Napa

The first time I saw soldier fly larvae in my worm bin I did not know what they were other than maggots. I picked them out with a long tweezer and dropped them on the ground. My intention was to kill them when I was done.

Cucumbers are an easy summer vegetable to grow in Napa County gardens. I'm sure of that, because last summer I participated in the Napa County Master Gardeners' field test of three different varieties, and we had more cucumbers than we could eat for a couple of months.

Here's a word to add to your garden vocabulary: Euphorbia. This is not to be confused with euphoria. How did a plant family get such a curious botanical name? The family is named for Euphorbos, a Greek physician who lived more than two thousand years ago.

By Cindy Watter, UC Master Gardener of Napa County For me, the great question at the plant nursery these days is whether to buy the little plant or the big one. The small Hot Lips' salvias I bought two years ago are fat and fluffy and covered with flowers today.

By Yvonne Rasmussen, UC Master Gardener of Napa County Did you know you can grow lettuce year-round? Generally, lettuce is considered a cool-season crop but some varieties are adapted to warmer weather. With a few tricks, you can keep them cool for year-round harvesting.

By Cindy Watter, UC Master Gardener of Napa County The crown jewel of summer's edible garden is the tomato. It really is jewel-like, with so many brilliant hues. It has just as many flavors, too.

By Penny Pawl, UC Master Gardener of Napa County Spring is imminent, so it is time to be planning your summer garden. Napa County Master Gardeners will be offering a large variety of organic tomato seedlings for sale on Saturday, April 9. The online sale was on April 3.

By Cindy Watter, UC Master Gardener of Napa County One day recently, while I was standing in my yard, a passerby asked me if the lemons on my tree were real. The gentleman was a tourist, and he doesn't see lemons adorning trees in January in Minnesota.

By Dianne Weyna, UC Master Gardener of Napa County There are many flowering trees in Napa's Fuller Park, and this spring would be a good time to see them in bloom. Fuller Park was acquired by the City of Napa in 1905, and in 1919 it was named after the mayor involved in its acquisition, C.H.

By Susanne von Rosenberg, UC Master Gardener of Napa County Most gardeners appreciate wildlife, even if we don't always appreciate what wildlife may do to cherished parts of our garden.