The Stanislaus Sprout

Summer is here, and so is the Stanislaus County Fair! It starts Friday, July 10, and ends on Sunday, July 19, 2026.   Stop by our UC Master Gardener booth inside the Floriculture Building, located just inside the fairgrounds near the Arch Gate off 900 North Broadway in Turlock. Free Seed…

Propagating your own plants is rewarding, fun, and saves you money. While we may not propagate all our plants ourselves (there are some special and amazing ones at the nursery), we can take some of our favorites and make many out of one. There are two types of plant propagation. There is sexual or seed…

Most of us recognize Western honeybees (Apis mellifera) with their familiar yellow stripes foraging on flowers for nectar. But what about all those other yellow striped insects in our gardens? There are other beneficial insects who mimic honeybees with yellow and black bands to warn off potential predators…

July and August are traditionally the hottest months of the year. Heat related illnesses are a serious concern, particularly when physically active outdoors, such as when working in the garden.  The warning signs of heat illnesses There are three levels of heat illnesses: heat cramps, heat…

Attention Stanislaus Sprout readers!An invasive insect called the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) has been found on grapevine shipments sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 19, 2026. If you or someone you know has recently purchase a grape plant at Costco…