- Author: Mike Gunther
Trained, ready to help
31 new Master Gardeners
Pride in new members
- Author: Jenni Dodini
Scaevola - this one is Diamon
Family: Goodeniaceae
This plant is known for its fan shaped flowers. As you can see, the petals are all on the same side. It is named for the Roman hero Mutius Scaevola who burned off one of his hands to show his bravery. Most are native to Australia and are considered an evergreen. In mild winter climates, they will bloom year round. In cold winter climates, they are grown as annuals and bloom from late spring until the frost comes. Mine have come back from the last two winters very nicely. Some are beach plants from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean.
This plant can be used, beautifully, in hanging baskets, window boxes and container gardens. They also can be grown as a ground cover. Some species are more upright than others and can be 6 inches to as tall as 2 1/2 feet. Each plant can spread as much as 3 to 5 feet in width, depending on the variety. Most have lavender-blue to mauve tinted flowers. I haven't seen one of that color or it surely would have found its way onto my deck! The 'Alba' variety has white flowers. It is quite striking in its simple beauty.
It can take full sun and needs moderate, regular water. Since mine are in pots, I have to be diligent in making sure they are watered routinely as they tend to shrivel up fairly quickly. The other thing that surprised me is that this spring, the white one came back and flowered purple! So you know that the moment that I saw a white one, I just HAD to buy it and bring it home to sit in the middle of the two, now purple, ones.
- Author: Cheryl A Potts
My husband and I have one dog and one thousand worms. The dog lives in the house. The worms live in a plastic bin in the garage. Our dog's name is Cleo. Our worms are yet unnamed (well, most of them).
I have always had a dog. The worms are new.
Cleo's poop is forbidden in the vegetable garden. The worms' poop will be honored in that same place.
I collect bits of vegetable scraps to feel my little darlings. Do they like cucumber skin or do they want lettuce? Would they prefer cantaloupe or a watermelon rind? I do not think garlic would be good for them, but they will love these Italian roast coffee grounds. Citrus peels? Yes, but only a few. That egg shell needs to be crushed just a bit more before added to the bin.
I buy a bag of dry food, on sale, for the dog.
I carefully spray the worm bedding to make sure it is the perfect dampness, as described in the tons of literature I have read, and read, and read.
I give Cleo a quick pat on the head, and say, “good girl, now go lay down.”
Am I some sort of nut? Do I need to be turned into PETA or reported to the SPCA? No! I am now a vermiculturist--raising worms in order to collect castings and brew compost tea. The co-workers in my office think I am a bet daft and are hoping I wash my hands frequently; but my grandchildren think I am beyond cool and can't wait to help.
Cleo is rather bored with the whole thing.
But I am so excited as I am on my way to creating the most lush veggie garden of my life as well as the lives of all my neighbors and fellow gardeners. My homemade compost tea will allow me to finally have garden that looks like the pictures in the catalogs and magazines. My beans are destined to look even better than the ones on the see packages. My tomatoes will draw oooooos and aaaahhhhs by anyone lucky enough to actually see my produce and mmmmms from those extra privileged who actually get to taste. Anyone trying to grow that perfect eggplant will be jealous of my purple jewels. My rows of chard will be the envy of Findhorn. Luther Burbank's ghost will visit my garden in the depths of night just to marvel at its wonder.
Perhaps I am exaggerating a bit. Maybe I have set my goals just a tad too high. Possibly I need to reevaluate my expectations at least a little. I think it is time I take a long, quiet walk with Cleo, leaving the worms to fend for themselves and get my feet back on the ground and head out of the clouds. I just have to make sure I get home in time to finish reading The Carrot Seed to my worms before they go to sleep.
- Author: Betty Victor
For several years my neighbors have had a fruitless plum tree (Prunus blireianae) growing in their yard, that they kept pruned, especially off of their roof.
This tree was planted close to our good neighbor fence and over the years it split in two, so I had a small part growing on my side of the fence. My yard had the benefit of some shade, even with most of the tree in their yard.
Because I had some shade I planted a ‘Red Lady' Hydrangea macpophylla shrub that has red stems with light red blossoms. I also planted a ‘Tom Knudsen' double dark red camellia (japonica x reticilata). A white climbing rose also found a home there (must have been a bird that helped that along) anyway as the rose grew it worked its way up the tree.
Today their gardeners are here starting to removing the tree, but they didn't get it all done, so eventually they will return to finish removing it. Unfortunately now I will have sun where I had planted shade plants. A climbing rose with most of it on the ground that will need a trellis for it to climb on.
Because my hydrangea and camellia are both large, I am not sure about transplanting them but will wait until fall. I will watch them and see how they do during the summer sun they probably will get. If they looked like they are stressing they will find a new home in the garden sometime in the fall when they go dormant. So for now I will try and make some sort of cover out of shade cloth for them.
It was a very pretty tree and I will miss not seeing it bloom next spring, but it was not totally fruitless and it did have a few plums in the summer that drop to the ground. I am sure the birds will miss the tree and the plums as well.
- Author: Toni Greer
During a recent getaway, my husband and I decided to head north toward Mount Shasta. We had been there several times but had never visited the Mount Shasta Big Springs in Mount Shasta City Park. It's said that the springs is the headwaters for the Sacramento River. The park and springs area have been part of a restoration project. The rushing water comes from the spring outlets or tubes. The water which comes through the outlets is snow and rain that fell on Mt. Shasta at about the 8200' level. From an information placard at the site “Age dating shows that the spring water emerging here fell as precipitation on Mt. Shasta more than 50 yrs. ago”. This exact spring and its wonderfully pure, crisp water were cherished and honored by the original inhabitants of the area as well as the present day indigenous people. The surroundings to the springs were beautiful and thought provoking. We were later asked if we had filled a bottle or jug with the purified water which some believe carries special properties. No, we hadn't, maybe next time.
Just after we crossed the railroad tracks (prior to entering the city park), we came upon a great nursery called Spring Hill Nursery. Of course we had to stop by once we left the park. It's located at the edge of the park. Even though we were warned by the sign before entering (you can see the picture), we trudged onward into the nursery. It was such a challenge not to purchase anything since we weren't heading home for several days. Oh my, oh my how wonderful! It's a must stop if you are in the area.
This trip was amazing with its sounds, breathtaking surroundings and peaceful nature—just a great get away for all. By the way, take a short side trek into Castle Crags State Park. The drive eventually is on a one lane road, then a ¼ mile walk up the Vista Point trail. This trail leads to the Vista Point Lookout with telescopes to view 3 volcanic mts: Castle Crags, Mt. Shasta and Gray Rocks. It's worth the stop.