Gardens By Type

A true treasure of the Americas, hummingbirds are a diverse family of more than 340 species, only 17 of which are found north of Mexico. They are also keystone mutualists, nectar feeders that have coevolved with the indigenous plants they pollinate. For example, in the woody grasslands of Patagonia at the…

I’ve always loved that time in early spring when our hillsides are painted with great drifts of blue, lavender, and white Ceanothus, otherwise known as California Lilac. After many years of admiring them from afar, I plan to add some to my garden. In the meantime, here’s a bit of what I’ve learned so far…

Research Brief • June 2026 • Download PDF (262 KB)CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL), California’s SNAP-Ed program, promotes healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity interventions delivered in low-income communities across California. This program has been administered by four state…

Geraniums and Condiments: American ClassicsBy UCCE Master Gardener Julie Silva Mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup have prestigious places in your refrigerator. They are basic, well loved, long lasting, and delicious. When you think about those three condiments, your mind travels to the last sandwich or…

Tips and tricks for dealing with the wide variety of lavender There is a plant that could be in your garden right now that has endured the test of time -- the lovely Lavender, Lavandula spp. It dates back 2500 years to the time of the ancient Egyptians and has been celebrated for its healing and…

Pick Me! Celosia and MarigoldsBy UCCE Master Gardener Julie Silva           You have seen it while standing at the nursery in spring, staring at flats and flats of color.  What you should really be staring at are the two grey-haired ladies with over…

Following the Bloomby Jim Bliss According to the weatherman, spring comes in the middle of March. But for those of us living in the Sierra Nevada mountains, spring depends more on altitude than on the time of year. For garden lovers this provides a great opportunity. Starting in February in the Central…

Will your garden soil produce well? One of the best items to check is your soil pH or acidity. pH stands for the “potential of hydrogen” and is a scale that indicates whether your soil is acid or alkaline (basic). The pH scale runs from 0 to 14 with 7.0 being neutral. If your pH is below…