Napa Master Gardener Column

Most organizations have mission statements, but how often do you see one put into action? The U.C.

It's getting close to what I call California native plant season. Fall and winter are the best times to plant natives, and that's also when the Napa Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) holds its annual plant sale.

What makes a berry a berry? Recently, the host of a new cooking show asked if a cranberry (the key ingredient in a cooking challenge) was really a berry. Her question piqued my curiosity. Although I like berries, my attention to them is usually limited to their use as a yogurt topping or dessert.

Hi, my name is Wanda/Willie Red Wiggler Worm (Eisenia fetida), and I live in a worm bin. The bin is cared for by a local garden lover who uses the end product to fertilize her plants.

I went to the Santa Cruz farmers market last week and meandered over to a plant stand. Someone was selling lemon balm in a pot for four dollars. Why would anyone pay for one of those? I mused out loud. I have hundreds I would gladly give away.