances. i wish everyone that's doing craft shows this year all the best of luck - we're gonna need it!

From my upcoming class, "Gardening Resources" (contact them for EXACT dates) ... CALIFORNIA PLANT AND GARDEN SALES AND SHOWS January -- South Bay Spring Home & Garden Show Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA www.southbayhomeshow.com February -- Alameda County Spring Home & Garden Show Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA 510-682-7227 www.capitalshowcase.com/alameda.html February -- Peninsula Spring Home & Garden Show San Mateo Expo Center, San Mateo, CA 1-800-765-3976 www.peninsulahomeshow.com February -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html February -- Descanso Gardens Camellia Festival and Camellia Plant Sale 1418 Descanso Drive La Cada Flintridge, CA 91011 818-949-4200 March -- UC Irvine Arboretum Spring Plant Sale North Campus Drive and Jamboree Road, Irvine Early spring perennials and spring bulbs will be on sale (949) 824-5833 March -- Fresno Home & Garden Show Fresno Fairgrounds, Fresno, CA 800-897-7899 www.fresnoshows.com/cgi-bin/sitepage.pl?pg_id=2 March -- San Francisco Flower & Garden Show Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA 800-829-9751 http://www.gardenshow.com March -- Ventura County Home & Garden Show Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura, CA 800-222-9351 www.capitalshowcase.com/ventura.html March -- Yuba City Total Home, Garden & Recreation Show Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City, CA 530-671-9600 www.totalhomeshow.com/Spring_Home_and_Garden_Show.htm March -- Long Beach Home & Garden Show Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA www.sbhomeshow.com/mar28-30-show.asp March -- Contra Costa Spring Home & Garden Show Sleep Train Pavilion, Concord, CA 510-682-7227 www.capitalshowcase.com/contra.html April -- American Bamboo Society; The Northern California Chapter "Annual Spring Bamboo Festival, Sale and Auction" San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. ncal-chapter@americanbamboo.org April  California Horticultural Society "Specialty Nursery Plant Sale", In collaboration with a variety of specialty nurseries Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland April -- AnnieÂs Annuals "Spring Party" 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/ohouse/default.asp April -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 909-625-8767 or website: www.rsabg.org April -- Fullerton Arboretum "Green Scene Plant Sale & Garden Show" $6 admission 1900 Associated Rd. Fullerton, CA 92831 714-278-3579 A large multi-vendor sale April -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html April -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 For further information, call (909) 625-8767 or check our website: www.rsabg.org Native California plants April -- San Jose Home & Garden Show San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, CA www.sanjosehomeshow.com April -- UC Berkeley Botanic Garden Spring Plant Sale 200 Centennial Drive #5045 Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 510-643-2755 http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/program/index.shtml April -- UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Spring Plant Sale Held in the Eucalyptus Grove. 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 427-2998 phone (831) 427-1524 fax http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/calendar.html arboretum@cats.ucsc.edu. May  Cabrillo College Annual Spring Plant Sale (MotherÂs Day Weekend) Environmental Horticulture Center & Botanic Gardens 6500 Soquel Drive (top of campus), Aptos, CA (831) 477-5671 Over 1000 different annuals, bedding plants, culinary & medicinal herbs, cut flowers, natives, perennials, salvias, species & hybrid fuchsias, succulents and vines. May -- AnnieÂs Annuals "MotherÂs Day Party" 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/ohouse/default.asp May  Huntington Botanical Garden Annual Plant Sale (the BIG one) 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 Questions? publicinfo@huntington.org Free with museum admission. May  Quail Botanic Garden Palm and Cycad Sale 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 760-436-3036 e-mail: info@qbgardens.org May  Los Angeles Arboretum Annual Epiphyllum Show & Sale Ayres Hall & Gate & Patios 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 May-June -- Inland Empire Home & Outdoor Living Show Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA www.thorschproductions.com/index_hols.html June -- Theodore Payne Foundation Plant Sale For more information go to their website www.theodorepayne.org Or call 818-768-1802 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. June  San Diego County Master Gardeners "Summer Plant Sale" Casa del Prado, Balboa Park http://www.mastergardenerssandiego.org/ June -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Perennials located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. June -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html June -- Lompoc Valley Flower Festival Flower Show Ryon Park, Lompoc, CA 805-735-8511 flowerfestival.org/festival.htm July -- Aril Society International Aril iris bulb and plant sale; open to members only. Each June, a price list is mailed out to all the ASI members. New members can join the ASI at the same time they place their order (see membership info for details). Sale chair: Betsy Higgins, higgins881@mchsi.com 608 S. Buena Vista Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792 July -- Huntington Botanical Garden Cactus & Succulent Show and Sale 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 Questions? publicinfo@huntington.org Free with museum admission. July -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Salvias & Shrubs located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. July -- Northern California Cactus & Succulent Association Annual cactus and succulent show and sale San Francisco County Fair Building 9th and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park July -- Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show and Sale Sepulveda Garden Center 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino, CA Contact: Artie Chavez 818-363-3432 August  San Francisco Botanical Garden Summer Gardening Fair located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. August -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Shade Plants located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. August -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html August  Los Angeles Arboretum Inter-City Cactus Show and Sale Ayres Hall, Gate, Kitchen, Patios 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 August -- Southern California Home & Garden Show Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA www.southerncaliforniahomeshow.com August-September  UC Irvine Arboretum Summer Bulb Sale North Campus, UCI - building 96 Irvine, CA 92697 Contact: Laura Lyons ldlyons@uci.edu 949-824-5833 Annual sale of dormant bulbs from our winter growing southern Africa bulb collection, evergreen and summer bulbs in containers, and perennials for planting with bulbs. September  UC Davis Botanical Conservatory Specialty Plant Sale Driving east on Interstate 80 from the San Francisco Bay Area or driving west on I-80 from Sacramento, take the UC Davis exit onto Old Davis Road to the campus. In conjunction with the International Carnivorous Plant Society, Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society and Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society. A huge selection of cacti, succulents, Sarracenia, and house/greenhouse plants at this sale. September -- UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Annual Fall Sale Features a large selection of perennials, including extensive selections from the gardenÂs Mediterranean, South American, and Australasian collections. Numerous cacti and succulents from the gardenÂs collections will also be on sale, as will orchids, tropicals, California natives, grasses, vines, trees, and shrubs. The sale for the general public will be preceded by a members-only sale and silent auction from 9 to 10 a.m. Memberships are available at the gate. For a list of plants available at the fall sale, see botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu. September -- San Francisco Botanical Garden General Sale with emphasis on Native Plants & Succulents located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. September -- Diablo College Fall Sale 321 Golf Club Road Pleasant Hill, California 94523 Email: kechols@dvc.edu Phone: 925-685-1230 ext. 1958 Diablo Valley College Horticulture Club offers new and unusual plants for the garden. Other plant Sales are 4 times a year with thousands of unusual plants for sale. September -- Markham Regional Arboretum The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html September  Quail Botanical Gardens "WorldÂs Greatest Bamboo Sale" Presented by the American Bamboo Society - Southern California Chapter Quail Botanical Gardens 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas Admission: Members: Free to Bamboo Society & Quail Gardens Members. Non-Members: $8 for adults, $5 for Seniors, Students and Active Military, and $3 for children 3-12. Under 3 is free. For more information call: (951) 359-1706 Over 100 species grown by collectors and local growers with a special auction of rare bamboo. Most items not yet commercially available. September  Los Angeles Arboretum Fern & Exotic Plant Show and Sale Ayres Hall & Gate & Kitchen 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 September -- UC Berkeley Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale 200 Centennial Drive #5045 Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 510-643-2755 http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/program/index.shtml UC Berkeley also has several special/themed plant sales (e.g., drought-tolerant plants, bulbs) several times a year. September -- Mendocino Coast Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale In the "Gardens Nursery" 18220 North Highway One Fort Bragg, CA 95437 (707) 964-4352 http://www.gardenbythesea.org/ info@gardenbythesea.org All plants 20% off for nonmembers and 30% for members September-October -- AnnieÂs Annuals "Fall Planting Party" 740 Market Ave., Richmond, CA http://www.anniesannuals.com/info/ohouse/default.asp September-October -- Fullerton Arboretum "Fall Vine Sale" Free admission 1900 Associated Rd. Fullerton CA 92831 714-278-3579 October -- Chico Total Home and Garden Show Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, Chico, CA www.chicohomeshow.com October -- Quail Botanic Garden "Annual Fall Plant Sale" 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas CA 760-436-3036 e-mail: info@qbgardens.org Fee: Members Free; Non-members: Free with Garden Admission A very wide range of plants, at extremely reasonable prices because all plants are donated. Over 100 growers, wholesalers, retail nurseries, and individuals donate to this event. October -- Theodore Payne Foundation "Fall Festival" For more information go to their website www.theodorepayne.org Or call 818-768-1802 10459 Tuxford St. in Sun Valley. October  Huntington Botanical Garden Fall Plant Sale 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108 (626) 405-2100 Questions? publicinfo@huntington.org Free with museum admission. October  UC Davis Arboretum "Plant Faire" At the Arboretum Orchard Park Nursery. I-80 to Hwy 113 North to Arboretum A great selection of the Arboretum plants. October  San Francisco Botanical Garden Trees, Ferns & Rhododendrons Sale located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. October -- Merritt College Annual Fall Plant Sale Held in conjunction with the California Native Plant Society on the Merritt College campus in the Oakland hills. Admission to the sale is free and ample parking is available. For more information, call Molly Sealund at (510) 436-2418 or e-mail her at msealund@merritt.edu. More information: www.merrittlandhort.com. (Merritt college plant sale) October -- Ruth Bancroft Gardens Fall Plant Sale http://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/pages/plantsales.html A wide assortment of succulents and other drought tolerant plants for sale as well as gardening books, t-shirts, note cards, gardening gifts, and more. Guided and self-guided tours will be offered throughout the day. Reservations are not required for this event. October  Los Angeles Arboretum Winter Cactus Show & Sale Ayres Hall & Gate, Kitchen 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Arcadia, CA 91007 626-821-3222 http://www.arboretum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=getcatheadlines&Catagory=events&CFID=2027410&CFTOKEN=22730740 October -- UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Arboretum Fall Plant Sale Held in the Eucalyptus Grove. 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 427-2998 phone (831) 427-1524 fax http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/calendar.html arboretum@cats.ucsc.edu. October-November -- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale 1212 Mission Canyon Road Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Phone: 805-682-4726 fax: 805-563-0352 Web: http://www.sbbg.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=calendar.main email: info@sbbg.org November -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Fall Plant Sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 909-625-8767 or website: www.rsabg.org November  San Francisco Botanical Garden End-of-the-Season Sale located in the southwest corner of the Gardens, a five minute walk from the Main Gate at Ninth Avenue at Lincoln Way. November -- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Fall plant sale 1500 N. College Avenue Claremont, CA 91711 For further information, call (909) 625-8767 or check our website: www.rsabg.org Featuring thousands of native California plants December -- Markham Regional Arboretum "Half-price Sale" The plant sales are held at the Garden Center located at 1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord. 925-681-2968 Web: http://home.earthlink.net/~markhamarboretum/plantsales.html If anyone can offer corrections/updates, I would really appreciate it. Joe

Monsoon article: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/general/monsoon/ Enough of that. By definition, the seasonal shift in wind brings moisture (humidity/higher dew points) to our area which in turn provides the opportunity for heat-of-the-day thunderstorms. OK, tropicals to grow. Click on my ID name to see what I am growing here. We may have another 1 month of banana growing weather. Either plant them immediately or wait until March when the soil warms up (although in a raised bed that will occur much sooner). http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Musaceae/Musa_acuminata.html I am growing Bananas, Avocados (4 trees), mangos, guavas, pineapples, apples, white sapote, Key Lime, Grapefruit, Tarocco Blood Orange, papaya, passionfruit vine, etc in Phoenix. They grow Keitt mangos commercially in Coachella (low desert near Indio/Palm Springs) and sell them in stores. I've eaten one and they taste great. Avocados are very tricky because they are sensitive to salt and sunburn easily on the branches until they grow up enough where the leaves shade the stems. Drainage is key and mulch is very important too. They will need sunshade the first year and eastern exposure with west-sun shade is better. I don't agree 100% with this info but it's pretty good (forget the rocks for drainage part). My trees began on a raised bed and then I broke it down so they are on a mound for better drainage. http://www.azrfg.org/avocados.pdf I grow palms including Royal Palms (take full sun), Foxtail palms, Dypsis Lutescens, dypsis baronii, ravenea glauca, etc. Good luck.

Fun Gina! Mom and I did go to the Date Festival and the street fair last year. The only down side was that it was a very short trip and the weather was cold and rainy when I was there!! I know it wasn't the norm, but still made for a cold day at the Festival. I loved the street fair. The other fun one is every weekend flea market/craft show at the College of the Desert. Really enjoyed that too. We're actually going to Palm Springs again in April. We'll be there the 10th-17th I think. Not sure what events might be happening that week, but mostly going to relax by the pool anyway! Hope the weather is better than last year! :) Thank for posting and getting me all pumped up and ready to go. Deanna