Despite it all, spring is here.
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Shelter in place. Hunker down. Self-quarantine. Our new COVID 19 vocabulary can raise anxiety levels. We’re bombarded by news and doing our part to flatten the curve and stay well, but it's not always easy.
Thankfully, there’s the garden.
Gardens are places of joy and solace, an escape from life's stressful events. Our relationship with our outdoor space is more important now than ever. Spring is here. Crisp days and fresh, new growth remind us that the seasons continue to unveil themselves despite our worries. Let’s make the best of these unsettling times by seeking out the beauty of our surroundings and finding satisfying ways to pass the time at home and in our gardens.
To your health,
UC Marin Master Gardeners
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The Help Desk
is accepting
email inquiries
From March 17 through April 30, UC Marin Master Gardener Help Desk volunteers will work remotely in cooperation with COVID-19 precautions and directives.
At this time, we are only taking inquiries and requests for information via email.
Email your questions to
[email protected]
.
There may be delays in responding to your inquiry or request. We appreciate your flexibility and patience in contributing to the broader community effort to safeguard everyone's health.
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Nature's survivors:
California native wildflowers
Many years ago, California's native wildflowers created a cacophony of color on hillsides throughout the state. Today's wildflowers are among the toughest of the tough, putting on a show despite multiple challenges. Some rare flowers only make cameo appearances in Marin County! Here's a
photo collage and history of Marin's wildflowers.
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Lovely, lovely lavender
Do you dream of aromatic sprigs of lavender tucked in spring bouquets? Sachets and potpourri filled with heavenly fragrance? Or how about a low hedge of lavender at your entrance? Lavender not only exudes beauty and fragrance, it's also water-wise and deer resistant. Here's
how to grow and care for lavender.
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Dear Help Desk
Q.
Squirrels are decimating my garden. What can I do?
A.
Squirrels are cute, but they can do serious damage in a garden. Like trapeze artists, they can get almost anywhere, and often get into mischief. Here's
how to manage tree and ground squirrels
.
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How to manage
common spring pests
As temperatures warm and winter is behind us, some unwelcome garden visitors may appear: aphids, snails, tent caterpillars, and more. The first step in managing these invaders is to properly identify them. Then, before they have a chance to do much damage, it's time to take some simple steps. Here's
how to manage common springtime pests.
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Heirloom vs hybrid: What's the difference?
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Fabulous foxglove rises in spring
Foxglove is like an exclamation point in the mixed border, standing 4 to 8- feet tall and bearing spires of pastel blooms. The tubular, bell-like flowers are a beacon for bees and other pollinators, not to mention gardeners seeking a striking accent plant. This Mediterranean native has been blooming in English cottage gardens since the 1400s. Here's
how to grow and care for foxglove.
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Bees and beekeeping
Spring is the perfect time to plant a garden to attract bees and other pollinators. Fill your garden with glorious blooming flowers or, if you're ready to take the plunge, try beekeeping. Here's
how to attract bees and other pollinators.
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Gardener's
spring checklist
Here come longer, warmer days. Now's the time to keep an eye out out for marauding bugs, pull weeds, and sow seeds for summer blooms. Grab your tools and get growing! Here's a list of
springtime gardening chores.
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Say hello to the alliums:
onions, leeks, garlic, and shallots
Alliums are staples in the vegetable garden and the kitchen. Easy and satisfying to grow, they provide just the right flavor to numerous dishes. Here's how to keep your pantry well-stocked by
growing onions, leeks, garlic, and shallots.
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Kiwis, gooseberries, and passion fruit
offer shade and tasty reward
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Upcoming Garden Talks and Events
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UC Marin Master Gardener speaker events are currently cancelled. Please check our
events calendar
for updates.
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This fuzzy California native shrub demands excellent drainage. Once it's established, it can survive on little or no supplemental water. Its most alluring feature is the late spring and summer flower display. This evergreen is a good choice for the back of a large border or even as an accent plant. But it's best to avoid planting where visitors might brush up against it, since it can be a skin irritant.
What's that plant?
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Love the Leaflet?
Forward to a friend!
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Video explains
Master Gardener role
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Wondering what Marin Master Gardeners do? A 3-minute video highlights who we are, what services we offer, and where you can find us. Our trained group of 300+ volunteers is busy providing research-based gardening advice as part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and UC Master Gardener Program.
Watch us at work
.
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Photo credit
White flowers - Creative Commons Zero
Foxglove - Dusan Smetana, unsplash
Apples - Pat Knight
Squirrel - Allen Hack
Bees - Courtesy of UC Regents
Silene - Katie Martin
Garlic - Engin Akyurt, Pexels
Kiwi - PhotoMIX Ltd., Pexels
Fremontodendron - Gardensoft
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The Leaflet is published quarterly by the University of California Cooperative Extension, 1682 Novato Blvd., Suite 150B, Novato, CA 94947. Telephone 415/473-4204, http://cemarin.ucdavis.edu. Production of this newsletter was made possible with support from the County of Marin and the University of California. Nondiscrimination Statement and Accessibility.
© 2019 Regents of the University of California.
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