Oklahoma City home and garden briefs

Meetings

• Viola Garden Club, 11 a.m., Feb. 20, at Will Rogers Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36. Program is “Growing Vegetables In Oklahoma” presented by Ray Ridlin, OSU Extension horticulture educator. Visitors welcome. Call 722-8822.

• Central Oklahoma Cactus and Succulent Society, 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Will Rogers Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36. Program is “How to make the most of your South Florida vacation.” The meeting also will have a sale/exchange of plants, books or other cactus-related materials.

• Late Bloomers will meet at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Trochta's Flowers & Greenhouse, 6700 Broadway Extension. Lunch at West Restaurant, 6714 Western Ave., will follow at 11:45 a.m. Call 760-4653.

• Oklahoma Horticultural Society, 7 p.m., Feb. 26, OSU Agriculture Resource Center, 400 N Portland. Janette Cooper from the State Department of Agriculture will speak on “Plant Problems You Need to Worry About.”

• Apogon Iris Garden Club, noon, Feb. 27, 2701 N Harvard Ave. Program is “Walk in My Miniature Garden” presented by Tis Bohlman. Call 773-4443.

• Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association, 7 p.m. Feb. 28, at Oklahoma County Cooperative Extension Service, 930 N Portland. Visitors welcome. See Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association's Facebook or Yahoo page or contact Rick@OKBees.com for information.

Workshops

• Beginner Beekeeping classes are scheduled Saturday, March 2, March 9 and March 16. See Central Oklahoma Beekeepers Association's Facebook or Yahoo page or contact Rick@OKBees.com for information.

Events

• Oklahoma Rose Society annual “Rose Bingo,” 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Will Rogers Exhibition Center, 3400 NW 36. Event features more than 100 rose bushes available to bingo winners. Snacks and drinks available.

• Oklahoma Gardening School presented by Devon Energy, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 16, Devon Auditorium, Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W Reno. Learn from internationally known and local speakers how to develop a more sustainable garden. Cost in advance is $45 per member or $55 per nonmember, or $60 at the door. Call 445-7080.

Drought conditions and carelessness have made conservation imperative. Most of our available moisture is only in the top 4 inches of soil, and at 16 and 32 inches there is barely any water. At this point, our area needs 24 to 28 inches of rain in the next six months to relieve the drought altogether.