"CSUN-al Gardening," pronounced "seasonal gardening," will offer home gardening enthusiasts practical information appropriate to the San Fernando Valley, said Brian Houck, manager of the university's Botanic Garden.

"The four seasons experienced in Southern California present a variety of challenges and opportunities for the amateur gardener," Houck said. "The seasonal gardening series is a wonderful opportunity for people interested in gardening to learn basic approaches to gardening at different times of the year."

The lecture series is slated to begin March 19 and will be held four times a year in Cal State Northridge's Botanic Garden near the center of campus at 18111 Nordhoff Street in Northridge.

The 2005-2006 schedule:

• March 19, 2005: "Putting in Your Vegetables" will present history, discuss favorite varieties, offer tips and share secrets for planting, growing, staking and pushing annual vines to their best production.
• July 16, 2005: "Butterflies! Beauty in the Garden" will provide tips for creating gardens that welcome and nurture butterflies.
• October 22, 2005: "California Native Wildflowers in Your Yard" will discuss tips and techniques for sowing, growing, using and enjoying wildflowers.
• January 7, 2006: "Pruning Techniques for Roses." The lecture's description will be announced as the date approaches.

For more information on each instructor and a complete course description, visit the Botanic Garden Web site at http://www.csun.edu/botanicgarden.

The garden is operated by the university's Biology Department and serves as a field site for botany, entomology, photography, painting and other classes. In addition to outdoor landscape and natural botanic environments, the garden also features a greenhouse where rare and unusual plants are grown. The garden is open to the community.