Under the Solano Sun

Starting from seed can open the door to more variety, but it helps to keep notes. 1) Don't start too early! Holding seedlings under poor conditions while waiting for ideal weather results in weak, spindly plants.

Gomphrena is a super fun addition to the garden. It is in the Amaranthaceae family and is commonly know as globe amaranth. It comes in pink, purple, orange, red and white. It is native to Central and South America.

When I first married into my husband's family, I was new to the Capsicum chinense family, but I thought I knew to what Scotch Bonnet was. A Yank, in a family ofyardies. For years I would buy Scotch Bonnet plants, and for years, brother-in-law would say no.

When I first started growing vegetables at home, potatoes seemed like they would be impossible or gross. I didn't like the idea of digging them up and having to wash them endlessly before cooking them. I don't usually peel potatoes I buy from the store, so washing would be extra work.

Karen Norton, my neighbor and friend, passed away peacefully at midnight after a brief illness. It seemed fitting to her master gardener friends that today is National Gardeners' Day. Karen was a very nice neighbor, veteran master gardener, and accomplished ceramist and art teacher.