General Resources
- Annual Seeding Schedule (pdf) – Annual Flower Seeding Schedule produced by WSU Spokane Extension office
- Compost Calculator – The calculator estimates compost mixture C:N ratio and moisture content, based on the analysis of your feed stocks and the mixture proportions that you choose. You can use the calculator to evaluate the effects of different feedstock mixtures on C:N ratio and moisture content of the initial pile. You can also use the calculator to check if the materials you have on hand will make a suitable mix for composting, or if you need to find different materials, or change proportions.
- Propagating Plants from Seeds – Learn how to properly propagate plants from seeds. Get an early start on that garden this year.
- Seeding After a Fire – Was your property affected by the wildfires? Learn important tips to reseeding after the fires.
- Soil Temperatures – Click here to check on current soil temperatures for Stevens County or research past soil temperatures. Just scroll down until you reach Stevens County. Soil temperatures are taken from the station in Addy.
- Fire-Resistant Plants for Eastern Washington (pdf) – Click here for a step-by-step guide for choosing the right plant for the right place in your landscape. Design landscaping to include a combination of re-resistant vegetation and non-combustible materials such as decorative bricks, walls, paths, patios, rock mulches, and other attractive re-resistant features.
Newspaper Column Resources
South Stevens County Times
March 2026
- Susan’s In the Garden: Winter Sowing [VIDEO] – Susan Mulvihill (former Spokane Extension Master Gardener)
- Winter Seed Sowing – By Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, University of Illinois Extension
- Jump Start Your Garden with Winter Sowing – By Kelly Maupin, WSU Extension Skagit County Master Gardeners
- “Winter Sowers – The Original” Facebook Group – Facebook Group created by “Wintersown Educational”
October 2025
- Leave the Leaves! – Leaves Are Habitat, not Trash – Justin Wheeler, Scott Hoffman Black, Deborah Seiler from The Xerces Society
- Putting Your Garden to Bed for Winter – By Vijai Pandian, University of Wisconsin Madison Extension, Horticulture Educator
- Putting the Yard and Garden to Bed – Utah State University Extension, Yard and Garden
- Let It Be – Why Not to Clean Up the Fall Garden [PDF] – By Nancy K. Crowell, WSU Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners
September 2025
- How to Kill Grass to Create a New Garden Bed – Iowa State University Extension
- Square Foot Gardening – University of Florida Extension Gardening Solutions
- Cover Crops for Home Gardens East of the Cascades – Washington State University Publications (Home Garden Series)
- Biochar: A Gardener’s Primer – Washington State University Publications (Home Garden Series)
August 2025
- Get Involved: Participate in the Process – WA Noxious Weed Control Board
- Podcast Interview with Ann Schuster of WA Noxious Weed Control – The Evergreen Thumb Podcast by WA Master Gardeners
- Pulling Together to Prevent and Stop Noxious Weeds in Washington [Webinar VIDEO] – Ann Schuster of WA Noxious Weed Board
- Noxious Weeds in Washington [VIDEO] – Presentation by Dept of Interior BIA, WSU, USDA, & WA Invasive Species Council
- Stevens County 2024 Noxious Weed List – Stevens County Noxious Weed Board
- 2025 Additions to WA Noxious Weed List – 19 new plants added by WSDA to the Noxious Weeds List
July 2025
- Too Much of a Good Thing: Overuse of Compost – Amanda Bratcher, NCSU Cooperative Extension
- How to Correct Problems Caused by Using Too Much Compost and Manure – University of Minnesota Extension
- Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Compost? – Amy Campion, GardenRant blog
- Can Compost Damage Plants? – WSU Extension, Whatcom County
June 2025
- What is Foundation Planting? – The Tree Center™ Plant Supply Company
- Right Plant, Right Place: The Art and Science of Landscape Design—Plant Selection and Siting – University of Florida/IFAS Extension
- Lessons Learned: The right plant, in the right place – WSU Master Gardener Foundation of Chelan-Douglas Counties
- Right Plant Right Place [VIDEO] – WSU Master Gardener Foundation of Cowlitz County
- Native Planting 101: The Plant Soil Relationship – Betsy Dudash, Cascadia Conservation District
- How to Avoid Most Plant Problems with One Concept – Right Plant, Right Place – University of Maryland Extension
May 2025
- Square Foot Gardening – Simple, Versatile and Fun! (PDF) – by Harriet Custer, Skagit County Master Gardener
- Square Foot Gardening (PDF) – University of Wisconsin Extension
- Square Foot Gardening [VIDEO] – Jessica Sayre, Horticulture Extension Agent for University of Kentucky
- Square Foot Gardening – by Steve Reiners of Cornell University AgriTech
- HOW-TO: Square Foot Garden (PDF) – University of California Extension Master Gardeners, Tulare-Kings Co.
April 2025
- Fire-Resistant Plants for Eastern Washington (PDF) – WSU Extension
- Firewise USA – Public Education site from the National Fire Protection Association
- Stevens County Extension Events page – Schedule for Firewise Library Series
March 2025
- Creating Wildlife Habitat in in Your Home Landscape – Betsy Dudash (VIDEO 1:02:18)
- Bee a Good Neighbor: Remember Pollinators When Preparing Your Spring Garden (PDF) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- When is it safe to clean up my yard this spring? – Nathaniel Walton, Michigan State University Extension
- Habitat Site Preparation – Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
October 2024
Special thanks to WSU Stevens County Master Gardener Kathy Brogan for curating these overwintering resources.
- How to Overwinter Plants
- How to Overwinter Tender Perennials
- From the Ground Up: How to Overwinter Geraniums
- Overwintering Unplanted Trees, Shrubs and Perennials
- How should I prepare woody trees and shrubs for winter?
- How should I prepare my fruit trees for winter?
- How to Overwinter Roses
- Overwintering Plants in Containers
- How to Overwinter Strawberries
September 2024
Statesman Examiner

Publishing the “Perennial Wisdom” column since January 2025.
March 2026
- Amaryllis [PDF] – from the WSU Spokane Extension Master Gardener “Gardening Resources” page
- Caring for Amaryllis from Bulb to Bloom – South Dakota State University Extension
- How to Take Care of Amaryllis and Get Them to Rebloom – University of Illinois Extension
- Growing and Caring for Amaryllis – University of Minnesota Extension
- Benefits of a Well-Drained Soil – University of Missouri Extension
- A Simple DIY Soil Percolation Test [not peer-reviewed] – Vinland Valley Nursery, Baldwin City, KS
- Soil Health, Drainage, and Improving Soil – University of Maryland Extension
- Gardening in Clay Soils – Utah State University Extension, Yard and Garden
- Soil Percolation: A Key to Survival of Landscape Plants [PDF] – University of Kentucky Extension
February 2026
- Pacific Northwest Gardener’s Handbook: Growing for the Future – Washington Green School handbook, chapters 19 & 21
- What is Integrated Weed Management? – GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds), a scientist-led research network
- Weed Resources – Washington State University, Wheat and Small Grains Department
- Weed Science Society of America – Resources page for WSSA, Weed Science Society of America
- To Feed or Not to Feed Wild Birds – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Pine Bark Beetles Report – Washington State University Cooperative Extension – Insect Answers
- Bark Beetles [PDF] – Washington State University, Puyallup Research Center
- “City to Cut Down 200 Trees…Due to Pine Beetle Infestations” – KXLY News Report, Jan 2023 [not peer-reviewed]
- “Spokane Parks to Remove 200 Trees Killed by Native Bark Beetles” – Spokesman-Review News Report, Jan 2026 [not peer-reviewed]
- “Bark Beetles Threaten Spokane Pine Trees” – KXLY News Report, Feb 2026 [not peer-reviewed]
- How to Protect Plants Before a Freeze [PDF] – Texas A&M Collin County Master Gardener Agrilife
- Plant Traits, Microclimate Temperature and Humidity [EPDF] – British Ecological Society, Journal of Ecology
- Frost, Critical Temperatures, and Frost Protection – Penn State University Extension, Horticulture
- Protecting Plants from Cold Temperatures – Mississippi State University Extension
- Overwintering Potted Plants – University of Illinois Extension
- Tender Plants Need Winter Protection – University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
January 2026
- Your Home Can Survive a Wildfire [VIDEO] – National Fire Protection Association (13:19 mins)
- Firewise Landscaping to Reduce Wildfire Risk [VIDEO] – Oregon State University Master Gardeners (38:31 mins)
- Firewise Landscaping to Reduce Wildfire Risk [VIDEO] – Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener (1:02:54 mins)
- Wildfire: Prevent Home Ignition, Part 1 [VIDEO] – National Fire Protection Association (10:07 mins)
- Firewise Landscaping: The Basics – Utah State University Forestry Extension
- Healthy Landscapes – U.S. Fire Administration, Division of FEMA
- Be a Weather-Watching Gardener – Melinda Myers, Northwest PrimeTime magazine (not peer-reviewed)
- Extreme Weather and Gardening in the Age of Climate Change – University of California Master Gardeners of Sonoma County
- Get Control of Fungus Gnats on Houseplants – Oklahoma State University
- Fungus Gnats and Shore Flies [PDF] – Mark E. Ascerno, Minnesota State Florists’ Bulletin, 1984
- Fungus Gnats – University of California – Home and Landscape, Integrated Pest Management Program
- Fungus Gnats as Houseplant and Indoor Pests – Colorado State University Extension
- A Spooky Houseplant Pest: Fungus Gnats – Cornell Cooperative Extension, Pest Management
- Fungus Gnats – WSU Extension Publications – Washington State University
- The Myth of Drainage Material in Container Plantings [PDF] – Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D., Extension Horticulturist, Washington State University
- Watering Indoor Plants – University of Maryland Extension
- Houseplant Watering Recommendations – University of Connecticut, Home and Garden Education Center
- How To Water Houseplants – University of Illinois Extension
December 2025
- Understanding Seed Catalogs – Southern Exposure Seed Exchange blog post
- How to Read Seed Catalogs – AcreageLife magazine
- Baker Creek 2025 Rare Seed Catalog [PDF] – Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
- Glossary of Growing & Gardening Terms – Johnny’s Selected Seeds
- Using Our Catalog – Symbol Key & Glossary [PDF] – Johnny’s Selected Seeds
- Johnny’s Digital Master Catalog [Flipbook] – Johnny’s Selected Seeds
- Harris Seeds Catalog Request – 3 different catalogs! – Harris Seeds company
- Rupp Seeds 2025 US Catalog [PDF] – Rupp Seeds, Wauseen, OH
Pacific Northwest Seed Companies
- Adaptive Seeds – Sweet Home, OR
- Hume Seeds – Puyallup, WA
- Irish Eyes Garden Seeds – Ellensburg, WA
- Nichols Garden Nursery – Philomath, OR
- Peace Seedlings – Corvallis, OR
- Siskiyou Seeds – Williams, OR
- Territorial Seed – Cottage Grove, OR
- Wild Garden Seed – Philomath, OR
- Garden Tasks Calendar – WSU Extension – Chelan and Douglas Counties
- Monthly Garden Calendars – Oregon State University Extension
- Gardener’s Almanac Monthly Gardening Checklist – Utah State University Yard & Garden Extension (includes videos!)
- Holiday Cacti Care – PennState Extension
- Poinsettia and Christmas Cactus Care – PennState Extension
- Holiday Cactus – University of Wisconsin Extension Horticulture
- Maintaining Your Festive Houseplants [link to Video] – University of Wisconsin Extension Horticulture
- Holiday Cacti: Pruning and Growing Cuttings – University of Minnesota Extension
- How to identify and care for holiday cacti and get them to rebloom – University of Illinois
- Growing and Caring for Poinsettia – University of Minnesota Extension
- Poinsettia Care [PDF] – Iowa State University Extension – Reiman Gardens
- Selecting and Planting Poinsettias – Colorado State University Extension Garden & Landscape
- Selecting and Caring for Poinsettia – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Fayette County
- Can You Compost in the Winter? – University of New Hampshire Extension
- Winter Composting [PDF] – University of Illinois Extension
- Ten Things to Remember About Composting During the Winter – Michigan State University Extension, Natural Resources
November 2025
- Washington Native Plant Society: Landscape Resources – (scroll down the page and look for PDFs “Plants that Provide Shelter” and “Planting Natives for Wildlife”)
- Brush and Leaf Shelter – National Wildlife Federation
- Long-Toed Salamander – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Make a Home for Wildlife: Nesting Sites and Soft Landings – Homegrown National Park Organization
- Why Landscape for Wildlife? – North Carolina State Extension, Gardening
- Marc Berman Thinks You Should Take a Walk in the Park – University of Chicago, Department of Psychology
- A Gardener’s Primer to Mycorrhizae: Understanding How They Work and Learning How To Protect Them – WSU Publications
- Managing Soil Health: Concepts and Practices – PennState Extension
- Mycorrhizal Fungi – Oklahoma State University Extension
- Mycorrhizae: So, What the Heck are They, Anyway? [PDF] – Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, WSU Science Editor
- Mycorrhiza: a natural resource assists plant growth under varied soil conditions – Springer Nature
- Mycorrhizae – University of Wisconsin Extension Horticulture
- Using Arborist Wood Chips as a Landscape Mulch – WSU Publications
- Mycorrhizae (Myco = fungus Rhiza = root) – University of Nevada Extension
- Summer Blockbuster: Soil, it’s alive! – University of California – Napa, Master Gardener column
- Under the Solano Sun: Mycorrhizae – University of California – Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Advances in Dryland Farming in the Inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) (REACCh Handbook) – WSU Publications
- “Mycorrhizal Planet” [BOOK] – by Michael Phillips
- Soil Health Resource Guide: 11th Edition – GreenCover
- How to Store Garden Pots Over Winter, According to Experts – SJ McShane, Martha Stewart Living
- Putting Your Garden to Bed for the Winter – Ohio State University Extension
- Putting the Yard and Garden to Bed – Utah State University Extension Yard & Garden
- Storing Your Tools – University of Florida Extension Gardening Solutions
- Putting the Garden to Bed – University of Vermont Extension
- How to Clean and Disinfect Plant Containers – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden
- Clean and Disinfect Gardening Tools and Containers – University of Minnesota Extension, Yard and Garden
- Disinfecting Tools, Equipment, Pots, Flats, and Benches – PennState Extension
- Plant Disease Pointers: To Reuse Pots or Not Reuse Pots, That is the Question – University of Wisconsin, Plant Diseases Clinic
- Winter Outdoor Arrangements – PennState Extension
- Maintain a bee-friendly garden in fall and winter, too – Oregon State University Extension
- How to Support Our Pollinators, Insects and Birds During the Winter Months – PennState Extension – Master Gardeners
- How to Protect Pollinators in the Fall – Maryland Grows – University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- New Study Says that Pollinators Need More than a Token Corner of Habitat – The Garden Professors Blog
October 2025
- Navigating Hydrophobic Soils – The Tilth Alliance – Seattle, WA
- Watering Hydrophobic Soil – University of California Ag & Natural Resources – Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County
- What are Hydrophobic Soils [PDF] – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Fact Sheets
- Here’s What To Do When Potted Plant Soil Dries Out [PDF] – Leimone Waite, UC-ANR Shasta Master Gardener
- Keeping a Garden Journal – Penn State University Extension
- Garden Journaling – Iowa State University Extension & Outreach – Yard & Garden
- Tips for Garden Journaling – The Backyard Gardener, University of California – Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Bulbs – Iowa State University Extension Outreach – Yard and Garden
- Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators – Oregon State University Extension
- Fall Bulbs for Pollinators – University of Illinois Extension
- Flower Bulbs in Pollinator Gardens [PDF] – Delaware State University Master Gardeners
- Gardening for Pollinators: Smart Plants to Support Pollinators – Michigan State University Extension – Smart Gardening series
- Planning Your Plantings for Climate Resiliency – By Justin Wheeler with the Xerces Society
- Bulbs Likely to Perennialize in Zone 5 – Cornell University Department of Horticulture
- Cover Crops for Home Gardens East of the Cascades – Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet (Home Garden series)
- Evaluating the Garden – Pamela T. Hubbard, Penn State Extension Master Gardener
- Sample Garden Season Review – Susan Mulvihill, Susansinthegarden.com and former Spokane Master Gardener
September 2025
- When Should I Harvest Butternut Squash? – Iowa State University Extension, Yard & Garden
- Pumpkin and Winter Squash Harvest and Storage – UMass Extension Vegetable Program
- Butternut Squash – Ask.Extension.org
- Harvesting and Storing Vine Crops – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Herbs Add Flavor to Life – University of Illinois Extension
- Herbs – Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home and Garden Information Center
- Herb Gardening [PDF] – Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener “Garden Notes”
- Perennial Herbs [PDF] – Jessamyn Tuttle, WSU Skagit County Extension Master Gardeners
- Chrysanthemum Care – Laura Spencer, Master Gardener at Penn State Extension
- Growing Chrysanthemums in the Home Garden – Utah State University Extension, Yard & Garden
- Growing Chrysanthemums in Iowa – Iowa State University Extension, Yard & Garden
- Fall Garden Mums (Chrysanthemums) – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
- Chrysanthemums Add Color to Fall Gardens – South Dakota State University Extension
- Watering to Beat the Summer Heat – Penn State Extension
- September Garden Calendar – Oregon State University Extension
August 2025
- Invasive Species Impact Cultural Resources – WSU Resources for Northwest Tribes: Invasive Species
- Yale Experts Explains Invasive Species – Yale University – Yale Sustainability
- Stevens County Weed Board – Weed Board of Stevens County
- Protecting Washington’s Environment and Economy from Harmful Invasive Species – WA Invasive Species Council (get the app)
- Fall Tree & Shrub Planting Instructions – Kansas State University Research & Extension Johnson County
- Fall Planting for Trees & Shrubs – University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Fall Ideal for Planting Trees – Purdue University Extension, Consumer Horticulture
- Fall Planting for a Better Spring Start – University of Missouri, Integrated Pest Management
- Is Fall for Planting? – Penn State Extension
- Growing Melons in the Home Garden – University of Minnesota Extension
- Melons – WSU Magazine
- In the Garden: Melons need TLC to grow in the Inland Northwest – Susan Mulvihill, Spokane Master Gardener, Spokesman Review
- Yakima County Master Gardeners: A World of Wonderful Melons – Yakima Master Gardeners, Yakima Herald-Republic
- Melons: An August Treat – University of Missouri, adapted from an article by the National Garden Bureau
- How to Grow Melons – Michigan State University Extension
- Vegetable Gardening: Growing Melons – University of Idaho Department of Agriculture
- How to Transition Potted Plants Indoors for Winter – Oklahoma State University Extension
- Time to Bring Houseplants Back Inside – University of Minnesota Extension
- Overwintering Plants in Containers – Penn State Extension
- Overwintering Container Plants – Michigan State University Extension
July 2025
- 2025 NE WA Fair Book (PDF) – from the Stevens County NE WA Fair webpage
- Preparing Cut Flowers and Houseplants for Exhibits – Iowa State University Extension
- Harvesting and Preparing Vegetables for Exhibit – Iowa State University Extension
- Preparing Cut Flowers for Exhibits at County Fairs – University of Nebraska Extension
- Preparing Horticultural Exhibits (PDF) – South Dakota State University Extension 4-H
- N.E.W Hunger Coalition – Donate a Row program – N.E.W. Hunger Coalition “Donate a Row”
- HRCC Produce Swaps – Huckleberry Range Community Collective
- Food Access Research Atlas – USDA Food Access Research Atlas
- Master Gardener Program Priorities (Local Food) – Scroll down to “Local Food”, one of our Program Priorities
- Seed Saving 101 – Skagit County Master Gardener Foundation – Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Sheri Rylaarsdam
- Saving Seeds (PDF) – Clackamas County Master Gardener Association in collaboration with OSU Extension Master Gardener Program
- Saving vegetable seeds – Jill MacKenzie and Michelle Grabowski, University of Minnesota Extension
- An Introduction to Seed Saving for the Home Gardener – Extension Vegetable Specialist Mark Hutton, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- Seed Saving Basics – UC Santa Clara County, CA, Master Gardeners
- Seed Saving: Know Your Plants – Seed Savers Exchange
- The Science of Companion Planting in the Garden – Allison Kosto, Montana State University Extension Agent
- Companion Planting in Home Gardens – Natalie Hoidal, University of Minnesota Extension
- Gardening with Companion Plants – Linda Chalker-Scott, PhD – WSU Publications, Home Garden Series
- To Deadhead or Not? Your Final Answer is… – PennState Extension
- Gardening Friends: Deadhead and Cutback – Martha Engelke, Master Gardeners of Durham County, NCSU
- Enjoy More Flowers in Your Garden by Deadheading Regularly – Kristine Lang, Consumer Horticulture Specialist at SDSU Extension
June 2025
- Growing Wildflowers in Central Oregon – Amy Jo Detweiler, Oregon State University Horticulture
- How to Choose a Good Pollinator Seed Mix – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Order the “Meadowscaping Handbook” – West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District ($15+shipping)
- Wildflowers in the Home Landscape – David H. Trinklein, Horticulture State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
- Gardening with Natives: About Native Plant Gardening – Washington Native Plant Society
- Landscape Sourcing: Native Plant and Seed Sources – Washington Native Plant Society
- Fire Resistant Plant Profiles: Perennials – Oregon State University Extension
- Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your Garden – Oregon State University Publications (free download)
- Common Problems – Insects and Mites – WSU Publications (free download)
- Beneficial Insects in the Home Garden [PDF] – OSU Extension Master Gardener, Clackamas County 10-minute university
- Know Garden Pests Before Deciding on Control – Oregon State University Extension
- How to Get an Army of Beneficial Insects to Protect Your Garden – Univ of California Agriculture & Natural Resources
- Farming with Native Beneficial Insects – Xerces Society
- Bugs, Pests & Diseases by 10-Minute University – Oregon State University, Clackamas County
- Flower Garden Pests – Timothy Gibb, Extension Entomologist, Purdue University
- Common Problems – Insects and Mites – WSU Hortsense
- Vegetables – WSU Hortsense
- Pest Management – Vegetables – WSU Food Systems
- Common Problems – Fact Sheets – WSU Hortsense
- Common Houseplant Insects & Related Pests – Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Pest Control in Home Vegetable Gardens – WSU Publications
- Western Flower Thrips, Management and Tospoviruses – UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program
- Making Your Landscape Deer Resistant [PDF] – WSU Skagit County Master Gardener, Kathy Wolfe.
- Making Your Landscape Deer Resistant – Idaho Press, somewhat revised web version of the above PDF
- Deer Resistant Gardening [PDF] – WSU Skagit County Master Gardener, Everett Chu.
- Tricks to keep your garden from becoming a deer smorgasbord (incl 11:25-min VIDEO) – Susan Mulvihill, Spokane Master Gardener
- Deer-Resistant Plants for the Northwest [PDF-not peer reviewed] – from Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville, WA
May 2025
- Fostering Flourishing Ecosystems – WSU Master Gardeners program, Plant Biodiversity Program Impact
- Better Together: How Plant Diversity Supports Garden Health – The Evergreen Thumb podcast, episode #45.
- Plant Species Diversity in Urban Landscapes – Grantly Ricketts, horticulture extension faculty with University of Florida
- The Value of Landscape Plant Diversity – Heather N. Kolich, ANR agent, UGA Extension Forsyth County
- Managing Soil pH for Crop Production in Calcareous-Alkaline Soil – Utah State University
- A Gardener’s Guide to Soil Testing – North Carolina State Extension Publications
- Soil Testing for Lawns, Gardens and Commercial Crops – University of Connecticut
- Organic soil amendments in yards and gardens: How much is enough? (Home Garden Series) – WSU Publications
- Stevens County’s “Ask a Master Gardener” page – click on the link to “Soil Testing Packet”
- Bee-yond Honey Bees – WSU Honeybees & Pollinators Program
- Megachild Bees in the Pacific Northwest – Oregon State University Extension
- Orchard Pollination: Wild Bees – Penn State Extension
- WA Native Bee Society
- Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees (PDF) – USDA Forest Service and Pollinator Partnership Publication
- Pollinator Partnership Program – includes lists of pollinator-friendly plants by region
- Growing Herbs – University of Minnesota
- Herb Gardening Basics – University of California, Ag & Natural Resources
- Herbs >Growing – University of Illinois
- Yard and Garden: Growing Herbs in the Home Garden – Iowa State University Extension
- It’s Thyme to Try Herbs (PDF) – WSU Clark County Extension Master Gardeners “Garden Mastery Tips”
- Tip Sheet #8 – Growing Herbs – WSU King County Extension Master Gardeners
- Kitchen Herb Garden – WSU Snohomish County Extension Master Gardeners
April 2025
- A Home Gardener’s Guide to Soils and Fertilizers – WSU Publications
- How to Prepare Your Garden Soil for Spring Planting & Seeding (Part 2 of 2) – Food Revolution Network
- Organic Farming Systems and Nutrient Management: Gardening Publications – WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center
- Drip Irrigation in the Home Garden (VIDEO) – WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners
- Drip Irrigation – WSU Food Systems article
- Tomato Troubles: Common Problems with Tomatoes – Mississippi State University Extension
- Drip Irrigation for the Yard and Garden – WSU Publications
- Drip Irrigation: Design, Installation and Maintenance – by Bob Bryan, Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener
- Drip Irrigation – University of Rhode Island
- iNaturalist.org app – Citizen Science app for plants and bugs and animals; iNaturalist City Nature Challenge is April 25-28
- Cornell Labs Citizen Science – app for logging your bird sightings
- BirdCast – Tracks bird migration, affiliate of Cornell Labs
- Globe at Night – Citizen Science site to track light pollution in your area
- The Lost Ladybug Project – submit photos of your local ladybugs to help determine population numbers in your area
- ZomBee Watch Project – tracks the spread of a parasitic fly that attacks honeybees
- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, & Snow Network – help identify Microclimates in your area
- Izaak Walton League Stream Monitoring – help to monitor water quality in your local streams
- Food WaCitizenScience.govste in the United States – Inclusive participation in scientific discovery and research
- SciStarter.org – Citizen Science geared towards kids
- Zooniverse.org – matches citizen science volunteer observers & participants with current research projects
- Save the Food.com – National Resources Defense Council
- The Scraps Book (PDF) – A Waste-Less Cookbook by Ikea Corp.
- MyPlate- Kitchen – Recipes, Cookbooks, Videos, and Resources by USDA.gov
- Making A Casserole From What’s On Hand – University of Nevada-Lincoln Food
- Food-Waste – Spend Smart, Eat Smart by Iowa State University Extension
- Food Waste Prevention: Using Leftovers – Utah State University Extension
- Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check it Out! – Marianne Gravely, USDA.gov Food Safety & Inspection Service
- Food Waste: The Big Picture – The Nutrition Source, Harvard School of Public Health
- Food Waste in the United States – Jayden Davis and Erica Bassett, writing for Ballard Brief of Brigham Young University
- Food Waste and Solutions for Combating the Crisis – by Julia Iannuzzi, University of Maine
- Why is One-Third of Food Wasted Worldwide – by Amy Quinton, UC Davis
- Apps: Pantry Check, My Pantry Tracker, Smart Kitchen, Food Keeper
- “From the Ground Up” Gardening Workshop at SCC-Colville, pre-registrations received before April 14 will have lunch included.
- Fire-Resistant Plants for Eastern Washington – WSU Extension
- Be Firewise – Marlene Finley, Skagit County Master Gardeners
- The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches (PDF) – University of Nevada Extension
- Stevens County Extension Events page – Schedule for Firewise Library Series
March 2025
- Stevens County Conservation Resources – Fact Sheets: Conservation Resources for Stevens County
- Stevens County Weed Board – Website for Stevens County’s Weed Board
- WSDA: Washington Agriculture – Washington Agriculture Facts and Resources
- Seed-Saving.pdf – Seed Saving and Sharing (PDF), Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener Sheri Rylaarsdam
- Saving Seeds (PDF) – Clackamas County Master Gardener Association in collaboration with OSU Extension Master Gardener Program
- A step-by-step guide to saving seeds – Maud Powell, OSU Extension Service
- Saving vegetable seeds – Jill MacKenzie and Michelle Grabowski, University of Minnesota Extension
- An Introduction to Seed Saving for the Home Gardener – Extension Vegetable Specialist Mark Hutton, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- Seed Saving Basics – UC Santa Clara County, CA, Master Gardeners
- Gravel Gardening – Podcast interview with Andrew Bunting
- Shocked by News of Andrew Bunting’s Garden – GardenRant article
- Garden for Wildlife – PDF from National Wildlife Federation
- David Mizejewski Dispels The Idea of Insects as Pests – (VIDEO)
- When Pest Comes to Shove – David Mizejewski article
- Less Space, Big Results: Seed Snail Growing Method – Barbara-Sue Kowalski article
- Ditch the Trays! Seed Snail Growing Method: Seed Starting with Less Waste, Less Space, Less Compost! – Barbara-Sue Kowalski (VIDEO)
February 2025
- Growing Fruit: Grafting Fruit Trees in the Home Orchard – Univ of New Hampshire
- Grafting – Univ of Missouri Extension
- Selecting and storing scion wood for grafting – Michigan State Univ Extension
- Grafting Info – (not peer-reviewed)
- African Violet: Houseplant How-To – SDSU, Kristine Lang
- African Violet Care (pdf) – Purdue University, Dept of Horticulture
- African violets – UMN Extension
- Care of African Violets – Smithsonian Gardens
- ZIP Code 99114 – Colville, Washington Hardiness Zones – Plant Maps: Hardiness information for Colville
- Why phenology? | USA National Phenology Network – USA National Phenology Network
- Seed-starting – Susan Mulvihill’s Seeding Schedules
January 2025
- Video + Article: Winter Sowing – Susan Mulvihill
- Winter seed sowing – Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, Illinois Extension
- Jump Start Your Garden with Winter Sowing – Kelly Maupin, Skagit County Master Gardeners
- Facebook group Winter Sowers – Winter Sowers
- Winter Care of Indoor Plants – Sarah Browning, UNL
- Winter of Discontent for Many Indoor Plants – Gretchen Voyle, MSU
- Winter Considerations for House Plants – Kinsey Watkins, NCU
- Houseplant Care – Smithsonian Gardens
- Winter Houseplant Care (pdf) – Dianne Creighton, WSU Skagit County
- Houseplant Basics (pdf) – WSU Clark County Master Gardeners
- Houseplant Basics (pdf) – Claudia Steen, WSU Master Gardeners
- Overwintering Tender Annuals, Perennials, and Houseplants (pdf) – Dixie Mitchell, WSU
- Onions – Univ of Conn. “Ladybug” Blog
- Growing Onions in Home Gardens – Univ of Minn. Extension
- How to Start Onions From Seed – Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners (NOT peer-reviewed)
- How to Grow Onions & Shallots – Susan Mulvihill, retired Spokane Master Gardener
- Right Plant Right Place: The Art and Science of Landscape Design—Plant Selection and Siting – Univ of Florida, Geoffrey C. Denny and Gail Hansen
- Hardiness Zones and Ecoregions for Climate-Smart Gardening – National Wildlife Federation, Braelei Hardt, Sydney Anderson
- Lawn Alternatives – Replacing or Reducing the Size of Your Lawn – Leslie Rose, NC State Univ. Extension
- Turfgrass Madness: Reasons to Reduce the Lawn in Your Landscape – Univ of Delaware
- How to Get Rid of Your Lawn – The Garden Professors Blog, Linda Chalker-Scott, PhD
- WSU Extension Stevens County Master Gardeners Facebook Page – current series of posts about lawn-removal
Other Local Resources
Farmers’ Markets
Local Farmer’s Markets are a place to buy locally grown food and products. Buying local foods is good for your health, your community, the environment, and the economy.
Weeds
Have a weed question? Contact the Stevens County Weed Board at 509-684-7590 or weedboard@co.stevens.wa.us
Program Contact
Linda Teller, Extension CoordinatorPhone Number509-684-2588 Email Address • linda.teller@wsu.edu
