Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County The Oak Fire (July 2022) devastated large parts of the ponderosa pine forest in the mountains east of Mariposa. Wooded landscapes on private properties and substantial areas of the adjoining Sierra National Forest were affected. This article explains how to plant conifer seedlings for post-fire forest restoration. The conifer plant materials for reforestation ...
Read More »Articles about Ron Allen
Over the Garden Fence: Oak Tree Care in the Summer
By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Right now we are in the midst of extreme, widespread drought. One telltale indication is that oak trees in Mariposa County are dropping their leaves. What should one do? It’s a good time to review proper oak tree care during dry spells. You don’t need to do much, but you should avoid ...
Read More »Over the Garden Fence: Monarchs & Milkweeds
By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Have you seen a monarch butterfly in the last few years? Probably not. Or, not many at least. Despite the name of our county, we do not see too many of these big, beautiful, orange and black butterflies which we remember from our youth in the Mariposa area. Their population in western ...
Read More »Over the Garden Fence: Winter Gardening With a Greenhouse
Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County By using a greenhouse, a home gardener can extend the growing season into the chilly winter months. In Mariposa County, a typical small greenhouse can provide temperatures that are 10-15F warmer than outside ambient air. This is a sufficient bump in warmth to keep late season vegetables growing and protect sensitive landscape and ...
Read More »Over the Garden Fence: Fall is the Time to Plant Natives
By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa Fall is the time to plant California natives. The weather is cooler, the first soaking rains are imminent, and yet there is still plenty of good sunlight. These factors make for good initial foliage growth and root development. The motivation for adding native plants comes down to one thing: water. Mariposa County enjoys ...
Read More »