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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Aphid Leaf. photos by Melinda Nestlerode
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Attack of the Black Bean Aphid

December 1, 2023
Planting space is at a premium in my yard. We had our pool removed in 2020, and the backyard is still widely a construction zone. Areas not currently being worked on act as a staging zone for flagstone, bricks, wood, concrete and other construction materials.
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photos by Heather Hamilton
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Drum Stick

November 30, 2023
I have been working with Craspedia globosa Golf Beauty' for years now. It's common name is billy balls or drum stick, they look like a tiny yellow tennis ball, on a long stick. They are in the Asteraceae family, and are native to Australia and New Zealand.
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photo by Jennifer Baumbach
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Autumn Miku

November 28, 2023
Autumn brings many things Halloween, time change and leaf color Harvest and winter planting...
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Devour by bird. photos by Karen Metz
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50 Ways to Kill Your Plants, Well Almost

November 20, 2023
I have been thinking about all the gardening mistakes I have made over the years. They are many and varied. The ones earliest in my gardening career were some of the most outrageous.
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Non-astringent and astringent persimmon. photo by Kathy Low
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Asian Persimmon Time!

November 17, 2023
It's that time of year again Asian persimmon (Diospyros kaki) harvest time! If you're unfamiliar with persimmons, they're orange colored fruit native to China. Asian persimmon seeds were first import in 1863 by William Saunders of the USDA.
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