Under the Solano Sun

golden yellow sunflower highlighted in a field of sunflowers against the blue sky

Seasonal observations by UC Master Gardeners of Solano County

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green leaved tree showing yellow male flowers

Nothing to Sneeze At

May 16, 2022
Arbor Day just passed, and we are now full on into allergy season. I hope that anyone who recently bought and planted a tree did a little prior research. Had I had been a smarter gardener years ago, I would have first researched the trees I planted more thoroughly.
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Aphid meal for the ladybugs. All photos by Paula Pashby

Lucky Ladybugs!

May 12, 2022
This spring, while stepping out into my garden to make some plans for the upcoming summer vegetable garden, I noticed quite a few pollinators enjoying the winter vegetable plants that had begun the process of going to seed and flower production.
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Praying Mantis Curtain. photos by Karen Metz

Timing

May 9, 2022
It was a breezy day in the garden as my husband and I were trying to decide where to locate some plant shelves. Hey, what's that fluff hanging from the tomato cage? asked my husband. I came over to look.
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all photos taken in Solano County by Jennifer DeDora

Alfalfa is for Horses, Sheep, Goats...and Gardeners!

May 4, 2022
An average of a million acres in California is planted in alfalfa every year, most of the yield is used as animal feed, but some is used in other ways....such as gardening! Medicago sativa, alsoknownaslucerne, and in California as alfalfa, is a perennial that belongs to the legume family.
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Lots of nectarines. photos by Cindy Yee

Trying Harder

May 2, 2022
Every year I find excuses to avoid thinning our prolific nectarine tree. It is a tedious and time-consuming chore, and for me, conveniently postponed until too late. My laziness inevitably results in ripe fruit the size of big cherries.
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