By Sharon Cohoon, Sunset senior garden writer

Nearly every public garden in Southern California offers a fall plant sale next month.  These are excellent opportunities to purchase plants that are well-adapted to our climate and/or unique.  Often at bargain prices on top of it.  Don't even think of not taking advantage of at least one!

I'm giving you all the dates now so you can plan ahead.  So no excuses, please.

Oct. 3-4, Descanso Gardens, La Cañada, 9-4.  Free. www.descansogardens.org or (818) 949420

Oct. 4, South Coast Botanic Garden, 9-4.  Free. www.southcoastbotanic.org or 310/544-1948.

Oct. 10-11, The Theodore Payne Foundation, Sun Valley.  8:30-4:30.  Free.  www.theodorepayne.org or 818/768-1802.

Oct. 11-12, Huntington Gardens, San Marino, 10:30-4. Free. www.huntington.org or 626/405-2100.

Oct. 11-Nov. 9, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara.  9:30-5:30 until Oct. 31; then 9:30-4:30. Free.  www.sbbg.org or 806/682-4726.

Oct. 11-12, Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, 10-4. Free. www.fullertonarboretum.org or 714/278-3579

Oct. 18-9, Riverside Botanic Gardens, Riverside, 12-5 on Sat., 9-3 on Sun.  Free. www.gardens.ucr.edu or 951/784-6962

Oct. 18, University of California Irvine Arboretum, Irvine, 10-3. $2. http://arboretum.bio.uc.edu or 949/824-5833

Oct. 18-19, Quail Botanical Gardens, Encinitas, 11-4. $10 admission fee. www.qbgardens.org or 760/436-3036

[Quail Botanical Gardens will also be hosting the San Diego International Orchid Show and Plant Sale on Oct. 3-5.]