UC Master Gardeners of Solano County

bright yellow flannelbush flower and in the background are deep blue ceanothus flowers

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Peony or Paoeny

July 1, 2025

Blog by Heather HamiltonFrom a florist's point of view…….This is the most stunning, fluffy flower that most brides want for their bridal bouquet. Regardless of the time of year that I meet with these ladies, they inevitably will bring up a picture, and without any knowledge, say, “Can I have these in my…

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Keeping Pollinators Around Year-Round

June 30, 2025

Article by Patti BrantleyAs I stepped out to hang a hummingbird feeder earlier this year, during the last months of winter, I began to notice that the hummingbirds preferred the real flowers of my orange tree and then soon after my Apricot tree, and later I began to think about how our garden blooms and the…

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Gardening to Attract Pollinators

June 30, 2025

Article by Melissa NestlerodeThe world's pollinators are in trouble. Nearly all Earth’s ecosystems depend on the pollination of flowering plants for survival. Seventy to seventy-five percent of all flowering plants require pollination. Pollination is crucial to our food supply, as at least thirty-five…

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You Can Grow Vanilla in Solano County?!

June 30, 2025

Article by Vincent HughesDid you know that you could grow one of the world’s most valuable spices right here in Solano County? The spice I’m talking about is none other than vanilla, or Vanilla planifolia, and yes, you can grow it for yourself right here at home. V. planifolia is a vining orchid native…

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Lewisia

June 27, 2025

Blog article by Jenni DodiniMy first encounter with Lewisia was at the Botanic Gardens in Reykjavik, Iceland. I was mesmerized, but alas, Fairfield doesn't have the same climate as Iceland. Honestly, though, at the time we were in Iceland in June, it was much the same as a nice day in San Francisco. …

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The Sago Saga

June 26, 2025

Blog by Karen MetzI have had a Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta, for many years. Initially, I had it indoors as a houseplant. It survived , but it didn’t thrive. So, I eventually moved it outdoors and planted it in the ground.It was much happier there and grew for years. But as it aged, the leaves grew longer and…

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Vacaville Museum Tour

June 25, 2025

Blog by Nancy ForrestI had the pleasure of being a host for the Vacaville Museum Garden Tour in May. I was lucky to be at a home that was built by the Master Builder George Sharp for his daughter in 1918. The current owner moved into the house after his mother passed in 2013. As his mother was an avid…

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The AB's of Avocado

June 24, 2025

Blog by Tina Saravia A few years ago I purchased a Bacon Avocado (Persea americana) in a 5-gallon can. As its botanical name indicates, it is native to the Americas (Mexico, Central America, and South America) and belongs to the Laurel family. It is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 66 feet or 20…

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Wilson Flock of Cluckers-Keeping Chickens Cool During Summer Heat

June 23, 2025

Blog by Peter WilsonJuly of 2013, at a family reunion on Kawaii Island of Hawaii, I fell in love with the Momma Hen and her 13-baby chicks. It didn’t take long for me to decide to get chicks after returning home to Vallejo. It was early August; I ordered a few chicks to the Wilson Villa and Garden. That…

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Moon Meadow

June 19, 2025

Moonscape, moon flower, moon gate, moon garden. All of these I have seen, but moon meadow? New to me! A moon meadow is a green space filled with plants that receive moonlight exposure and attract night-time pollinators like moths, bats and nocturnal bees. (Did you know there are bees that work at night…

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Gardening for Mental Health

June 17, 2025

Blog by Melinda NestlerodeWe are living in challenging times. Our nation is polarized politically, civil discourse appears to be a quaint memory, the Middle East is embroiled in multiple catastrophic battles, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is ongoing, anonymous people on the Internet spew unverified vitriol,…

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Irrestible Iris

June 16, 2025

Blog article by Cindy YeeLast fall I noticed a well-known iris grower’s online ad, and was captivated by the catalog’s gorgeous flowers. Bearded iris grows from rhizomes, which are tuberous roots that look like bulbs. They can be pricey depending on several factors, including whether or not it's…

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Carpenter Bee Haiku

June 13, 2025

Haiku by Patti Brantley

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A Tribute to Roger Cook, An Inspiration to Gardening

June 11, 2025

Blog article by Paula PashbyIt is a great feeling to have veggie seedlings tucked into their new home in my garden. I double-check my sketched-out planting plans and take one last walkthrough to make sure all the plants are set for the growing season - everything looks good! I love anticipating another…

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Digging Deep into the UC Master Gardener Program

June 10, 2025

I came across the UC Master Gardener program about eight years ago, while walking along the Vallejo Farmers Market on a Saturday morning. A small table with small stacks of cards and flyers with information on all manner of gardening topics, from composting to vegetable gardening, to watering, to drought…

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The Nursery Drama

June 6, 2025

Blog by Karen MetzRecently, I headed to a local nursery. It was a beautiful day, and I had a list of things I needed. I also had two gift cards; life doesn’t get much better than that. Since it had been so long since I had been there, I had to go up and down each and every aisle. I was…

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Time to Wrap This Up

June 5, 2025

Blog by Melinda NestlerodeIn July of 2020 we had a huge pool removed from our backyard (see Under the Solano Sun Blog Post “New Beginnings”, August 21, 2020). The kids had grown up and moved on, and we felt that there were more productive uses for our backyard space. Naively, we believed we would have the…

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Jade Plant Gift

June 3, 2025

Blog article by Michelle DavisIn March of 2014, a very dear friend gave me a cutting of her huge jade plant, Crassula ovata, actually a 4 to 5-foot tree, that she had on her west-facing front porch. She had planted the cutting in a 12-inch ceramic pot with a good drainage hole and had used a bagged succulent…

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The Amazing SEX Life of Avocados

June 2, 2025

Blog article by Brenda Altman and SnugsI have been trying to grow avocados for several years. I have started the seeds with toothpicks many times, often forgetting to water them or letting the water become gooey with scum. I have planted many seeds, but they all died. I had an avocado plant that I…

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Graduating Class

May 30, 2025

Blog article by Mike Gunther22 new MG graduates16 weeks and a final examVery smart UC class Ready for serviceEach with their own talentsWish their journey well

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The mission of the UC Master Gardener Program is to extend to the public research-based information, verified by UC experts, about home horticulture, pest identification, landscape maintenance, and other environmental issues. The Program's outreach emphasizes the importance of sustainable landscape practices in addressing multiple environmental concerns, including water and air quality, energy and soil conservation, invasive species, and waste management.

The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a partnership among the University of California, USDA, county governments, and California residents. This program is an important outreach and public service arm of the UC's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) directed at home gardeners. Master Gardener Program training and management are administered by the county UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offices. Certified Master Gardeners are agents of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). In exchange for the excellent training they receive, Master Gardener volunteers extend horticultural information and offer educational programs and garden-related demonstrations in their communities.

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Upcoming Events

July 2, 2025

Vertical Gardening

Transform your garden into a productive vertical paradise! Learn professional techniques for trellises, cages, and support systems that maximize your growing space. Discover the best staking methods,…

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August 6, 2025

Garden Carts, Wagons & Wheelbarrows

Choosing the right garden cart, wagon, or wheelbarrow can make transporting heavy items easier and more efficient. Learn how to properly load and unload from a car or truck, and explore exercises to…

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little blonde boy digging in with a shovel

August 9, 2025

Growing for and with Children

Gardening with children is more than just planting seeds—it's about nurturing curiosity, wonder, and a lifelong connection to the natural world. Whether you're growing kid-friendly crops like snap…

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September 3, 2025

Preparing for Fall

Get ready for fall by preparing your yard with a thoughtful clean-up plan—know what to tidy up and what to leave behind. As the leaves fall, discover creative ways to handle them, and learn how to…

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Office Locations

UCCE-Solano County

501 Texas Street
first floor
Fairfield, CA 94533
United States

Phone

(707) 389-0645

texts okay

jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu

Fax Number

(707) 429-5532

Mission Statement

The Mission of the UC Master Gardener Program is to extend research based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California and be guided by our core values and strategic initiatives.