Volume 2 Issue 7
July 2026
The RECap
A newsletter from South Coast Research and Extension Center
and UC Cooperative Extension Orange County
| | You're so golden, Golden Dorsett apple! The Golden Dorsett apple tree pictured above is absolutely thriving, growing on an espalier at South Coast REC. Thanks to the UC Master Gardeners, you can read more here about growing these apples in Southern California. | | Soil Health & Organic Materials Management | | |
Photo Credit: Art Zippel
Following the Journey of Organic Materials
by Dr. Natalie Levy
On June 4th, South Coast REC was one of three stops on the Compost Caravan, a traveling educational event hosted by the Association of Compost Producers for communities, farmers, and industry leaders to learn about composting. At South Coast REC, attendees took a tractor tour of the research center and learned from the UC Master Gardeners about making and using compost in home gardens and landscapes. Other stops during the event included the James A. Musick Facility, where attendees learned about application of compost in landscapes, and the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill and Greenery, where participants got a first-hand look at how green waste from around Orange County is turned into compost and mulch.
Read the full blog post, written by Soil Health and Organic Materials Management Advisor Natalie Levy, here.
Back in May, Natalie Levy also organized a tour of Frank R. Bowerman Landfill and Greenery for local UC ANR employees. Read more about this tour in From Waste to Resources. How Compost Supports Food Production and Water Conservation, written by UC ANR Communications Specialist Diana Cervantes.
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Pro Tips
Tips, tricks, and advice from our program experts
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Urban Watershed Resilience Program
by Dr. Esther Lofton
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It is July. What does July mean to you?
For me, it means lots of sunshine, pool days, summer landscapes in full color, and yes, sprinklers working overtime.
For the Urban Watershed Resilience Program, July also means Smart Irrigation Month. This month, we are asking Southern California residents, landscapers, and community partners to look at outdoor water use with fresh eyes.
Is your landscape watering smarter, or just watering more?
Our new post, “Smart Irrigation Month 2026: Beyond the Smart Controller,” takes readers past the controller box and into the real-life issues that shape irrigation efficiency, including leaks, overspray, dry-weather runoff, plant water needs, rebates, and simple system checks.
Explore the Story
💧 Smart Irrigation Month 2026
Read the full blog on Smart Water Living: Smart Irrigation Month 2026: Beyond the Smart Controller
💧 Smart Irrigation Month Survey
Help us understand how Southern California residents and landscape managers are using outdoor water.
Take the Smart Irrigation Month survey
💧 Wear Blue Wednesday July 15th
Wear Blue Wednesday is part of the national Smart Irrigation Month campaign and takes place on Wednesday, July 15. Participants are invited to wear blue and share water-saving messages in support of efficient irrigation.
Learn more about Smart Irrigation Month
Stay Connected
Follow the Urban Watershed Resilience Program for Smart Irrigation Month posts, irrigation tips, rebate reminders, water-quality connections, and updates from across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties this month to learn more.
📲 Follow & Stay Connected
Instagram @socal_h2o
TikTok @socal_water
X @socal_h20
🌐 Explore the SoCal Water Blog Series:
Visit the SoCal Water Blog Series
📩 Contact / Collaborate
Dr. Esther Lofton Urban Watershed Resilience Advisor
anrsocalwater@gmail.com
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Supporting Pollinators as Summer Goes On
As temperatures begin to soar, our pollinator friends are often looking for some extra support. How can you help?
Even in small spaces, habitat is important. Planting flowers that provide either food or shelter is very helpful. Want to bring butterflies? Finding out what their host plants are will encourage them to come and lay their eggs! Host plants are the plants where butterflies lay their eggs, where caterpillars feed, and where they then pupate to become the next generation of butterflies. Milkweed is the host plant for monarchs, dill (pictured above) or fennel for swallowtails, and passion vine for the Gulf Fritillary.
Cut down on pesticide use in your garden. Have aphids? A quick spray of water will reduce their numbers — or simply leave them to become food for beneficial insects and help build a healthy ecosystem. Add small water sources for bees and butterflies to stop for a drink. A small saucer with sand, water, and flat pebbles gives small pollinators a place to land and cool off. Use only a small amount of water, and clean the saucer frequently.
Feeding the birds? Make sure feeders are cleaned regularly and food is kept fresh. Worried about attracting four-legged foragers? Bringing feeders inside at night or placing them in a covered area will help discourage unwanted visitors.
Small steps can make a big difference for the pollinators that visit your garden — and supporting them is just as important for our gardens as it is for them.
Have a question for the UC Master Gardeners? Reach out to their gardening hotline here.
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A Tale of Two Fruits
PBS Show Lost LA highlights history of citrus and avocado in Southern California and features Dr. Georgios Vidalakis and Dr. Tracy Kahn
by Dr. Lindsey Pedroncelli
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Dr. Georgios Vidalakis, UC ANR Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology at UC Riverside and Director of the Citrus Clonal Protection Program, and Dr. Tracy Kahn, the Curator of the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside, were recently featured in the PBS show Lost LA. Season 9 Episode 2, "A Tale of Two Fruits" covers the history of the citrus and avocado industries in Southern California. The host visits Georgios at the historic Washington Navel tree in Riverside, the ancestor of nearly every navel orange grown in California. He then visits Tracy at the Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at UC Riverside, which includes 1,050 citrus cultivars and species and citrus relatives in the Aurantiodeae subfamily. This 25-acre block of citrus is one of the most extensive collections of citrus diversity in the world! Later in the episode, the host visits Brokaw Nursery, a staple of the California avocado industry, where he learns about grafting avocado trees and the collection of cultivars that Brokaw Nursery maintains.
It was so meaningful to see Georgios, a UC ANR Extension Specialist, and Tracy, a long-term South Coast REC researcher, featured on this show, and to have the spotlight on citrus and avocados, two crops whose roots (literally and figuratively) are deeply woven into the history of South Coast REC.
For 70 years, South Coast REC has been supporting and advancing research on these iconic crops. Digging into the archives, this publication from 1962 showcases research projects going on at the time, many of which were related to citrus and avocados. Today, South Coast REC supports several avocado projects led by Dr. Mary Lu Arpaia and Dr. Patricia Manosalva from UC Riverside. In addition to the collection at UC Riverside, Tracy and her team currently oversee the 2-acre citrus relative collection at South Coast REC. Whether its screening rootstock for disease resistance or breeding new cultivars, the collection of citrus and avocados at South Coast REC are an extremely valuable germplasm resource for researchers doing basic and applied research.
Make sure to watch this episode of Lost LA! It beautifully highlights the history of two of California's most notable crops that have been at the heart of South Coast REC since it was established.
| | Orange County Bee Team Apiary Tours | | |
Explore the world of honey bees and their habitat with our Certified California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) Instructors. After this tour, participants will be able to:
- Explain how to light a hive smoker.
- Describe a complete hive inspection.
- Identify eggs, larvae, and capped brood.
- Distinguish hive food sources.
- Identify the queen, worker, and drone.
Date(s):
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UC Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials
South Coast REC Summer 2026 Open House
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Join us for the first Open House of the 2026 Mulch Trial! Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate the effects of different mulch treatments on vine performance before the onset of summer heat. Following an introduction to the plant evaluation rubric, participants will assess the aesthetic quality of selected vines at their own pace. A clipboard, evaluation sheet, and pen will be provided. The trial is located in a field with full sun exposure. We recommend wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes and bringing sunscreen and/or a hat. Carpooling is encouraged but not required Cold water will be available for all participants.
Date: July 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: 7601 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618
Questions? Email Brandon Hsu at brhsu@ucanr.edu
Learn more about the project here.
Watch a recap of a previous Open House here.
| Forestry Institute for Teachers: 2026 Summer Sessions | | |
🌲Ready to take your teaching beyond the classroom?
This summer, the Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) invites you to join one of four immersive FIT sessions — week-long professional learning experiences designed for both formal and nonformal PreK-12+ California educators.
Each session combines hands-on field instruction with insights from forestry and natural resource experts, giving you fresh tools to bring environmental education to life in your classroom or program. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with peers from across the state who share your passion and curiosity for forest stewardship.
🧭Choose your adventure:
📍Humboldt FIT | July 11–17 (WAITLIST)
📍Shasta FIT | July 19–25
✨Space is limited — apply today!
🔗https://www.forestryinstitute.org
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Annual Open House and Urban Ag Expo:
70th Anniversary Celebration
| Celebrating 70 years of impact in Orange County | |
Date
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time
9:00am - 2:00pm
Anniversary Ceremony at 1:00pm
Location
South Coast Research & Extension Center, 7601 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618
Fee FREE!
Other Info
- Pumpkin U-pick
- Garden Expo
- Talks and Workshops
- Vendors and Exhibitors
- Plant Sale and more!
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