Ongoing research

Cover crops are crops that are put into the ground to enhance and renew the soil with nutrients and organic matter. It is used mainly in the spring and the fall, often to cover the soil rather than for a cash crop.

There is so much to discuss when this subject presents itself which way do you go? If you choose the road most traveled, you will find yourself immersed in a plethora of information to which others also have access.

Saving and preserving your garden flowers is a great way to enjoy them for years to come. Pressing flowers is one way to do that.

Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains Author: Bethany Brookshire, PhD 348 pages, published by New York City: Harper Collins, 2022 The author of this tome, Bethany Brookshire, PhD, has a doctorate in physiology and pharmacology from Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina.

After residing amidst the awe-inspiring Coastal Redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) for a remarkable 3 years, I recently returned to the valley.

When choosing what to plant this season, it is important to look ahead and plan for both now and the coming months. The fall season is comprised of three months: October, November and December. Frost is possible in October, and the days are shorter and cooler.

Horticultural Terms is where we introduce a unique word related to horticulture. Did you know the word horticulture is derived from the Latin hortus, garden, and colere, to cultivate. Let's take a look at this quarters term. Bacciferous: [bak-sif-er-us] adjective Botany.

PERENNIAL: Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm' This black-eyed Susan cultivar has ample pest and disease resistance, and an extra-long blooming time. Hence it is easy to see why this cultivar won the Perennial Plant Association's Plant of the Year Award in 1999.

Well, it's that time of year when we say goodbye to the salads of summer. As the days shorten and cool, we crave the comforts of fall. Fall casseroles take a leading role in providing a family meal that is both warm and fulfilling. Casseroles can highlight seasonal fall favorites and produce.

I have two plants in my garden that are magnets for pollinators and butterflies. Both plants put on quite a flower show and are drought tolerant. Given our ongoing issues with water, this latter feature should be priority for all of us.