The latest dirt: Bay Area garden activities Aug. 3-9

                                                                             photo: S.Smith
Ripe juicy peaches await you on Andy's Tour Sun. Aug 9

Gardeners, here are a few things going on next week; from learning about orchids to tasting orchard fresh summer fruit: 

• Monday, Aug. 3 -Sunday, Aug. 9 - National Farmer's Market Week.  Check  for one in your neighborhood. cafarmersmkts and pacific coast farmer's market association
• Wednesday, Aug 5 -Santa Clara Valley Orchid Society will host orchid expert Leon Glicenstein at their  meeting 7:00 p.m.  He will discuss the orchids of Costa Rica. Free.  American Legion Hall, 1540 Minnesota Ave, San Jose. For more info call 408-399-3123
• Thursday, Aug 6 -  The Evolution of a native plant Garden talk by Katherine Greenberg. 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. San Carlos Public Library, San Carlos.
• Friday, Aug 7 - Cool Season Vegetables: Less Work, more food.  Sue Zaslow -UC Cooperative Extension will present  a cool season vegetable talk from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.-which veggies to try, tips and which grow well in containers.  Free.  Evergreen Branch Library, 2635 Aborn Rd, San Jose
• Saturday, Aug 8 - Compost class from 10:00 a.m. - noon.  Free. Almaden Community Center, 6445 Camden Ave, San Jose. Call 408-918-4649 to pre-register or email jose.garcia@aem.sccgov.org
• Saturday, Aug 8 - Fool-proof Flower Arranging class from 1:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m.  Learn which flowers to grow and how to arrange them beautifully.  $10/members, $20/non-members.  Visitor and Education Center, Guadalupe River Park & Garden, 438 Coleman Ave, San Jose.
• Sunday, Aug 9 - Andy's Tour-peaches, plums and nectarines (oh my!)  Tour taste and harvest walk of Andy's Orchard in Morgan Hill.  Tour begins at 10:00 a.m.   No reservations are required for groups of five or less.  $15 per person; seniors $12 and children 10 and under are free.  Tour is subject  to weather and fruit availability.