Master Gardener Rebecca Jepsen writes the "Ask a Master Gardener" advice column monthly originally published in the San Jose Mercury News. Many Master Gardeners contribute information for this column which appears in the paper the first Saturday of each month. Below are the links to each column and the to do lists. 

• October 2012  Column  and To Do List - Picture-perfect perennials for shady spots
• September 2012  Column (none) and To Do List -
• August 2012  Column (none) and To Do List 
• July 2012  Column  and To Do List - Growing vegetables in the shade
• June 2012  Column  and To Do List -Using permaculture techniques in the garden
• May 2012  Column (none)  and To Do List 
• April 2012  Column  and To Do List - Crabapples offer beauty and bounty
• March 2012  Column  and To Do List - Santa Clara Garden Market
• February 2012 Column and To Do List - Your soil type matters
• January 2012 Column and To Do List - What's growing on in our soil
• December 2011 Column and To Do List - A great addition to your garden tool kit
• November 2011 Column and To Do List - The perfect Japanese maple for the perfect location
• October 2011 Column (none) and To Do List -
• September 2011 Column and To Do List - Will those tomatoes EVER turn red?
• August 2011 Column and To Do List - Growing an edible arbor
• July 2011 Column and To Do List - Spiders are nature's best pest control
• June 2011 Column (none) and To Do List  
• May 2011 Column and To Do List - Inspect, repair your drip irrigation before summer's heat hits
• April 2011 Column and To Do List - How to combat rain-related garden woes.
• March 2011 Column and To Do List - 17th annual Spring Garden Market will kick off the season.
• February 2011 Column and To Do List - Want to know the secret to a flourishing garden?   Compost.
• January 2011 Column and To Do List - Blueberries are easy to grow -- even in containers.
• December 2010 Column and To Do List - Dividing perennials: How to create many plants out of one.
• November 2010 Column and To Do List - Spice up your landscape, Mediterranean style.
• October 2010 Column and To Do List - Wise choices in native plants.
• September 2010 Column and To Do List - Unusual choices for winter gardens.
• August 2010  To Do List  
• July 2010 Column and To Do List -  What's eating your tomatoes besides you?
• June 2010 Column and To Do List - Grow your own backyard tea party.
• May 2010 Column and To Do List - Even organic products can be harmful to bees
• April 2010 Column and To Do List - Which peppers grow best in South Bay, on the Peninsula
• March 2010 Column and To Do List - Advice is just a phone call away
• February 2010 Column and To Do List - Rethink your rain-soaked shrubs and perennials
• January 2010 Column and To Do List - Winter pruning delivers bushels of 'fruits of your labor'
• December 2009 Column and To Do List - A primer on composting
  
• November 2009 Column and To Do List - How to replace that not-so-green lawn
• October 2009 Column and To Do List - Cool-season gardening for small gardens
  
• September 2009 Column and To Do List - Nurturing the beneficial bugs in your garden
  
• August 2009 Column and To Do List - Don't plant invasive species
• July 2009 Column and To Do List - Plants to avoid
• June 2009 Column and Tipsheet - Starting a vegetable garden and fire-safe landscaping
• May 2009 Column and To Do List - Surprisingly stunning succulents
• April 2009 Column and To Do List - Planting tomatoes and peppers
  
• March 2009 Column and To Do List - Bees
• February 2009 Column and To Do List - Dormant pruning and citrus
• January 2009 Column and To Do List - Roses, fruit trees, planting, pruning
  
• December 2008 Column and To Do List - Bare root plants:  vegetables, roses, fruit trees
  
• November 2008 Follow-Up Column - Questions about lawn alternatives
  
• November 2008 Column and To Do List - Lawn alternatives
  
• October 2008 Column and To Do List are not available
• September 2008 Column and To Do List - Composting and cool season vegetables
  
• August 2008 Column and To Do List - Seed starting and deep watering
  
• July 2008 Column and To Do List - Native habitat gardening
  
• June 2008 Column and To Do List - Harvest, avocado, worms in lawn
  
• May 2008 Column and To Do List - Irrigation tune up
  
• April 2008 Column and To Do List - Arbor Day and citrus troubleshooting
  
• March 2008 Column and To Do List - Spring cleanup and plant division
  
• February 2008 Column and To Do List - Seed starting, citrus and bermuda grass control
  
• January 2008 Column and To Do List - Introduction to MG program and bare root rose