Garden Articles
The Ins and Outs of Pollination
By Vera Strader
National Pollinator Week is June 17-23. Whether you grow a lone tomato plant or an extensive garden, most vegetables and fruit require pollination to produce food.
Flowering Crops Are Usually Insect-Pollinated. Pollen must get from the male anther on one flower to the female stigma on another flower. This is true of melons, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins and orchard fruits including apples, apricots, and pears. Bees literally carry the big load while assorted flies, wasps, some beetles and hummingbirds pitch in.
Lacking insect pollinators, you can become the pollinator for squashes and pumpkins. Using a soft brush, Q-tip or a feather, gently brush the yellow pollen from freshly opened male flowers (the ones with the long stem) on to the female flowers (with a short stem and miniature fruit at the base of flower).
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June Garden Calendar
By UCCE Central Sierra Master Gardeners
Wondering what to do in your garden in a timely manner? The following suggestions from Oregon State University, edited by local master gardeners for use in the Mother Lode, can help give you a focus for your gardening activities. Tasks are divided into categories of planning, planting, maintenance, and pest control.
Oregon State University Extension Service and the University of California Cooperative Extension encourage sustainable gardening practices. Practice preventive pest management rather than reactive pest control. Identify and monitor problems before acting, and opt for the least toxic approach. Conserve biological control agents such as predators and the parasitoids that feed on insect pests.
Succulents That Thrive in Foothill Gardens
by Rachel Oppedahl
I’m not a fan of hot weather, so my gardening thoughts are turning to plants that thrive in long, hot, dry summers: succulents. From soaring saguaro cactus to “baby toes” groundcover, succulents are tough, sun-loving, long-lived plants that are great for drought-prone areas. However, not all succulents can withstand our cold, wet winters and heavy soil, so it’s best to know which ones can.
The word “succulent” comes from the Latin word “succulentus,” which means juice or sap. They are defined by their ability to store moisture. Represented by more than 40 botanical families worldwide, one family is indigenous only to the American and South American West: cactus (Cactaceae). What makes cacti different from all other succulents are round, cushion-like structures called “areoles,” from which spines, branches, hair and flowers grow.
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Gardeners Can Give Birds A Helping Hand
By Vera Strader
Can you imagine the Mother Lode without our numerous and diverse birds? They light up our gardens and woodlands, help control troublesome insects, and add song to our hearts. But our feathered friends can use our help to thrive in the face of ongoing habitat destruction, predators, disease, and harsh weather.
WATER IS ESSENTIAL. During our sizzling summers, birds’ need for water is compelling. A small pond or a shallow birdbath or two will help fill the bill (no pun intended). A simple tray of water will do. Place it in a clearing so birds can spot predators, but with trees or other cover nearby. Scrub and refill your birdbath frequently.
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