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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Western Fence Lizard

October 4, 2024
They're everywhere! At least that's the way it seems to me. Where I grew up on the East Coast, creatures similar to these were considered exotic and only found in wooded, wild places. Not here! I'd wager there isn't a backyard in Yolo County without a troop of these critters encamped.
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graphic by Alexandra Hammond
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Fall Equinox

September 25, 2024
Gardeners live by the seasons, yet modern calendars, set into squares within a month, are not oriented to natural cycles. When writing a book about gardening with children, I created a calendar, with the help of my artist daughter Alexandra Hammond, which reflects the seasons in our valley.
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Oedema on tomato. photos by Carolle Juliano
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More Tomato Trauma

September 17, 2024
I've often thought how hard it must be to exist as a garden plant. There you are, stuck in the ground, unable to move, subject to the whims of the wind, rain, sun, and general environment, and worse of all, the fickle, precarious treatment of your gardener parent.
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Revival of a Garden Water Woes

September 10, 2024
Maintaining a garden irrigation system is essential for keeping your plants healthy and your garden flourishing. One common issue that gardeners may encounter is a leak or damage to PVC pipes in the irrigation system.
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