Under the Solano Sun

This time reminds me of when we lived at South Lake Tahoe several years ago. We had a house that had approximately 40 pine trees in the back part of the lot. We were told that we had to religiously rake up the fallen needles and remove the dead limbs from the trees.

It seems safe to say that 2020 did not turn out to be the year of perfect vision that I had joyfully anticipated. I started my garden in early spring with all the hope of this being my most productive year and it seemed like everything I had put the most energy into did the worst.

I don't think serendipity is actually the right word for this situation, but let's just go with serendipity, because right when I needed it, I found a lovely, historic, COVID-friendly stroll that assisted me in learning some botanical and common names of several trees.

Not I. Who can have the blues when this plant is obtainable? This beautiful plant Baptisia australis has been around a long time. The blue flowers were used as a blue dye by the American Indians and the early settlers. Stems when broken, secrete a sap that turns dark blue with contact from the air.

Trying to find an uplifting gardening thought is rather hard around here.