http://groups.ucanr.org/sbdisplay/blogs.cfm?county=5576&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed NEWSPAPER ARTICLES en-us UC ANR http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:52:38 PST Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:52:38 PST By Val Whitmyre, U.C. Master Gardener When I seek ideas for my writing, I often look to my garden. There are usually a few ongoing problems that help inspire me.      In the front yard, there are two Mayten trees (Maytenus boaria), both planted 16 years ago. One was planted in a deep, narrow hole; the other was planted in a shallow, wide hole. After all these years, the one planted in the narrow hole is only 10 feet tall, while the other is a thriving 20-foot beauty.      The roots of the...... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:55:31 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2011&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=2011 by Denise Levine, U. C. Master Gardener Now is a good time to plant onions in Napa Valley. Walla Walla, Red Torpedo and Red Burger are just some of the seedling varieties I have seen in local nurseries, and a variety of seeds and “sets” (small bulbs) for onion relatives—such as chives, pickling onions and scallions—is available, too. Onions are members of the Amaryllis family. Instead of a flamboyant flower, they have strappy edible leaves and edible bulbs that store energy and moisture to......
]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:25:41 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1996&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1996 By Yvonne Rasmussen, U. C. Master Gardener This time of year, as the weather starts to cool and we get a little more moisture in the air, we start to see some fungi in the garden. These might be mushrooms growing in the lawn or at the base of a tree, or conks growing out from the trunk. Other smaller fungi can produce white, black or orange spots, fuzzy material or residue on leaves. Still others make strange forms we might not recognize as fungi, such as puff balls, earth stars, galls or......
]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:23:18 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1995&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1995 By Sue Hurley, U. C. Master Gardener The first time I gazed upon a dahlia I was with my father, driving up the Arlington Circle in Berkeley. I spotted a driveway filled with black pots and tall plants that had dinner-plate size flowers.  I had never seen anything like them. Dahlias are a perennial that grows from tuberous roots and blooms from mid- to late summer until first frost. I must warn you now: Collecting them can be addicting. I love them because they make wonderful cut flowers and......
]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:19:08 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1994&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1994 By Bill Silfvast, U. C. Master Gardener Do you have cute little animals in your backyard that you enjoy watching as they chase each other around the tree branches and hop along the fence, occasionally sitting up to look around at their beautiful environment? You might even get the urge to cuddle them since they appear so lovable. Or do you have awful little pests that eat your homegrown fruit, including figs, grapes, walnuts, persimmons, kiwi, cucumbers and tomatoes? Do they dig holes in the...... Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:11:46 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1993&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1993 by Penny Pawl, U. C. Master Gardener Swales are ditches or trenches that catch rainwater for the purpose of conserving it in the soil. And if you top the swale with compost, you will gradually improve the water-holding capacity of the soil underneath. Most swales are created on hillsides to keep rainwater from washing downhill, but mine are on the Napa Valley floor. They are not straight but rather bend around the plants already in the area. They are about two feet wide and 12 to 15 inches......
]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:12:46 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1889&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1889 By Yvonne Rasmussen, U. C. Master Gardner At this time of year, I start to notice the ants in my garden, and sometimes in my house. In the garden I see them mostly when I water in an area that has been dry for awhile. They come boiling out from various places, frantically carrying their eggs and young out of the ground to keep them from drowning. In the garden, ants are rarely a problem, but they can be an indication of other insect problems and sometimes a nuisance. I rarely see ants inside......
]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:58:08 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1869&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1869 By Penny Pawl, U. C. Master Gardener  You may not realize it, but when you walk on soil you are walking on billions of creatures. I found this information on a Purdue University web site:  “Soil is alive! In fact, a single shovel full of rich garden soil contains more species of organisms than can be found above ground in the entire Amazon rain forest.”  These microorganisms are so tiny that it takes a powerful lens to see them. They are working the soil, eating and recycling, which in turn...... Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:57:12 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1868&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1868 By Mary Hudson, U. C. Master GardenerThe growing season in the Napa Valley has been anything but normal this year. Our typical warm summer days were replaced by prolonged periods of below-normal temperatures, followed by brief above-normal heat spikes.       As a result, home garden vegetable and fruit crops were slow to start and quick to ripen. I fretted over my vegetable garden this summer, wondering when the tomatoes would finally turn red. I also recall an extremely hot Sunday that caused...... Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:17:17 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1790&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1790 By Cheryl Toivola, U. C. Master Gardener  An important goal for many gardeners is to maintain a pest- and disease-free landscape. Although it is impossible to eliminate all nuisances, reducing the amount of pests is certainly achievable.      The most effective way to reduce pests in the garden is to begin before you have even selected any plants.       First, start with a design that groups plants with similar needs together. Cluster plants that have comparable requirements for water,...... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:39:33 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1750&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1750 By Sue Hurley, U. C. Master Gardener Now that I have a daylily bed in my garden, I see that daylilies are one tough plant.  They adapt to almost any location, from full sun to part shade, and to any type of soil.  Napa Valley’s Mediterranean climate makes them a perfect choice if you are seeking a hearty, drought-tolerant and nearly pest-free flowering plant. Daylilies enjoy regular watering but can survive with less. Fall is an excellent time to plant this tuberous perennial. It is also a...... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:38:17 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1749&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1749 By Sharyn Fuller, U.C. Master Gardener Garage sales and collecting junk took on a whole new meaning for me recently. I had never been a garage-sale junkie, nor had I ever had the patience to go rummaging through other people’s stuff. I had plenty of my own.      However, I have been collecting and displaying various types of garden art long before it was the “in” thing to do. Collecting junk, I realized, would take my garden art to a new dimension. I have since seen much of this junk for sale...... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:36:28 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1748&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1748 By Dottie Lee, U.C. Master Gardener When thinking about wildlife habitat, most people envision a vast open space. Yet even a backyard garden can provide habitat for wildlife, such as birds, bees, butterflies and the many beneficial insects that populate our county.       Creating habitat gardens is increasingly important as our wilderness areas shrink and rural and suburban buffer zones disappear. Songbirds, honey bees, quail, butterflies and frogs are declining in number. Our home gardens...... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:33:42 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1747&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1747 By Yvonne Rasmussen, U. C. Cooperative Extension What does it mean to have a sustainable garden? To sustain means to keep going or to continue, and sustainability is the ability to carry on an activity indefinitely.     But what does that concept mean in reference to the garden? Can we have a sustainable home garden?      For many, the word refers to the environmental impact of our garden activities. As an abandoned garden quickly demonstrates, nature left alone produces a weedy and chaotic...... Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:32:02 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1746&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1746 By Denise Levine, U. C. Master Gardener My dad called me a few weeks ago with a cucumber question. His vines were growing well, looked healthy and had a lot of flowers, but he could see only one tiny cucumber.  He had noticed that he doesn’t have a lot of bees this year and thought perhaps that was the problem. The answer I found to his query was a real surprise. According to the U.C. Davis Research and Information Center, on a normal cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus), the first 10 to 20...... Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:00:32 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1596&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1596 By Denise Levine, U. C. Master Gardener Whether they are competing for your barbecued burger or just buzzing around, making you and your kids nervous, yellowjackets can be a real headache. Napa County hosts at least a dozen different types, but the ones refered to as common yellowjackets are the ones we see most often. Yellowjackets are a type of social wasp. They are scavengers and predators and very protective of their nests. Workers usually stay within 400 feet of home. They make their...... Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:58:45 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1595&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1595 By Susan Boeschen, U.C. Master Gardener I admit to being a fanatic about mulching. I think it might be the single most important thing you can do for the health and appearance of your garden. And mulching is way up there on my list of small things we can do to help improve the environment as well.      Mulches are materials put on top of the soil. They differ from soil amendments, which are materials mixed into the soil to improve its structure. Mulches help reduce water evaporation, keep...... Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:56:16 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1594&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1594 By Pat Hitchcock, U.C. Master Gardener Our Mediterranean climate with its mild, wet winters offers us the opportunity to grow food year-round. Summer gardens right now are bursting with the vegetables that like warm weather, such as tomatoes, beans and squash. When the cooler weather arrives in late September, these plants start to fade, but many other vegetables thrive through the winter and can provide great fresh eating.      Now is the time to be planning for fall, winter and early spring...... Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:55:18 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1593&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1593 By Denise Levine, U.C. Master Gardener When I think of topiary, I think of Disneyland and whimsical cartoon characters reproduced as perfectly clipped plants. In fact, Walt Disney did much to acquaint many of us with topiary, an ancient art from a time when a skilled Roman landscape gardener was called a “topiarius,” a creator of places. Topiary is the art of creating sculptures from clipped and pruned trees and shrubs. Plants traditionally used for topiary were those common to......
]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:43:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1493&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1493 By Val Whitmyre, U. C. Master Gardener Picture this: a balmy evening, the perfect time to dine outside, and company is about to arrive. You’ve just invested in a new high-tech outdoor kitchen. While sipping a cool drink, a familiar whine suddenly changes everything. Diving close to your ears, pausing long enough for a quick bite, one mosquito can wreck all your plans. Dinner is quickly moved into the house, hopefully without letting in the unwanted guest. We can reduce the numbers...... Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:41:34 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1492&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1492 By Juanita Boutwell, U. C. Master Gardener I grew up in potato country – not Idaho, but south central Colorado, where the farmers grow mainly potatoes and barley. So we ate potatoes at least once a day. But I had never eaten fresh, organic, home-grown potatoes until I started growing them a few years ago. What a treat!      Potatoes are my favorite crop, not only because they taste so good but also because they are so easy. Many different varieties are available now by mail order. You can......
]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:47:51 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1459&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1459 By Yvonne Rasmussen, U. C. Master Gardener Facing a second year of drought, Napa Valley gardeners have to make some tough decisions about what to water. All plants need water, even cactus and succulents. If you have to ration water, give priority to your biggest investments. Focus on your garden’s most significant trees and shrubs. Even established trees need water, and since water tables are lower than usual, trees that haven’t needed water in the past may need some this...... Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:45:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1458&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1458 By Val Whitmyre, U.C. Master Gardener A recent trip down memory lane took me to my dream destination: the island of Capri. In my mind, I see roses rambling over ancient stone walls. Fragrant lemon blossoms, olive orchards and vegetable crops intermingle with grapevines as they climb up the fertile hills. The light is a photographer’s dream. Brilliant white homes nestle in deep green scrub foliage. The two communities—Capri and, further up the hill, Anacapri—offer...... Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:13:31 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1409&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1409 By Darla R. Dangler, U. C. Master Gardener The Napa Valley has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Last summer was particularly dry, with virtually no rain from March through August. We all know that plants need water, but conserving water is also important. The most economical way to water plants is to use drip irrigation. For the plant to benefit, the water has to get to the roots. Overhead watering by hose or sprinklers not only wastes water...... Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:11:37 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1408&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1408 By Yvonne Rasmussen, U.C. Master Gardener I am not a fussy gardener. Like many people, I enjoy gardening but have limited time and energy. I don’t want to spend all my free time tending my garden. I want to be able to enjoy it and relax a little. So plants in my garden have to give me plenty of “bang for the buck.” Getting the prettiest garden for the least amount of work is the focus of the next Napa County Master Gardener workshop on Saturday, June 13. This...... Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:06:09 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1407&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1407 By Penny Pawl, U. C. Master Gardener It’s late spring and the itch to plant vegetables may be pulling you to the garden, but where do you start? Maybe this year you will choose to make a bigger commitment to gardening by installing raised beds. Some people garden in used wine barrels or storebought containers, a good option if you don’t have much ground. But even in containers, you still need to provide plants with well draining, enriched soil. In raised beds and...... Tue, 26 May 2009 21:14:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1324&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1324 By Bill Silfvast, U. C. Master Gardener What do you think of when you see the word “heirloom” associated with tomatoes? I used to think they were old varieties that were probably especially tasty but finicky to grow. Well, part of that is true. Heirlooms can be old and are usually very tasty, but they’re not finicky. Heirloom tomatoes come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, including red, purple, green, yellow and orange. Some even have hints of black or...... Thu, 14 May 2009 16:15:29 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1288&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1288 By Susan Boeschen, U. C. Master Gardener Roses are not generally on the top of anyone’s list for a shade garden. I did not intend to grow roses in the shade. Turns out I neglected to take into consideration the rapid growth rate of the shade trees in the vicinity of my rose garden. Roses that started out happily basking in nearly full sun eight years ago are now growing in partial shade. The good news is that, here in the Napa Valley, we can get away with breaking a...... Wed, 06 May 2009 10:05:24 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1260&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1260 By Juanita Boutwell, U. C. Master Gardener “Down the Garden Path,” the Napa County Master Gardeners’ biannual garden tour, takes place on Sunday, May 3. If you still do not have tickets, you can purchase them on event day in the parking lot of the University of California Cooperative Extension office at 1710 Soscol in Napa, or at the Master Gardeners’ demonstration garden at Connolly Ranch in Napa. We hope you can stop by and see a few of our members’ beautiful...... Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:14:51 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1241&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1241 By Denise Levine, U. C. Master Gardener Many factors influence what I choose to grow in my vegetable garden each year. Sometimes I focus on intriguing varieties that are too unusual, expensive or fragile to find in the grocery store. Some years, I go for color themes, mixing purple-leaved opal basil with deep-veined petunias, purple-podded beans and shiny globe eggplants. Other years, I plant my garden with my schedule in mind. I want to be sure that I am around to water at the hottest...... Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:12:57 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1240&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1240 By Val Whitmyre, U.C. Master Gardener In the spring, we gardeners want fast growth, masses of flowers and lots of fruit, and we aren’t very patient about it. When the soil warms, we can’t wait to plant our vegetables and colorful annuals. Experts advise us to add a slow-release fertilizer when we plant, but soil already contains 13 different available nutrients, so why add more? Newly planted vegetables, annuals, fruit trees, lawns and perennials need a jump start—more...... Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:09:52 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1239&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1239 By Jill Rowley, U. C. Master Gardener Gardeners of the Napa Valley, mark your calendars. On Sunday, May 3, you will be able to tour six lovely gardens situated in or near the city of Napa. This is an opportunity to see the work done by six different Master Gardeners and to gather ideas for new plants and designs for your own home garden. At each garden, you will be able to purchase some of the featured plants. I recently visited two of the gardens on the tour, the first being a garden...... Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:00:22 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1179&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1179 By Susan Boeschen, U.C. Master Gardener After much cajoling, my husband and son-in-law have built a wonderful arbor on our back patio. In our warm Mediterranean climate, arbors are a useful addition to the landscape. An arbor covered with leafy vines will provide a shady outdoor living space with a sense of enclosure and privacy. And an arbor built along the south or western side of the house will also reduce the...... Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:57:26 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1178&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1178 By Susanne von Rosenberg, U.C. Master Gardener This is the time of year when weeds really get going. We’ve had our rain, we’re getting a lot more sunlight, and the soil is warming up. Sometimes it seems like weeds just sprout up overnight. So what is a weed? A weed is simply any plant that is growing where you don’t want it to grow. Dandelions are weeds to most people, but if California poppies start showing up among your rose bushes, you might consider them a weed,...... Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:00:08 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1139&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1139 By Val Whitmyre, U.C. Master Gardener Last month, you read in this space about two properties that will be showcased on the Napa County Master Gardeners bi-annual garden tour. I am going to tell you about two more. On Sunday, May 3, Napa County Master Gardeners will present “Down the Garden Path,” a self-guided tour of six notable gardens owned by members. These gardens reflect the ideas and gardening knowledge of the owners, not to mention the physical labor required to...... Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:05:23 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1119&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1119 By Jill Rowley, U.C. Master Gardener Last September, I was part of a group that visited a lovely garden in the Mount George area of Napa. It was a beautiful fall afternoon, and we were admiring the colorful pumpkins and squash and wandering among the zinnias and climbing roses when I looked up and saw two birds silhouetted against the hills. One was a Red-tailed Hawk, the other a Turkey Vulture, or buzzard as they are sometimes called. The sight of those two birds started me thinking...... Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:26:10 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1104&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1104 By Susanne von Rosenberg, U. C. Master Gardener We’ve had so much warm weather in Napa County recently, it’s hard to remember that our typical last-frost date is actually April 15. Even so, it’s not too early to start some seeds indoors so that you’ll have seedlings ready when the soil has warmed enough. It’s also time to plant some seeds outside, such as peas, spinach, chard and radishes. Why start seeds yourself? Because it’s fun, you have more...... Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:15:55 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1103&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1103 By Val Whitmyre, U.C. Master Gardener I have often wondered what the first flower looked like and where it came from. So I was pleased when PBS aired a documentary called “First Flower.” According to the narrator, the origin of the first flower is an ongoing mystery. If it weren’t for flowers, we wouldn’t be here. They are the source of almost all of our food, including corn, wheat and rice, and the source of our medicines from earliest times until the present....... Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:09:58 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1102&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1102 By Val Whitmyre, U. C. Master Gardener Napa County Master Gardeners tend two demonstration gardens in Napa Valley to educate residents about the plants that thrive here. Because the valley encompasses multiple microclimates, the two gardens include a variety of plants. Both sites welcome visitors. At the entrance to the community garden in Logvy Park in Calistoga, Master Gardener Ray Sittig, a blue-ribbon winner at local fairs, has turned a small plot of hardpan soil into a beautiful...... Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:59:43 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1101&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1101 By Jodie Young, U. C. Master Gardener Spring gardens are coming up irises—perennial bearded irises to be exact. Look for their multi-flowered stems with outstanding three- to five-inch blossoms in single or multi-colored hues with smooth, ruffled or crinkled edges. Each bearded iris flower has three inner petals that may be erect, arching or flaring and three outer sepals, known as falls. Each sepal has a short tuft of hair down the center, hence the name “bearded...... Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:50:23 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1100&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1100 Diane Flyr - UC Master Gardener Get out your calendars and mark down Sunday, May 3, for the Napa County Master Gardeners’ biannual garden tour. This “Down the Garden Path” tour will feature six of the Master Gardeners’ own gardens, as well as our demonstration garden at Napa’s Connolly Ranch. This event offers a rare opportunity to see how Master Gardener volunteers put their education and training to work at home. You will also have the chance to learn from...... Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:18:39 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1043&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=1043 By John Hoffman, U.C. Master Gardener Every experienced gardener knows that spring is the time to plant. So why, on this end-of-January day, am I saying, “It’s time to plant”? I am referring to deciduous fruit trees. I know you can buy them in nursery containers, ready for planting, at any time of year. But when you buy them now, you can buy them bare rooted—which is to say, unpotted. You can inspect the root system and select only those with strong, healthy...... Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:47:50 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=974&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=974 By Darla R. Dangler, U. C. Master Gardener By the end of this month, some of us will no longer be delighted with the flashing lights of the season nor fond of vacuuming up pine needles. We long to just get the house back to normal. As we mentally arrange and rearrange our house, we spot that beautiful Christmas cactus that we just could not resist in November. The plant is still in its prime, with its bright green leaves shaped like crab claws and its funnel-like bright flowers still......
]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:08:09 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=860&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed okda@sbcglobal.net(David Alosi) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=860