Yavapai County Master Gardeners

Ready to learn the art of home canning?

Join us for a full-day, hands-on Canning Workshop in Prescott! You’ll learn the basics of both water bath and pressure canning while preparing delicious foods to take home and enjoy.

Choose the date—and menu—that works best for you:

📅 September 16, 2026
Beef Stew, Chicken, and Apple Pie Filling

📅 September 17, 2026
Southwest Soup, Pinto Beans, and Relish

⏰ 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
📍 NoCo Community Kitchen
216 N. Cortez St., Prescott
💲 $100 per day—all supplies included

Space is limited to just 12 participants per day, so sign up early to reserve your spot at https://tinyurl.com/2jx998z6. Come learn new skills, enjoy a fun day in the kitchen, and take home everything you make!

Did You Know? Sage/Salvias (Autumn, Wood, Germander, Common & Russian) work well for Yavapai County landscapes!

Looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance plant that thrives in Arizona? Sage checks the boxes.

✔️ Built for our climate – Sage tolerates both the hot summers of the Verde Valley and the cooler winters found in higher elevations like Prescott and Sedona.

💧 Water-wise – Once established, sage requires very little supplemental irrigation, making it an excellent choice for xeriscape and drought-tolerant landscapes.

🦋 Supports pollinators – Its colorful blooms provide nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators throughout the growing season.

🐇 Naturally resistant – The fragrant foliage is less appealing to common wildlife such as rabbits and javelinas, making it a smart addition to many Arizona gardens.

Whether you're creating a pollinator garden or simply looking for a hardy perennial, sage is a beautiful choice that rewards you year after year.

Have you planted sage in your garden? Share your favorite variety in the comments.

For More information: https://extension.arizona.edu/local-offices/yavapai-county/yavapai-gardening/plants

You don’t want to miss the Fall Splendor of Sedona!

Discover beautiful landscapes, creative gardening ideas, and plenty of inspiration at the Sedona–VOC Garden Tour on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Hosted by the Yavapai County Master Gardeners in collaboration with the University of Arizona Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, this self-guided tour features five unique gardens throughout Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. Experience stunning fall colors, creative landscape designs, sustainable gardening techniques, and educational features shared by knowledgeable Master Gardeners.

Your day includes even more than beautiful gardens! Visit the VOC Community Garden for the free Community Garden Fest, hosted by the Sedona Village Rotary. Enjoy garden-related vendors, a demonstration pollinator garden, educational presentations, an information booth, and a Rotary BBQ with food and refreshments available for purchase.

Tour Details:

• Saturday, September 19, 2026
• 7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Tickets: $20 per person, available online only
• Ticket sales: July 1–September 16, 2026
• Purchase tickets: https://extension.arizona.edu/yavapai-county-garden-tours

Garden maps and addresses will be emailed on Friday, September 18. Begin your self-guided tour at any of the five gardens and check in by name at your first private garden.

Celebrate the fall splendor of Sedona, explore inspiring private gardens, and learn from local gardening experts. Reserve your tickets early—you don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind event!

The University of Arizona’s online resources can help Arizona residents:

• Identify common invasive plants using photos
• Understand why certain plants are harmful
• Explore recommended control methods
• Learn how to become an Arizona “Weed Warrior”

Even if an invasive plant isn’t growing in your yard today, it may be spreading from nearby roads, fields, forests, or neighboring properties. Early identification can help protect your landscape and the surrounding environment.

Start exploring the Yavapai County gardening resources:
https://extension.arizona.edu/local-offices/yavapai-county/yavapai-gardening

Learn More: https://tinyurl.com/azinvasiveplantsarizonaedu

Fresh herbs can add flavor, beauty, and wellness benefits to your home—and growing them may be easier than you think!

Join the Yavapai County Master Gardeners, in cooperation with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, for a free presentation, “Growing Herbs for the Health of It!”

Learn how to select, grow, use, store, and preserve herbs while exploring their many benefits.

Dates and locations:
• August 12, 1–2 p.m. — Paulden Library
• August 18, 1–2 p.m. — Chino Valley Library
• August 20, 6–7 p.m. — Prescott Library
• August 27, 5:30–6:30 p.m. — Prescott Valley Library

All experience levels are welcome, and no reservation is required. Choose the location that works best for you and come grow with us!

Discover the art of homemade sourdough bread! 🍞

Join Earl Duque for an informative Sourdough Bread Demonstration on Monday, August 3, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Yavapai County Cooperative Extension Office, located at 840 Rodeo Drive, Building C, in Prescott.

During this two-hour guided demonstration, Earl will use pre-made dough to walk participants through the sourdough process, including:

• Starter basics
• Mixing and fermentation
• Shaping techniques
• Baking tips and troubleshooting

The cost is $20 per person, and seating is limited to 20 participants. Whether you’re new to sourdough or want to strengthen your baking skills, this demonstration will offer helpful techniques you can use at home.

Register today: https://tinyurl.com/YCCEsourdough

Master Gardener Volunteer & Home Horticulture Training. Turn your love of gardening into knowledge you can grow and share!

The Yavapai County Master Gardener program offers training in science-based gardening practices, including botany, climate and soils, composting, irrigation, native plants, plant selection, pruning, vegetables, fruit trees, w**d management, plant diseases, entomology, pest management, pesticide safety, and more.

Master Gardener Volunteers put that knowledge to work throughout the community by:

🌿 Staffing horticulture help lines at Cooperative Extension offices
🌿 Giving educational talks and demonstrations
🌿 Sharing gardening information at festivals and farmers’ markets
🌿 Assisting students with school wildlife habitats
🌿 Providing horticultural guidance to individuals, groups, and organizations

Two learning opportunities are coming up:

🌼 2026 Home Horticulture Class
Designed for anyone who wants to learn science-based gardening practices without a volunteer commitment.

• Seven two-hour Zoom sessions
• Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.
• September 17–October 29, 2026
• Cost: $125
• Application deadline: August 20

🌻 2027 Master Gardener Volunteer Training
This 17-session class will be held in Prescott beginning in January 2027. To receive an application when it becomes available in November, email Mary Barnes.

Learn more and apply:
https://extension.arizona.edu/programs/yavapai-county-master-gardener/master-gardener-volunteer-home-horticulture

Questions? Contact Mary Barnes at [email protected].

Big appetite now, important pollinator later!

Tomato hornworms are commonly found in Yavapai County gardens from July through September. These large green caterpillars blend in remarkably well, but missing leaves, chewed stems, damaged tomatoes, and dark droppings may reveal where they’re hiding.

Inspect the interior of your tomato plants and underneath the leaves during the day. When control is necessary, hornworms can usually be removed by hand.

But there’s more to their story! Tomato hornworms eventually enter the soil to pupate before emerging as large sphinx moths. These impressive nighttime visitors feed on flower nectar and help pollinate plants throughout our landscapes.

Have you spotted a hornworm—or a sphinx moth—in your garden?

Read more about tomato challenges: https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/tomato-challenges

Insects of Yavapai County—how many have you seen?

From colorful butterflies and fascinating moths to beetles, caterpillars, aphids, and other unique garden visitors, Yavapai County is home to an incredible variety of insects!

Some help our gardens, while others may cause damage to plants and trees. Learning how to identify them is the first step toward understanding their role in our local environment.

Explore the complete collection, discover interesting facts, and find helpful management information here: https://tinyurl.com/insectsinyavapaicounty

Which of these insects have you spotted in your garden? Let us know in the comments!

Discover beautiful landscapes, creative gardening ideas, and plenty of inspiration at the Sedona–VOC Garden Tour on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Hosted by the Yavapai County Master Gardeners in collaboration with the University of Arizona Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, this self-guided tour features five unique gardens throughout the Sedona and Village of Oak Creek (VOC) areas. Each garden highlights a variety of educational gardening practices, creative landscape designs, and sustainable techniques shared by knowledgeable Master Gardeners.

Your tour experience includes more than beautiful gardens! Be sure to visit the VOC Community Garden, where the Sedona Village Rotary will host the free Community Garden Fest during tour hours. Enjoy garden-related vendors, a demonstration pollinator garden, educational presentations by Certified Master Gardeners, an information booth, and a Rotary BBQ with food and refreshments available for purchase.

Tour Details:
• Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 (Rain or Shine)
• Time: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Tickets: $20 per person (online only) https://extension.arizona.edu/yavapai-county-garden-tours
• Ticket Sales: July 1 – September 16, 2026

After purchasing your tickets, you'll receive an email confirmation. Garden maps and addresses will be emailed on Friday, September 18, allowing you to begin your self-guided tour at any of the five gardens. Simply check in by name at any private garden to start your day of inspiration.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or just looking for fresh ideas, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore stunning private gardens, learn from local experts, and celebrate gardening in the heart of Sedona. Reserve your tickets early and don't miss this one-of-a-kind event! 🌿🌺