Master gardeners' 2020 calendar now available

Flowers and flowering plants are the theme

Harvest Day this past Saturday kicked off the sale of the Sacramento County master gardeners' 2020 Gardening Guide & Calendar, an invaluable resource for the region's gardeners.

A fundraiser for the UCCE master gardener program, the calendar always has terrific photographs and myriad planting tips. "Blossoms" is the 2020 theme, so each month features plants that are in full bloom at that time.

The large vertical-format calendar also has plenty of space for noting fertilization dates and planting. (I use mine to keep track of seed starting and watering schedules.)

Behind the months' pages are even more planting tips, including two pages on arranging flowers and a detailed chart of when to plant which bulbs. The master food preservers have contributed several recipes that use herbs and edible flowers. (Lemon sage wine mustard, anyone?)

Nectarine blossoms are featured in April.

The Gardening Guide & Calendar costs $10 and will be on sale at master gardener events through the rest of the year. It also can be ordered online here.

-- Kathy Morrison