Ongoing research

Like to participate in an evening City Nature Challenge Bioblitz on the UC Davis campus and search for insects? And document other fauna and flora, as well?

Calandrinia (aka Cistanthe) spectabilis (Rock Purslane) Calandrinia, recently renamed Cistanthe for its Cistus-like flowers, is native to Chile and a real stand out in our hot dry summers. Gray green succulent foliage forms a clump 12 to 18 inches tall and up to 3 feet wide.

Celebrate spring by giving a basket of flowers or vegetables to someone special. Tasks Pull weeds and hoe often to minimize reseeding. After mulching, check to make sure your irrigation runs are watering through the mulch to the correct rooting depth. If not, increase run times.

Put on your rain gear and join us this Saturday, Saturday, April 13th 2024 from 10am 2pm at the Pollinator Festival. at the La Loma Pollinator Garden on 2000 Encina Avenue in Modesto. A pollinator parade starts at 10:15 a.m. so wear a costume and join in! Enjoy face painting, music, and more.

Nationally recognized and long time California strawberry entomologist Frank Zalom will join Christine Tabuloc and myself this coming Friday April 19 at my office in Watsonville to discuss recent developments in insecticide resistance in our populations of spotted wing drosophila (SWD).

The workshop is a collaboration between University of California, Riverside, University of California ANR, Colorado State University Extension, Kansas State University, University of Arizona, Central Arizona Project, and USDA-ARS.

Two of the worst pests plaguing lettuce growers in the Salinas Valley area are aphids, specifically lettuce-currant aphids (Nasovonia ribisnigri), and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis).

I can name that flying insect in 3 clues how about you? Match the clue to the insect's image. Place an X in the appropriate column. Resources: UC IPM, Syrphids (Flower Flies or Hover Flies) https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/syrphids/ University of Florida, European honey bee https://entnemdept.

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month. We have twenty-five active Master Gardeners in our Program. We volunteer many hours each month to support the mission of the UC Master Gardener Program.

APRIL: April 13th, Humboldt Botanical Garden Education Series, Donna Wildearth, Native Plants. Location: at the Humboldt Botanical Garden (HBG), outside Marie's Terrace. Register at https://www.hbgf.org/contact-us April 13th, Seed and Plant Exchange, Humboldt Grange #501.