- Author: Gayle Nelson
Article by Iris Craig, UC Master Gardener of Napa County, Class of 2016.
Napa has a well-kept secret: the demonstration garden at Connolly Ranch maintained by the U.C. Master Gardeners of Napa County. Master Gardener volunteers are there almost every Thursday morning pulling weeds, trimming plants and caring for the succulent and container gardens. The camaraderie among the volunteer gardeners and Connolly Ranch staff is delightful and keeps us coming back.
This is a teaching garden, designed to showcase research-based gardening practices and provide a place for the public to learn. The Napa County Master Gardeners inspired by similar gardens in Fresno County and Santa Clara County, began looking for a suitable site in 2000. It needed to be of adequate size with water, parking and accessibility, and of course it had to be affordable.
At the time, Connolly Ranch was being managed by the Land Trust of Napa County. Connolly Ranch and Master Gardeners have a similar mission, focused on education and connecting local people to the environment. Master Gardeners focus on adult gardeners' education, while Connolly Ranch aims to connect kids and their families to nature. We were offered a sloping site in the Ranch adjacent to the garden area.
In the summer of 2002, we began preparing the site for the future demonstration garden. Cleanup was the first task: hand-pulling weeds and hauling away years of accumulated debris. A tractor leveled the site and then created terraces. Master Gardener volunteers built a retaining wall and raised beds. We later added a shaded teaching and meeting location and a kiosk for posting information about the garden and upcoming events.
Master Gardeners and local businesses, including Van Winden's Garden Center in Napa and Mid City Nursery in American Canyon, donated plants and trees. A non-working fountain was repurposed as a succulent garden, and old tires were made into planters.
With enthusiasm, creativity and hard work, Master Gardeners made the many improvements that you see today. We constructed two storage sheds and a covered patio with benches and tables as well as a bulletin board built with the help of some Eagle Scouts.
We have designed and planted a bird, bee and hummingbird garden; a fire-wise garden; a succulent garden; a butterfly garden; an herb garden; a Mediterranean garden; and seasonal and container vegetable gardens. There are espaliered fruit trees and a rose garden. The roses are trained high to foil deer.
Each season, volunteers conduct field tests of vegetables and flowers to determine which varieties grow best in Napa County. Their progress is documented and made available through the Master Gardeners of Napa County website and publications. Last year, we planted corn, squash and beans by the Iroquois method. The Iroquois determined that this trio, which they called “the three sisters,” helped each other thrive. The beans feed the soil and climb up the corn stalks, while the large squash leaves shade the ground and keep weeds under control. Produce from the garden is donated to the Napa Food Bank.
The demonstration garden provides training for Master Gardeners on topics such as how to build and maintain a composting worm bin, how to espalier fruit trees and how to identify weeds. The Master Gardeners are often on hand during public events at Connolly Ranch to answer questions about gardening and provide educational garden activities for the whole family.
Master Gardeners volunteer more than 900 hours yearly in their garden to keep the it looking great and to educate the public.
The demonstration garden as part of Connolly Ranch is open to the public on the first Wednesday of every month and for special Connolly Ranch events throughout the year. See the Connolly Ranch website for details on days and times at http://connollyranch.org Connolly Ranch is located at 3141 Browns Valley Road in Napa. The parking access is off Thompson Ave. To get the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden inside the Ranch, from the parking lot walk past the greenhouse, the Beckstoffer chicken house and the big barn all on your left. Then enter the garden gate to the children's garden area and veer to the left down the path. You will see the entrance to the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden area.
Right before you enter, look to the right to see a California native plant garden dedicated to one of our members, and the hillside of white Matilija poppies, take a deep breath and enjoy the scents, then walk through the gate to our little Eden.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Rose Pruning” on Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Certified Rosarian Lynne Andresen and other Master Gardener rose enthusiasts will demonstrate and explain proper pruning techniques and review rose types, common rose disorders and routine maintenance. Online registration (credit card only); Mail-in registration (check only or drop off cash payment).
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
They have been waiting patiently, and now their time has come. Creatures that love the wet weather are finally able to come out and do what they do best: make you miserable.
For many Napa Valley gardeners, this time of year can be frustrating. We have been watching our plants prosper under relatively consistent conditions for months, then the weather shifts. It starts to rain, and if we're lucky, it rains a lot.
The wet weather is a game-changer. Having grown up in the damp Pacific Northwest, I know this game well. Particularly familiar to me is the battle against mold, mildew and other fungi.
These plagues seem to come from nowhere and not reveal their presence until they are such a problem as to make you question your commitment to gardening. Only the truly devoted (or crazy) will find themselves scraping white, stringy fungus from a clogged planter box on a dark and rainy afternoon.
However, there are steps you can take to minimize these winter challenges.
If you have plants in containers, check the drainage. A container that was perfect a few weeks ago may now be draining too slowly. It is disheartening to see a formerly healthy plant succumb to root rot from standing water. Remove any debris that may be preventing drainage, or move the container to a location shielded from the rain.
Inspect your irrigation system and be sure you are not overwatering. Watering schedules probably need to be adjusted to avoid flooding the lawn.
Plants suffering from overwatering can look deceptively similar to those suffering from under-watering. I have made this mistake before and spent a good deal of time angry with myself for drowning an already saturated plant. Investigate the cause of the damage you see before applying a remedy.
Do a detailed inspection of landscape plants, especially deciduous trees and shrubs. The lack of foliage will make any pests and damage much easier to locate and identify.
Some pests, such as scale, will soon be in their dormant, over-wintering, phase. During this stage they are more vulnerable to applications of horticultural oil. They are not breeding either, so you need not worry about missing their offspring when you spray.
Many plants have well-known pests, and an experienced gardener will recognize the culprit from the damage. The University of California's Integrated Pest Management website (http://ipm.ucanr.edu/) is a useful resource. You can enter the name of a plant and see a list of possible pests and diseases, often with photos. Should you see damage that you can't identify, take a photo and email it to the Master Gardener Help Desk (information below). You can also bring the damaged plant parts to the Help Desk and a Master Gardener will help you identify and manage the problem.
At this time of year, many people have unwanted visitors in their homes, and I don't mean the in-laws. The best way to manage rodents and ants in your home is to deny them access. Inspect the exterior of your home for possible entry points that may have developed over the summer.
Just because you haven't had problems in recent months does not guarantee future security. A small hole that pests ignored while they were comfortable outside can quickly become a superhighway during cold and wet weather. Fill holes with wire mesh or other strong materials that pests cannot chew or dig through.
If you are unable to seal a hole used by small insects, try blocking them with a line of diatomaceous earth. A powder made of ground silica, this product is safe for use around the home and has a high success rate. When it comes to your in-laws, however, I have no advice. You will have to figure that out for yourself.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Rose Pruning” on Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Certified rosarian Lynne Andresen and other Master Gardener rose enthusiasts will demonstrate and explain proper pruning techniques and review rose types, common rose disorders and routine maintenance. Online registration (credit card only); Mail-in registration (check only or drop off cash payment).
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
What do the blue chicory flowers blooming in meadows and vineyards, the pansies in your window box and the honey-scented blossoms on your lemon tree have in common? You can eat them.
A stroll around your winter garden, nearby vineyard or neighborhood might reveal surprising edible flowers to cheer, nourish, flavor and decorate winter plates.
But just because blossoms are pretty does not mean you can eat them. Some flowers are poisonous. Identify any flowers you plan to eat or serve and make sure no sprays or chemicals have been used on them.
By the time you read this, nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) may be gone, but in early December the blossoms in navel-orange, taxi-yellow and vermillion blossoms are still flourishing at the edges of my garden. The honey-tinged heat and color of nasturtium blossoms provide contrast in citrus salads and in salads with deep-green arugula or miners' lettuce. Both the petals and the leaves have a peppery flavor, making a milder garnish for guests who don't like spice.
Calendulas (Calendula officinalis) look like bright, full daisies in a palette of pale yellow, apricot and bright orange. They grow through most of our Napa Valley winters. Calendula is an annual and generously self-sows every year, so leave a flower or two to go to seed. After the first rains, expanding circles of little calendula seedlings are already greening up the areas in my garden where calendulas grew last year. In a few months, their neon-orange flowers will be the first to bloom in profusion as winter turns to spring.
Calendula petals may be sprinkled in salads, ice cream, soups or risotto. If you have several plants to choose from, taste to see which you prefer.
All members of the viola family are edible and bloom bravely through all but the iciest weather. Fresh-faced pansies, fragrant violets (Violata odorata) and blue and yellow Johnny-jump-ups don't just provide vivid color for garden beds and pots. They also contribute blossoms for confetti-colored butter logs to melt on biscuits. Or arrange them in two-dimensional bouquets to decorate special desserts.
With blue or white star-shaped blossoms, borage (Borago officinalis) can grow in shady spots. Its cucumber-flavored blossoms can be frozen in ice cubes or used to garnish salads or sorbet.
Herb blossoms are all edible, so consider using the delicate white flowers on lemon verbena and perky chives as well as peach, pear, plum and almond blossoms.
Always check to make sure flowers are edible. While you might think fragrant sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) blossoms should be edible, they are not. This kind of sweet pea is poisonous and should be eaten with your eyes only.
On the other hand, sugar snap peas, shelling peasand other edible peas have blossoms and shoots that can be safely consumed. Eating pea blossoms is for those who spurn delayed gratification and live for the moment, or for those who do not like to eat their peas. On the other hand, gardeners who hope to ultimately harvest peas will have to forgo all but the first blossoms.
Citrus blossoms are edible, but taste them to make sure you like the flavor. Some are bitter. As a general rule, the sweeter the fragrance, the sweeter the flavor. Use blossoms to infuse cream for ice cream or whipped cream or use to scent lemonade.
All types of dianthus are edible, including ‘Sweet William' blossoms, carnations and pinks. Ranging in color from pure white to almost black, dianthus blossoms give artistic cooks many beautiful colors to choose from. Taste the flowers and remove the bottom white part of the petal if it seems bitter. Steep in syrups or mix into butters. Frost cakes, then lay a stencil over the cake and sprinkle shredded flower petals to fill the outline.
Edible flowers can expand your kitchen choices. Check this site https://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm for a list of edible flowers. Tulips, begonias,chrysanthemums and gladiolas can make surprising contributions your meals. Learn which flowers are safe to eat and teach your children well.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Rose Pruning” on Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Certified rosarian Lynne Andresen and other Master Gardener rose enthusiasts will demonstrate and explain proper pruning techniques and review rose types, common rose disorders and routine maintenance. Online registration (credit card only); Mail-in registration (check only or drop off cash payment).
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
Often in our gardening endeavors, it is only the plant itself that we know. However, beneath the soil we cultivate is a vast network of other natural helpers, working hard to ensure the right environment for plants to grow.
While earthworms, burrowing bugs and other critters are familiar sights, among the smallest—but very important—organisms are mycorrhizae. Put simply, these are fungi that form close relationships with plant roots.
This association allows for nutrient exchange between the plant and the mycorrhizae, benefiting both. These fungal organisms are small—much smaller than the root systems they associate with. In a way, they are extensions of the root systems, and as they penetrate the small pores in the surrounding soil, they extract key nutrients that the plant might not access otherwise.
As you might imagine, this relationship is critical for plants in nutrient-poor soils. Mycorrhizae have even been known to help bind toxic residues, such as heavy metals, preventing uptake by the host plant. These fungal partners also increase the surface area of a plant's root system, allowing for better nutrient absorption, structural anchoring and overall resilience.
The full range of benefits that mycorrhizae offer is beyond the scope of this article, but a bit of basic science can help you appreciate why they are important.
While some mycorrhizae actually penetrate plant cells and carry out their processes internally, others reside outside the plant cells. Complex chemical cues and interactions attract—or in some cases repel—these fungi and their plant hosts.
Many of these relationships are very specific, requiring a direct match between plant host and fungi. The host provides carbohydrates, and the fungi break down and supply other vital products that the plant can eventually use.
Many of us think about fertilizer or soil amendments when we think about plant health. But the microscopic biological activity of mycorrhizae is critical to the health of our gardens, too.
Consider the mycorrhizae when deciding on treatments for pests or diseases. Toxic chemicals can leach into the soil, adversely affecting beneficial soil microorganisms. Fungicides present special concerns because mycorrhizae are fungi. Do your homework and read any label directions before use.
Also think about the impact of soil disturbance. Tilling soil breaks up those extensive root networks, which take time to get established.
Perennials and shrubs aren't the only plants that benefit from these microorganisms. Many trees form extensive networks with mycorrhizae and share nutrients and nitrogen. Fungi help with soil tilth as well. Their fine structures improve water retention and soil aeration, and they help break down soil minerals due to acids they secrete.
Given the benefits attributed to these organisms, some gardeners consider inoculating their soil with them. While many commercial growers do so, home gardeners typically have enough microorganisms in their soil to do the job.
However, if you have recently planted a bed with sterile soil media—or are just curious to see if your yields increase—you could inquire at local nurseries about a product for your particular needs. Remember that the goal is healthy soil. Mycorrhizae make a contribution, but so will minimizing the use of harmful chemicals, encouraging earthworms and other native soil inhabitants, and practicing good gardening habits such as crop rotation and mulching.
The next time you step into your garden, consider the great events taking place just beneath your feet. Although the produce we harvest is the most tangible part of our efforts, an entire underground universe of mycorrhizal connections and structures makes it possible.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Rose Pruning” on Saturday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, at University of California Cooperative Extension, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Napa. Certified Rosarian Lynne Andresen and other Master Gardener rose enthusiasts will demonstrate and explain proper pruning techniques and review rose types, common rose disorders and routine maintenance. Online registration (credit card only); Mail-in registration (check only or drop off cash payment).
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
By Penny Pawl, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County
Tis the season and possibly you are planning to decorate your home for the coming holidays. Take a stroll through your garden and look at all the beautiful plants growing there. Some of them might work well in a wreath for the holidays.
The plants mentioned below do well in wreaths, although some last without water longer than others. If you're unsure how plants will perform in a wreath, cut some and slowly dry them to see how they look after a week or two. Discard those that do not stay fresh-looking. European bay (Laurus nobilis) is a good choice, as are smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria), redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) to name a few. The red winter leaves of nandina last well in a wreath.
You can also add the red berries of toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), small pine cones or dried lavender. Craft stores and nurseries can supply other additions. Don't forget small ornaments. Online I saw an exercise “noodle,” or hoop, used as an ornament-only wreath and it was quite nice. The ornaments were wired and pushed into the noodle.
There are many different types of wreath bases. How you assemble the wreath depends on which base you choose. Some are easy while others require more time. You can either make or buy a grapevine wreath. If you make it, bake it a while at low heat to kill any bugs that might be in the grapevine. Also consider hay wreaths, assorted metal frames of different sizes or Styrofoam.
You will need a glue gun, wire, wire cutters and possibly scissors. Have equipment ready before you start to build your wreath. If your base is grapevines, hay or Styrofoam, you can poke the foliage in wherever you wish. With wire bases, you need to wire each bundle onto the wire frame. As you work around the frame, space foliage bundles at intervals that leave room for the decorative touches.
Decorate your wreath with dried fruits such as lemons, oranges and persimmons. Be sure to add ribbon. You can buy bows or make your own
I have used old wine corks to decorate a grapevine wreath. I glue the corks on with my glue gun and arrange them around the wreath. I add Champagne corks to the top if I have them and then fill in with real or artificial foliage, bows and ornaments. I also made a wreath out of succulents a couple of years ago. I bought a wire frame, fastened wire around it and stuffed it with well-soaked sphagnum moss. Then I cut off the succulents and pushed them into the moss. This wreath is a work in process. When I made it, I did not have many succulents on hand and so left space between the plants. It looks best if the succulents are close together. Eventually they will root and cover the frame.
Last but not least, save a piece of wire to make a hanger for your wreath. You can then hang it on your front door or in a window. It will last longer outside. A wreath of this type is not permanent. You will need to take it apart as the plants dry and die. Save your base so you can make a fresh one next year.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Creating Holiday Wreaths” on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn what plants in your garden could make good wreaths for decorating. Learn how to choose and prepare plant materials so they will look good for a long time. Learn tips and tricks for designing and making easy wreaths for the holidays or any time. Participants will create their own wreath to take home, made from locally collected plant materials. $20 for Yountville residents; $23 for non-residents. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or call 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
