Under the Solano Sun

golden yellow sunflower highlighted in a field of sunflowers against the blue sky

Seasonal observations by UC Master Gardeners of Solano County

Primary Image
Photo: Andrew Majcher/Getty Images
Article

Roses Part 2: Are Those Carnival-Colored Roses for Real?

June 22, 2020
I hope you still have roses to enjoy in your garden. I suspect some of you may have received some rose bouquets for Mother's Day, and some of those may have been the carnival-colored roses (aka Rainbow Roses). If not, you have probably seen them on Internet ads.
View Article
Primary Image
EPA Temperature Chart 2016
Article

Hot and Bothered

June 19, 2020
Temperatures have been increasing on planet earth since the 19th century. According to NASA, (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/decadaltemp.php) the average global temperature has increased by 2F since 1880, with two-thirds of that warming occurring since 1975.
View Article
Primary Image
photo by Gene Ekenstam
Article

Gardening with Chickens

June 18, 2020
After moving to our house in Benicia 9 years ago, getting all the books on shelves, having the back yard landscaping re-done, and starting our various volunteer activities, we concluded that it was time to begin a new venture. So we bought some newly-hatched chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus).
View Article
Primary Image
Huntington carpet (photos by Jeanine McAnaney)
Article

In Praise of Rosemary

June 17, 2020
Rosemary officinalis, maybe not the most exciting plant on the planet, but maybe one of the most useful and versatile out there. Out in the up-country areas of Solano County, water is expensive, deer are plentiful, and the sun is hot, burning down all day with little shade for relief.
View Article
Primary Image
Rufous hummingbird on Lady Banks rose (photo by Jennifer Baumbach)
Article

Creating a Hummingbird-Friendly Garden

June 16, 2020
Sitting on my front porch, thinking about ideas for my monthly blog, I became entranced by the hummingbirds visiting my salvia. Thirty minutes later, I started researching how to attract more of these mesmerizing birds to my garden.
View Article