Under the Solano Sun

yellow sunflower closeup picture

Seasonal observations by UC Master Gardeners of Solano County

Alocasia macrorrhizos-A Plant of Giant Nature!

June 2, 2026
By Michelle Krespi
 I have a good friend who has an online plant business who happens to be from the Philippines. We regularly exchange plants with one another. She recently gifted me a large Elephant Ear plant. Being unfamiliar with this plant, I started my research and learned that this plant was native to the…
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California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) Companion Plants

May 29, 2026
By Pamela Muick
California Buckeye is one of our most drought-tolerant species and is tolerant of a wide range of soils. It often grows with oaks in the foothill regions of the state surrounding the Central Valley.In the words of John Thomas Howell, author of Marin Flora, the California Buckeye is a sight to behold in…
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Drip Irrigation 101: How to Save Water and Grow Healthier Plants

May 29, 2026
By Melinda Nestlerode
If you had the opportunity to garden more sustainably, conserve our environment, and improve the viability of your plants by making one relatively easy and inexpensive change, would you do it?  Many people use traditional spray-head irrigation, or even hand-water outdoor plants, but there are a myriad…
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