The Savvy Sage

two purple sage flowers with a green background of foliage

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

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Single water drop resting near the tip of a horizonal blade of grass
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A New View of the Morning Dew

May 21st, 2024
The next time you are annoyed that your shoes get soaked during an early morning stroll across the yard, take a closer look at what is happening underfoot Because, in the right light, the morning dew is magical! Dew is moisture formed via condensation- water moving from a vapor (gaseous form) to a l...
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Frida Kahlo photos by Joy Humphrey
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A Rose By Any Other Name...

May 17th, 2024
When I buy a rose, I consider several things: color, growth habit, location requirements. These are all important aspects to ponder to ensure a thriving plant and a visually appealing garden. But something else I consider, which has nothing to do with gardening success, is the name.
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photo by Denise Cottrell
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Fly Away Home

May 15th, 2024
As a child rambling in the garden, I was delighted to find a lady bug. I would extend my hand in the bug's path and gently scoop it up.
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Black krim heirloom tomato from the garden mmmmmmm by xinem is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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Predators Nibbling Your Tomatoes?

May 9th, 2024
The first year I grew tomatoes at a community garden (elsewhere in California), lots of critters munched my fruit before I could pick it. I had a garden neighbor who grew rat habitat (an unmanaged berry thicket), and I did several things that mostly stopped any predation (except by humans!). One.
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photo by Christie Mesias
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Peach Leaf Curl

May 3rd, 2024
This past Picnic Day, Master Gardeners were available to answer the community's questions. One question reigned supreme: What is happening to my peach tree? If you are noticing puffed, curled, and discolored leaves on your peach or nectarine tree, the culprit is likely the fungus Peach Leaf Curl.
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