Welcome to Spring in the Garden!
by Jill Tyler, UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator
March has arrived, and it’s one of our favorite months of the year: Daylight Savings Time returns, spring begins, and everything feels just a little brighter. Most of us feel that extra boost of energy with more light in the evenings and warming temperatures that invite us back into our gardens.
This is the perfect moment to start planning for the spring and summer growing seasons. We’ve got a full lineup of classes to help you get inspired, including workshops on starting your summer vegetable garden and growing perfect tomatoes. Can't you just taste those juicy, sun‑ripened tomatoes?
We’re also offering classes on drought tolerant design and pollinator gardening, two great ways to create beautiful, climate‑wise spaces that support our wildlife and biodiversity.
And this month, our ever‑creative volunteers are introducing something new: a Kokedama class! Kokedama, which translates to “moss ball,” is a Japanese gardening art form where you shape a plant’s roots into a ball of soil, wrap it in moss, and secure it with string or twine. It’s a living sculpture and a form of bonsai—unique, fun, and surprisingly meditative. Space is limited so sign up early!
| | Monarch butterfly; Photo Credit: Casondra Cunningham, MG '22 | |
The Thrifty Gardener
by Casondra Cunningham
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There is something magical about rain. Growing up in Southern California during one of the worst droughts the state had ever seen, I didn’t see too much of it in my younger years.
As a California girl through and through, I certainly prefer a sunny day to a dark and stormy one. And yet, there is something about rain, particularly in the garden. I don’t know if it is the quality of the water, the distribution over the leaves and roots, the way it soaks into the soil, or purely the sheer amount of water the plants get over many days, but something happens when it rains that is downright alchemical.
As Californians we see this each spring in the vibrant greens, yellows, oranges, and purples which paint our hills; as gardeners we see this in a garden suddenly come alive.
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Sara's Monthly Safety Tip
by Sara Ostrander
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Fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides - the list of chemicals you can find at any garden center, hardware store, or big box store is staggering. This can lead to a confusing mishmash and a storage nightmare.
I actually do some things properly in this area. I store everything in a locked plastic storage cabinet, even the “safe” ones. I bought special measuring cups, spoons, funnels, and buckets. However, I did not check them often enough and one of them spilled and created a mess!
Use the tips below for safe storage and disposal and take some time to sort through and get rid of chemicals you no longer need!
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• Original Containers: Always store chemicals in their original containers to avoid dangerous mix-ups.
• Lock and Isolate: Store in a locked, well-ventilated, and, ideally, detached location away from children, pets, food, and water sources.
• Secondary Containment: Use trays or containment structures to prevent spills from spreading, especially in areas with potential for leakage.
• Shelf Organization: Store chemicals below eye level, with liquids on lower shelves to avoid contamination if containers break.
• Proper Labeling: Ensure all containers are labeled with the chemical name, date of purchase, and appropriate warnings.
| | Photo Credit: Sara Ostrander, MG '24 | | |
For disposal of hazardous chemicals in Ventura County, contact your local waste disposal authority. Do not dispose of chemicals in the regular garbage collection.
Resources: Garden Chemicals: Safe Use & Disposal
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California Native Plants Series
by Marilyn Whitford
| | Laura Pasetta holding a wreath made at our annual natural wreath design class; Photo Credit: Jill Tyler, MG '20 | | |
Laura is a truly exceptional UC Master Gardener speaker with a passion for California native and drought-tolerant plants. As a certified California Naturalist, she brings our landscapes to life—leading engaging hikes where she helps people better understand and appreciate California’s diverse flora.
Laura also teaches popular classes on insects and has a special gift for sparking curiosity and joy in young learners.
Behind the scenes, Laura plays another equally important role in the UC Master Gardener program. She is part of the team that trains new UC Master Gardeners to confidently and effectively share their horticultural knowledge with the public. With years of experience, she has helped mentor and develop many of the outstanding speakers you hear from at local libraries and events around Ventura County.
Don’t miss the chance to see Laura in action! Check out our class schedule below. She has 3 classes this month on Drought Tolerant Gardening: Design and Maintenance. Bring your questions and leave inspired, informed, and ready to grow with confidence, especially when it comes to California natives and drought tolerant gardening.
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March 2026
Calendar of
Classes & Events
Our education classes are FREE!
Please click the links
below to register.
African Protea, Protea sp.;Photo Credit: jnet Villegas, MG '22
March 3, 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Camarillo Library
March 5, 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Simi Valley Library
March 9, 5:30am to 6:30pm, Fillmore Library
March 10, 4:00pm to 5:00pm, Port Hueneme Library
March 10, 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Hill Road Library, Ventura
March 10, 5:00pm to 6:00pm, Oak Park Library
March 14, 9:00am to 11:00am, Calleguas MWD, Thousand Oaks
March 21, 9:00am to 11:00am, ARC of Ojai
March 21, 10:30am to 4:30pm, Oxnard Main Library
March 25, 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Avenue Library, Ventura
March 26, 5:30pm to 7:00pm, Santa Paula Library
March 28, 10:00am to 11:00am, Strathearn House, Simi Valley
March 28, 10:00am to 11:00am, Oxnard $30 materials fee
Registration Required
Nostalgia Gardening: Growing Memories in Your Backyard
April 4, 10:00am to 11:00am, Strathearn House, Simi Valley
A full calendar of classes can be found on our website
by clicking here.
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The 13th Annual Ventura County Farm Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, featuring free, family-friendly tours and activities at over 15 local farms and ranches. Participants can enjoy tractor rides, tastings, and behind-the-scenes agricultural experiences using a self-guided trail map.
UC Master Gardener volunteers will host activities at Oxnard Historic Farm Park in Oxnard and at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula. More details to come in the April newsletter.
| | Artichokes; Photo Credit: jnet villegas, MG '22 | | |
Special 'Hort' Dates
February 2026
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Monthly Observances:
- Garden, Nature, and Ecology Book Month
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National Nutrition Month: Growing your food is good for you!
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Daily Holidays & Observances:
3/08 - Daylight Savings
3/12 - National Plant a Flower Day
3/16 - National Artichoke Day
3/17 - St. Patrick’s Day
3/20 - First Day of Spring
3/20 - International Day of Happiness
3/21 - International Day of Forests
3/22 - World Water Day
3/26 - National Spinach Day
3/28 - National Weed Appreciation Day
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Mission Statement of the UC Master Gardener Program
To extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape
practices to the residents of California.
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Newsletter Editor - Jnet Villegas
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