- Author: Michelle Krespi
With all the lovely rain we've been having I am continually surprised by what pops up each season. This year our Osteosperum ecklonis has gone wild!!
There are about seventy species of annual or perennial As you can tell by the picture above, this plant has showy flowers. This plant grows between 1'-3' high with a 1'-2' spread. It has many attractive qualities. It's low maintenance, drought tolerant, has vibrant showy flowers creating a stunning visual display. On top of that it has an extended blooming season that runs from the late spring to fall. The African Daisy is a pollinator attractor, attracting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other insects. It is drought tolerant as well. All of these attributes helps to support a healthy ecosystem and promotes biodiversity. African daisies can grow in many settings such as borders, garden beds, containers and rockeries. Because of its bushy growth habit it can exist in either large or small spaces. It is not toxic to either humans or animals.
Caring for this plant is easy as long as you follow certain guidelines. Water daisies regularly keeping the soil consistently moist while being careful not to waterlog it which can result in root rot. Underwatering could stress the plant and reduce its flowering potential. Fertilize using a balanced, slow release fertilizer or compost (which is what I use) being careful not to over do it. That will cause expansive foliage growth at the expense of the flowers. As with many plants lightly prune in early spring and late summer which causes bushier growth while maintaining its shape. Make sure the plant has enough room to spread by planting 12”-24” apart allowing for good air circulation and to prevent overcrowding. Lastly apply a 2”-3” layer of mulch around the base of the plant being careful to keep it away from the stem. You will be rewarded for following these guidelines with a plant that produces an abundance of flowers![4]
[1] Picture taken is by the author from a specimen in her garden.
[2] Sunset Western Gardener Book
[3] Hortus Third- A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the U.S. & Canada- Staff of the L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University
[4] Website Gardenia Creating Gardens-“African Daisy: how to Grow and Care with Success
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
Additional guidance needed for groundwater management strategies
Cover crops are planted to protect and improve the soil between annual crops such as tomatoes or between rows of tree and vine crops, but growers may be concerned about the water use of these plants that don't generate income.
“Cover crops are one of the most popular practices we see farmers employ through our Healthy Soils Program,” said Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “Cover crops supply a host of benefits, such as helping to protect against soil erosion, improving soil health, crowding out weeds, controlling pests and diseases, and increasing biodiversity; and they can bring increased profitability as the number of other inputs are reduced. They also provide water benefits such as improved infiltration and reduced runoff.”
These potential benefits are especially salient in the San Joaquin Valley, where groundwater challenges are more acute. A new report evaluates the water implications of cover cropping practices to lay the groundwork for their adoption in the context of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, which is intended to protect groundwater resources over the long-term.
“Yes, cover crops require a nominal amount of water to establish – and sometimes rainwater is sufficient – but the myriad co-benefits are worth it,” Ross said.
Growers, water resource planners and managers, crop consultants, irrigation practitioners and policymakers may find the cover crops report useful.
The report is the product of a convening process jointly developed by the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts, CDFA, Natural Resources Conservation Service of California, and University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and assembled by nonprofit Sustainable Conservation.
The multidisciplinary group of more than 30 individuals has published “Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era.” The literature review, policy analysis and recommendations pertain to the water impacts of cover crop practices in California's Central Valley under SGMA.
Cover crops and their potential
“Wintertime rain-fed cover cropping does not necessarily significantly increase water losses compared to bare ground in the winter months,” said co-author Daniele Zaccaria, associate professor in agricultural water management for Cooperative Extension at UC Davis. “Cover cropping can significantly improve soil-water dynamics, increasing soil water infiltration and storage and reducing surface runoff.”
To reap the benefits of cover crops using minimal water, Zaccaria said growers will need to know how the plants perform under different conditions.
“We need to develop and implement a coordinated research effort to increase understanding of net water impacts of cover crops under various meteorological conditions – dry, wet, average," he said.
Report findings and recommendations
To understand the potential of cover cropping under SGMA, the report's authors came together to answer the following questions:
- What are the impacts of cover crops on water cycles (both benefits and use)?
- How does SGMA management account for cover cropping and is it capturing cover crop benefits alongside their water use?
- How can we ensure that this practice remains available to growers where and when it makes sense?
This report synthesizes the learnings from the collaborative initiative including 100-plus multidisciplinary experts, a policy analysis, interviews with Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) staff and consultants, and the expertise contributed by its 30-plus authors. In light of these findings, the report advances a series of recommendations aimed at bridging critical knowledge gaps, enhancing the integration of cover crops into policies and incentive programs, and bolstering data infrastructure and other mechanisms to support sustainable groundwater management initiatives.
One vital throughline is the need for additional guidance from the state to support local GSAs in facing the complex challenges of developing and implementing groundwater management strategies for their local watersheds. These measures aim to optimize cover crop integration within SGMA frameworks and promote sustainable water management practices crucial for the region's agricultural resilience and environmental health.
“This report is unique because the university collaborated closely with state agencies and private sector partners to ensure that the different perspectives provided both the best science available as well as viable policy options,” said Glenda Humiston, University of California vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “By taking a comprehensive view, we can advance recommendations for cover crop policy that help us meet multiple goals, manage our natural resources more effectively, and avoid unintended consequences.”
Sarah Light, UC Cooperative Extension agronomy farm advisor, is one of the UC ANR experts who provided science-based information during the convening sessions and co-authored the white paper.
“Cover crops are a valuable soil health practice that can help ensure the resilience of California farms to climate extremes,” said Light. “As we balance the complexities of water and soil management, it is important to understand the role that cover crops play in an annual water budget so that they are not disincentivized in certain parts of the state. This paper can provide guidance to GSAs and policymakers who are charged with implementing SGMA in their regions.”
The report “Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era” can be downloaded for free at https://suscon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SC-Cover-Crop-SGMA-Report.pdf.
Related research links:
Long-term reduced tillage and winter cover crops can improve soil quality without depleting moisture https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1cr6w7dp
Impacts of winter cover cropping on soil moisture and evapotranspiration in California's specialty crop fields may be minimal during winter months https://californiaagriculture.org/article/108637
Water-related impacts of cover cropping in California https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mTNLx6LzEt0
/h3>- Author: Angela Tipsey
4-H Project Leader Clinic
Clinic Details
Join us for an immersive 2-day clinic at the UC Davis Campus, where we delve into the transformative power of the 4-H Thriving Model, coupled with dynamic, hands-on workshops designed to empower project leaders. This workshop is tailored for project leaders seeking to elevate their impact and enrich their skill set.
Conference Details
WHO: 4-H Project Leaders & Project Teen Leaders
WHEN: July 26 - 28, 2024
WHERE: UC Davis Campus
COST: $ 99 Full Conference*
$ 80 Saturday Only
$ 50 Sunday Only
*Individuals must secure their own lodging for this event.
For local lodging options and information about the event venue, visit the Logistics page.
Clinic Goals
Improve personal leadership skills.
Enhance knowledge/skills in delivering project content.
Apply principles of positive youth development to your projects.
Expand networks with adult volunteers and staff from across counties.
Tentative Schedule
Friday, July 26, 2024
07:00 pm No Host Meet Up Event (TBD)
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Breakfast on own
09:00 am General Session
10:00 am Project Skills Sessions
12:00 pm Lunch (included)
01:30 pm Project Skills Sessions
05:00pm Sessions end
Dinner on own
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Breakfast on own
09:00 am General Session
10:00 am Project Skills Sessions
12:00 pm Clinic ends
What to Bring
Water Bottle (refilling stations available throughout building)
Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Registration is open through July 7, 2024. Event page.
/span>/span>- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Aedes mosquitoes can transmit some of the most debilitating and deadly mosquito-borne pathogens to humans, such as Zika virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, and yellow fever virus. One Aedes species is also capable of transmitting heartworm to dogs. These invasive mosquitoes are now present in many regions of California, from Shasta County to San Diego County. View a map of Aedes distribution by county.
The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), and the Australian backyard mosquito (Aedes notoscriptus) are unlike most native mosquitoes. They prefer to bite during the day, especially around your legs and ankles. Adults are black with white stripes on their legs and back.
Many Aedes mosquitoes live in close contact with people and can breed in backyards and even inside homes. They are known as “container breeding mosquitoes” because they often lay eggs in small containers, such as flowerpots, tree holes, or old tires. Eggs are laid in moist areas just above the water surface, can overwinter, and are resistant to drying so may remain viable for months or longer.
How can you protect yourself?
In many areas of California, public Mosquito and Vector Control Districts aim to keep mosquito numbers down to tolerable levels. You can aid their efforts by eliminating mosquito breeding sources around your home. This includes keeping fine mesh screens on windows and doors in good condition, draining standing water or treating it with Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti), and wearing mosquito repellents and protective clothing outdoors.
Learn more about invasive Aedes mosquitoes and how to protect yourself by visiting the following resources:
- UC IPM Pest Notes: Mosquitoes: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7451.html
- Mosquito repellent information from the California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Mosquito-Repellent.aspx
- Interactive map of Aedes distribution in California: https://cdphdata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=57367199287a4d18a2cecf107854255b
- Invasive Aedes fact sheet from the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:908f4b9e-8266-47b3-9e3d-ec165913fc7f?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover
- Author: Lily Elola
At the onset of my fellowship I was nervous about spending too much time alone. Living by myself in a cottage on a ~5,500 acre remote research site stood in stark contrast to my urban upbringing in the East Bay Area. Despite the appealing prospect of a change in scenery, worries about the unintended consequences of prolonged isolation lingered. It was amidst this uncertainty that I stumbled upon an unexpectedly reliable companion— birds.
I can't say I ever paid much attention to birds before last year. I deemed their presence unimportant and their noises (at times) annoying. Admittedly, my knowledge of birds stopped at pigeons, crows, and seagulls. Like many, I dismissed birds as insignificant animals in the grand scheme of an often stressful human life. Their reality felt distinctly separate from mine.
My perception of birds underwent a remarkable shift during my first morning in the cottage. Naively, I anticipated the hardest adjustment to living alone in the woods would be the deafening silence. Imagine my surprise, then, when I was jolted awake at 5 a.m. by a loud knocking. My dog, equally startled, leapt to his feet and started barking at the front door.
I quickly threw on my robe and peered through the front door window. There, perched on the white siding of the cottage, was a small woodpecker with a striking red cap. The sheer sound of the bird's hammering made it impossible to ignore.
I stood there watching the woodpecker, equally mesmerized and annoyed by its rhythmic precision. Pale morning light illuminated its glossy black-and-white feathers. I grabbed one of my journals from the bedside table and through half open eyes scribbled "red-headed small woodpecker, black and white". My notes felt amateurish, but I hoped they might be useful if I was ever curious about the bird again.
After some investigation I learned that the culprit of my disrupted sleep was none other than the acorn woodpecker, a native to the Northern California oak woodlands known for its communal behavior of storing acorns in wooden structures. Much to my dismay, this particular woodpecker had taken a liking to the side of my porch. For the next two months acorns continued to shower from the oaks, accompanied by a relentless knocking on the side of my house. Both my dog and I grew accustomed to the noise. Gradually I realized that my futile resistance to the “disruption” of nature would only lead to further frustration and disappointment. The intrusion of the Acorn Woodpeckers served as a powerful lesson in radical acceptance over the things I can not control.
Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
The moment also proved to be a lively interruption to the solitude I had anticipated. In the weeks that followed I jotted down sporadic notes about birds in my journal during lunch breaks, between meetings, even hanging out with friends. I found myself growing more mindful and present with every bird observation. The anxiety and loneliness that I had initially feared began to dissipate, replaced by feelings of contentment.
This newfound joy inspired me to channel my bird watching observations into a creative outlet. Quickly I began to illustrate California native birds for the Hopland Research and Extension Center. These illustrations not only provided me with a fulfilling hobby but also served as a way to occupy the abundance of alone time I had living on-site. Capturing the intricate details and social behaviors of the different bird species became a meditative escape.
Allen's hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
Sometimes, if I was lucky, I'd look up to see the very same bird I was illustrating— a hummingbird, a raven, a jay. We would share a brief moment of coexistence, staring at each other until my subtle movements inevitably prompted it to take flight. These moments tallied. For every time I watched them, they watched me right back. With each fleeting interaction I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of stillness and mutual respect.
California quail (Callipepla californica)
Birds serve as the not-so silent witnesses to our solitude. They coexist with us in moments of strength and vulnerability. The California quail hears me singing my favorite song through an open kitchen window. The great blue heron watches me read by the river bank. Near the porch of my cottage, a family of scrub jays chatters excitedly upon my return from work.
Inevitably I will move away from HREC, and I won't be able to take the birds with me. Instead, I'll carry the skill of birdwatching as a reminder of the connection I forged with the natural world during my time here. What began as a simple hobby has evolved into a profound understanding of the interconnectedness between all living things and the landscapes they inhabit.
I can't deny that there are still moments when feelings of loneliness or worry weigh heavily on me. After all, birds are not substitutes for human connection. They can, however, serve as momentary solace if you let them.