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May 30, 2020
On May 22, Santa Clara County issued a revised Shelter-in-Place order, joining other Bay Area counties in entering Phase 2 of California's reopening plan. Among the outdoor activities allowed to resume are outdoor museums, historical sites, and public gardens. This means that Gamble Garden is once more open to the public! We are excited to welcome visitors who practice social distancing and abide by Gamble's Visitation Policies to stroll through the gardens and enjoy Gamble in bloom.
Even though restrictions have been loosened, gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a single household or living unit are still prohibited. Therefore, we have decided to cancel our June Second Saturday event. If you would like to visit Gamble with your family, we encourage you to download our printable map, take a self-guided tour, and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Gamble as the garden transitions from spring to summer.
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Virtual Tour
Pollinator Garden
Last week, Gamble Garden went live streaming on Instagram with the San Mateo/Silicon Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. Garden Assistant Veronica Thao led viewers on a live tour of the Pollinator Gardens and tomato beds, then proceeded to share some great tips for growing tomatoes. View the entire video here: https://youtu.be/Z-Ym6iOseAQ
Created in late 2018, the Pollinator Garden is located just inside the fence from Gamble's Embarcadero Road parking lot, in the area previously known as the California Garden. The area features a wide variety of perennials and shrubs that attract bees, birds, hummingbirds and a wide variety of interconnected wildlife.
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Gardening Tips
A Beginner's Guide to Composting
What is compost?
Compost is organic material made from decomposed organic matter such as leaves and vegetable scraps It can be added to soil to help plants grow. Farmers and gardeners often refer to compost as Black Gold because it is rich in nutrients and promotes soil microbes that aid plant growth.
Why compost?
Composting is cost-effective, easy to do, and has many environmental benefits. Composting is:
- Good for your soil. Compost encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material. It also helps retain moisture and suppresses plant diseases and pests.
- Good for the environment. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Simply put, composting lowers your carbon footprint.
- Good for your wallet Composting reduces the need for pricey chemical fertilizers. It also reduces household trash. Did you know that food scraps and yard waste currently make up about 20 to 30 percent of what we throw away? Compost them instead, and you can reduce the size of the garbage bins that you pay for!
How do I get started?
Decide what kinds of materials you would like to compost. You can compost materials in bins or in an open pile. The type of system and container you select will depend on which materials you want to compost. Whenever you generate compost material (after peeling potatoes, chopping onions, cutting grass, etc..), add it to your compost pile. Over time, the bottom of your pile will begin to resemble a rich soil with a nice, earthy smell. You’ve made compost!
Whatever system you end up choosing, there are three basic steps:
- Chop Chop your composting materials before you add them to your pile or bin. This helps them break down more quickly
- Mix Make sure you have a good mix of “browns” (dry, woody materials) and “green” (moist, green materials).
- Maintain Keep your compost materials moist and well aerated. This means watering your compost pile and turning it over every week or so.
Want to learn more?
Sign up for online Compost Basics Online Classes, given by the University of California Cooperative Extension's Composting Education Program (UCCE CEP). Click here to view their list of Community Composting Workshops and to register. Workshops will be given via Zoom; when you register for a class, a participation link will me emailed to you.
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Recipe of the Month
Lemon Chiffon Cheesecake
There is nothing fresher smelling or tasting than a ripe lemon from your very own lemon tree. Lemons are ready to pick as soon as they are about 2 to 3 inches in size, with a yellow or yellow-green appearance and firm feel. Lemons are the star in this cheesecake recipe from Gamble's very own cookbook, Gamble Garden Treasured Recipes, available for purchase online. Egg whites are whipped separately and folded into the filling batter, making the final product light and luscious and perfect for summer dessert. |
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CRUST INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups fine graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
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FILLING INGREDIENTS
2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 eggs, separated
2 teaspoons vanilla, divided
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1 heaping tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
2 cups sour cream, divided
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CRUST DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Use 9-inch springform pan.
- Mix together crumbs and 1/2 cup sugar, stir in butter. Press crumb mixture on sides and bottom of pan. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool.
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FILLING DIRECTIONS
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, salt, egg yolks, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1 cup sugar.
- Add 1 cup sour cream, continue mixing until well blended.
- In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.
- Fold in beaten egg whites into cheese mixture.
- Pour into crumb lined pan.
- Bake 1 hour at 325 degrees or until center is set.
- Meanwhile, combine the remaining cup of sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 tablespoon sugar.
- Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Return to oven 5 to 8 minutes. Cool and let stand 2 hours. Release from pan and serve.
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Around Town
Live Virtual Performances and Events
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When you're sheltering in place, weekdays and weekends seem to blend into each other. Make this weekend special by attending a concert, listening to a talk, or taking a class. Here are our top picks for free virtual events around the Bay Area:
- One Found Sound, the San Francisco-based conductorless chamber orchestra, announces a special digital performance of Frederic Rzewski’s “Coming Together” on Friday, May 29, 2020 at 5:30 pm. Listen to the live performance on YouTube and tune in to the Facebook live stream to chat with musicians and fellow listeners.
- Enjoy a lunchtime virtual organ concert every day, featuring music performed by University Organist, Dr. Robert Huw Morgan at historic Stanford Memorial Church. May 20, 2020 – June 3, 2020, 12:15 pm – 12:35 pm.
- Learn to bake out-of-this-world chocolate chip cookies in a Zoom baking class with Little Sky Bakery. Friday, May 29, 2020, 4:00 pm -- 4:30 pm.
- Learn about the Mountain Lions of the Peninsula and South Bay. Chris Wilmers, founder of the Santa Cruz Puma Project, teams up with the Peninsula Open Space Trust to discuss mountain lion ecology and research. Friday, May 29, 2020, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.
- Go on a virtual visit to Downtown San Jose! At SoFA Saturdays, visitors can watch and interact with with local artists, musicians, and poets. Order food, beer and cocktails from downtown eateries to pick up and enjoy from your sofa at home. Saturday, May 30, 6:00 pm -- 9:00 pm.
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Kids' Corner
Can you find your way through the flower maze? Click on this link or on the photo below to download:
Enjoy more flower-themed activites:
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Online Plant Sales
As nurseries open up around the Bay Area and summer temperatures rise, the Gamble Plant Shop will begin winding down daily operations. As of May 28th, we still have almost 95 varieties of edible and non-edible plants for sale online, including lettuce, basil, poppies, marigolds, and more.
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Order and pay online, then schedule a pickup in the Gamble Garden Carriage House. Available times are Tuesday afternoons, 1 pm - 3 pm and Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm. The next pickup date will be Tuesday June 2, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.
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Support Our Community
Many businesses have had to close due to California’s Shelter-In-Place orders, but we can help our community by patronizing locally owned business whenever we can. Until California's Shelter-In-Place order is lifted, we will feature businesses that would be grateful for your support.
 Ms. DuMont Accessories
Bring the outdoors into your home with Ms. DuMont's handcrafted scarves, handbags, apparel, and home textiles in gorgeous garden-themed prints. Order online and receive Free Shipping until May 31, 2020. Her adorable daisy and succulent-print face masks are selling out as quickly as she can make them. Check the website daily for new product additions. |
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Join Gamble Garden
Support Gamble Garden! Become a Member to help us continue to offer events like our free Second Saturdays and many more. Membership benefits include:
- Invitations to member-only events
- Member pricing on Spring Tour tickets, luncheons, classes, and programs
- Free entry to select gardens with the American Horticultural Society reciprocal program
- Priority registration for our popular Gamble luncheons
- Discounts at Gamble's online plant shop
- Discounts at nursery partners
- Monthly Member Newsletter with members-only content
- As a member, you are also supporting a treasured community resource, a beautiful public property open to everyone and offering year-round activities - and a haven - for all ages.
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Gamble Visitation Policies
To minimize the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and help “flatten the curve”, Gamble Garden has instituted the following Visitation Policies:
- The Gamble House, restrooms, and offices are temporarily closed.
- Benches are closed/not to be used until further notice and the picnic area is closed
- Throughout the day, portions of the garden may temporarily close in order to allow our staff to work safely.
- Any visitors to Gamble Garden are asked to follow social distancing guidelines (stay at least six feet apart) and wear masks.
- All June classes and events have been cancelled. This includes luncheons, pop up shops, and Second Saturday events. Stay tuned regarding Gamble events and classes scheduled for later in the year.
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