- (Focus Area) Yard & Garden
- Author: Christine Casey
I don't know about you, but all the rain and cold weather we're experiencing in Northern California have left me especially eager for this year's gardening season to begin. And if learning more about bees and gardens is something you'd like to do this year, we've got a class for you! We're offering all classes as either remote or in-person. Both methods include videos to view at your leisure; there's additional hands-on instruction with the in-person classes.
All in-person classes take place at the Haven on the UC Davis campus. Class fees support the Haven and our programs.
2023 classes:
I Planted a Bee Garden: Now What?
April 1, 2023 9am to 10:30am
Instructor: Christine Casey, Ph.D., UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
Many California gardeners are removing their water-hungry turf and replacing it with lower-water plants that provide food and habitat for bees and other animals. But if all you know about garden maintenance is how to start the lawnmower, deciding what to plant and learning how to maintain it can be daunting.
Aimed at beginning bee gardeners, this class will cover the basics of turf conversion and weed control along with plant selection for bees and other pollinators. We'll also cover maintenance of a turf yard compared to planted borders. The in-person class includes hands-on practice with gardening techniques and a tour of the Haven's plants.
Remote class registration ($25 fee): https://registration.ucdavis.edu/Item/Details/939
In-person class registration ($40 fee): https://registration.ucdavis.edu/Item/Details/940
Advanced Bee Gardening
April 22, 2023 9am to 10:30am
Instructor: Christine Casey, Ph.D., UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
This class is for experienced gardeners who want to better support bees in their gardens. We'll discuss garden design and plant selection based on bee biology as well as how to encourage insect natural enemies to keep bee gardens pesticide-free. We'll also learn about some of the latest research on bees and gardens and how to incorporate this into your garden. The in-person class will conclude with a tour of the Haven for a hands-on look at plants and bees.
Remote class registration ($25 fee): https://registration.ucdavis.edu/Item/Details/941
In-person class registration ($40 fee): https://registration.ucdavis.edu/Item/Details/942
Collecting Bees Through Photos
April 1, 2023 11:30am to 1pm
Instructor: Christine Casey, Ph.D., UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
Bees are fascinating animals, and many people are intrigued by the idea of having their own bee collection for closer observation. An effective way to ‘collect' bees without harm is by making a bee photo album. We'll start with an overview of bee anatomy and classification and learn how to distinguish bees from other insects. We'll then look at key features of common bees that can be used to identify them in flight. The class will finish outdoors for hands-on experience observing, identifying, and photographing bees.
Remote class registration ($25 fee): https://registration.ucdavis.edu/Item/Details/937
In-person class registration ($40 fee): https://registration.ucdavis.edu/Item/Details/938

by Rainer Hoenicke
Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143. Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.
Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.
Photo credits: Public domain
Information links:
Wisconsin extension center https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/honeywort-cerinthe-major/

Winter is a great time to plant a native pollinator garden. Pollinators are the buzzing, flying creatures responsible for the formation of many of the fruits and vegetables that we humans love to eat. Planting for pollinators is a colorful way to attract interesting and beautiful birds, butterflies, bees, and insects to your garden while increasing the productivity of many edible plants.
Hummingbirds, for example, reach into tubular flowers with their long, thin beaks. Zauschneria californica (California Fuchsia; also known as Epilobium canum) is a perennial native to Butte County that is covered with brilliant orange-red tubular flowers from mid-summer through fall. This plant is a hummingbird magnet! Zauschneria ‘John Bixby' and
Zauschneria ‘Calistoga' are especially attractive and well-behaved varieties of California Fuchsia. Plant Zauschneria in part- to full-sun areas of your garden. Water once or twice a month during the dry season. To keep it looking tidy, cut this perennial to within a couple inches of the ground annually in late fall/early winter.
Carpenter bees relish the electric purple flowers of Penstemon heterophyllus (Foothill Penstemon). Pair Foothill Penstemon with California Poppies in full sun for the classic California color combination of orange and purple each spring. P. heterophyllus
Planting for pollinators is an easy and fun way to add a new dimension of interest to your native garden!
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at (530) 538-7201. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.


- Author: Skylar Peters
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than to show your garden a little love? February means it is time to start planning and preparing your spring and summer garden. These gardening tips will help you get your garden ready for the spring growing season:
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Prune your roses. If you haven't already, cut back a third to half of their total height. Additionally, remove dead parts including old leaves on the bush and ground to improve overall plant health. Watch this video for more detail on how to prune roses.
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Fertilize your citrus trees. Most mature citrus require regular fertilization with nitrogen. Typically, most other nutrients are available in sufficient amounts in the soil. Nitrogen should be applied in January or February just prior to bloom. The second application can be applied in May and perhaps a third in June. Information about fertilizing citrus can be found on the UC Integrated Pest Management website.
Suggested application rates of nitrogen
Year one (1) | 1 tablespoon nitrogen fertilizer 3 times per year, per tree. |
Year two (2) | 0.25 lb. actual nitrogen per tree |
Year three (3) | 0.50 lb. actual nitrogen per tree |
Year four (4) | 0.75 lb. actual nitrogen per tree |
Year five (5+) | 1 lb. actual nitrogen each year |
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Plant these trees, shrubs, and perennials.
• Bare root deciduous shrubs and trees
• Roses, grapes, blackberries, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, asparagus, chives, onions, green onions.
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Plant cool-season crops like ... lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. These vegetables thrive in cooler temperatures and can be planted directly in the ground or started indoors for transplanting later.
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Start seeds indoors. Get a head start on your vegetable garden and consider starting seeds indoors in February. This will give your plants a jump start on the growing season and allow you to get a head start on your harvest. Here are a few seeds you can start now:
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Peas
• Peppers
• Sweet peas
• Tomatoes
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Protect your garden from snails and slugs. As the month progresses, you may start to see more snails in your garden. Make sure to remove them by hand-picking, baiting, or putting up barriers to keep snails and slugs out of your garden. Learn about snails and slug management from UC IPM.
February is a great time for gardeners in California to plan, prepare, and get an early start growing their gardens for the upcoming season. From planting cool-season vegetables to starting seeds indoors, to protecting your garden from pests, there are many ways to get a head start on your garden. So make the most of this month and show your love for your garden and your special someone on Valentine's Day.
Ask your local UC Master Gardener Program
Have a gardening question? UC Master Gardener volunteers are available to help. Click here to Find a Program and connect with your local UC Master Gardener Program. You will be redirected to your local county website and contact information. UC Master Gardener volunteers are available to help answer questions for FREE. Happy gardening!
Here are the resources mentioned during the talk.
Citrus varieties
https://citrusvariety.ucr.edu/citrus-varieties
UC IPM website https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html
Ants
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7411.html
Selected Citrus Varieties for the Home Gardener https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8472.pdf
Grafting and Budding Citrus and Avocados in the Home Garden
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8001.pdf
Forestierre Underground Gardens in Fresno, CA
https://undergroundgardens.com/