Under the Solano Sun

I can't help it. I get hungry (and impatient) for the sweet taste of fresh tomatoes especially after the last one is plucked from my backyard garden in the fall. So, I did it again.

I am a frequent flier at UC Davis. My husband and I have walked our dogs the entire length of the arboretum once or twice weekly for over twenty years.

You're on JEOPARDY! It's the final question, and you've bet all your winnings. Quick! Here's your final JEOPARDY! answer. This spice is common to Ethiopian, Thai, Spanish, Indian, Mexican, and Greek cuisine. Do-de-do-duh DO. DO. DUH. Time is up.

There was a fascinating article in the New York Times on June 9th on corporate control of seeds for mass agribusiness production. The bottom line for the writer, Dan Barber, is the importance of developing more emphasis on seed diversity than uniformity, organic farming versus corporate production.

I love my easy-to-grow, leggy Verbena bonariensis with its clusters of butterfly-attracting purple flowers, but for the second year in a row, it has been affected by powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that is favored by wind and dry conditions.