Previous Issues of NtGB
Here you can explore all the past articles we published in 2026 and 2025, or you can return to our current issue of News to Grow By
Winter 2026 NtGB
"The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination."
— Terri Guillemets
A new year invites fresh intentions and renewed curiosity. Winter, often seen as a quieter season in the garden, is actually a wonderful time to deepen our skills and expand our understanding. In this issue, you’ll find practical and inspiring guidance on winter-perfect techniques such as espalier, rose pruning, grafting, and pruning native plants — all ways to grow as gardeners while our landscapes rest.
Beyond the garden, we’re focusing on critical home maintenance: protecting your outdoor living spaces from winter’s toll and securing the rainwater your landscape will depend on later. Plus, for a bit of lasting cheer, learn the secrets to keeping your holiday poinsettia healthy well into the new year.
As always, being a UC Master Gardener is about more than tending our own gardens. It’s about caring for our communities. We’re proud to share how our collective efforts continue to make a difference in addressing food insecurity, reminding us that every skill we learn and every plant we nurture can have a wider impact.
For those looking to dive even deeper, our UC Master Gardener website offers an extensive library of additional resources and guides to support your winter projects.
We hope this winter issue informs, inspires, and invites you to read on.
Hedwig Van Den Broeck and Robin Mitchell, editors - Contact Us
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
Supply in the Sky: Rainwater Harvesting for the Win
Seasonal Update on our Central and East County Demo Gardens
Seasonal Update on our West County Demo Gardens
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
Smart Watering, Beautiful Gardens: Lessons from UC Davis
Spring 2025 NtGB
Big Changes, Big Tomatoes, and Even Bigger Excitement!
We’ve got some juicy news—our website has officially moved to a brand-new platform! While we’re putting the finishing touches on things (including this very newsletter), everything is up and running. If you notice anything missing, don’t worry—we’re on it! Thanks for sticking with us through the transition.
Now, let’s dig into the good stuff! This spring, we’re gearing up for the Great Tomato Plant Sale (GTPS)—a gardener’s dream! Along with that, we’ve packed this issue with must-read articles on growing your own food, mastering irrigation, and keeping pesky pests in check in our Mediterranean climate.
Grab your gardening gloves, and let’s grow together!
Hedwig Van Den Broeck and Robin Mitchell, editors - Contact Us
"The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.” – Michael Pollan
