I am excited to announce that the 2020 Master Gardener Program class has graduated! This year it was an unpredictable journey that I'd like to share with you.

Our dedicated group of trainees began an intensive learning program in January, meeting each week for 4 ½ hours. They heard form expert speakers from University of California on topics including soils, water management, ornamental plants, drought tolerant plants, turf management, landscape tree care, integrated pest management, weed identification and management, fruit and nut tree care, vegetable gardening, and so much more!

During the classes, we had hands-on learning activities, plenty of time for questions, all while  enjoying delicious potluck food. Everything was going smoothly. In mid-March, we learned that due to COVID-19, we could no longer meet in person. Several UCCE Master Gardener Programs across the state canceled their trainings.

Our group decided against canceling. Although many had never used Zoom to meet online, they were willing to learn. We continued our classes, and our group completed the training, quizzes, and final exam.

We are so proud of this new group of 31 Master Gardeners who have joined our 2019 class to make a total of 55 UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners! Although they cannot be out in the community just yet, we are finding opportunities for them to share their knowledge through Zoom, our help line, and other projects.

Will there be a 2021 Master Gardener Class?

Due to COVID-19 concerns and a classroom facility that may be under construction, we have decided against holding a training program in January of 2021.

We know that many of you are disappointed. We feel this way as well. If you are interested in the next program, and haven't signed up yet, please fill out this survey at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=28350

We will contact you when it is time to start recruiting for our next class.

Beyond the Honey Bee

About 75% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators. Most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as honey bees, native bees, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles. As the saying goes, if you build it, they will come. So what are some ways in which gardens can be made more attractive for the pollinators of all kinds?

First, know the pollinators. Everyone knows the European honey bee, which was imported 400 years ago and brought to California around 1850. But did you know there are over 4,000 species of native bees in the United States, of which 1600 are found in California? 

Approximately 70% of native bees are solitary ground nesters, while 30% are cavity nesters. As well as providing pollinator-friendly plants to your yard, help ground nesting bees make their homes in your garden, by leaving a sunny area mulch-free. For cavity nesting bees, provide artificial nest sites, which are easy to construct or purchase from commercial outlets. 

Hummingbirds, with their long beaks and tongues draw nectar from tubular flowers. Pollen is carried on both the beaks and feathers. To attract these fun loving birds to your garden, be sure to include bright colored tubular flowers in your landscape. 

Butterflies are eye-catching, as are the flowers that attract them. Not only are specific flowers important, but also providing open areas such as bare earth and large stones where butterflies may bask and moist soil from which they may get needed minerals. To support butterflies, a gardener may also be willing to accept slight damage to host plants that provide food for the larval stage of the butterfly.

Moths are mostly evening fliers attracted to flowers that are strongly sweet smelling, open in late afternoon or night, and are typically white or pale in color. Moths are easy to differentiate from butterflies if you look at their antennae; moths do not have a swelling at the end of their antennae whereas butterflies do.

Bats are nocturnal pollinators that play an important role in the pollination of agaves and cacti in the Southwest, however not necessarily in our specific region. Bats are usually found visiting light-colored flowers that open at night and often produce copious amounts of pollen and nectar. 

Flies are not typically thought of as pollinators, however, many masquerade as bees in the garden. Syrphid flies, also called hover flies, are considered to be very important pollinators in agriculture.

Over 30,000 species of beetles are found in the United States, they may not be efficient pollinators but they do play a role as they visit flowers to sip nectar or feed on the flower parts. This activity may result in pollination. Some have a bad reputation because they damaging plants.

If you haven't seen it yet, please watch our YouTube video, Native Pollinators, to learn about different kinds of bees you may find in your garden. 

National Pollinator Week is a campaign by the Pollinator Partnership. 

Helpful Resources

How to Attract and Maintain Pollinators in Your Garden. Free ANR Publication

8498

Build Bee Houses. Free publication from Michigan State University.

The Xerces Society

US Forest Service: Pollinators

 Heidi Aufdermaur is a graduate of the 2019 Class of Master Gardeners in Stanislaus County.

Imagine yourself walking out to your garden or patio and being greeted by a spicy fragrance. All around you are pots and containers filled with culinary herbs such as fresh thyme, oregano, and basil. You reach down and take a snip or two of these fresh herbs and wander back into your kitchen to add them to the pot simmering on the stove. Sounds fabulous, doesn't it?

I can't think of anything more rewarding than growing your own culinary herbs. When I started gardening, these were the first plants that I placed in my yard, my first “babies” so to speak. Since then I have tried growing many different varieties of culinary herbs, in both containers and in the soil. Some with more success than others. But each one has been a joy to grow.

There are a wide variety of culinary herbs. Thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, and marjoram are used a great deal in cooking. Others, such as French tarragon, savory (summer and winter), and lavender have been relegated to the back of the herb and spice shelf. Nearly all are easy to grow, usually perennial in nature, and are readily found in most garden centers.

Once established, most herbs adapt easily to containers and small spaces, use low water, and are both heat and cold hardy. Some herbs, such as sage, don't mind poor soil and seem to thrive in it. Chives, on the other hand, like  soil to be rich and soft with plenty of drainage. Always check the grower's information for plants that work well in your area. Choosing herbs that best suit your environment, climate, and space constraints will help guarantee their health and success.

When deciding whether to plant your herbs in containers or directly in your garden, you will need to be aware of their growing patterns and potential size. Herbs that are in the mint family, such as oregano and marjoram, can get quite large and spread quite rapidly in a garden environment. If you have lots of room, great. But they will begin to compete with less hardy varieties after the first season. I've found that growing culinary herbs in containers saves me a lot of time and frustration down the road.

In pots or containers, gardens and raised beds, culinary herbs are a definite must for both the beginner and expert gardener. Their beauty, fragrance, and flavors will grace your garden, as well as your kitchen, more many years to come.

 Happy gardening!

Terry Pellegrini will graduate from the 2020 Master Gardener Program, congrats!

Please join Terry and Rho Yare for our next virtual gardening class in partnership with the Stanislaus County Library.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Sign up at http://ucanr.edu/virtualherbs/2020

You say "Herbs, I say "Erbs," but they all are fun and delicious! 

Please join our Stanislaus County Master Gardeners Rho Yare and Terry Pellegrini online for a fun evening learning about the wonderful world of culinary herbs, including:

-Which herbs grow best in the Central Valley of California
-How to plant and care for herbs 
-What herb plants need to thrive
-How to make tea
-Harvest and storage methods
-Rho and Terry's favorite tips for using herbs 
-Library books you can download free from our local library!

There will be time for questions along the way, so be sure to type yours in the Q&A box. Also, get ready for some fun polls to ask about how you use herbs!

Our program is excited to present this interactive webinar. We hope to "see" you online and introduce you to the wonderful world of herbs!

When: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Where: on Zoom. 
How: sign up to receive the link by email at: http://ucanr.edu/virtualherbs/2020

Please sign up to receive the link by June 30, 2020 at 4 p.m.

If you don't have Zoom or have to miss the class, watch it later on our Stanislaus County UCCE Master Gardener YouTube Channel!