- Author: Heloisa Kinder
Every spring, I wish for some bumble bees to come to my garden and hang out around it. This year, finally, my wish came true. I've been seeing some little fuzzy guys hanging out by this Bulbine bulbosa succulent plant that produces yellow flowers. It's like a scene from a storybook – the vibrant blooms swaying in the breeze, with bumble bees darting from one flower to another, gathering nectar and pollen with their tiny legs. These humble visitors have brought a touch of magic to my garden, reminding me of nature's intricate beauty and interconnectedness.
As I watch these bumble bees go about their busy work, I can't help but marvel at their efficiency and grace. Each one seems to have its agenda, yet they move in harmony, collectively contributing to the pollination of my garden plants. It's a delicate dance, orchestrated by millions of years of evolution, where every step plays a crucial role in the cycle of life.
The grass they seem particularly fond of is a special variety known for its yellow flowers that bloom in abundance during spring. It's not just a feast for the eyes; it's a veritable buffet for these industrious insects. I've noticed how they methodically explore each flower, probing deep into the recesses in search of precious nectar. Their fuzzy bodies become coated with pollen, which they unwittingly transfer from one flower to another as they continue their quest for sustenance.
These bumble bees aren't just visitors to my garden but essential partners in its ecosystem. Their pollination services ensure the continued fertility of my plants, leading to robust growth and bountiful harvests. Without them, my garden would be a much quieter and less fruitful place.
But beyond their practical contributions, these bumble bees bring joy and wonder to my life. There's something captivating about watching them go about their daily routines, oblivious to the cares of the human world. In their simplicity and purity of purpose, they serve as a reminder to slow down, appreciate the beauty around us, and cherish the small moments of joy that nature provides.
Caring for these bumble bees is not just a matter of enjoying their presence; it's also about ensuring their well-being. Here are a few facts about caring for bumble bees:
- Provide a variety of flowers: Bumble bees rely on a diverse range of flowers for their survival. Planting a variety of flowering plants in your garden ensures a continuous supply of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season.
- Avoid pesticides: Pesticides can be harmful to bumble bees and other pollinators. Opt for organic gardening methods and avoid using chemical pesticides and herbicides in your garden.
- Provide nesting sites: Bumble bees often nest in underground burrows or in abandoned rodent nests. Leaving areas of bare soil or providing artificial nesting boxes can provide shelter for bumble bee colonies.
- Support habitat conservation: Support efforts to conserve and restore natural habitats, such as meadows, forests, and wetlands, where bumble bees thrive. Participate in local conservation initiatives and advocate for policies that protect pollinator habitats.
By taking these simple steps to care for bumble bees, we can ensure that they continue to grace our gardens with their presence for generations to come. As we do so, we deepen our connection to the natural world and reaffirm our commitment to living in harmony with all living creatures.
- Author: Jalena Rusaw
- Author: Tanya Kucak
A couple summers ago, some of my tomatoes produced little or nothing. At the end of the season, I discovered evidence of root-knot nematodes (RKN): galls on the roots that impair the plant's ability to take up water and nutrients. So last summer, I planted my vegetables mostly in the spots that did not have RKN, found several RKN-resistant tomato varieties, and planted my seedlings with lots of compost and some worm castings.
The result was an outstanding tomato crop. I found RKN evidence on some plants, but no plants failed. Of all the nematode-resistant hybrid tomato varieties I planted last year, four were standouts. All of these produced consistently throughout the season, until frost.
* Purple Boy F1 is a prolific dark medium-size tomato with a good flavor and excellent shelf life. I've grown it for three years and like it a lot. It's not as luscious as some of the big sandwich tomatoes I like, but its flavor is among the best of any hybrid I've tasted.
* Chocolate Sprinkles F1 is a delicious striped dark cherry tomato that produced well. It's a large cherry with a subtle point on the end. If I could only grow 5 varieties, this one and Purple Boy would make the cut.
* Bush Early Girl F1, a compact 2' bush, produced a steady crop of red round unblemished fruit. Itoutproduced the other 6 or 7 red round hybrids I grew. Red round tomatoes aren't my favorites, but everyone I shared them with loved these tomatoes! (This variety is rated as nematode-resistant, but the more common indeterminate Early Girl F1 is not.)
* Artemis F1, a small red cherry, was my partner's favorite. The plant was so huge and productive that I couldn't pick them all! This is a cherry best eaten in the garden or soon after picking, because it had a relatively short shelf life.
For additional nematode suppression this year, I seeded a cover crop of Kodiak mustard in January. This mustard will produce high levels of nematode-suppressing glucosinolates when it's chopped and incorporated into the soil. In a month or two, I will also grow a bed of French marigolds (including Nemagon), which also suppress RKN, and zinnias, one of the few plants not affected by RKN.
For more information on root-knot nematodes, see https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7489.html.
- Author: Steve Radosevich
While the current stretch of warm weather in Woodland is welcomed by many, it's also a warning that the likely 100-degree summer days are not too far off. We are reminded to get our air conditioners checked out, pull out our summer clothes, and get outside to test our landscape irrigation systems looking for leaks and plugged emitters.
While walking around my yard this morning thinking about my landscape plants and the sweltering days to come, I first noticed the light green leaf tips emerging on some of the nearby shade trees in the neighborhood. Hooray, re-leaf and relief are on the way, and once again the summer will be more bearable, thanks to these wonderful shade trees.
Most people probably don't think too much about the need for shade until the first stifling exposures to summer heat - and then automatically seek shade at every opportunity. Planning your morning walk down a shady path or sidewalk, finding a shady spot to park the car, or a shady place in the back yard to have lunch with friends – and much of the time this shade will be provided by trees planted 10, 50, or a 100 years ago.
Some of the oldest trees in the Central Valley, including Woodland, are the 300 to 400-year-old oak trees often planted by scrub jays burying acorns. Most of the other younger trees were planted either by property owners or by local government, planting street trees and trees in parks and other public places. Since most landscape trees have a much shorter lifespan than our oak trees, we must continue planting more trees to replace those that die, if we intend to maintain our shade canopy and expand it to less shaded areas of the City.
In Woodland, and other progressive cities, non-profit organizations recognize the numerous benefits trees bring to the community, and assist the City and private property owners in purchasing and planting trees. Our local non-profit organization, the Woodland Tree Foundation, was founded 23 years ago and has planted over 6,000 trees in the City and the surrounding area. For more information about this organization or to get some free shade trees planted on your property go to woodlandtree.org. You can also learn how to volunteer to help the Woodland Tree Foundation plant more trees in your community.
- Author: Janey Santos
This post is dedicated to one of my favorite perennials in the garden, Mystic Spires Blue Salvia, Salvia longispicata x farinacea. Why do I love this plant so? Let me count the ways:
First, Mystic Spires is easy to grow, fairly disease and pest free and blooms constantly from early summer to frost. It's a plant I will always recommended to new gardeners because I know they will succeed.
Second, it adds to my garden in so many ways. It's beautiful tall purple-blue spikes fit in perfectly in the middle to the back of the garden bed. My favorite pairing is Mystic Spires Blue Salvia with Helen Von Stein Lambs Ear. You can't go wrong with a spiky purple flower next to silvery blue foliage. It also attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators all season long.
Third, it solves common garden issues such as a difficult lighting situation, or an area that can't be reached easily. Mystic Spires Blue thrives in full sun all the way to light shade. I've planted mine in both locations, both bloomed like crazy and both reliably came back year after year. This plant also has dark purple calyxes, the stems that the blooms grow from. This means when the blooms fade and fall off the plant, Mystic Spires Blue still looks beautiful. No deadheading needed!
If you are familiar with Mystic's parent, Indigo Spires, and remember some flopping of the plant going on, no need to worry. Mystic Spires Blue was bred from Indigo Spires to be more compact at 2-3 feet tall and wide, making it much less likely to flop during the season.
This spring, when at the garden center, keep an eye out for Mystic Spires Blue. I've fallen in love with it, and I'm sure you will too!
