The Savvy Sage

two purple sage flowers with a green background of foliage

A Master Gardeners blog to: Educate, Inspire, and Ignite Knowledge.

Ask a Master Gardener

November 12, 2025
 “Ask a Master Gardener” fields questions directly from Yolo County gardeners and other garden enthusiasts. Questions for this column can be sent to the authors at jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu, with “Ask MGs” in the subject line. People submitting questions will remain anonymous, if desired. When emailing a…
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Powdery mildew covering leaves and stems on a plant.

Ask a Master Gardener

November 10, 2025
 “Ask a Master Gardener” fields questions directly from Yolo County gardeners and other garden enthusiasts. Questions for this column can be sent to the authors at jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu, with “Ask MGs” in the subject line. People submitting questions will remain anonymous, if desired. When emailing a…
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new uc master gardener logo with an orange poppy, green leaf and blue circle background

Check Out Our New Logo!

October 27, 2025
 As a member of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) community, the UC Master Gardener Program is excited to share our new logo!Continuing the use of the California poppy as our symbol, it honors our history using a fresh, modern design. Over the last forty-five years…
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Salvia 'Anthony Parker" in bloom.

November Garden Tips and Vegetable Planting Guide

October 27, 2025
 Article by Peg Smith - The average monthly rainfall in October for Davis is 1.8 inches. My rain gauge measured a nice ‘dose’ of rain from the recent storm, 1.5 inches, that washed away the summer’s dust from the garden. Plants look brighter and refreshed. Depending on where you live, Yolo County…
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A mockingbird in the branches of Peg's persimmon tree.

Gardening Is for the Birds!

October 27, 2025
  Article by Peg Smith - For the first time in forty-plus years, our Hachiya persimmon has produced very little fruit. This appears to be anecdotally common this year. The persimmon’s annual seasonal changes are easy to identify: dormant, spring/early summer fruit drop (also called ‘barefoot…
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