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