Under the Solano Sun

Several years ago, while visiting a dear friend and former work colleague in the Bay Area, I toured her plant-packed backyard admiring her husband's koi pond and her collection of tropical plants.

My old college pal and I love mangoes. We go shopping at the local Asian grocery store and buy Manila mangoes by the box. Teresa is not a master gardener, but everything she grows survives and does well.

Have you looked at the ingredients in a bag of soil mix lately? Some provide peat. Some contain coir. Does it really make a difference in your container or your garden? Peat is very slowly decomposing vegetation found in watery, anaerobic areas like bogs.

What is summer without home-grown tomatoes and fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum)? But every year I feel like I spend hours of time watering my large-leafed sweet basil. The stems get floppy, or the leaves get sunburned and then wilt on the hottest days. So, this year I decided to try something new.

It's hot outside. You have started a garden project and you want to finish it. Ask yourself if the project is urgent and you need to get it done. Here are some safety tips to consider if you work in the heat. Plan your project Work in the early morning, late afternoon, or at night if you can.