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

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

1. Start a lima bean seed and watch how it germinates and grows. https://kidsgardening.org/resources/garden-activities-seed-viewer/#materials
2. Learn about soil.  https://www.soils4kids.org/experiments
3. Plant a sunflower in the garden or in a pot and see who comes to visit. https://www.kidsdogardening.com/how-to-grow-sunflowers/
4. Learn about pollinators and why they are important. https://kidsgardening.org/resources/planting-for-pollinators/
5. 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

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

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