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.
By Denise Levine, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County
Usually I peruse December seed catalogs for tried-and-true selections or interesting newcomers in the vegetable and flower sections. But after growing statice for the first time this year, I am examining the everlasting options more thoroughly. Everlastings are flowers, grasses and foliage that are easily dried for use in arrangements, wreaths, decorations and crafts.
I decided to grow Limonium sinuatum, also known as statice or sea lavender, when a friend gave me a packet of seeds. Seedlings came up in pots pretty quickly but then languished as I tried to find time and space to plant them in the garden. In late July I finally planted the almost root-bound seedlings in a bed generously amended with leaf mold and compost. Then I read that statice prefers sandy soil. And still they grew.
Within a few weeks, the plants had begun forming generous rosettes of serrated leaves. Soon the first spires of blossoms began to form. As they reached maturity and began to bloom, each plant revealed different colored blossoms. Clear yellow, papery blossoms on winged stems were the first to open, and deep purple blossoms with white eyes were next to unfurl.
As the blossoming continued, the bed filled with statice in shades of apricot, bright pink, soft lavender and bright, clean white. Before long, each plant measured a good foot across, with stems and blossoms reaching as high. Butterflies teased the colorful blossoms all summer, entertaining us but disturbing garden spiders in residence.
Limonium sinuatum is classified as a tender perennial but often grown as an annual and replaced every year. I am treating mine as a perennial this year. When I have harvested the last of the papery blossoms and hung them upside down in bunches to dry, I will dig the plants out of the crowded bed and replant them with more elbow room to stretch out and bloom again next year. They look too healthy and robust to be finished. Statice is clearly not difficult to grow.
Harvesting statice and other everlasting flowers for drying is simple. For the best-quality dried flowers, cut in the morning. Make sure morning dew and any moisture are completely gone. Plants should be dry before you cut. Harvesting damp plants not only increases the drying time but also increases the chance of mold or mildew developing. No one wants moldy flowers. Johnny's Selected Seeds has complete directions for air-drying cut flowers on its website (http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-dried-flowers-instructions-slideshow.aspx).
Other colorful everlasting options include Gomphrena, or globe amaranth, which comes in purple, pink, red, white and violet; and Celosia, or cockscomb, in reds, oranges and golden colors. Other flowers can be dried, including roses, hydrangeas and, of course, strawflowers. The main criterion is to choose flowers or plants with relatively low moisture content.
Dried grasses from simple to dramatic can be used by themselves or to add interest to fresh or dried flower arrangements. Check your favorite nursery or garden center for grasses that do well here. If you enjoy starting plants from seed, consider the selection of gorgeous grasses available from Johnny's Selected Seeds. From ‘Frosted Explosion,' a silvery, feathery, ethereal plant, to ‘Purple Majesty,' a deep burgundy millet that adds shine to holiday and autumnal decor, there are grasses that dry beautifully for every occasion.
Some everlasting flowers, grasses and foliage need warm weather to germinate, but some can be planted throughout the coming cooler months. Read seed packets carefully.
Many everlastings have a long bloom time and can be cut and enjoyed as fresh flowers. Some are treasured for their seed pods or final blossoms. Nigella, also called love-in-a-mist, provides lovely blossoms all season long in white, blue or pink. Left on the stem, the blossoms mature into black- or cream-colored pods prized by floral arrangers. Lunaria, also known as silver dollar plant, moon or money plant, produces silvery or golden papery moons on a graceful stem.
Foliage often dries well. If you are drawn to everlastings and enjoy having materials to work with for wreaths, arrangements and gifts, you can find information online about dessicants for drying and glycerin for preserving leaves and some flowers. Visit nurseries for seeds and seedlings of perennials to plant now. By spring they will be well established, and you will be on your way to next year's everlastings.
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.