- Author: Lanie Keystone
Happiest of Holidays and Warmest Greetings for a Healthy and Wonderful New Year!
It seems there's no better way to begin the New Year than with plans for a new adventure. To help us along, the American Horticultural Society has compiled one adventure after another in their two part volume, Gardens Across America. (ISBN 1-58979-296-3 $19.95). Written by Thomas S. Spencer and John J. Russell, this overflowing compendium, subtitled Guide to American Public Gardens and Arboretums, is just that…overflowing with detailed, irresistible information about touring our nation's gardens.
They've divided the two volumes geographically—East of the Mississippi and West of the Mississippi. The book that I keep close at hand is, of course, Volume II, the western edition. It's perfect for planning a long jaunt or just jumping in the car for a fun, spontaneous day-trip. Volume I sits expectantly on my travel book shelf just waiting to help us discover eastern gardens.
Take a look at a map (or remember your 7th grade geography), and you'll be able to follow the course that Volume II ambles through--beginning with Alaska, Arizona and Arkansas--meandering along Louisiana, Minnesota and South Dakota—and ending with the gardens of Utah, Washington and Wyoming. 24 states in all are covered in Volume II. Of course, California is beautifully represented, from Anaheim—(yes, there's more to Anaheim than Disneyland)—clear through to Woodside.
Each state's garden/arboretum tour is introduced with state and regional maps showing the locations of each site. The specific entries for each garden notes pertinent information including address, website, admission & parking fees, days and hours of operation, activities, special facilities, gift shops, accessibility, etc. Each also includes the authors' narrative about areas of particular interest at the site, as well as the history and specialties of the garden. It's fun to come across some little-known, surprise sites and universities are also included.
Images are few and in black and white, but this isn't meant to be a pretty coffee table book. It's meant to be used, dog –eared, underlined, written in and cherished until an updated volume comes along. You can find it in our Solano County Library system, but, what a wonderful way to use one of those gift cards you just received to Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Looking forward to hearing about your latest New Year garden tour adventures.
- Author: Mike Gunther
Twas the season for:
Our annual Wreath Workshop
A Success It Was!
- Author: Jennifer Baumbach
The UC Master Gardeners have upcoming presentations:
- Suisun Public Library, 601 Pintail Drive. 10:30-11:30am. Master Gardeners will talk about pruning of roses and trees. December 19 (this Saturday)
- Liberty High School Open Greenhouse, 351 East J Street, Benicia. 12:30-3pm. MGs will show you the refurbished greenhouse and the projects they have been engaging the students with. January 20, 2016.
- Benicia Public Library, 150 E. L Street. 5:30-6:30 pm. Master Gardeners will talk about Vegetable Gardening. March 10.
- UC Cooperative Extension office, 501 Texas Street, 9am until 12 noon. MGs will have their annual Succulent Exchange. Please propagate and bring plants you grow at home to share with the public and the Master Gardeners. We will also have a MarketPlace where you can purchase items that MGs have created or donated. Cash or check only. April 16, 2016.
- Author: Karen Metz
Late this fall, I spotted something sprouting in my pot of Clivia, Clivia miniata. Now I don't know about you all, but trying to identify seedlings is pretty difficult for me. They all look pretty much alike. Now my Clivia hadn't been doing great in this drought. I don't think it has ever bloomed for me. Now here was this invader. I decided to let it grow and see what it was. As it grew it looked familiar, but I still couldn't quite place it. When it bloomed and then started to make it's small fruit I knew exactly what it was, Tomatillo or Physalis ixocarpa.
Now what is interesting is that I hadn't grown any tomatillo in my garden this year, although I usually do. I am not sure whether the seed blew in from one of my neighbors, was brought in by birds, or had lain dormant from previous year's harvests. It's also not the right time for tomatillos. It's a summer garden plant. I think it must have been some of the unseasonably warm fall days we had that sparked the germination. According to one resource it said tomatillo seeds could germinate in 5 days.
I was intrigued by this happening. Hey at least something was blooming in that pot. So I've let it be, I am always impressed with the curve balls nature seems to throw at us.
- Author: Trisha Rose
What a sweet surprise. Something I have mentioned in previous blogs, "look at neighbor's gardens for inspiration". I chose a Blue Hibiscus for my front entry this past spring because one of my neighbor's has this plant successfully growing in her front garden. I started with a one gallon plant from a nearby nursery and planted in native soil. In spite of the heat and restricted hand watering, my new hibiscus is thriving. So much so that I need to give it another haircut. It has been in the ground barely 5 months and has spread at least 5 feet across and 4 feet tall. It would be taller but I trimmed it back a couple of months ago. The flowers are actually a mix of purple shades and just keep coming. It still has plenty of buds and has given the bees a happy place to forage. I've also seen hummers nearby but not actually sipping nectar yet. The flowers have a texture like crepe paper. When I first started researching this plant the references mixed it up with "Rose of Sharon", Hibiscus syriacus. I compared the flowers and found the stigma is more pronounced with the syriacus, it also shows a deeper purple surrounding the center of the flower whereas the blue hibiscus shows only one color.
Native to Australia and properly known as Alyogyne huegelii this drought tolerant perennial fits well in our local landscape and thrives. It is hardy down to 23 degrees, so give it cover in areas where you expect prolonged frost/freeze. The Sunset Western Garden Book states that only 2% of the globe shares our Mediterranean climate. This hibiscus along with Alyssum, Grevillea, kangaroo paw from Australia, Cape plumbago, Kniphofia, Leucospermum, and lion's tail from South Africa, and from the Mediterranean, rock rose and herbs, rosemary , sage and thyme, are all recommended as stellar plants for our local climate. I grow many of these myself and they have done well so far with little water. Just watch for prolonged frost or freeze conditions as most cannot tolerate the colder temperatures any length of time.
