Ongoing research

Dear Colleagues, It is with mixed emotions that I announce the departure of Shannon Horrillo from UC ANR. Shannon has accepted a new position at the University of Nevada, Reno where she will become the Associate Director of Cooperative Extension, effective August 5.

I know you'll be glad to hear that there is a new garden pest in the Eastern Sierra. Well, it's native and so not technically new, but as far as I know, gardeners haven't had to deal with it in recent memory. This insect is a stink bug with the gnarly name of Chlorochroa kanei.

Note: This post is first of a series in which we will recap our UC ANR Urban Agriculture Workshops. We'll share key points, as well as links to videos and handouts. Even if you couldn't make it in person, you can still access the content.

Basil reminds me of springtime. The freshness of the fragrant crushed leaves is so enticing. Fresh basil is such a welcome ingredient in so many recipes, adding a bright spiciness from pesto laced pasta to those intoxicating Thai soups and curries.

In many parts of the world, a chile a day is the centerpiece of a good diet. The chile plant (Capsicum annuum) is native to the Americas, but from the first European contact, the nutrient-packed fruit was transported abroad.

Check out the growing list of learning opportunities on the ANR Learning & Development website. Make it Acccessible: SiteBuilder for Everyone Thursday July 18 noon-12:30 pm Learn basic techniques to make your website accessible to your audience. With Bruce Lidl and Andrew Waegli, ANR IT.

What about Planting Lemons in Kern County? By Craig Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension Advisor, Kern County Kern County is located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley of California.

'Attention is the beginning of devotion' --Mary Oliver This quote resonates this month, amidst a variety of environmental holidays and celebrations including World Environment Day, World Ocean Day, California Invasive Species Action Week, and finally National Pollinator Week (this week) and Month.

Size does matter. Have you ever wondered about sexual size dimorphism in the tropical spiders, the golden orbweavers? The females are sometimes 10 times larger and 100 times heavier than their male counterparts.

The University invites comments on revised policy BFB-G-42 Gifts Presented to Non-employees on Behalf of the University.