The Savvy Sage

two purple sage flowers with a green background of foliage

A Master Gardeners blog to: Educate, Inspire, and Ignite Knowledge.

Primary Image
"Triteleia laxa flower in bloom"
The Savvy Sage: Article

August Garden Tips and Vegetable Planting Guide

July 29, 2025
Article and photo by Peg Smith - Our summer has been remarkably kind with its temperatures this year. I think I should whisper this in case summer decides to throw at us those late-season high temperatures and winds that we have experienced before. Continue to avoid overdoing your personal strength and…
View Article
Primary Image
Photo of author's grandmother's herb garden.
The Savvy Sage: Article

Herbs From My Grandmother’s Garden

July 29, 2025
 Article by Kathy Guerrero - My grandmother was the sole inspiration in my lifelong gardening adventures. Her garden in The Berkeley Hills was breathtaking. She was the best cook I’ve ever known. I attribute this to her use of fresh herbs in nearly everything she cooked. My earliest memories were…
View Article
Primary Image
Photo of wildflowers.
The Savvy Sage: Article

Wild Inspired

July 25, 2025
 Article by Kelly Mae Heroux - For the past two years, I’ve found myself smiling every time I pass a vibrant island of wildflowers in my neighbor’s front yard. Surrounded by neatly trimmed turf and concrete sidewalks, this unruly burst of color seems to make everything around it feel more alive…
View Article
Primary Image
Photo of wood chips in the garden.
The Savvy Sage: Article

Ask a Master Gardener

July 24, 2025
This series provides answers to selected questions recently submitted to the UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County Help Desk.Question: What is the best kind of mulch to use in our garden? Should I be concerned about using mulch that would make our soil too acidic? Answer: When it comes to mulch material…
View Article
Primary Image
Photo of fully turgid squash leaves the next day at 9am with no additional water from the normal deep soaking.
The Savvy Sage: Article

July Garden Tips and Vegetable Planting Guide

June 27, 2025
Article by Peg Smith - July is a month to sit back with iced tea or lemonade and enjoy the results of your spring labors. It is also a time to make sure that garden tasks are completed early before the heat of the day. A gardener’s body is their best tool. The sensible approach (I must confess to not…
View Article