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

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photos by Launa Herrmann
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Yucky White Mold on Yummy Red Tomatoes

June 18, 2019
I can't help it. I get hungry (and impatient) for the sweet taste of fresh tomatoes especially after the last one is plucked from my backyard garden in the fall. So, I did it again.
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Lemon verbena. photo by Michelle Davis
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The Garden of Poisonous Plants

June 17, 2019
I am a frequent flier at UC Davis. My husband and I have walked our dogs the entire length of the arboretum once or twice weekly for over twenty years.
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photos by Michelle Davis
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Jeopardy Question

June 14, 2019
You're on JEOPARDY! It's the final question, and you've bet all your winnings. Quick! Here's your final JEOPARDY! answer. This spice is common to Ethiopian, Thai, Spanish, Indian, Mexican, and Greek cuisine. Do-de-do-duh DO. DO. DUH. Time is up.
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Seeds

June 13, 2019
There was a fascinating article in the New York Times on June 9th on corporate control of seeds for mass agribusiness production. The bottom line for the writer, Dan Barber, is the importance of developing more emphasis on seed diversity than uniformity, organic farming versus corporate production.
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photos by Erin Mahaney
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Powdery Mildew on Verbena

June 12, 2019
I love my easy-to-grow, leggy Verbena bonariensis with its clusters of butterfly-attracting purple flowers, but for the second year in a row, it has been affected by powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that is favored by wind and dry conditions.
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