- Author: Tina Saravia
Sometime ago, I noticed these creeping, matting weeds growing between stepping stones in my garden. I thought they were interesting and decided to give them a chance. I'm glad I did not pull them up and let them grow. They have now grown and multiplied and covered the spaces between stepping stones. They help prevent erosion by covering the ground and holding the soil without any help from me — no fertilizing, no watering — that's sustainability at its best. Occasionally, I pull a few of them here and there if they start growing over the stepping stones.
What are these weeds and how do I go about identifying them? As Master Gardeners, we don't know everything, maybe some MGs do, but I don't. But we have access to a lot of research-based information.
One such source is the University of California's Weed Research Information Center website http://weedid.wisc.edu/ca/weedid.php. It has a step-by-step way of helping with weed identification.
First, it asks for the weed type: broad leaf, grass-like or woody. Then it goes to step 2, which asks for different characteristics of the plant. It really helps to have a good size sample of the weed in front of you. About half an hour later, I have a positive ID of my nice weed. (It also helps to have reading glasses or magnifying glasses for quicker identification - I missed the presence of milky sap and some other minute characteristics.)
I found out that my weed is a creeping spurge or matted sandmat (Euphorbia serpens or Chamaesyce serpens). It is an annual originally from South America. It forms a mat of prostrate stems which root at nodes where the stem comes in contact with the ground. Like all the other plants in the Euphorbia family (e.g., poinsettia), the milky sap is poisonous and at the very least, irritating to the skin. Since it's a groundcover, it's not an issue for me.
So next time you see an unknown plant, don't be too quick getting rid of it. Remember to practice IPM, Integrated Pest Management. Always try to identify it first, then go from there.
- Author: Cheryl A Potts
Either I am getting old and tired or I am coming to my senses, as this year I am putting in a very small vegetable garden. The usual five or six tomato plants have been replaced with two purchased plants and one, yes only one, growing from one tiny seed I sowed directly into the ground as a whim. A few carrots, a few beans, a few peas, a combination of greens for the morning smoothie and afternoon salads, and some herbs. That's it!
This summer I shall be free of begging my neighbors to take some more zucchini. This year I will not scratch my head till it hurts wondering why I planted all that kohlrabi. This year I will not tire of looking up new squash recipes. I will no longer be that woman dragging a bag of corn to the book club meeting. At last I will not despair over having eggplant as I have never even liked egg plant. And this is the year the grandchildren will not run from me when they see me coming, as I will not be bringing them bags of tomatoes, which they claim to hate. (I cannot convince them it is only because they have not tasted a good tomato. The grocery store nor McDonald's carry them.)
I do not can nor freeze my vegetables, as I prefer buying or picking fresh in season. So I have come to realize it is silly for me to have rows upon rows of green beans. I now have just enough to enjoy and not tire of. In the past I have had large patches of radishes. About five radishes per season is really enough for me, so the radish patch is out. I use very little green pepper so eight pepper plants is ridiculous. (Yes, I know they are good for me, full of vitamin C, but...)
Do not think that I do not believe in sharing. I think sharing is very important. It is good to take a few extra goodies to the food bank or homeless shelter. It is nice to show up at an occasion with a platter of outrageously great tasting tomatoes sprinkled with a nice olive oil and crumpled feta cheese instead of the proverbial macaroni salad, but enough is enough. We, well, me, tend to over-plant. Our eyes are bigger than what we need or even want. I have yet to hear a fellow garden claim. "Oh, my goodness! I am out of zucchini!" Have you?
Save water, your back, your money, your time, and your relationships with your neighbors. Plant what you want and what you like, but plant sensibly for your needs, not the economic needs of the seed catalog people.
- Author: Mike Gunther
Natures Freedoms Ring
Planting, Growing, Harvesting
Conserve Its Future
- Author: Betty Homer
In May 2016, I went on the Capay Valley Mother's Day Garden Tour. All proceeds from this tour go towards establishing and enhancing garden projects in Esparto and Capay Valley, including the restoration project at Grange Hall, a historic landmark in Guinda. I visited all the locations for this year's tour and will present one of more sites on this blog as appropriate. Various classes were also included on this tour such as learning how to make rose petal infused ice cream, silk screening, learning how to assemble bouquets, corsage making, lessons in modern suburban homesteading, and leaf and flower printing for children.
For this blog, I will feature the grandest of all the sites, in my opinion, which was at Full Belly Farm, which is one of the largest organic local farms in our area. There are a number of different gardens visitors can wander through—gardens which feature edibles, decorative/ornamental plants, drought tolerant garden featuring California native plants, a succulent garden, a rose garden, a cut flower garden with perennials and annuals in full bloom, and lavender fields. There are also plenty of farm animals for viewing—sheep, chickens, cows, and pigs. There is also a straw bale house on the farm which is an example of a sustainably built structure which requires minimal heating and cooling. I especially loved the beautiful farm stand which featured farm products and eggs.
If you missed this year's tour, fear not, as the tour is returning next year for Mother's Day as well. For more information, see http://www.capayvalleygardentour.com/workshops.htm.
- Author: Karen Metz
Amidst the chaos of planning and preparing for a road trip, I sought solace in the garden. I wandered over to my blueberry bushes. I have been waiting for the berries to ripen for weeks. They were still there, big and green, darn it. My sweet peas hadn't bloomed yet either. In my sunny back yard their bloom season is usually very short as they dry out in the heat. I just knew that they would probably bloom while I was on the trip and then be gone by the time I got back.
I looked over in another part of the yard and spotted the first gladiola bud showing its first hint of color. Looked like I would miss it all. When you have cared for plants all year long you hate to miss their big peak. Bummer, bummer, bummer.
But then we had a spurt of warm weather. I was actually able to eat five blueberries. My sweet pea plant produced one beautiful, fragrant blossom for me to admire. The gladiola exploded into bloom along the entire flower stalk with show-stopping red and yellow.
Life is truly good. Now I could begin my road trip, 1,200 miles in three days, with a light heart.