Fall 2026 - Volume 16, Issue 2
Greetings, UC Master Gardeners. It’s been a while. Let me explain TLD’s long hiatus. At the beginning of this summer, I became ill with unexplained and severe anemia. I’m happy to report that all my levels are close to normal, and I’m feeling much better. Thank you to the Communications Team for giving me time to recuperate. I appreciate it more than you can imagine. I apologize for the delay in running many articles in this issue because of these health challenges.
And now, on to this issue! We are proud to introduce the 2027 New Volunteer Training Class! The 24 new trainees bring a range of interests and backgrounds.
Anne Cisson describes a recent visit to Our Garden by a dozen high school juniors and seniors studying scientific illustration. Greg Letts gave the students a tour of the Garden, and they drew for several hours.
Kitty Cole and Lisa Phillips write the first of three UC Master Gardener portraits this issue. Meet Asha Arora. If you haven’t met her, I would be surprised. She volunteers at Our Garden and the Help Desk, helps run the Great Tomato Plant Sale, and coordinates speakers for garden talks.
Cindy Thomason wraps up the Ask A Master Gardener season with a final report on the recent booth held at the Family Harvest Farm’s Harvest Festival in Pittsburg. Whether ID’ing a mole pest or teaching how to grow peonies, the UC Master Gardeners present were excited to provide gardening advice to the 124 contacts made with the public.
If you’re looking for a new CoCoMG job and are ready to step into a leadership role, Vicki Lee has you covered. The Growing Gardeners Team needs you! The GG Program is well known for the free Vegetable Gardening for Beginners courses for Contra Costa County residents. Amazingly, over 900 people have completed the course.
Late last spring, David George submitted an amazing interview with Cindy Thomason and Brooke Smith, early 2026 co-secretaries of the Contra Costa County UC Master Gardener Program. As always, David writes amazing portraits of our members, and this is no exception. And while Brooke Smith has since stepped down as co-secretary (Teresa DiMeglio has taken her place), I’m presenting the article in its original form.
Nehal Parekh (N.P.) offers an extensive roadmap for companion planting to improve growth, attract pollinators, and more. Her article taps into both traditional knowledge and modern gardening practices. Next, Kitty Cole shared a beautiful portrait of UC Mast Gardener Bruce Dresser. You can find Bruce at both Our Garden and the Gehringer California Native Plant Garden. Bruce has truly embraced many other projects as well. He is passionate about all aspects of gardening! Finally, Kitty Cole starts a new feature in this issue. Check out her “Did You Know” items at the end.
Happy gardening, everyone. I’ll see you out in the dirt!
Simone Adair
Editor, The Latest Dirt
Meet the Class of 2027
New Volunteers, New Energy!
Please join us in welcoming our wonderful new group of UC Master Gardener trainees—the Class of 2027! All 24 have taken on the challenge of introducing themselves in what must have felt like painfully brief bios. Still, these little snapshots are packed with fascinating details about their lives, interests, and passions. We loved getting to know them on paper, and we think you will, too!
Read these wonderful and interesting bios from the new trainees!
Art Students Blossom in Our Garden
What happens when local high school juniors and seniors taking Scientific Illustration classes get a closer look at gardening in action? Anne Cisson shares the story of a recent visit to our UC Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Walnut Creek. CoCoMG Greg Letts led the tour, with Anne joining him to answer questions and share insights. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the next generation, spark curiosity, and show how much there is to discover in the garden!
Here are more details on the art students' visit to 'Our Garden'.
Meet Asha Arora: Cultivating Community
For Asha Arora, gardening is chemistry in motion: a joyful way to nourish the soil, serve the community, and keep learning. Asha has already volunteered hundreds of hours with the UC Master Gardeners. CoCoMGs Kitty Cole and Lisa Phillips interview this generous teacher, who has already volunteered with the Help Desk, the Great Tomato Plant Sale, and watering at Our Garden. Today, she assists with Our Garden presentations.
AAMG at Family Harvest Farm
A Huge Success
Cindy Thomason wraps up the Ask A Master Gardener season with an informative report on the season’s final event: Family Harvest Farm’s Harvest Festival. Attendees asked so many great questions. Cindy also shares what she learned and, best of all, that she made new friends. Plus, she ends her report with some funny fall jokes.
Read more details about this successful day at FHF
Growing Gardeners Searches for New Lead
The Growing Gardeners Program will need a new Lead or Co–Leads next year. In this short article, UC Master Gardener Vicki Lee describes the program and the Lead responsibilities. Join this amazing program that teaches free Vegetable Gardening for Beginners courses for our Contra Costa County residents.
The Growing Gardeners Project Needs You!
Behind the Scenes: CoCoMG Secretaries
Ever wonder who keeps our UC Master Gardener program running smoothly behind the scenes? Meet our Program Secretaries! Sure, Cindy Thomason and Brooke Smith attend Executive Leadership Team meetings and take notes, but that’s just the beginning. They also juggle about 20 project reports each month, help keep volunteer rosters up to date, and make sure calendars stay on track.
Read on about our secretaries' important work.
Companion Planting: Nature’s Teamwork in the Garden
Great gardens are all about relationships! In her in-depth article, UC Master Gardener Nehal Parekh, affectionately known around the garden as N.P., explores the art and science of companion planting and how plants can work together to create a healthier, more balanced garden ecosystem.
Read on for detailed information on Companion Planting.
2025 Graduate Becomes Part of the Team
After retiring from a career as a marketing executive, 2025 graduate Bruce Dresser found a new place to put his skills to work—and get his hands dirty. He now volunteers about five hours a week at Our Garden and the Gehringer California Native Plant Garden, trading product development for pruning, planting, and weeding.
How did Bruce find plenty of ways to cultivate his next chapter?
Did you know?
There’s more happening in our Master Gardener community than you might think! From caring for one another during life’s challenging moments to creating new learning opportunities for young people, our volunteers continue to make a difference in so many ways. In this issue, meet our newest Garden Angel, mark your calendar for our annual Recognition Dinner, discover volunteer opportunities at Family Harvest Farm, and find out where to look up all our current Project Leads in VMS.
Read on to discover what’s happening and how you can get involved!
Gardening Links of Interest
Please email cocomg+subscribe@googlegroups.com to join our informal email list, CoCoMG@googlegroups.com. Moderators will add you after checking the current Contra Costa County UC Master Gardener list.
Photo at right: Marilyn Saarni captures this stunning California poppy seedling’s first bloom.
Photos and images are courtesy of UC Master Gardeners, unless credited
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