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Garden Notes Blog
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Going Native – A History
There are lots of reasons to include native plants in your garden. But do you know when the native plant movement began in California and why the use of native plants is so important? Theodore Payne (1872-1963) is generally considered the father...
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Transforming Your Landscape: A Journey of Inspiration, Challenges, and Success - Part Two
Watching the transformation of my front landscape over the past six months has been nothing short of exhilarating. Despite the challenges of an exceptionally hot summer, the plants have thrived, slowly acclimating to their new environment. This success...
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The UC Master Gardener - and the Public - as IPM Ambassadors
An effective UC Master Gardener volunteer should see themselves first as a gardener, then a student, as well as a teacher, a storyteller, and finally, a defender of our shared California waterways and clean air. It may not be obvious, but we all live in...
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Horticultural Terms — Epizoochory: Another Form of Seed Dispersal
Horticultural Terms — Epizoochory: Another Form of Seed Dispersal In the Summer 2024 edition of this blog, I highlighted the “eliasome,” a fleshy appendage on some seeds that allows ants to transport them into their nests to feed their...
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Herb Study – Caraway
Herb Study – Caraway Over the years, my wife and I have converted our home's yard from 1100 ft2 of lawn to a native, edible, and herbal wonderland. We continue to add unique and fragrant herbs that enhance the overall beauty and bounty of our...
UC Garden Blogs
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Good to See Ettamarie Peterson 'Bee' Honored
It was good to see Sonoma County's "Queen Bee," Ettamarie Peterson of Petaluma, bee honored on the cover of the December edition of Bee Culture magazine. She often submits articles for the magazine. I decided it was time her to...
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Bumble Bee's Red Pollen: 'Tis the Season
Ever noticed that when yellow-faced bumble bees, Bombus vosnesenskii, forage in lupine that their pollen is red? Last July when we were camping at Bodega Bay, we delighted in watching the bumble bees foraging in the lupine. Bumble bees store their...
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That UC Davis Beetle T-Shirt: A Big Hit Across the Pond
That UC Davis beetle T-shirt is NOT more popular than The Beatles, but it sure is a big hit, both here and across the pond. On July 30, 2024, Bug Squad featured internationally celebrated entomologist Jeremy Nichol McNeil (1944-2024), a...
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Unique conditions in Modoc County drive organic agriculture adaptations
UC Organic Agriculture Institute visits area to hear innovations, needs of local producers Modoc County, home to 8,500 people and tucked in the remote northeastern corner of California, has been a leader in advancing organic agriculture through its...