Napa Master Gardener Column

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Cymbidium orchids (commons.wikimedia.org)

Repotting Orchids

January 11, 2025
Orchids (Phalaenopsis) are readily available this time of year in nurseries and even grocery stores. They are popular hostess gifts. I find them quite beautiful and I am always tempted to add another one to my collection.
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Starting Seeds (handyhometips.com)

Starting Plants from Seeds

January 4, 2025
By Yvonne Rasmussen, UC Master Gardener of Napa County Growing plants from seeds rather than from nursery starts has many advantages and can be an awe-inspiring experience. By using seeds, you have more options than nurseries offer.
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Peppers! (Watter)

Pick a Peck of Peppers

December 28, 2024
My mother adored pepperblack, red, green, hot, sweet, any kind. She used so much cracked pepper in our meals that most of them looked as if they were dug out of a gravel pit. I used to sulkily scrape it off while she told me I didn't know what was good. Times and tastes have changed, though.
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Christmas Amaryllis (C Watter)

Christmas Amaryllis.

December 21, 2024
By Cindy Watter, UC Master Gardener of Napa County Amaryllis is a popular Christmas gift and decoration. I have received many over the years, and they are long lasting and beautiful. However, they are not true amaryllis.
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Bringing Nature Home (Amazon)

Sustaining Wildlife with Native Plants

December 13, 2024
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants was first published in 2007 and set off an enthusiasm for native plant gardening. This practice is now known as rewilding in horticulture circles. Author Doug Tallamy is an entomology professor at the University of Delaware.
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