Visit the California Garden Web at http://cagardenweb.ucdavis.edu.

The University of California Statewide Master Gardener Program has launched a new Web site to serve as an information portal for California gardeners. The UC Statewide Master Gardener Program staff designed the Web site to organize and extend UC's vast store of research-based information about gardening, landscapes and lawns to the public.
 
The Web site focuses on sustainable gardening practices and uses a question and answer format to present solutions. A blog on the Web sites home page, updated weekly, highlights gardening content pertinent to the season. The site also links to useful gardening resources on other UC Web pages.
 
"When UC sites have thorough content covering a particular topic, we link to that site rather than duplicating it," said Pam Giesel, the academic coordinator for the statewide UC Master Gardener Program. "For example, UC IPM, the Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture, and our sister site, the California Backyard Orchard, contain an abundance of information about sustainable gardening and are all linked to the new portal."
 
The new Web site also provides California gardeners with free access to updated information from the California Master Gardener Handbook.
 
Special features include:

• Guidelines for practicing sustainable gardening
• Easy calculators for estimating landscape water needs
• Guidelines for conserving and managing water during a drought
• Links to local Master Gardener Web sites
• Comprehensive grape and berry gardening practices
• Vegetable gardening FAQ

 
The site has sections on:

• Gardening basics
• Your climate zone
• Find your local Master Gardener
• Pests, diseases, weeds
• Vegetables
• Nut and fruit trees and vines
• Landscape trees, shrubs and vines
• Lawns
• Flowers
• Indoor plants
• Poisonous plants
• Glossary
• Classes and events

 
Visit the California Garden Web at http://cagardenweb.ucdavis.edu.
 
Development of the new Web site was funded by the Elvenia J. Slosson Endowment for Ornamental Horticulture.

Thanks to the magic of Dave Krause, and the rest of the programmers at Communication Services, Master Gardeners are now able to log into their Volunteer Management System (VMS 2.1) and the other various systems in ANR through the new ANR web portal. The new login method will allow for easier access to Collaborative Tools, the Repository, Administrative Links and links to Tech Tools etc. To access the VMS and other systems, use your VMS password. If you do not know your password, or encounter any difficulty using the password you normally use,  click on “lost your password or new user” and enter your email address. You will be sent a link that will allow you to reset your password and then you may enter into the VMS. Please let us know how you like the new change or if you are having any problems with the changeover. Just email Pam Geisel, the Statewide Master Gardener Coordinator at pmelam@ucdavis.edu

 UC Verde Buffalograss is an extremely hardy, tough grass that, because of its vigor, results in reduced pesticide/herbicide use. As well, it requires much less mowing because it has a slow vertical growth habit peaking at 4-6 inches. This gives you the flexibility to determine the “look” you want such as an unmowed meadow or a manicured turf. For a tight, uniform turfgrass, mow every two to three weeks. For a more natural look, mow much less often. Do plan to mow at least once a year to maintain vigor and reduce fuel loads in terms of wildfire. 

 Presented by the UC Davis Good Life Garden, Statewide Master Gardener Program and the California Center for Urban Horticulture

Two classes are going to be held at the Good Life Garden as part of our edible backyard series.  The first is being held on Saturday, April 25th on Backyard Vegetable Gardening with Robert Norris. This in-depth class will focus on growing vegetables successfully all year. 

Participants should have a working knowledge of growing a garden with a desire to learn how to create a highly productive garden.  Instructor Robert Norris is a UC Davis Plant Science emeritus professor and has been teaching UC Master Gardener trainees the craft of vegetable gardening for 29 years.  Also instructing will be Terry Allan of Seeds of Change, whose mission is to help preserver biodiversity and promote sustainable, organic agriculture.

The second class is All About Fruits, Nuts and Berries with Chuck Ingles and Ed Laivo on May 23, 2009.  In this class we will explore ways to plant, train, grow and enjoy fruit, nuts and berries in your backyard. Both instructors are highly sought after speakers on backyard orchard culture. 

The Details:  The seminars will run from 9am to 2pm and cost $35.00 with a box lunch included ($25.00 without).  They will be held in the UC Davis' Good Life Garden and the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science sensory theatre.  For more information and registration, visit the UC Davis Good Life Garden website at www.goodlifegarden.ucdavis.edu or call Kira O'Donnell, (530)681-6412.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Master Gardeners, coordinators and UC Staff now have access to many of the materials that have been produced over the years through a web based storage media called the "Repository".  It has taken the place of the "Media Library" on your web links in the VMS 2.0 listing.  If you are looking for the media library, just click on "Repository" and it will take you to a web portal from which you can go to the Repository.  Please let me know if you have any questions or are having difficulty logging on and downloading the pictures or flyers.