Ongoing research

By Susanne von Rosenberg, UC Master Gardener of Napa County Can you believe it's already September and we're headed into fall gardening season? It's time to assess what you would like to grow this autumn.

So, here you are, a honey bee nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. All's right with the world, at least in your world. You're sipping nectar to take home to your colony and suddenly...a buzz.

News from USDA. Also check out the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/FactSheets/livestock_forage_program_lfp-fact_sheet.pdf WASHINGTON, September 8, 2021 In response to the severe drought conditions in the West and Great Plains, the U.S.

Beware of Mexican Feather Grass very popular but is now considered invasive and are being removed by the best plant nurseries and dead palm fronds up in the canopy. Oily plants like cypress are drought-tolerant but very flammable. Brush clearance out to 100 feet from structures is rule of thumb.

One of my very favorite treats is a nice bowl of buttery salty popcorn! I meanhas anyone gone to a movie WITHOUT eating at least a small bag??

PLEASE NOTE: Due to drought conditions these stations currently have insufficient vegetative cover to provide accurate ETo data. At this time, 146 Belridge is providing the best ETo data for Kern County.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow (From old proverb) I love to stroll under the shade of majestic Valley oak trees in the oak woodland riparian habitat along the Stanislaus River at Caswell State Park in Ripon.

I suspect anyone who has used livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) to protect livestock has experienced at least one of the following interactions with non-ranchers: A call or conversation with a neighbor, complaining about the dog barking; An email (often anonymous) from a neighbor about the dog barking;...

CORVALLIS, Ore. New research from Oregon State University Extension Service found slugs and snails are strongly attracted to bread dough, a discovery that could lead to better ways of controlling these serious pests of agriculture, nurseries and home gardens.

Guest author Siera Nystrom is a certified UC Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve California Naturalist, and writes about the Sacramento and San Joaquin Biogregions for California Biodiversity Week 2021. You can follow more of Siera's writings posted on Notes from a California Naturalist.