Ongoing research

Dear UC ANR Community, Once again we are facing the challenges wrought by multiple wildfires around the state.

Wildfires that generate their own weather, drought, record-breaking heatwaves, and frequent flooding are compelling more people to try to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

PowerPoint slides that give an overview of UC ANR are now available in the ANR communications toolkit. If you are giving a presentation and need some background information about UC ANR, you can select what you need from a set of 14 slides.

Unify-Communicate-Advocate The UC ANR Strategic Initiatives offer a home for strategic thought - drawing on members of the wider UC ANR community and beyond to 1) help people connect and 2) to help them identify and address issues of current and emerging importance.

The Beatles sang "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The elm leaf beetles and their larvae don't want to hold your hand--unless perhaps you're holding a elm leaf that they can eat. A recent walk down the 200 block of Buck Avenue, Vacaville, California, revealed the damage this pest does.

Leucadendron By Leonard Cicerello UCCE Master Gardener Leucadendron galpinii Planting areas: Sunset zones 16,17, 20-24 Size: 6'-8' tall and 4'-6' wide. Bloom season: Early spring through summer. Exposure: Full sun. Pruning needs: Snip a little to maintain compact shape. Water needs: Moderate water.

Savory Jellies By Dawn Peters UCCE Master Food Preserver Who does not love a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich or after school toast with strawberry jelly? Now it's time to explore the more exciting, mature side of jelly.

That is why it is extremely important to pay attention to areas around your home that become breeding grounds for the pests. Prime example are French drains or underground drainage systems where water can pool if the slope is inadequate or it becomes blocked.

It is that time of year again. Rice is heading and our thoughts are turning to harvest. As we have been doing since 2015, we will be running the UCCE Rice Yield Contest. We continue to learn a lot from this contest which we share with all of you. This week we picked up the prize for the winner.

Passion Flower By Andrea Peck UCCE Master Gardener Common name of plant: Passion Flower Scientific name: Passiflora spp. Planting area: USDA Zones 7-10 Size: 30+ Feet Bloom Season: Spring-Fall Exposure: Full Sun Pruning Needs: Prune to encourage healthy growth.