Ongoing research

The dizzying impact of the digital revolution on many sectors of society from retail to law enforcement, politics and entertainment has also altered the picture on California farms.

A recent request from the San Diego area has prompted the reposting of this blog by Guy Kyser, UC Davis Plant Sciences Specialist http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County MGCC Help Desk Client's Request: The picture shows my greenhouse lettuce. The picture doesn't show it but it is covered with spider mites.

Before hiking, backpacking, or camping, people are warned to avoid poison oak.

By Iris Craig, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County When I asked a friend how her garden was doing, she told me that the day after she planted lettuce and basil, she found nothing but stumps. I told her that the likely culprits were snails, birds or rodents.

One of the hardest things about gardening is setting priorities. The to-do list never seems to end. Weeding, watering, deadheading, harvesting there is always more to be done.

With the garden moving into full swing, you may be seeing a plethora of pests trying to get to all that produce before you do! First, you need to make it difficult and less desirable for larger mammals such as rats and rabbits to get to the garden.

Reposted from the University of California newsroom Just how far apart are Republicans and Democrats when it comes to views on climate change? Not all that far, as it turns out. They're just too party-focused to notice.

I don't write too much about it in this space because it tends more in the area of "shop talk" for us in extension, but a great interest of mine is how one successfully executes a program of extension.

It's a bully. But what a bully! Ever seen the male European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) protecting its turf? It's "no-holds barred" on our blue spike sage (Salvia uliginosa) and frankly, it's a delight to see and photograph.