Napa Master Gardener Column

For many locals, the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County's annual tomato sale is the true harbinger of spring. Details about the event on April 15 are at the end of this article. We are selling two dozen proven varieties this year, ranging from fat, red beefsteak to tiny, sweet cherries.

Spring is in the air and it is time to plant milkweed for the Monarch butterflies. Milkweed (Asclepias) provides food for the butterfly larvae, and its flowers provide nectar for the other pollinators in our area.

Who knew that Napa harbors a beautiful yet potentially lethal tree whose strange habits could satisfy Agatha Christie's search for the perfect murder weapon?

I keep running into the words regenerative agriculture, a movement first promoted by the Rodale Institute in the 1980s.

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutritious vegetables you can eat and you can easily grow them in pots on your patio. High in fiber, beta carotene and antioxidants, they promote a healthy gut, a healthy brain, good vision, and a strong immune system.