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UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

Fall 2025 NtGB

"Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.” 
– Albert Camus

Our final newsletter of the year is brimming with ideas to keep your garden—and your imagination—thriving through the cooler months. 

Discover smart ways to harvest rain, choose resilient California natives and shade-loving plants, and stay ahead of invasive plants

You’ll also enjoy uplifting stories from our own community, including successes in our demonstration and school gardens, as well as a first look at the firescaping garden planned for MOFD Station 42 in Moraga. 

And with the holiday season just around the corner, our fragrant herb garden piece is bound to spark delicious creativity in your kitchen.

This fall issue also marks our year’s close. We’ll take a short winter pause, but you can still catch a few classes, talks, webinars, and Farmers Market events during this fall season—details are on our website.

Thank you for helping our mission flourish in 2025. We can’t wait to welcome you back in January with fresh opportunities to learn, grow, and garden together. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and happy gardening from all of us at UC Master Gardener Volunteers of Contra Costa County!

Hedwig Van Den Broeck and Robin Mitchell, editors - Contact Us

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Building sub-irrigated planters
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Supply in the Sky: Rainwater Harvesting for the Win

September 25, 2025
By Lori D Palmquist
If you had a desire to plant a garden that not only grows veggies in raised beds, but also nurtures 5,000 seedlings for a plant sale and features a pollinator garden to help those veggies thrive, would you choose a site that has no piped-in water and no electricity? It’s improbable that you would even give…
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Our Garden in Walnut Crek, photo courtesy by Greg Letts
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Seasonal Update on our Central and East County Demo Gardens

September 25, 2025
By Cynthia Engers
As most of our readers probably noticed, this summer in Contra Costa County was unusually cool.  Some of you may have observed different behavior in your home gardens as a consequence, and might like to know how two of our Master Gardener demonstration gardens reacted to milder temperatures.Very…
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Spider Net Grevillea photo by Liv Imset
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Seasonal Update on our West County Demo Gardens

September 28, 2025
There are two MGCC Gardens in West County: the Low Water Garden in Richmond, a Master Gardener of Contra Costa County (MGCC) demonstration garden, and the Water Conservation Garden in El Cerrito. We hereby note that a Seasonal Update on our East and Central Demo Gardens has also been published in a separate…
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Wild Douglas iris, photo courtesy of Howdy Goudey
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Douglas Iris Adds Color to Shady Garden Areas

September 25, 2025
By Robin Mitchell
Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana) is a great foundational plant for a sunny or shady part of your garden. The foliage is green all year round, and when in bloom in the spring, it is a welcome spot of color in shaded areas.While they can tolerate full sun, a good location for Douglas iris in a garden is one…
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Tree of Heaven
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Tackling the Invasive Tree of Heaven

September 25, 2025
By CoCoMG Helpdesk
If you have a tree of heaven in your yard, you may be familiar with unwanted seedlings sprouting across your yard and seemingly from every nearby crack. The tree of heaven was originally brought to the United States from China in the 1800s and quickly became a fast-growing and popular ornamental shade tree…
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UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Finding Beauty in the Shade on Patios, Porches and in the Yard

September 25, 2025
By Lorraine Frey
 Creating a vibrant shaded area is all about contrast and creativity—playing with layers and combining plants of varying heights and textures for a natural, woodland vibe.  Before you start planting, it’s important to understand the light, soil, and microclimates in space. The following steps will…
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MOFD Planned Firescaping Demo Garden, banner photo
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

UCMG Volunteers to Create Firewise Demonstration Garden at MOFD Station 42

September 26, 2025
By Hedwig Van Den Broeck
The UC Master Gardener volunteers of Contra Costa County are excited to announce an upcoming Firewise Demonstration Garden at the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) Station 42 on Moraga Road. This project will showcase practical, attractive landscaping strategies that reduce wildfire risk—especially the…
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ThanksgivingHerbBanner_1920by634
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Creating a Thanksgiving Herb Garden: How to grow herbs for your holiday meals

September 25, 2025
By Linda Weissman
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us start planning our holiday meals. While turkey, cranberries, and pumpkins may get most of the attention, herbs also play an important role in our Thanksgiving meals. Herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and chives provide flavor and a pleasing aroma to our meals…
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UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

School Gardens Team can Help Your School Also!

September 25, 2025
By David George
The Contra Costa UC Master Gardener volunteer Team works hand-in-hand with teachers, staff, and parents to create, improve, and beautify school gardens throughout Contra Costa County. Master Gardener volunteers play an important role in over forty elementary, intermediate, and high school gardens, plus a few…
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UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Loose Leaves for this Fall

September 28, 2025
 Autumn in the garden is full of change—and so are the updates. From must-see events to practical tips and timely reminders before Master Gardener Volunteers will take a short break during the holidays. Here is a quick round-up to keep you informed, inspired, and ready for the season. Upcoming…
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