Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs

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UC federal update

March 14, 2025
By Michael Hsu
This week, President Drake traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for UC priorities with federal policymakers – including Democrats and Republicans across the California congressional delegation – and other key partners. President Drake's meetings focused on the importance of federally funded research,…
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planting a seedling
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Common soil problems in Marin

March 14, 2025
By Bonnie A Nielsen
 Good garden soil contains 30-50% sand, 30-50% silt, 20-30% clay, and 5-10% organic water. The bacteria, fungi, and worms in the soil produce substances that act like glue, binding all these different parts together to form groupings. These groupings determine the size of the soil pore space. In…
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swiss chard
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Ready, set, go

March 14, 2025
By Bonnie A Nielsen
 As I write this, it is mid-January, and I just finished weeding in my garden. The sun is so pleasantly warm, and I am picking peas, chard, kale, and lettuce from my winter garden. The days are getting a bit longer, bulbs are showing their faces, and my mind is moving towards my spring garden…
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hummingbird at flower
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The beauty and singular importance of the pollinator garden

March 14, 2025
By Bonnie A Nielsen
 Gardening is a uniquely healthy, relaxing, and inspirational activity. Planting that seed or seedling is perhaps the ultimate expression of optimism. The beautiful blooms and bountiful harvests we labor to cultivate can provide matchless feelings of accomplishment and pride. But we don’t do it alone…
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coffee grounds
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The biggest gardening myth of all

March 14, 2025
By Bonnie A Nielsen
 Gardening myths are common and hard to shake. Most of the time these old wives’ tales are harmless, but sometimes they offer false hope to the gardener. Take the misconception about adding coffee grounds to soil to increase acidity for growing camellia, hydrangea, and azalea. Turns out fresh…
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UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Event

Regenerative Soil Techniques for the Home Gardener

Event Date
May 3, 2025

Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz County Master Gardeners invite our local community to join us to learn regenerative soil techniques that you can add to your gardening bag of tricks.Growing healthy soil helps the home gardener grow vibrant veggies and herbs, bountiful fruit trees and gorgeous flowers. We will…
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties
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Ant
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Ants

In the Bay Area, the most frequently found ants populating our gardens and invading our homes are Argentine ants. Argentine ants are small (1/8”), and their queens are slightly larger. Their bodies are constricted, giving them an appearance of a thin waist, which distinguishes them from termites. …
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Aphids
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Aphids

 Small insects that suck fluids out of stems, leaves, and other tender plant parts. Soft pear-shaped bodies with long legs and antennae and may be green, yellow, brown, red, or black. A few species appear waxy or woolly due to the secretion of a waxy white or gray substance over their body surface…
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Cucumber beetle
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Document

Cucumber Beetles

Common vegetable garden pest that also attacks ripening stone fruit. Adult beetles are shiny with black heads, long antennae, and about one-quarter inch long. Striped or spotted depending on species. Larvae are whitish and slender with three pairs of short legs; the head and tip of the abdomen are darker…
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