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Thu, Aug 08, 2024

Got zukes? Really big ones? Put 'em in a race

Rio Linda Grange presents Zucchini Festival on Saturday

Wed, Aug 07, 2024

Master gardener grows food, flowers instead of lawn

'Summer Strong Yard’ winner featured on local billboards in new awareness campaign

Tue, Aug 06, 2024

Zoom into ‘A Short History of Flowers’

In a national webinar, BBC’s Advolly Richmond shares backstories of our favorite plants

Mon, Aug 05, 2024

Lawn replacement workshop uses great example

Placer County master gardeners show how they turned unused turf into their new demonstration garden at Loomis Library

Sun, Aug 04, 2024

Marinate smaller zucchini for a cool summer salad

New! Lemon, garlic and herbs flavor this no-cook side dish

Sat, Aug 03, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of Aug. 4

After a record hot July, expect more triple digits (and hot August nights)

Fri, Aug 02, 2024

Gardeners can learn a lot at Harvest Day

From grape pruning to worm composting, hands-on 'mini-talks' provide wealth of information -- all free!

Wed, Jul 31, 2024

‘Ribbit’ is a hit (and sticking around a little longer)

Family-friendly exhibit extended at Sonoma Botanical Garden

Tue, Jul 30, 2024

Got a garden? Shop local at Harvest Day

Sacramento-area vendors offer their unique creations, plants at Saturday event

Mon, Jul 29, 2024

Harvest Day = Gardener’s Dream Day

Sacramento County master gardeners host area’s biggest free garden event of its kind

Sun, Jul 28, 2024

This old-fashioned dessert is berry, berry good

New! Spoon cake combines blackberries, blueberries

Sat, Jul 27, 2024

Dig In: Garden checklist for week of July 28

Make the most of cooler weather before another heat wave

Fri, Jul 26, 2024

Sacramento’s July heat averaged 101 degrees

Relief from triple-digit temperatures coming this weekend, but smoky skies may linger

Thu, Jul 25, 2024

Take a summer ramble through a garden of California natives

Patricia Carpenter welcomes visitors to her garden Sunday, Aug. 4

Wed, Jul 24, 2024

Why do blackberries develop white parts?

Discolored berries are another example of crops affected by intense summer heat

Tue, Jul 23, 2024

Smoke and high heat? Watch out for ash, ozone damage

Triple-digit temperatures and smoky conditions can create high pollutant levels

Mon, Jul 22, 2024

Learn benefits of summer fruit tree pruning

El Dorado County master gardeners offer free workshop at Sherwood Demonstration Garden

Sun, Jul 21, 2024

Nectarines and skillet meatballs: Who knew?

Summer stone fruit flavors a quick-cooking sauce

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Taste Fall! E-cookbook

Muffins and pumpkin

Find our fall recipes here!

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 17

Expect the coming storms to knock down an enormous amount of leaves. Grab a rake and get to work!

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* Use some of those nice fall leaves as mulch around shrubs and trees or in the vegetable garden.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* After they bloom, chrysanthemums should be trimmed to 6 to 8 inches above the ground. If in pots, keep the mums in their containers until next spring. Then, they can be planted in the ground, if desired, or repotted.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

Taste Spring! E-cookbook

Strawberries

Find our spring recipes here!

Taste Summer! E-cookbook

square-tomatoes-plate.jpg

Find our summer recipes here!

Taste Winter! E-cookbook

Lemon coconut pancakes

Find our winter recipes here!