Ongoing research

Primary Image
Rainwater Runoff_Courtesy Gary Kernick
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Rainwater Harvesting for the Win — Part II

December 22, 2025
By Liz Rottger
 Water is the very definition of life. It is the source of all life on Earth; it is what we search for on other planets to prove the possibility of life there. Without water, everything dies. Extreme heat and drought are the enemies of all life.But we are running short on water. Droughts are becoming…
View Article
Primary Image
Grafting no text UCANR
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Tree Grafting for Garden Fun

December 22, 2025
By David George
Plant and tree grafting is an ancient and worldwide practice. I was fascinated on a recent trip to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam by a demonstration of jackfruit tree grafting by a family nursery supplying trees to nearby Saigon markets. What struck me most about this demonstration, half a planet away from…
View Article
Primary Image
Poinsettia_Pexels_Kstankss
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

December 22, 2025
By Robin Mitchell
by Cheryl Schmidt Who doesn’t love this vibrant plant in December? It comes from Mexico and is pronounced "poin-set-te-uh."  It loves warmer weather, between 65 °F and 70 °F. What do you do with these plants after the holidays? Many throw them away, but you don’t have to. You could keep it as…
View Article
Primary Image
Food Donations_Photo Courtesy Greg Letts
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Fresh Produce, Real Impact: Fighting Food Insecurity in Contra Costa County

December 22, 2025
By Linda Weissman
Every Wednesday morning, something extraordinary happens. Nearly 300 pounds of sun-warmed tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and freshly picked herbs travel just a few short miles from soil to table—not to a farmers market or grocery store, but directly into the hands of local families who depend on this harvest to…
View Article
Primary Image
A woman speaks to someone visiting an event booth. Text: GivingTuesday

UC ANR receives over $142,000 on GivingTuesday 2025

December 22, 2025
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
 As of 11:59 p.m. on GivingTuesday 2025, UC ANR’s generous donors contributed over $142,000 to Cooperative Extension and the statewide programs, institutes, and research centers that make up the UC ANR network. That included more than $33,000 to support California 4-H youth.This was…
View Article
Primary Image
Ant and scale insects sharing a mistletoe. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Hanging Out With Mistletoe

December 22, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Are you hanging out beneath the mistletoe? Or know someone who is? Maybe Mommy kissing Santa Claus?Scales and ants may be hanging out, too.The two insects maintain a classic mutualistic symbiosis in which ants "farm" scale insects for their sweet honeydew.  It's a beneficial arrangement: scales…
View Article
Primary Image
A group photo of people in holiday sweaters and costumes

Celebration Corner

December 22, 2025
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
UC ANR colleagues won awards, participated in events and celebrated together.
View Article
Primary Image
A man flies a spray drone toward a citrus orchard. Green hills in background
ANR Employee News: Article

VINE Connect wraps first year with largest field day yet at Lindcove REC

December 22, 2025
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
 More than 200 farmers, technologists, researchers, students and partners gathered at Lindcove Research and Extension Center on Dec. 5 for the fourth and final VINE Connect Field Day of 2025.The event marked a milestone: one year since the program launched, with attendance more than doubling since the…
View Article