
April in Sonoma County
April 13 Veggie Happenings - Zoom Talk

April 28 Ask a Master Gardener - Zoom Talk

Food Gardening
Edible Flowers


COVID-19 Notice

To reduce the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and in compliance with county orders, we have adjusted our services accordingly:
- All in-person events are suspended. Library talks have been replaced by Zoom events. Please check the "Upcoming Events" section at the top-right of this page for currently scheduled events.
Master Gardeners in Print
Advice to Grow By, The Press Democrat
Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Contributor to this week’s column: Janet Bair
How to control weeds without using chemicals 3/20/21
Butterflies are vanishing in the West. Scientists say climate change is to blame, The Press Democrat
Quoted: Suzanne Clarke
Climate change threatens butterfly populations 3/16/21
Advice to Grow By, The Press Democrat
Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Contributors to this week’s column: Janet Bair, Kim Roberts & Debbie Westrick
Have limited space in your garden? Consider planting potatoes 3/6/21
Advice to Grow By, The Press Democrat
Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Contributors to this week’s column: Janet Bair & Renee Hayes
How to Fight Slugs Safely 2/20/21
Petaluma Argus Courier
Suzanne Clarke
Climate change, loss of habitat decimating monarch population; but Petalumans can help 2/16/2021
Advice to Grow By, The Press Democrat
Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Contributor to this week’s column: Janet Bair
Sebastopol’s mysterious balls of leaves solved. It’s mistletoe 2/6/2021
The Garden Doctors, The Press Democrat
Dana Lozano & Gwen Kilchherr
Why is my phormium changing color? 12/18/2020
Master Gardeners are volunteers trained by the UC Davis Cooperative Extension.
Sonoma County Master Gardeners will provide environmentally sustainable, science-based horticultural information to all of Sonoma County’s population. We strive for diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organization.
UCCE Farm Advisor: Stephanie Larson, County Director
SCMG Coordinator: Mimi Enright
Getting Help
We are not currently accepting walk-ins or specimen drop offs at our Master Gardener Information Desk at the UCCE Sonoma office. Please email your questions and attach photos if you have them. One of our Information Desk experts will get back to you.

New to Gardening? Click here.
Upcoming Events
Event Name | Date |
---|---|
Can the Monarch Butterfly be Saved? via Zoom | 4/10/2021 |
April Veggie Happenings - Zoom Talk | 4/13/2021 |
Succulent Saturday Pop-up Sale - Healdsburg | 4/17/2021 |
Plant Sale at Harvest for the Hungry Garden | 4/24/2021 |
Plant Sale - Willowside School Nursery by appointment OR drop-in if space available | 4/24/2021 |
Sundays with Sue
By SCMG Sue Lovelace
April 4, 2021

Spring is definitely springing as evidenced in all the growth and blooms. In our front yard, perennials are waking up and leafing out along with the persimmon trees that brighten up the space with their light green leaves. The apple trees are in blossom and the wisteria in my sister in law’s memory garden is in full bloom. She would be happy indeed. An Easter Day celebration is not the same without her, but memories of Anne are strong when we see her favorite plant in bloom. I know that the family will feel the same when they come to enjoy the day. Needless to say we’ve been scurrying around trying to catch up on tasks in preparing the garden for company.
There are so many things to do in the garden this time of the year, and for me keeping on task is nearly impossible! Distraction is my curse. With all the best of intentions, I start with a list. We have a chalk board in the garage where I scribble my to-do list. I love the satisfying and somewhat symbolic act of erasing completed tasks. Guess what? It’s been several days and no erasures!
I’m thinking that if I write “unexpected tasks” on the list, erasures would be sure to happen because that’s where the distractions in the garden are born. Let me give you an example. A

When I said things were growing I was not kidding especially when it comes to weeds. Where did those gnarly garden hogs come from? Overnight, a huge variety of weeds had sprung up everywhere. Talk about distraction; Pull, pull, pull! Oh the chickens were so happy to dig and peck through the piles of fresh greens as if they were grown just for them! Such grateful little busy bodies they are. No wonder we go to such lengths to secure their environment; they brighten our days with their sweet chitter chatter and engaging personalities. They even laid us some Easter Eggs!

I wish everyone a lovely Sunday and a good week, especially if you are outside. If you celebrate Easter, Happy Easter!
"The great gift of Easter is hope." – Basil Hume
Webmasters: Kim Roche, Stan Pawlak
Website Editor: Penny Fink (Opening in May, MGs please apply!)
Food Gardening Editor: Open, master gardeners please apply!
Staff Photographers and Videographers:
Cie Cary, Electra de Peyster