MEDIA RELEASE

CSUN-al Gardening Class Delves into World of Tomatoes

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2008) — A vibrant burst of red tomato can make or break any culinary creation. Tomato connoisseur Scott Daigre will help members of the community choose which of the many tempting varieties will tantalize the taste buds in Cal State Northridge’s latest gardening class.

Two sessions of the class are scheduled for Saturday, March 15, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Daigre will explain his strategy for tomato planting and what varieties are best suited for the San Fernando Valley. He also will include information on his favorite heirloom tomato.

"There are hundreds of tomato varieties available for the home grower to enjoy," said Brenda Kanno, manager of CSUN’s Botanic Garden. "Scott’s class will introduce the real stars of the tomato world and enable attendees to select the varieties best suited to the growers’ tastes and gardens."

As owner of Powerplant Garden Design and Tomatomania, Daigre is a veteran of garden horticulture. His garden designs have been featured on DIY network and HGTV’s "Landscaper’s Challenge." Daigre also has written "Tomatomania! How to Grow Tomatoes in Southern California," a guide to the local gardener.

While the class is free, registration is required due to limited seating. To register, e-mail botanicgarden@csun.edu or call (818) 677-3496. Driving and parking instructions as well as classroom location will be sent upon registration.

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

For more information about the Botanic Garden, visit the Web site at www.csun.edu/botanicgarden.