Spring ARC hikes

American River Conservancy

Get out in nature with the American River Conservancy. There are several spring events with openings available. Visit arconservancy.org for more information.

Wakamatsu Open Farm Day

First and third Saturdays, April through June, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Special programming is featured at each Open Farm Day at 941 Cold Springs Road in Placerville. See the registration page for more details. Site of the first Japanese colony in America, your self-guided walking tour of Wakamatsu Farm may include a stroll to Okei-san’s 1871 gravesite and Charles Graner’s original 1850’s farmhouse. Take a trip around the lake on the 1.5mile wheelchair-accessible trail. Bring a picnic and chair to sit and relax. On-site interpreters can share information and answer questions about Wakamatsu Farm’s human and natural history. Amenities are limited, so plan for rugged outdoor leisure. Steady rain or temperatures warmer than 100 degrees will cancel. Registration at app. donorview.com/jRNKg.

Acorn Creek Family & Photo Hike

Saturday, April 15, 8-10 a.m. — Marcus Christian, ARC board member and photography-lover wants to share his interests. Join him solo or bring friends and family to get an introduction to hiking and tips on taking nature photos. All ages welcome. Well-behaved dog on-leash OK. Meeting location in the Pilot Hill area. Register online at app.donorview.com/ wkLzV.

Salmon Falls Ranch Hike

Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Hike the new and old trails at Salmon Falls Ranch with ARC board member Scott Vail. Explore the proposed and new construction of trails on this intermediate-difficult (Dead Oak trail portion) hike of 6-7 miles. Wildflowers should be abundant. Well-behaved dogs OK. Rain or shine. Ages 12 and older welcome. Meeting location in Pilot Hill. Register online at app.donorview.com/ Vjqro.

North County Cemetery Crawl

Saturday, April 29, 9:30 a.m. to noon — Georgetown and Greenwood have some of the most spectacular pioneer cemeteries in the county. Let’s explore three of them with an optional “stop for a pop” at a classic roadhouse dive bar in Greenwood. We’ll caravan to Spanish Dry Diggins’ Cemetery, an offthe-beaten-path, frozen-in-time gem. Next stop is the historical Greenwood Cemetery, named for the legendary mountain man Caleb Greenwood. The third stop is the magnificent Georgetown Pioneer Cemetery. Then back to Greenwood for an optional lunch and the aforementioned pop, soda or otherwise, with your host, ARC volunteer Mike Roberts. Mike is a retired local journalist and selfproclaimed taphophile. He chairs the El Dorado County Cemetery Advisory Committee and is president of Save the Graves Inc. All ages welcome. Well behaved dog on-leash OK. Register online at app.donorview.com/7eokA.

Labyrinth Wander

Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. to noon — Celebrate World Labyrinth Day with ARC. The Abode of Peace Labyrinth in Georgetown is among the most spectacular labyrinths in the world. Join Labyrinth builder David Blonski to learn about the history and uses of this meditative pathway. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with live music after your wander. Quiet 8-year-olds and older with adult supervision welcome. This is an easy 1-mile walk. Rain date May 13. Register online at app.donorview.com/ MMpb0.

Gardens Gone Native Tour features urban native plants

News release

The 10th annual Gardens Gone Native tour features 26 California native plant gardens in the Sacramento and Yolo county areas, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29.

Solutions

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The day seems specially designed to shake up the assumption that power is located somewhere outside ourselves. While you can’t control everything about your experience, you still have way too many untried options to worry for even one moment about options you don’t have.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your exceptional taste will play into the day’s events. You recognize how it’s particular to you and don’t impose it on anyone else, which makes you not only stylish but classy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). While there are those who say a lot but don’t act, you will provide a contrast by acting without much to say about it. You’ll also inspire the action of others with very little explanation or fanfare.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). What you imagine and what you can do won’t match up. It only means you’ve a strong mind and, when it all shakes out, a new goal. You’re up to this, and you’ll nail it. Don’t doubt that for a minute.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Whether or not you have enough will depend solely on what metric you use. If the metric is material, there will always be someone with more or less than you have. The amounts in and of themselves aren’t necessarily better or worse. It’s how they fit the recipe that matters.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some leaders ignore the junior’s ideas and concerns, hoping they’ll pass. They will. So will loyalty, contribution and engagement, though. You’ll keep all of this in mind as you lead today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Is it too restrictive to label some emotions as bad and others as good? Of course negative emotions hurt, but they also offer useful information about what to change.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll be cleaning, beautifying and fixing things. Most of this is easy and inexpensive, except when it comes to relationships. Those are harder to fix and come at a high emotional cost, too, which is why you’re so careful not to break them in the first place.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Finally, procrastination will work in your favor, or at least give you different insights on the task at hand. Oscar Wilde confessed, “I never put off until tomorrow what I can possibly put off until the day after tomorrow.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When you find yourself in a defiant mood, there’s a reason for it. You may not be fully aware of it, but you’re subconsciously resisting authority. You want to know you have as much power over your life as you possibly can.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The relationship that feels stuck will finally move forward when you say what you mean. Conversations don’t need to be long and drawn out; they just need to be specific. Try not to guess what the other person is thinking. Ask.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve a unique collection, obsession or study, and there are a few people out there who share it. You’ll keep finding them. The more you add to your network the better your collection will be. The real prize is always relationships.

Gardens are comprised predominantly of California native plants and exemplars of urban native plant landscaping. These gardens feature various ways in which native plants can be used. Some are professionally designed for a formal look while others are more functional and are a mix use of natives, food production and living spaces. Each garden is unique but most include wildlife habitat and rain water capture and usage.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask garden hosts about their choices and challenges. They will receive the map and tour brochure information about a week before the tour begins. Free registration is open now at sacvalleycnps.org/ gardens-gone-nativetour.

Benefits of California native plants

Planting natives in your yard will bring an abundance of wildlife. Experiencing the delight observing a bumble bee on a soap plant only in the evening hours or the charismatic monarch floating over milkweed is a source of joy.

Native plants, hummingbirds, butterflies and insects