Free garden classes this month:  soil in San Jose, winter vegetables in Gilroy, fruit trees in Palo Alto

UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, volunteers trained by the University of California's farm and garden extension program, is holding five garden workshops around the county this month, according to the program's event pages.

California natives, Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto.  Picking native plants for bees, butterflies and birds, plus a garden tour.  Free; no registration.

All About Soil, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., SoFA Pocket Park, 540 S. First St., San Jose.  A hands-on class on composting, mulching and reviving tired soil.  The page asks people to RSVP and lists no fee.

Holiday centerpieces, Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., Willow Glen Branch Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave., San Jose.  Making table pieces from yard greenery and store flowers.  Free; no registration.

Winter vegetables in containers, Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Gilroy Library, 350 W. Sixth St.  Soil mixes, watering and choosing pots.  Free.

A small fruit orchard, Sunday, Nov. 15, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto.  Don Bollinger, who leads the orchard team at the Master Gardeners' Martial Cottle Park garden in San Jose, explains how to plan ahead.  Nurseries start stocking bare-root fruit trees in December.  Free.

Source:  UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County event pages for California natives, All About Soil, The Thrifty Table, winter vegetables and fruit orchard, checked Nov. 3, 2026.