The Savvy Sage

two purple sage flowers with a green background of foliage

A Master Gardeners blog to: Educate, Inspire, and Ignite Knowledge.

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Photo of a bouquet with a variety of chrysanthemums from the garden.
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Getting Acquainted with Heirloom Chrysanthemums

August 25, 2025
 Article and photos by Pam McCabe - In September, potted or florist chrysanthemums (mums for short) start appearing in supermarkets and garden centers in hues of yellow, orange, brown, and burgundy. They are meant to be used for seasonal décor and discarded at the end of the season. They may…
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Photo of Tree Davis volunteers during a community tree planting event
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Tree Davis: Creating a Sustainable Tree Canopy for Yolo County’s Future

August 25, 2025
 Article by Lorie Hammond - As you walk Yolo County’s tree-lined streets, parks, and bike paths, you might take them for granted, with no notion of how they got there or are maintained. The purpose of this article is to laud the work of Tree Davis, a non-profit organization whose members have…
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Photo of pokeweed with mature berries.
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Recent Garden Observations

August 25, 2025
 Article and photos by Peg Smith - I always give unknowns in my garden a chance to prove themselves before taking drastic action. For a couple of years, I have been cutting back what I finally decided had to be a perennial weed; in this case, I found that it was ‘pokeweed’ most likely deposited by…
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Photo of Madia elegans in bloom.
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September Garden Tips and Vegetable Planting Guide

August 25, 2025
 Article and photo by Peg Smith - As we ease into fall, September is a prime time for planning and planting.Ornamentals and AnnualsKeep up the deadheading and deep watering, your garden will produce a floral display well into the fall. Don’t be too eager to ‘neaten’ the garden. Many of our…
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tomato hornworm with eggs on its back
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Ask a Master Gardener

August 22, 2025
 This series provides answers to selected questions recently submitted to the UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County Help Desk.Question: I am trying to identify what is eating my tomato plants. Some of the leaves have been chewed up and have holes in them. I also noticed black “dots” on some of the leaves…
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