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UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

Summer 2025 NtGB

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” – Hans Christian Andersen

This summer, we're focusing on science-based, sustainable gardening practices that not only support your garden but also the environment. Inside, you'll find tips on earning Firewise USA® certification, designing water-wise lawns, and insights from a UC Davis study on how plants adapt to less water. We're also spotlighting the honeybee crisis, how to support pollinators with simple watering stations, and where to turn when you need expert advice, because Master Gardeners are here to help.

Looking to dig deeper? Visit us anytime at ccmg.ucanr.edu for trusted resources and local gardening guidance.

Let’s grow smarter, together. 

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

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Wildfire treatening Homes - CCMG - webinar
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Neighborhood Firewise USA Certification 1-2-3

July 1, 2025
By David George
 After the Palisades and Altadena firestorms in Southern California, Contra Costa homeowners don’t need to be reminded that we also live in risky wildfire territory. Homeowners face multiple threats, including complete loss of their homes and possessions, insurance premium increases or cancellations,…
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Kurapia at Morgan Hill City Center
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Lawns: Are We Loving Them or Leaving Them?

June 29, 2025
By Lori D Palmquist
  Ah, the good old lawn! Whether we’re kicking around a soccer ball or backyard camping with the kids, we’ve got to love it. Our fascination with the mean green is a much-studied phenomenon. The social and cultural perceptions of expanses of turfgrass are woven into the fabric of our lives,…
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Lippia_White Kurapia_Blooming_Banner-HVDB
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Smart Watering, Beautiful Gardens: Lessons from UC Davis

July 1, 2025
By Hedwig L Van Den Broeck
Imagine walking through a vibrant, blooming garden in the heat of summer—where every plant is thriving, even though it’s been weeks since the last rainfall. Is this vision wishful thinking? Maybe not! Thanks to 20+ years of research by the University of California’s Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials (UCLPIT)…
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Honeybees on Honeycomb - Pexels - pixabay-56876
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

The Alarming Disappearance of Honeybees

July 2, 2025
 by Stephen Guglielmanawith the assistance of David GeorgeHave you been tracking the plight of commercial honeybee hives around the country this past year? It’s frightening. As a beekeeper and UC Master Gardener volunteer, I have been painfully aware of rising national honeybee hive collapse statistics…
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Butterflies at Watering Hole - Pexels quang-nguyen-vinh
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Watering Holes for Pollinators for Small Spaces Gardening

July 1, 2025
By David George
 Even though you have limited space for gardening, you can do yourself and your neighbors a favor by providing a water source for honeybees, butterflies, and other threatened pollinators. Dry summer months are particularly difficult for bees, wasps, butterflies, and other pollinating insects to find…
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