Napa Master Gardener Column

The wonderful monarch butterfly has suffered a huge decline all over the United States. Here in California the situation is even worse. Although I have a big stand of milkweed, the monarch's favorite plant, I have not even seen a monarch this summer or fall.

One of my daughter's friends from college co-authored a book, Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, by Noah Siegel and Christian Schwartz (Ten Speed Press).

A few years ago I found a new plant growing in the back of my butterfly garden. It was about three feet tall and had red blooms. Butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators seemed to love the plant so I left it alone. The next year it came up again and a visitor identified it as Jupiter's Beard.

I enjoy Amy Stewart's writing style. She informs and entertains at the same time. She has written a number of books about plants, worms and insects but also written historical fiction.

Remember those days when your parents would drive down the highway and the front window and front of the car would be covered with dead bugs? The so-called windshield phenomenon does not happen much anymore. When I check my car, I don't find any little bug bodies.