UC Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe

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UC Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe

Master Gardeners are community members who have been trained under the direction of the University of California Cooperative Extension.

The Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners extend research-based information by: answering questions via phone/email hotlines and at events; offering workshops and classes; and publishing articles in newsletters and with local and social media. Each volunteer has completed more than 50 hours of formal classroom training. Master Gardeners help the UC Cooperative Extension office provide practical, scientific gardening information to the home gardeners in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

06/23/2026

Join the UC Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe for a fun and informative morning. Start your day with the free plant clinic to boost your gardening know-how, then stay for the plant sale to take home hardy, Tahoe-tested plants that support local birds and pollinators.

Funds raised help support UC Master Gardeners’ community projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Featured plants include: • Western Columbine • Sulphur Flower Buckwheat • Goldenrod • Rocky Mountain Penstemon • Showy Penstemon • Thimbleberry • Snowberry • …and many more!

This is an in-person event

Plant Clinic: 9:00 am — Register in advance or on‑site (https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-lake-tahoe-basin/event/central-sierra-master-gardener-plant-sale-plant)
Plant Sale: 10:00 am–12:00 pm

The Plant Clinic is Free!

Cash, credit cards, and checks will be accepted for plant purchases.

06/22/2026

It's Pollinator Week (June 22–28) — and your garden is part of something bigger than you might think.

Pollinators — bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more — are essential to the health of California's home gardens, farms, and wild landscapes. The plants you grow can support them, or work against them.

This week, we're sharing tips for making your garden a place pollinators love. Share your pollinator photos in the comments — we want to see what's visiting your garden!

Photo credit: Bruce Winningham, UC Master Gardener of Calaveras County.

Photo description: A close-up of a honeybee mid-flight above a partially open yellow sunflower. The bee's hind legs are visibly loaded with bright orange-yellow pollen. The flower's green bracts and fuzzy stem are sharply in focus against a soft gray background.

06/19/2026

Ahead of National Pollinator Week, here's a fun activity to help scientists learn about our local bees California Native Bee Society : The goal of this project is to enlist the help of community scientists to observe as many native bee species as possible during June 20 – June 28 in the Tahoe & Sierra Valley region, and post those pictures to iNaturalist. Bees will not be collected, as this is a photography only project. https://calnbs.org/bee-o-blitz/

06/15/2026

✨ Plant Feature: Harison’s Rose (Rosa × harisonii) ✨

Known as the "Yellow Rose of Texas" or the "Pioneer Rose," this rugged beauty has been lighting up western landscapes since the 19th century! Brought west by early settlers, it’s incredibly tough, drought-tolerant once established, and cold-hardy.

If you're looking for a low-maintenance historic shrub that bursts into a sea of vibrant yellow blooms every spring, Harison's Rose is a time-tested winner. 💛

06/12/2026

Join us tomorrow, Saturday June 13, 2026, at 1pm at for a free talk from our UC Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe about planting for pollinators! Learn how to invite our native butterflies, bumblebees, and other beneficial pollinators into your garden. We’ll discuss plants that thrive here in the Lake Tahoe Basin while providing insights into plant care and placement to help you create a beautiful garden that is wildlife friendly.

Cost is free. Hope to see you! 🌸

06/10/2026

What is your favorite berry to grow? To eat? Join us tomorrow night (6/11/26) at Keep Tahoe Blue and learn how to grow some of these berries at home.

FREE class, 6pm-7:30pm at 2877 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

We will also be talking about squash, tomatoes, beans, and edible flowers! Hope to see you 🫐

06/08/2026

Our PLANT SALE is coming up on Saturday, August 29 at the South Tahoe Public Utility District Headquarters in South Lake Tahoe, CA. We will be offering Tahoe native plants and adapted native plants at this sale. Stay tuned for more updates. 👀

06/01/2026

June is here, and its the perfect time to get our gardens blooming beautifully. As Master Gardeners, we’ve got some tips to help you make the most of the season:

1. Water Wisely: In our unique climate, water efficiency is key. Water early in the morning or ate afternoon to minimize evaporation. Water shrubs and trees deeply and less frequently as they have deeper roots.

2. Planting Period: Now is a great time to plant warm season vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, and squash but be prepared to provide frost protection is the nighttime temperatures dip to freezing. These vegetables thrive in the warm June weather.

3. Pest Patrol: Keep an eye out for early signs of pests. A little vigilance now can save your plants later. Visit the UC Integrated Pest Management Pest Notes website to learn how to identify your pests and how to treat them with the least toxic approach.

4. Tidy Up: instead of cutting back your green daffodil leaves, tie them in a knot and do not trim them until they have turned brown. This allows them to maximize photosynthesis returning energy to the bulb for next year’s bloom.

5. Flower Fun: Sprinkle some colorful annuals to brighten up your space and attract pollinators. Fill your patio pots with colorful annuals as well.

Let's roll up those sleeves and make our gardens thrive! Share your progress and snapshots with us on our social media or email them to us!

05/28/2026

URGENT NOTICE: Invasive Pest Detected on Grape Plants Sold at Costco ⚠️

Nevada County agricultural officials are urging residents to take immediate precautions following the detection of the invasive glassy-winged sharpshooter on grape plants sold at Costco stores, including locations in Northern California. This insect spreads Pierce’s disease, a fatal bacterial infection that threatens grapevines and many ornamental plants — posing a serious risk to California agriculture and home landscapes.

If you purchased grape plants from Costco between April 21, 2026, and May 21, 2026:
🚫 Do NOT return, transport, or relocate the plant
🚫 Do NOT place the plant in the trash or compost
📞 Contact the Nevada County Department of Agriculture immediately at (530) 470-2690
📧 [email protected]

The glassy-winged sharpshooter feeds on more than 250 plant species and remains one of California’s most significant agricultural pests.

More information: www.cdfa.ca.gov

Thank you for helping protect local agriculture and prevent the spread of invasive pests. 🌱

Address

1100 Lyons Avenue, Room A-5
South Lake Tahoe, CA
96150

Website

https://donate.ucanr.edu/pages/uccecentralsierra

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