Napa Master Gardener Column

I always love the bulb catalogs that drop through my mail slot at the end of every summer. I once overbought and then procrastinated on planting them. This was when I lived in Humboldt County.

My daughter gave me a wonderful, scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) for Mother's Day several years ago. It flourishes on my side porch, and I repot it regularly. I like it so much that I have rooted sprigs of that plant and given them as gifts.

We have had our first rain, and the nights are starting to get cold. Napans are fortunate: we can enjoy our gardens pretty much year-round and that includes working in them. I welcome rain. First, it means fire season is over. It also softens the soil, making it easier to pull out weeds.

Every year at this time, deciduous trees drop their leaves. This natural phenomenon has many benefits. For one thing, trees don't really need their leaves now that the days are shorter and there's less sunlight for photosynthesis.

Several decades ago, I went hiking on Mount Tamalpais with the mother of a good friend. She handed me a burlap bagreason unknownand off we went. I soon found out why she wanted me to carry a bag.