Ongoing research

Or: An Ode to Albizia julibrissin (Persian silk tree/mimosa) Spring boughs adorned with delicate pink flowers attracted endless bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Dappled summer shade that opened to let in the winter sun. The perfect breezy spot to sit and observe nature.

Blossom End Rot: Blossom end rot is not a disease but a very common environmental disorder many gardeners see every summer. It affects tomatoes, peppers, and cucurbits. Plants with blossom end rot show small, light brown spots at the blossom end of immature fruit.

Diurnal, or daylight pollinators such as bees and butterflies, have long been considered the champion workhorses in their field; however, a paradigm shift is slowly occurring that brings to the forefront the overwhelming contributions of nocturnal Lepidoptera pollinators: the moths.

A surprising number of serious gardeners confess to at least one occasion of being stumped by a gardening problem with no obvious answer. There are a number of ways to find an answer, one of which is the SJC Master Gardener Help Line.

Spring has arrived with a vengeance! The Amador County Master Gardeners' Heritage Rose Garden is exploding in blooms and welcomed visitors to their first official Open Garden Days on May 15, 2021, and will continue to do so the third Saturday of each month, from May through September.

Helloooo summer! It's all about the fresh fruits and produce. Maybe you grow your own or maybe it was that trip to the farmer's market where you loaded up. Now it's time to figure out what to do with it all! Mexican street corn salad is a definite go-to summer side.

CULTIVAR: a plant variety that is produced through selective breeding. There is a long history of plant breeding to maximize certain characteristics.Orchids and roses are good examples of plants bred for disease resistance, color, and form.

If your friends and neighbors are starting to avoid you when they see you have yet another bag of garden vegetables to share, maybe it's time to freeze some of them to enjoy next winter.

BULB: Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata). This is a plant that I have enjoyed for several years. It is native to China, Korea, and Japan and is a member of the orchid family.

My wife and I have been together since late 1979. Over these many years, we have come to enjoy every venue of gardening and take advantage of all the space we have had in each of the sites we called home. It hasn't always been easy, but we have always been up to the challenges.