Contra Costa

To explain seasonal changes, the ancient Greeks told the story of Persephone, goddess of the Spring, who was abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld. Her mother Demeter, goddess of Agriculture, was filled with grief and neglected the earth, creating a famine.

Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times. Q: I have a lot of mistletoe in my street tree, which is some sort of ash, I think.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is loved and respected around the world as a symbol of protection and luck. It is thought to impart strength and endurance and is prized as a natural medicinal remedy with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Impressive for such a humble vegetable.

Whether you fall into the camp of a little goes a long way or too much is never enough, I hope to convince you that growing garlic is worthy of your time and some space in the garden. Let's look at this amazing and ancient plant.

Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times Conquer weeds by understanding their life cycles As a gardener in Contra Costa County, you know from observation that weeds have an immense capacity to produce seeds. In fact, the high reproductive output of weeds is astounding.

Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times. Q: I know that acorns are the seeds of oak trees, but how do I plant them? A: Oaks are an important part of the California landscape.

It's getting close to the end of our summer gardening season. Now is the time to start thinking about next summer's garden.

Spider mites are very common pests found on many of our landscape and vegetable garden plants. They are tiny and difficult to see but once you learn about them, you might start seeing evidence of infestation on a wide variety of plants.

This time of year, as the heat increases and things start to get dusty, you might see a number of webs on your plants. Uh oh.

It's summertime! Our gardens are in full swing, tomatoes are beginning to ripen, berries are mostly done, and everything is lush and green. But beware, your plants can sunburn just like you.