Under the Solano Sun

On Saturday, August 11th a New Sensory Garden and a bench in honor of Mary Bourguignon were dedicated at the Fairfield Civic Center Library on Kentucky Street. Mary Bourguignon was a lifetime community activist and Fairfield library supporter.

A few evenings back, driving into town, I saw a young woman park her minivan next to a field of sunflowers. She and a little girl got out of their car and walked up to the flowers.

There is little doubt that trees are wonderful both out in nature and in home gardens. My wife and I have lived in our current home for over 20 years and when we moved into our very modest-sized front and backyard were quite undeveloped.

My husband and teen son just returned from a tour of Italy and Greece on a school trip with teachers and classmates.

A few years ago, I purchased a one-gallon plant from the Solano College plant sale. The label said Dorycinum hirsutum. I quickly planted it in my bare backyard and waited for it to grow. It's a slow growing plant and took several years to really show it's beauty and to reseed.