Solano

June is Pollinator Month, and Pollinator Week is June 17th 23rd. Most people can name pollinators- bees, butterflies, moths, and birds- but they don't always remember bats. Bats pollinate at night, which may be why they don't always get credit for their work. We don't usually see them in action.

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Oleander, also known as Nerium oleander, is a fascinating plant that often sparks curiosity and debate. Is it a toxic weed or a beautiful shrub? Oleander is celebrated for its stunning flowers, which come in a variety of colors such as pink, white, red, and yellow.

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There is a magnificent old cactus garden located in Pea Adobe Regional Park, just west of Vacaville, CA. I was in awe when I first discovered the garden, noticing that some of the cactuses were huge with thick wood-like trunks.

I have been finding packs of seeds everywhere: in my garage, on the back shelf of my porch, in my car side pockets, in my garden work basket, and scattered throughout the house. I hate to throw them away, maybe I can plant them next season.

If you live in California, you have seen Cistus. Cistus, or Rockrose are amazingly self-reliant in our Mediterranean climate. They are so good at growing independently, that they resist being manipulated and controlled.

As we headed out on our drive up to Oregon, before the Memorial Day weekend, we commented on how recently our hills had turned brown. Our weather had become much more summer like. We knew things were going to change when we got to Oregon.

Thank you to the unknown donor of this beautiful fig tree at the MG plant exchange! It was such a great find three years ago, a healthy little one and a half foot fig tree in a Terra Cotta pot. It even had six or seven little figs on it.

Driving North on I-5 in mid-May is akin to chasing springtime. Especially when one begins in Solano County, where most of the beautiful spring blooms have already been spent or wind-blown from the trees--making way for their bright green spring leaves.