Fall 2024

Editorial Notes

"Autumn leaves shower like gold, like rainbows,
as the winds of change begin to blow."
– Dan Millman

As the seasons shift, now is the perfect time to plan and prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead. This final issue of the year is packed with timely advice and sustainability tips to help you make the most of your fall and winter garden.

We start with a topic that requires urgent attention—an alarming pest, the Invasive Shot Hole Borer, that is threatening trees in our community. Learn how to spot the signs and what you can do to protect your trees.

But it’s certainly not all bad news! Next, we dive into creative and effective ways to "Plant the Rain" by reusing rainwater in your garden.

Fall is a busy season in the garden. Discover why it's also the best time to plant California natives. And if you're eager to keep growing edibles through the season, we’ve got great tips for planting winter vegetables in pots—perfect for gardeners with limited space or those who want fresh produce year-round. At the same time, don’t forget to start prepping your vegetable beds for winter to ensure your soil stays healthy and productive until next year.

We’re thrilled to announce Jardineros, a brand-new project aimed at making gardening resources more accessible to Spanish-speaking members of our community.

With California wildfires on our minds year-round, we close our article-list with essential advice on creating a fire-resistant landscape, part 3 of an ongoing series.

As the holiday season approaches, many of our Master Gardener Program projects in Contra Costa County will be taking a brief break. But don’t worry! We still have some exciting events and outreach planned before we wrap up the year. Check out what’s in store for you in these final weeks—we’d love to see you there!

Happy gardening and see you in 2025!
Hedwig Van Den Broeck and Robin Mitchell, editors - contact us