Under the Solano Sun

It’s hot. I’m hot. My soil is dry, again. The plants are drooping, again. My herbs are bolting – and I want to do the same. Every summer, about this time, I grow tired and weary of the garden. Most days, by the time I’ve watered everything – it’s too hot to do anything else and I retreat to the cool air…

Our crepe myrtle tree (Lagerstroemia indica) is about 25 years old.  In the last ten years, it has continued to grow and look healthy, but has only bloomed sporadically in spite of consistent irrigation.  This year was a welcome change.  For at least eight weeks, the tree was covered in…

Wherever we travel, I always keep an eye out for plants. First, I appreciate the beauty of the natural environment around me.  Some destinations also have official botanical gardens to visit.  Other times I marvel at plantings in neighborhoods or even shopping complexes.  You just never…

I have always loved sunflowers—their bold yellow faces, sturdy stems, and seeds. I also admire Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. I have tried growing them in my backyard, but they have not yet flourished. I likely planted them in the wrong spot, where trees blocked the sunlight they needed most.The sunflower, or…

Last spring, a hummingbird decided to make its nest above our outdoor table on the wires where our lights crossed. It was at an angle where I could not get a good photo of the process, but it was amazing to watch. The delicate, tiny (1.5 inches) nest slowly formed. The female bird sat on the nest every day…