Articles written by Tuolumne County Master Gardeners for local newspaper and web news service

 

Issue	Articles
Recycle Your Christmas Tree	Up-to-date information for local residents about recyling cut Christmas trees.
Winter Thoughts of Roses	When the weather is cold and roses have become dormant, it's a good time to give some early thought to the care and maintenance of these beautiful and hardy flowering shrubs.
Going Native	An account of one gardener's conversion of his suburban landscape.
Plants We've Killed	Yes, even Master Gardeners kill their plants...a compilation of inadvertent and intentional plant homicide stories.
Decorating for the Holidays, Updated	Some new (and not so new) ideas about using natural materials found close at hand to create holiday decorations.
Leaves: to Leave or Not to Leave?	A discussion of how to use all those autumn leaves on-site; where to remove them and why.
Wildlife Gardens	Learn why and how local gardeners use techniques to encourage wildlife in their backyards.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in the Garden	Some suggestions for ways to be more "care-full" in our gardens and landscapes.
Meet Your "Batty" Neighbors	The wonderful services bats perform and some of the myths that do them injustice.
Of Old Dogs and Wild Blackberries	The pleasures and pitfalls of wild blackberries. The author provides tips for removal of unwanted, established canes as she also describes how wild blackberries provide a final resting place for a favorite companion.
Soil Web of Life	Richness and complexity of life existing in the soil that contributes to plant (and our) health.
Natives: Reaching out to the Wild Lands	How to integrate planted natives into your local environment
Natives: Just in Time for Fall Planting	Recommended local native plants and some that will be available at the California Native Plant Society autumn sale.
Books to Help You Choose Those Native Plants	Master Gardener recommended books to help make sense of all the California native plants out there.
Roots	"Exploring your roots," that complex web that nourishes your plants.
Tough Times for Trees	It's Tough to Be a Tree - Especially a Native Oak
Lawn Alternatives - the New Grasses!	Suggestions for native (and some non-native) grasses that are drought resistant, low maintenance and don't even require mowing!
Native Plants Essential to Insects	Native pollinators are important and they thrive in the presence of native plants.
"Natural" is Not the Same as "Harmless"	Many organic and natural pesticides can have unpleasant side effects
Gardening with Kids	Some great "end of the summer" gardening projects to do with your (or other people's) kids
Understanding Wasps	Some basic facts about wasps, yellowjackets and hornets
Soil Amendments: Let's Talk Dirt!	There are lots of things that can be added to your soil to improve it.
A Hummingbird's Niche	Some of the services provided by hummingbirds and some ideas of how to attract more of them to your yard
Water Conservative Landscaping	Some ideas to help save your budget and one of our precious resources
Defensible Space: Fire Safe Landscaping	How to make your wildland-urban interface property more fire resistant and comply with California's new 100-foot clearance law.
Gardening for Where You Live	Some design ideas from a new publication, "Designing California Native Gardens."
Attract Native Bees to Your Garden	With honey bee populations in decline, it makes sense to encourage the domestic pollinators that were here before the imported arrival of agricultural bees.
What's Eating My Roses?	A discussion and description of Hoplia Beetles and what you can do about them.
Hover Flies: Your Garden's Friend	Some information about those fascinating flying insects that can hover in place and pollinate your plants
Eating Locally	Local Produce--where to find out, how to support your local growers, and some of the health advantages of eating things grown in the local area.
13th Annual Garden Tour	A description of local gardens that will be featured on the 13th annual Tuolumne County garden tour.
Backyard Composting	Composting is a naturally occurring process. Learn what you can do to enhance the process to create your own "gardener's gold" in your own backyard
April 29, 2008	Gardening for Health
April 22, 2008	Master Gardeners Apply for Wildlife Habitat Certification
April 15, 2008	Natives for Spring Planting
April 8, 2008	Foothills-Friendly Gardening
April 1, 2008	Container Gardening: Part II
March 25, 2008	Container Gardening: Part I
March 18, 2008	The Pomegranate; a Botanical Sensation
March 11, 2008	Home and Garden Show Master Gardener Activities 3/15/08
March 4, 2008	Tree Myths
February 26, 2008	Transformation: from Winter to Spring
February 19, 2008	Herb Gardens
February 12, 2008	Gardeners Consider Matters of the Heart
February 5, 2008	We Make Housecalls...for Free!
January 29, 2008	Beware of These Mother Lode Gardening Myths
January 22, 2008	Neglected Garden Survives
January 15, 2008	Green Roofs
January 8, 2008	Gardening Resolutions 2008