By What's new at Yerba Buena

Yerba Buena Nursery, the oldest California native plant nursery, is seeking volunteers to work side by side with nursery professionals, especially in the demonstration garden. The nursery is located off Skyline Drive in Woodside. For more information, call the nursery at 851-1668.

Homeowners may arrange to receive a custom planting plan for their home garden from a Yerba Buena professional. The plan costs $250 and includes an in-person visit, a consultation and a written report on which native plants would be most appropriate for your location. To schedule an appointment, call the nursery.

Butterfly teas are held the second Sunday of each month. Upcoming teas are the Summertime Tea, July 8; Friendship Tea, Aug. 12; and Grandparents Tea, Sept. 9. To make a reservation, call the nursery.

To view the nursery’s updated plant availability list, current pricing information, photographs of nursery environs and other interesting information about native plants, visit www.yerbabuenanursery.com.

Groups seeking a charming place to host a special event or a getaway location for a business meeting may arrange to use the 1905 farmhouse and private garden at Yerba Buena. The Great Room is a dramatic redwood-paneled room with windows facing the lower lake and western hills. The room accommodates up to 50 people; tables, chairs and catering are provided. Due to the unique nature of the facility, private events are limited to adults only (over age 13).

Yerba Buena Nursery is located at 19500 Skyline Blvd., Woodside, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Beginning floral design

For the fourth consecutive year, Filoli in Woodside will offer its Filoli home floral design program, taught by Anne Patrick, one of the Bay Area’s most popular instructors.

Including such topics as Ikebana, topiary work, cutting garden design, container decoupage, the courses meet twice a week for three weeks on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m..

The beginning session, this year, meets July 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31. Cost is $339 and includes all plant materials and containers for in-class assignments, which students take home.

There will be three homework assignments that the students are responsible for purchasing the plant materials for.

Other July classes at Filoli include “Introduction to Botanical Art” on July 11 and 12; “Make Your Own Indoor Fountain” on July 13; “Summer Ikebana Workshop” on July 14; “What’s Bugging Your Garden?” on July 28; and “Simple Solutions for Beautiful Flower Arrangements” on July 21.

For more information and registration, call Cathy Rampley at Filoli at 364-8300, ext. 233. Filoli’s Web site is www.filoli.org.