Test PB Collection: FTE

For years, heucheras that grew natively in woodland and mountain areas of the Americas served gardens mainly as dependable ground covers and neat perennial borders. Hummingbirds as well as gardeners have long loved the blossoms.

Kohlrabi, a member of the Brassicaceae (cabbage) family, is little-known to home gardeners despite its easy culture and versatile use when cooked or enjoyed raw. Its flavor and texture have been compared both to turnips and water chestnuts for its crunch stir fried, as a relish, or in salads.

Coriandrum sativum is a tender annual herb whose fresh leaves are known as cilantro and dried seeds are known as coriander. Every part of the plant is edible and especially useful in East Indian, Asian, Mediterranean, and Latin cuisines.

Sonoma County gardeners may feel that reaping fresh, cool-weather crops is a bonus after the summer-autumn harvest, but many crops thrive best in our mild, wet, Mediterranean winters. With careful timing and plant selection, the harvest may continue into early spring.

Physocarpus is commonly called ninebark for the exfoliating layers of bark that slowly peel away on older branches. Over time, reddish to light brown inner layers are exposed, becoming most noticeable in winter after leaf drop. In spring, burgundy new stems at branch tips erupt with dense foliage.

Among the many Arctostaphylos species, many are groundcovers as low as a few inches to as much as 1-2 ft. or more in height and spreading out in clumps up to 10 ft. wide.

By Rosemary McCreary, Sonoma County Master Gardener If youve ever wondered if spotted green cucumber beetles attack anything other than cucumbers, youre on the right track for finding a cause of damage to your string beans.

Bare-root trees have been excavated at a young age from growing fields and transported for sale without soil while they are dormant. Planting these young, leafless trees in winter has several advantages.

Olive trees conjure up images of ancient, twisted trunks and wind-swept Mediterranean hillsides. Mature trees add character and interest to many landscapes and are often chosen for character and fruit production.

By Ellyn Pelikan, Sonoma County Master Gardener Sometimes referred to as the Christmas or Lenten rose, hellebores are shining stars of the winter garden. Perennial members of the family Ranunculaceae, these tough, hardy, long-lived plants add much color to the drab winterscape.