UC Blogs

'Killer Bees': Where Are They in California?

What about those Africanized honey bees? Where are they located in California? Hollywood movie refer to them as "killer bees."  Ditto, the news...

Just by looking at this feral colony, you cannot tell Africanized bees from European honey bees (EHB). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Just by looking at this feral colony, you cannot tell Africanized bees from European honey bees (EHB). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

If this cluster were in southern California, these could be Africanized bees. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

If this cluster were in southern California, these could be Africanized bees. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Meet the New Tenant

You can't always choose your tenants. Sometimes they choose you. Take the case of our two bee condos, which are blocks of wood drilled with holes...

Webweaver spun a web and then crawled into the mason bee condo to occupy a hole. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Webweaver spun a web and then crawled into the mason bee condo to occupy a hole. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of webweaving spider occupying space in the bee condo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of webweaving spider occupying space in the bee condo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

San Francisco Flower and Garden Show 2013

This weekend I had the good fortune to attend the San Francisco Flower & Garden show in San Mateo.  It has years—at least a decade—since I last was able to go (back when the show was still being held at the Cow Palace).  So I was quite excited about seeing all the latest gardening trends.

Frankly, there was so much to see—display gardens, vendors, seminars, and plant market—that it was overwhelming!  I’m not much of a trendspotter, so perhaps that’s why I didn’t see any particular themes or trends to report on (other than succulents are still going strong these days).  But I did enjoy perusing the Western Horticulture Society’s Hot Plant Picks for 2013.  They had some beautiful plants on display, ranging from a stunning columbine, colorful primula, to larger perennial shrubs.  Unfortunately, the Society hasn’t posted its 2013 list yet, but you can check their website for when they do (http://www.westernhort.org) or take a look at past year’s lists.

Sunset also had a display at the show, handing out brochures for its 2013 Sunset Western Garden Collection, which includes new varieties of low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants for the garden.  The Salvia ‘Amistad’ with its dark purple flowers stopped me in my tracks before I even noticed the rest of the display!  You may find the collection online at http://sunsetwesterngardencollection.com.  What I found particularly useful about the website is the search key where you can narrow your search to certain specific features such as salt tolerance, deer resistance, firescaping, and more.  If only I had room for one of each plant . . . .

Salvia 'Amistad' photo courtesy of http://fhfgreenmedia.com/

Molybdenum Deficiency in Alfalfa Production

There have been several alfalfa fields in the Northern Sacramento Valley area that have been deficient in molybdenum (Mo or moly), which is unusual,...

Molybdenum Deficiency in Alfalfa

A Luncheon in the Garden

(Editor's note: This event has been postponed until the fall of 2013. Details pending.) Mark your calenders! The Honey and Pollination Center at...

Honey bee heading toward tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee heading toward tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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