Napa

For many years I've heard about carpenter bees, but this year my relationship with these amazing bees became close and personal. On one side of our 100-year-old house is a peach tree that stands about seven feet tall in summer. The trunk curls around in a pleasing shape.

Here is this week's plant quiz: What plant genus has square branches, comes in an enormous variety of sizes and flower types and is drought tolerant once established? The answer is Salvia, a large group whose members we commonly refer to as sages.

Napa County home gardeners are fortunate to have a variety of gardening resources at their fingertips. The UC Master Gardeners of Napa County website has a lot of helpful information if you know where to look. Check out the website at https://napamg.ucanr.

As an ergonomic consultant, I have worked with businesses whose employees perform a lot of tasks requiring manual dexterity. Construction sites, wineries and high-tech clean rooms are good examples. Almost without exception, these workplaces present situations that require gloves.

I love propagating plants and I have used several methods with success. As I walk around my garden, I can see the results of this pastime. Some of my propagating efforts have grown into full-size plants.

One of the great pleasures of gardening is the reward and satisfaction of walking among your plants and seeing the unique way you have displayed your horticultural talents. A garden is a gift you give to yourself as well as to all those who take the time to appreciate your handiwork.

One of the pleasures of being a UC Master Gardener is our monthly seminars. Not only are they varied and interesting, but it is always a pleasure when the local members are present. I enjoy being reminded of how smart my colleagues are.

It is well known that the Napa has many vineyards. Wine is what made this area famous. But did you know that there is another remarkable collection of plants from all around the world right in downtown Napa? Fuller Park is home to dozens of varieties of trees, both native and extremely exotic.

It's that time of year when lots of potting and repotting is going on. I was potting some seedlings a few days ago when I had started in seedling mix. Seedling mix is good for seedlings, because it is sterile, drains well and the seeds can readily make new roots.

There is a beautiful house for sale in my neighborhood, and it was recently featured in the New York Times. Among its abundant selling points is a magnolia tree. It is indeed a lovely tree, and it is in bloom right now.