Imagine my delight when I found these tiny dragons on my Helborus hybrid. They are of the order Coleoptera, and the larvae of Ladybeetles, or Ladybugs, scientifically known as Hippodamia convergens. The larvae are more voracious aphid slayers than the adult.
There's a map on the back of your seed packet. Colored zones of the contiguous forty-eight states are highlighted. On the side the colors are identified as when to plant your seeds. Climate change has disrupted that map. Areas that were cooler in the spring are now getting warmer.
Gardening is inspirational, empowering, creative, and exhausting. I weed, prune, rake and mulch all in anticipation of what I really want to do - plant. If I am not already achy when I come in, I will be the next day or two or three.
For centuries, many cultures linked mistletoe, a member of the sandalwood family Santalaceae, to life-giving power, fertility and peace. The Romans celebrated with mistletoe at the festival of Saturnalia. In 18th century England, a kissing ball of mistletoe evoked romance and goodwill.
It's one of the world's most important food crops. It's incredibly productive, and in Solano County it can grow almost year-round with some frost protection. In the home garden it's insanely easy to growwith the right conditions it's pretty much effortless. It's the potato.
