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

Primary Image
photo by Brenda Altman

Avoid Tree Planting Errors

August 25, 2021
Planting a tree seems like a no-brainer. Purchase a tree from your big box store or local nursery. Find out how much sun and water it needs and find a good place to plant it. Next, dig an appropriate size hole, ease the tree out of the pot, and plop it in the hole. Add water and watch it grow.
View Article
Primary Image
Male Carpenter Bee

Humble to be a Bumble

August 23, 2021
I was aghast when my neighbor walked up to me and asked, "how do I get rid of the bumble bees around my house? They might be carpenter bees and I have to get rid of them." So, it got me thinking, maybe I should do a blog about carpenter bees and bumblebees.
View Article
Primary Image
Havasu & Jalepeno Plants - Al Alvarado

Havasu & Jalapeno Pepper Adventure

August 20, 2021
My husband has many colleagues with gardens who share their surplus bounty. He has brought home many bags of zucchini, tomatoes, and oranges none of which go to waste. One day, my husband brought home a jar of jalapeo jelly that one coworker made as a special treat.
View Article
Primary Image
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Bobcat_photo.jpg

Bobcats

August 19, 2021
I used to only worry about encountering a coyote or rattlesnake when I stepped out my front door. But on June 16th, a neighbor wrote a post about a bobcat they've been seeing on their property on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pg/WilkinsonAcres/posts/.
View Article
Primary Image
Milkweed. photos by Melinda Nestlerode

Monarchs in Minnesota

August 18, 2021
As a young child in Hayward, California, I wandered through our neighborhood observing the flora and fauna. Those were the good old days; when a 6-year-old child walking outside by herself was not considered neglectful child abuse, or even given a second thought.
View Article