UC Master Gardener Program

Great information on Irrigation!

What a day in Contra Costa County! We had the pleasure of visiting the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County to collaborate on their communications plan and got a bonus — a tour of their stunning Rivertown Garden at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds.
The Rivertown Garden is a true teaching space, showcasing multiple gardening approaches including in-ground planting, raised beds, and low-water landscaping. It's the kind of place that reminds you why this work matters.
We are so grateful to the volunteers who gave their time to walk us through the garden and share their vision for the program. Their dedication to the community shines in every corner of that space.

Photo descriptions:
1 -Five women pose together outdoors, smiling, in front of a building shaded by a large deciduous tree. Two wear name badges, including one with a UC Master Gardener badge visible.
2 - A painted door reads "Our Community has STRONG Roots" next to a sunny garden bed with tall sunflowers.
3 - A hand-carved wooden sign hangs from a rustic pergola at the garden entrance, reading "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." A person in a wide-brimmed straw hat stands beneath it.
4 - A colorful pollinator garden bed filled with lamb's ear, purple blooms, and red flowers, with decorative ceramic flower stakes and a rust-colored metal "Bee Happy" sign.
5 - Two women stand beneath the Rivertown Garden entrance sign, one holding potted plants. Raised garden beds and shade cloth structures are visible behind them.

📷 Photo credit: UC Master Gardener Program

Pollinator Week wraps up this weekend — here are four research-based tips from UC Master Gardeners to keep your garden supporting pollinators all season long.

Plant in the sun. Bees prefer to forage in sunny spots, so place pollinator-friendly plants where they'll get the most light.

Plant in clumps, not singles. Grouping the same plant together gives pollinators a more efficient food source and makes your garden easier for them to find.

Stagger your bloom times. Choose plants that flower at different times so pollinators have food from early spring through fall — not just in summer.

Skip the pesticides when you can. Pesticides don't distinguish between harmful insects and beneficial ones. If you must use them, do so sparingly and responsibly.

Your local UC Master Gardener Program can help you choose the right plants for your county and climate. Find them at mg.ucanr.edu.



Photo credit: Daniel Horner, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County

Photo description: A close-up of a hummingbird in mid-hover with wings fully fanned, its long slender beak inserted into a small purple globe-shaped flower. The bird has tan and brown plumage with iridescent green-teal flecks on its back and sides. A soft green and beige background keeps the focus on the bird and bloom.

Want more pollinators in your garden? Start with what you plant.

During Pollinator Week, we're highlighting plants that support local pollinators — but the best choices depend on where you are in California. Coastal gardens, Central Valley gardens, and high desert gardens all have different needs.

Your local UC Master Gardener Program knows what grows best in your county — and which plants your local pollinators depend on. Connect with them for free, research-based guidance specific to where you live.

Find your local program: mg.ucanr.edu



Photo credit: Daniel Horner, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County

Photo description: A monarch butterfly clings to a fuzzy purple salvia flower spike with wings folded upright, displaying its distinctive orange wings with black veining and white-spotted border. Additional purple salvia spikes are softly blurred in the foreground and background against a warm yellow-green backdrop.

It's Pollinator Week (June 22–28) — and your garden is part of something bigger than you might think.

Pollinators — bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more — are essential to the health of California's home gardens, farms, and wild landscapes. The plants you grow can support them, or work against them.

This week, we're sharing tips for making your garden a place pollinators love. Share your pollinator photos in the comments — we want to see what's visiting your garden!



Photo credit: Bruce Winningham, UC Master Gardener of Calaveras County.

Photo description: A close-up of a honeybee mid-flight above a partially open yellow sunflower. The bee's hind legs are visibly loaded with bright orange-yellow pollen. The flower's green bracts and fuzzy stem are sharply in focus against a soft gray background.

What happens when gardening education meets community connection? Jardineros, an innovative outreach project led by the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County, is helping Spanish-speaking residents grow more than gardens.

Through bilingual workshops, community partnerships, school gardens and hands-on learning, Jardineros is cultivating food security and belonging across the county.

Read how this inspiring program is growing gardens and stronger communities.
Read the full story: link.ucanr.edu/jardinerosccc



Photo Credit: May Coleman

Photo description: A Montalvin Elementary student in the school garden holding up a freshly harvested carrot that she helped grow. Raised garden beds and a fence covered with flowering passionfruit vines can be seen in the background on a bright, sunny day.