Under the Solano Sun

Spiders. Whether dangling or leaping, scurrying or creeping, spiders usually make me flinch indoors and out. I don't know why, since I was raised in the country where spider webs stretched across rows of orange trees and rose arbors.

I am so excited to have a new opportunity to work in the education department at Solano RCD (Resource Conservation District). The department has a program to introduce middle school students to nature and help them learn the fundamentals of the scientific study process.

Driving through Canada was quite beautiful and since we were on vacation, we stayed on rural roads, mostly in the Rockies. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful orange-red hue of the distant hills very widespread and quite striking. We immediately wondered what plant it was.

My wife and I just returned from a summer drive of 4,500 miles, I might add to and around western Canada. We usually go much farther afield like Borneo and then it is all too obvious how great the differences are from home.

Many years ago, Esther Blanco, Mary Gabbard and I did a short presentation for our Master Gardener class on Ginkgo trees. Here is some of what I remember: Buy male trees. Female trees produce fruit, that while edible in a tiny amount, is toxic in minimally larger amounts, and it truly stinks.