UC Marin Master Gardeners

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UC Marin Master Gardener Articles in the Marin Independent Journal

UC Marin Master Gardeners have contributed to the Marin Independent Journal's "Ask a Master Gardener" column every Saturday since 1999. We have a team of dedicated writers who have covered nearly every aspect of gardening for Marin County over the years. Search our archives below by category of interest, or use the search box to locate stories by year, month or specific subject.

Leaflet Archive

HELP DESK

closeup of the blossom of a hummingbird sage plant, Salvia spathacea

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Salvias for all seasons

October 12, 2026

If you like to have blooming plants all year long for the pollinators to enjoy, salvias are likely plants to provide the blooms. Salvias (sages) are grown for their beauty and are a food source for bees, butterflies, birds, and especially hummingbirds. The tubular flowers have a two-lipped structure…

vase of red cut flowers including Gerbera daisies, Alstroemerias, and Achillia

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Fall planning for building a vibrant cutting garden

October 5, 2026

A thoughtful flower-cutting garden design can support both biodiversity and beauty all season. Employing a mix of native and drought-tolerant Mediterranean flowering plants can create opportunities for floral designs for months and attract pollinators all year round. Fall is an ideal time to start your…

Stunning red cymbidium "Lucy"

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

It’s almost show time!

September 28, 2026

Are your cymbidiums sitting around the garden with lots of green foliage, just waiting for you to provide them with the appropriate nourishment for late fall and winter showtime?Hopefully you have kept them well hydrated through the summer and fertilized with a growth formula (30-10-10). Now is the…

cut orange poppies in a bucket of water

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Extending vase life: from garden to arrangement

September 21, 2026

Late summer in Marin is a season of abundant flowers: blooms crowd garden boxes, burst from the side of the road, and brighten the nooks and crannies of our landscapes. Whether you grow a cutting garden, scatter seeds for progressive seasonal blooms, or judiciously forage wild blooms, even the simplest…

closeup of purple flowers of the Silver Bush Lupine (Lupinus albifrons)

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Longevity of native plants

September 14, 2026

Five years ago, I began to fill much of my front yard with native plants. I bought and carefully placed five Silver Bush Lupines (Lupinus albifrons), three varieties of low-growing Ceanothus, two Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pajaroensis “Paradise”) shrubs, and a couple of Sticky Monkey Flowers (Diplacus…

coral colored blossoms of the Lewisia plant

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Who were these people?

September 7, 2026

The plant world is rife with people’s names, but most of us don’t know who they were or how their names ended up defining plants. Many of our native plants are named after various plant explorers, people who had resources to travel, sometimes representing botanical gardens such as Kew Gardens in London…

bright succulents blooming in the Succulent Demonstration Garden in front of the restored greenhouse at Falkirk in San Rafael

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

UC Marin Master Gardeners celebrate 40 years serving home gardeners

August 31, 2026

In 1986, eight Marin residents became the first graduates of the Marin Master Gardeners (MMG) program. Today, MMG are University of California-trained and certified volunteers, providing research-based information on sustainable landscape practices, pest management and home horticulture to Marin…

lush forest floor covered in duff, leaves, and low-growing plants

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Want fabulous plants? Start with healthy soil.

August 24, 2026

Garden soil may not be glamorous, but it’s the foundation of every healthy garden. Under your feet lies a hidden world of activity. A single teaspoon of healthy soil can contain millions of bacteria, feet of fungal threads, thousands of protozoa, and countless other tiny organisms. Together, these…

salmon colored pelargonium blossoms

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Growing geraniums

August 18, 2026

From the greenhouses of Victorian England to gardens and homes across the world, geraniums have captivated gardeners with their cheerful blooms and immense variety. The favorite flower of Charles Dickens and countless others, they are sure to earn a place in your garden and your heart. However, the…

community garden with raised beds

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Growing with the garden, small spaces offer big rewards

August 10, 2026

The seeds of a gardening life are often planted early. Even a modest family vegetable or flower garden may seem enormous to a small child learning to water and weed, or harvest vegetables and flowers. But gardens grow gardeners too. As young gardeners eventually transplant themselves into a first…