2025 References and Resources
2025 Gardening Guide and Calendar
Cover Photograph: Julie Boorinakis Harper Barbeau
Cover Design: Elaine Kelly Applebaum
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Front Page 2025 - Healthy Garden, Healthy You
Writer: Lexy Martin
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
The writer provides a wonderful overview month by month of the 2025 Calendar contents.
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January 2025 - Keys to Healthy Compost
Writer: Linda M. Wold
Photograph: Tece Markel
Composting Information. University of California Master Gardeners of Placer County. n.d. https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/Composting_Information/?search=yes&sharing=yes
Composting. UC Master Gardeners of Orange County. n.d.
https://ucanr.edu/sites/MGOC/files/78738.pdf
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February 2025 - Power Food - Blueberries
Writer: Michelle Marquard-Lakhani
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
Blueberries. UCANR Publication. 2024. Blueberries - The California Garden Web (ucanr.edu)
Gregory, John., Cathy Coulter, Cheryl Vivas, et al.. GROWING BLUEBERRIES IN THE SACRAMENTO REGION. UCANR Publication. Revised February 2012. Written December 2000. https://ucanr.edu/sites/gardenweb/files/141264.pdf
Jimenez, Manuel J., Francis Carpenter, Richard H. Molinar, et al.. Blueberry research launches exciting new California specialty crop. California Agriculture 59(2):6569. Published April 01, 2005. https://californiaagriculture.org/article/109417
California Blueberry Commission. 2021-2022 Annual Report. 2022. http://www.calblueberry.org/annual-reports.html
Superfoods or Superhype? Harvard T.H. Chan School of Pulbic Health. 2024. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/superfoods/
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March 2025 - Go Native! Create Healthy Habitats
Writer: Jan Birdsall
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
References:
Why Native Plants Matter., n.d. https://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter
Biello, David. Fertilizer Runoff Overwhelms Streams Creating Vast “Dead Zones.” Scientific American. 2008. fertilizerrunoffoverwhelmsstreamscreatingvast"deadzones"
Creech, Elizabeth. Farmers keeping Nutrients on the Field, Out of Streams. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2017. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2017/12/13/farmers-keeping-nutrients-field-out-streams
Resources:
Master Gardeners of Placer County. California Native Plants https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgplacer/files/383347.pdf
Master Gardeners of Placer County. Choose Native Plants to Support Native Pollinators-https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgplacer/files/320307.pdf
Master Gardeners of Placer County. California Native Plant & Pollinators- https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgplacer/files/356684.pdf
Master Gardeners of Nevada County. Native Plants Presentation- https://ncmg.ucanr.edu/On-Line_Workshops_and_Videos/Native_Plants_-_Bring_Into_Your_Garden_337/index.cfm?close=yes
Native Plant Database for California - California Native Plant Society, Calscape: Garden Planner- https://gardenplanner.calscape.org/
National Wildlife Federation- Garden for Wildlife. https://www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Garden-for-Wildlife/Keystone-Plants/NWF-GFW-keystone-plant-list-ecoregion-11-mediterranean-california.ashx
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Recommended Plants for Sierra Foothills, Pollinators & Beneficial Insects (majority are native plants)- https://www.xerces.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/19-003_01_PPBI_CA-SierraFoothills_web.pdf
Places to go see local native plants:
Mary Wattis Brown Garden within UC Davis Arboretum, Davis, California https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/mary-wattis-brown-garden-california-native-plants
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April 2025 - Scent-Sational Flowers
Writer: Linda M. Wold
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
Hixson, Tom. A garden for your senses. UC ANR Napa Master Gardener Column. December 3, 2022. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=55741
Resources available regarding the benefits of plants, nature, and other green spaces. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. n.d. https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/benefitsofplants/
Brenzel, Kathleen Norris. The New Sunset Western Garden Book. Tl Inc. Books. Ninth Edition. February 7, 2012.
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May 2025 - Plant a Seed, Watch it Grow - Activities to Involve Kids in Gardening
Writer: Peggy Beltramo
Photograph: Michelle Marquard-Lakhani
Five activities to get your kids involved in growing a garden.
- Start a lima bean seed and watch how it germinates and grows. https://kidsgardening.org/resources/garden-activities-seed-viewer/#materials
- Learn about soil. https://www.soils4kids.org/experiments
- Plant a sunflower in the garden or in a pot and see who comes to visit. https://www.kidsdogardening.com/how-to-grow-sunflowers/
- Learn about pollinators and why they are important. https://kidsgardening.org/resources/planting-for-pollinators/
- Grow a tomato or a cucumber or a zucchini plant and eat the fruit. Check out this book from your local library: A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards
Additional websites with activities to keep your kids growing in the garden.
Gardening Activities for Kids at Home.
https://yolonutrition.ucanr.edu/Emergency_Food_Resources_/Gardening_Activities_for_Kids_at_Home/
Kids Gardening. https://kidsgardening.org/resources/ece-garden-starting-a-garden-at-home/
Edible Schoolyard. https://edibleschoolyard.org/resource-search
Start a seed. https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/newsletters/School_Garden_Lessons_-_TK_to_288404.pdf
References
Live Well in the Garden. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. UCCE. https://ucanr.edu/sites/livewellinthegarden/Kids/
Looking for at-home gardening activities? Start here! Kids Gardening.org. https://kidsgardening.org/for-caregivers/
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June 2025 - Water + Nature = Stress Relief
Writer: Julie Lowrie
Photograph: Jan White
Coss, Richard. Craig Keller. Transient decreases in blood pressure and heart rate with increased subjective level of relaxation while viewing water compared with adjacent ground. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Vol.81, June 2022, 10794. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494422000391 .
Reitveld, Masja. The Natural In-Between Place for Stress-Relief Through Biophilic Design. Faculty of Architecture & the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology Julianalaan 134, 2628BL Delft, January 17, 2024. https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid:37923640-7085-4214-a9d2-cfd352656fd3
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July 2025 - Waterwise State of Mind
Writer: Julie Saare Edmonds
Photograph: Cynthia Tran
Womack, Melissa. Assistant Director, UC Master Gardener Program. Save Trees During Drought with New Tree Ring Irrigation Contraption (TRIC). UCANR publication 2014. https://mg.ucanr.edu/Social/?blogpost=16093&blogasset=64191
von Bernuth, Robert D. Editor. Principles of Irrigation. Irrigation Association 3rd Edition 2015.
Additional websites:
Calscape https://calscape.org/
WUCOLS https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/wucols
Selectree https://selectree.calpoly.edu/
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August 2025 - Creating a Relaxing Garden
Writer: Cooki Vonasek
Photograph: Melody Duncan
10 Ways to Create a Relaxing Sanctuary in Your Garden. GARDEN STONE. CO.UK. 29 March 2021 https://www.gardenstone.co.uk/inspiration/create-a-place-of-sanctuary-in-your-garden/
How To Create A Peaceful Garden That Promotes Relaxation. Transform your outdoor space into a serene sanctuary with these expert techniques. Garden Design Editors. Garden Design Ideas. https://www.gardendesign.com/ideas/peaceful-garden.html
Patio Paradise: Steps to Your Relaxing Sanctuary! 10 Ways To Transform Your Patio Into A Tranquil Retreat. Home-Ideas-Outdoor. Quiet Minimal, March 2, 2023. https://quietminimal.com/steps-to-creating-a-relaxing-patio-sanctuary/
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September 2025 - Cover Crops for Healthy Soil
Writer: Elaine Kelly Applebaum
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
Cover Crops Data Base. University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program. July 12, 2021. https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/covercrop
Reasons to Use Cover Crops. University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program. n.d. https://ucanr.edu/sites/covercrops/How_to_Manage_Cover_Crops/Benefits_169/
What to Do Off-Season in the Edible Garden. UC Marin Master Gardeners. n.d. https://marinmg.ucanr.edu/EDIBLES/COVERCROPSETC/
Characteristics of California Native Species for Potential Use as Cover Crops. University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program. https://airtable.com/app2EAEgp3KdfZcU2/shrL70b37fvwY4op9/tblgNA5wAhmlBfV8S
Quick Reference to CA Cover Crops. University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program. https://ucanr.edu/sites/covercrops/Cover_Crop_Species_Selection_Tools/Cover_Crop_Database/
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October 2025 - Minimize Disease in the Garden
Writer: Elaine Kelly Applebaum
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
Plant Problem Diagnostic Tool. University of California Integrated Pest Management. n.d. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/plant-problem-diagnostic-tool/
Pest Notes Library: Diseases. UC ANR Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. n.d. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/index.html#DISEASE
Tjosvold, Steven A. The Disease Triangle: Fundamental Concept for Disease Management. UC ANR Nursery and Flower Grower. November 28, 2018. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=28785
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November 2025 - Home Office Plants Benefit You and Also Your Team at Work
Writer: Lexy Martin
Photograph: Paula Agostini-Lopez
No References.
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December 2025 - Gardening in Weather Extremes
Writer: Ann Beinhorn
Photograph: Pauline Sakai
Abiotic Plants Disorders: Symptoms, Signs and Solutions. Michigan State University Bulletin E996. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/abiotic_plant_disorders_symptoms_signs_and_solutions_e2996
All Stars Database. UC Arboretum and Public Garden. https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum-all-stars
Calscape: Restore Nature One Garden at a Time. California Native Plant Society. https://calscape.org
Costello, Laurence R, Perry, Edward J, Matheny, Nelda P, et al. Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants: A Diagnostic Guide. University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Publication # 3430. 2003.
Fordyce, Lauren and Messenger-Sikes, Melinda J. What are Abiotic Disorders? Pests in the Urban Landscape. October 3, 2022. https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=55310.
Landscape IPM Checklist/Sacramento Valley. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/seasonal-landscape-ipm-checklist/checklist/?region=2
Suszkiw, Jan. USDA Reveals Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map. USDA Agricultural Research Service. November 15, 2023. https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2023/usda-unveils-updated-plant-hardiness-zone-map/
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Back Pages 2025 - Maintaining Your Healthy Garden
Writer: Pauline Sakai
Photographs: J. Alvarez, J. Gossett, J. Kiertead
Placer Pests. University of California, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County. https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/Placer_Pests/
Plant Problem Diagnostic Tool. University of California Integrated Pest Management. n.d. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/plant-problem-diagnostic-tool/
Have you seen this invasive tree? UC Master Gardeners of Placer County. For Placer County Only. https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=42635
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Back Pages 2025 - Master Gardeners of Placer County Demonstration Garden
Writer: Karen Lopez
Photographs: Steve Moeller, Sarah Nitta, Pauline Sakai
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