The Stanislaus Sprout

Plant me as - a bulb When to plant me - early to late fall (late September to November) Where to plant me – in full sun, otherwise I won’t bloom.   Plant me – 6" deep in the ground, a large pot, or a raised bed and feed me with an all-purpose bulb fertilizer How to care for me - keep…

Lantana (Lantana camara, Lantana montevidensis) is an easy to grow drought tolerant plant that can be grown in beds, pots or hanging baskets. L. camara grows as a bush, and L. montevidensis, or trailing lantana, can be grown as a vine or shrub. Both are available in a wide variety of flower colors, such as…

As late summer gardens begin to fade, it can be tempting to deadhead spent flowers so the garden appears tidier. But a “messy” garden can be a healthier one for nature, especially birds.  Seeing birds hanging onto seed heads and foraging for seeds on the ground is a joy to watch. Recently, I had…

I love birds, raptors, corvids, sparrows, and chickadees. If it has feathers, I’m a fan. Birds are an asset to the garden. They eat insects and multiple seeds from our nemesis, the weed. They loosen soil with their scratching and bring joy with their songs and clever antics.  However, keeping your…

It may seem a bit early to talk about cool season vegetables but for those of us who like to start our own seedlings or maybe squeeze in two crops, July is the time to start preparing. With the right timing, soil preparation, and pest management, you can enjoy abundant harvests of these nutrient-packed…