Under the Solano Sun

I love growing amaryllis bulbs (Hippeastrum genus) for a splash of indoor color to brighten a grey winter day or to give as a holiday gift.

Narcissus are problematic in my Suisun City garden. Some naturalize well but others fizzle after a first season of bloom, producing only leaves until I find the time and energy to dig them out.

Since I pick up plants from here and there I am always being surprised. I found this particular plant in its small form, an Echium fastuosum, It is a very popular part of the city landscape in Benicia. Very easy to see in its blooming stages by the side of the road.

There is nothing like a blank canvas to tease the mind of an artist, and there is nothing like a neglected backyard of a newly acquired home to tease the mind of a master gardener. That is where the impetus for this blog started.

Got a question about plants, pests, soil, or bees? Drop by the Vallejo farmers market and visit the Master Gardeners table on the South East corner of Marin and Georgia Streets. We are there from 9 am until 2 pm every Saturday except when it rains (we don't have a tent).