DIRECTIONS for most TOURS will be e-mailed or air mailed to people on the attendee list. Please bring a standard area map of Davis/Winters, Santa Cruz, Watsonville and San Jose with you. If you are attending tours in Gilroy/Morgan Hill or Los Altos Hills/Woodside, please bring area maps for there too. (Numerous AAA offices locations and gas stations in Bay Area have maps). If you have been moved from the “wait list” to the “tour list” too late to have directions mailed or have lost your directions, you may pick up directions at the following places:

For Tuesday Wolfskill tours at Winters --at Idell Weydemeyer home tour on Monday afternoon & evening (near Pinole - half way between the San Jose airport and Winters). Call 510-223-6291 or e-mail for directions to Idell’s (or use white pages on-line listings for a map). OR on Tuesday morning between 8:00-9:30 am, call Ray Sheehy at 530-666-7182.

For Wednesday tours around Santa Clara Valley- Wednesday morning at Prusch Park 8:00-9:15 am.

For Wednesday tours at the UC Campus-call Chuck Rust on Tuesday evening at 831-728-6515 for directions for the meeting place on campus.

For Thursday tours in the Watsonville area-Wednesday evening at the picnic at Prusch Park (6:00-7:00 pm) OR at the UC Conference Center at Idell’s room at 8:00-9:30 pm. .

For Friday morning tours in the Santa Cruz area - in the parking lot by the car pool signs for each tour: 8:00-8:30 & again at 9:30-10:00.

Car Pools for Wednesday will start at start at Prusch Park (647 S. King Road), Thursday from the Santa Cruz County fairground at 2601 E. Lake Avenue (19 miles or 25 minutes southeast of UCSC Inn & Conference Center) and Friday from the UCSC Inn at 611 Ocean Street. If you are late, your tour space will be given to the next one on the “wait” list.

TOURS :Please select only 3 for Wednesday, 3 for Thursday and only 1 for Friday. List your requests in order from 1-5 on the registration form. Tour limited have been set by the host/hostesses. Only those on the list for each tour may attend. However, you may request a fourth tour and be on the “go” list if a tour is not full and can be reached within the travel distance limitations of the other tours you have selected.

 MONDAY- 5th (Labor Day) El Sobrante (near Pinole):

1:00-2:00-(FULL) and 4:00-5:00-(FULL). Idell Weydemeyer’s garden (maximum 20--another tour might be added if there is interest). Frost-tender subtropicals (from cherimoya to pitanga), other evergreen and deciduous fruit and nuts needing temperature above 15 degrees ( including 9 kinds of pomegranates), many cold-tolerant fruit including 32 kinds of pears, various berries (including 4 kinds of serviceberries), and others --an evergreen autumn olive, California native fruit, South African bulbs, and cactus and succulents. It is also a habitat garden (see http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/gardens/Weydemeyer.html). In El Sobrante, 1.5 miles from Pinole’s Motel 6.

TUESDAY - 6th Winters (near Davis):

11:00-1:00. Wolfskill Experimental Farm (maximum 50). The USDA has plant repositories all over the US and the Repository at the Wolfskill experimental Farm in Winters contains the collections for figs, walnuts, Prunus, mulberries, grapes, persimmons, pomegranates and others. You will get a whirl wind tour of this huge site and be able to taste fruit ripe at the time of the tour, probably grapes and figs. See http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/PacWest/Davis. Wolfskill is near Davis, around 100 miles from the San Jose airport. It is recommended that you travel to Davis or Pinole (half way) on Monday by mid afternoon because of the heavy traffic in the Bay Area. Out-of-area guests will have first choice for these tours since the Northern area CRFG chapters have 1-4 tastings available each year.

 WEDNESDAY - 7th Santa Clara Valley, nearby area and Santa Cruz. It is recommended that you stay in the San Jose area Tuesday evening due to heavy traffic.):

9:30-10:30-(FULL); 11:00-12:00. Andy Mariani orchard (maximum 30 each tour). Famous and unusually extensive collection (over 100 kinds) of stone fruits--apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines, peaches, pluots, and plums. He also sells fresh and dried fruit at a small store on the site (1615 Half Road) so if you cannot get a spot on the tours, it is worth a visit to buy fruit (mail order is available) and glimpse the orchard. Near the store, he tends a small garden of lovely, drought tolerant flowers and shrubs. Visit his terrific website at http://www.andysorchard.com/index.html. In Morgan Hill, 15 minutes south of San Jose. Out-of-area visitors will have priority for these tours since local CRFG members can participate in several tastings and tours each year.

 9:30-10:30-(FULL); 11:00-12:00-(FULL). Nancy Garrisons garden (maximum 25 each tour; must car pool). Over 70 varieties of fruit -- many varieties of deciduous fruit from apples to pluots including blueberries, passion fruit, mulberries, pawpaws and 6 varieties of raspberries. Some of the many evergreen fruit include guavas, avocados, a tamarillo and over 15 varieties of citrus. She has an extensive and unusual vegetable garden with a dozen different colored tomatoes, 5 of the best chiles, Chenipodiums, Amaranths and orach, culinary herbs (including many mints) and flowers for cutting and attracting beneficial insects. She is retired from the UC Cooperative Extension where she served as farm advisor, urban horticulturist and Master Gardener program coordinator since 1980. In San Jose, 7 minutes from Prusch Park.

 9:30-10-:30; 11:00-12:00. Steve Boboricken’s garden (maximum 25 each tour). Steve gardens on 1.2 acres and has a small nursery operation, extensive planting of paw paws and quite a few other rare fruits including: mulberries, avocados, white sapote, macadamia nut, Cherry of the Rio Grande, Surinam cherries, figs, pluots and persimmons. Steve is a pawpaw expert and tasting of these fruit may be available. In Los Altos Hills, 25 minutes and 19 miles (west) from Prusch Park and 16 miles south of Filoli.

10:00-12:00. UC Santa Cruz Farm(maximum 25). The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems is a research, education, and public service program dedicated to increasing ecological sustainability and social justice in the food and agriculture system. Both sites (the 25 acre Farm and the 2 acre Alan Chadwick Garden) use organic production methods. Over 120 varieties of apples grow in the garden (unique pruning techniques used) plus veggies are intercropped under the trees. See http://zzyx.ucsc.edu/casfs/about/facilities.html for directions, city bus to campus, and a map for a self-guided tour. One-day permit-$5.00. Kiosk open 7:00-5:00 see http://www2.ucsc.edu/taps/pages/guestparking.html

10:00-12:00; 1:00-3:00. Filoli Orchards (maximum 20 per tour, 3 groups at each time). Large American & European apple and pear orchard including many of the best tasting varieties from the 19 th century. Todd Kennedy’s unique historic collection illustrating the history of apples from Roman ‘Decio’ to Renaissance ‘Margil’ plus many other later varieties flourish at Filoli. Trees include original as well as historically correct varieties and the American fruit comes from the Northeastern, West Coast, Midwest and South. Todd will conduct two of these special tours. See http://www.filoli.org/visitor_gen.html. (includes directions). At Woodside, costs $10, paid in advance to CRFG. About 35 minutes (32 miles) west and north from Prusch Park and 16 miles north of Steve Boboricken’s garden. Standard tours of Filoli mansion and grounds available.

11:00-12:00; 12:30-1:30-(FULL). Carman’s Nursery (maximum 20 per tour, car pool from nearby location). Third generation family nursery long known for producing rare and unusual plants, including bonsai starters, rock garden plants, herbs and perennials. Uncommon fruiting plants include kiwis, guavas, figs, pomegranates, capers, etc. Retail nursery, open from 10:00 -5:00, Thursday, Friday, Sunday and by appointment, near Gilroy, at 8470 Pharmer Road (off Watsonville Road, between Hecker Pass & Monterey Highways), 29 miles from Prusch Park, about 12 miles south of Andy Mariani’s. 408-847-2313 (Note: nursery will be open specially for us that Wednesday from 10:00-5:00 for leisurely shopping and for those not on the tours.)

1:00-3:00-(FULL). Alan Chadwick’s Garden (maximum 25). See description listed for UC Santa Cruz Farm.

 12:00-1:00; 2:00-3:00-(FULL). Master Gardener 9 Palms Research Facility (maximum 20 per tour; must car pool). Over 50 varieties each of peppers and tomatoes and trials for Brussel sprouts, endive, and bush beans. Cut flowers are tested and a special experimental garden tries varieties to attract beneficial insects. Possible tasting of several varieties of raspberries and melons. See http://www.mastergardeners.org/scc.html. In San Jose, 7 minutes from Prusch Park.

4:30-5:30. Prusch Park heritage orchard, germ-plasm repository, subtropicals andhigh-density orchard (maximum 20 per group, 4 groups). An unusual collection of fruit from all over the world: Over 600 varieties in the germplasm repository section. The orchards are planted and maintained by the Santa Clara chapter of CRFG and the Santa Clara Master Gardeners. See http://www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/regionalparks/pfp/features.htm. In San Jose, at 647 South King Road. Tours will be given by Nancy Garrison, Steve Boboricken, Katie Wong and Karl Gross. Brief self-guided tour information available.

6:00-7:00 POT-LUCK PICNIC AT PRUSCH PARK

THURSDAY - 8th Watsonville area:

9:30-10:30-(FULL); 11:00-12:00-(FULL); 12:15-1:15. Gene Lester’s Orchard (maximum 35 per tour; must carpool). Unusually extensive citrus collection (around 200 different varieties) on 65 acres with a spectacular view of Monterey Bay from the mountaintop. He also grows white sapotes, cherimoyas, avocados and apples. Northeast of Watsonville, about 22 miles from Conference Center, 5 miles but 15-20 minutes from fairgrounds.

9:30-10:30; 11:00-12:00. June & Joe Moore’s garden (maximum 25 per tour; must carpool) Extensive collection of subtropicals and some deciduous fruit. Beautiful landscaping with fruit trees includes a pond area and a gently sloping hill side. North of Watsonville, about 16 miles from the Conference Center, 12 minutes and 5 miles from fairgrounds.

9:30-10:30; 11:00-12:00. Joe Stabile’s Hillview Farm (maximum 25 per tour; must carpool). Small family farm on a hill with closely planted apple trees. The farm grows over 100 varieties of pears and apples and produces apple cider. Northeast of Watsonville, about 21 miles from Conference Center, near Gizdich Ranch and 1.5 miles from fairgrounds.

9:30-11:00-(FULL); 1:00-2:30-(FULL). Monterey Mushrooms (maximum 40 per tour). They are now the largest producers of mushrooms in the world. They also sell mushroom spawn. See http://www.montereymushrooms.com. About 17 miles from the Conference center, in Watsonville, 20 minutes from fairgrounds.

11:00-12:30; 1:00-2:30. Monterey Bay Nursery (maximum 45 per tour). Wholesale nursery on 35 acres, specializing in ornamentals. See http://montereybaynsy.com/. South of Watsonville, in Royal Oaks, about 24 miles from the Conference Center and 20 minutes (10 miles) from the fairgrounds, near Chuck Rust.

12:00-4:00. Self-guided Tour of Santa Cruz Agricultural History (open Thursdays 12-4). Hundreds of antiques from tractors and large farm equipment to small tools and farmhouse items. In Watsonville, at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds (2601 East lake Aveue). Near Sierra Azul Nursery (See www.sierraazul.com/) & Gizdich Ranch.

1:00-2:00; 2:00-3:00. Gizdich Ranch (maximum 30 per tour). Family apple farm growing a mix of newer popular apples and older varieties starting with Gravensteins in August. .Great pie shop with local jams and other products (open 7 days 9:00-5:00, 55 Peckham Road. Tour costs $4.00 in advance to CRFG. Northeast of Watsonville, about 23 miles from Conference Center, near Sierra Azul Nursery and 2 miles from fairgrounds.

1:00-2:00-(FULL); 2:30-3:30-(FULL), 4:00-5:00-(FULL). David Mariani’s farm (maximum 20 per tour). Around three-quarter million square feet of greenhouses, primarily of specialty herbs (“legal” ones David says). Also raises other hydroponics crops and indoor cherries (picks two or more crops a year). In Watsonville, 1.5 miles NE of fairgrounds.

1:30-3:00-(FULL); 3:30-5:00-(FULL). Chuck Rust’s garden (maximum 25 per tour). Seven acres on a coastal mountain, this subtropical garden contains white sapotes, cherimoyas, avocados, jobotacas, pitangas, citrus, etc plus a great variety of deciduous fruit including paw paws. He also grows cacti, roses and carnivorous plants. South of Watsonville, about 22 miles from the Conference center, in Royal Oaks, 16 minutes (8 miles) from the fairgrounds, near Monterey Bay Nursery.

3:00-4:00-(FULL); 4:30-5:30-(FULL). Jim Rider’s orchards and packing plants (maximum 25 per tour). Unusual and more common varieties of apples. The orchard and apple packing tour location depends upon the product processed that week in September so the tour directions will not be given out until the day prior to the tour (see top for late tour direction locations). Mr. Ryder, an expert on organic apples and commercial flower operations , is one of the Friday keynote speakers. In Watsonville area.

NEW (ADD to the registration form)1:45-2:45-(FULL); 3:00-4:00-(FULL); 4:30-5:30-(FULL). Doug Spurr’s garden (maximum 25 per tour). An acre and a quarter, planted extensively with many varieties of citrus, some avocados, peaches, plums, cherries, persimmons, pawpaws and olives. Tropical mangoes, guavas, longan, lychee, mamey, and others are some of the plants featured in containers. In his landscaping, he intermixes flowering subtropicals such as tabebuias and jacaranda with California native plants. Numerous other plants also grow in his garden. Northeast of Watsonville, about 15 miles SE from Conference Center, in Corralitos, about 8 miles N of fairgrounds.

NEW (ADD to the registration form) 3:00-4:00; 4:30-5:30. Driscoll Growers (maximum 35). - Growing grounds tour of one of the larger strawberry growers in the nation. Possible tasting. Near Watsonville about 15-20 minutes from Fairgrounds.

FRIDAY - 9th Santa Cruz and Nearby: (Must car pool for all Friday gardens.)

9:00-10:00; 10:30-11:30. Ellen Baker & Fred Menge’s Garden La Selva Beach (maximum 20 per tour). Intensively gardened large lot with extensive fruit tree collection, vegetables, bees, chickens and an aviary. Unusual antique apples and citrus that sweeten in cool conditions. They also have a children's garden, habit hedges,  bees, chickens, an aviary, a dwarf cow and year-round intensively gardened vegetables. They have discovered some
unusual plant propagation techniques. In Las Selva Beach, 8 miles from Santa Cruz.

9:00-10:00-(FULL); 10:30-11:30-(FULL). Ed & Janet Noffsinger’s garden (maximum 20 people per tour). Extensive collection of fruit trees from A-Z on 2.5 acres on a frost-free mountain top. They also grow proteas, rare palms (including a cold hardy coconut ), and has an ocean view along with a private telescope observatory. About 8 miles from Santa Cruz.

9:00-10:00; 10:30-11:30-(FULL). Manfred Warmuth’s garden (maximum 20 per tour). He has an unusually varied fruit tree collection and a household grey-water reuse system for irrigation purposes. In Santa Cruz, very close to the entrance to the U.C. Santa Cruz Campus.

9:30-10:30-(FULL). U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum (maximum 25). A subtropical fruit collection with many trees and shrubs. Chuck Rust, president of the Monterey Chapter of CRFG will lead the tour. The arboretum is famous for the extensive collection of Australian, New Zealand, South African and California native plants. At the UC Campus, about 10 minutes from the Conference Center. See http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/ to view some of the main arboretum collections.