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Bugs for All, All for Bugs
No matter what insect you're interested in, you can usually find your favorite topic at one of the Northern California Entomology Society...
Newly elected president of the Nor-Cal Entomology Society is Robert "Bob"Case of Concord, (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
California dreamin'
The almond industry's dream of hitting the two billion-pound mark has come true, according to an article by Cary Blake in Western Farm Press.
“We once believed achieving a 2-billion-pound California almond crop was a distant dream but now it’s a reality,” said Bob Curtis of the Almond Board of California at the 2011 Almond Industry Conference.
The conference included presentations by John Edstrom, UC Cooperative Extension emeritus farm advisor, Colusa County; Mario Viveros, UCCE emeritus farm advisor, Kern County; and Walt Bentley, UC IPM entomologist. Combined, these UCCE specialists have nearly 100 years of experience in the California almond industry
Edstrom tied the monumental yield increases in recent decades to precision irrigation, high-density tree planting, minimum and machine pruning techniques, and soil modification and amendments.
Improved cultural practices, better varieties and integrated pest management have contributed to increased almond yields.
Finding the Silver Lining
I was just given some really wise advice from a dear friend: Find the silver linings. Applying that to the state of my garden in the depths of a dry, windy winter makes for a colorful crazy quilt of good things. Here goes:
- Seeing red: Right now, the eye-catching spots in my yard are red. Tucked among the greens are Nandina domestica 'Firepower', which live up to their name when the sun hits them. The other reds are the berries hanging from the toyons (Heteromeles arbutifolia), firethorn (Pyracantha angustifolia) and asparagus ferns (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'). The birds love the berries, too.
- Lack of leaves: The winds of December took most of the leaves, and now I have an unhindered view of a big blue sky. It’s a great contrast to the bare branches and occasional evergreen.
- Orchids: OMG, have you seen the orchids? They are everywhere, in full, beautiful bloom. A local warehouse store is selling a wide variety of Phalaenopsis orchids, beautifully potted, for $15. I succumbed to two, and they will provide us fresh blooms for the next month or two. Even the tough, big orchids I keep outside are ready to bloom. So exciting!
- Citrus: My potted ‘Moro’ blood orange is heavy with fruit, as is our tiny ‘Improved Meyer’ tree, which is in the ground. The bright yellow and orange draw my attention every time I head out back.
- Fight on: Our tree mallow (Lavatera maritime) is the little engine that could. Last spring, this billowy shrub was showing signs of a nasty rust invasion. We cut it to just 6 inches from the ground and crossed our fingers. It now stands 6 feet tall again, and is covered in lovely lilac-colored hibiscus-like blooms. Gotta love a fighter.
- Vernal hors d’oeuvres: Our warm, dry winter has caused many plants to start putting on new growth much sooner than normal. For instance, I have a crabapple in blossom now, and many of our Narcissus bulbs are nearly done blooming. We should expect many more nights with freezing temperatures, which will stunt this new growth. We also should be prepared for a long, wet spring, much like last year. So, I have to admit, I’m looking at our odd weather pattern as a vernal hors d’oeuvre, a nibble of spring. As long as we get some rain soon, it indeed will be a silver lining.
Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’ provides a welcome spot of color to a Vacaville front yard. (photos by Kathy Thomas-Rico)
A Meyer lemon tree shows off brightly colored fruit in the depths of winter.
Snug as a Bug in a...Bee Condo
When you try to attract leafcutting bees (Megachile spp.) to your bee condos, you may also attract something else.Wasps.Bee condos (wood blocks...
Bee condo for leafcutting bees includes the offspring (left) of a solitary mason wasp. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Leafcutting bee (left) emerges from her hole in a photo taken last summer. At right a plugged hole. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Leafcutting bee sealing her nest in a photo taken last summer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Gifts from Friends
My birthday was at the beginning of January, but it seems I have been celebrating it all month. Just last week, several friends (who happen to be master gardeners) got together and surprised me for a lunch. At the lunch, I received wonderful gifts-two of which really stood out. I had been thinking about creating a terrarium for some time, but when I actually received 2 in one day, I knew it was kismet. One is in a large decorative jar and the other is this unique vessel. It’s in an ornament, yes, like a Christmas tree ornament.
I know terrariums aren’t something new; they have been around for hundreds of years. I won’t go in to that; you can do a Google search and find that information.
It is surprising how much information is out there about terrariums. I had a look at YouTube and found a bunch of great how-to type videos on creating terrariums. They also help explain the different plants you are able to use. I especially like the Fittonia spp. (Nerve Plant) and the Pilea spp. (Friendship plant). I have a container at home I’d like to try to use Adiantum spp. (Maidenhair fern) or Davallia spp. (Rabbit’s foot fern) in. For me, ferns are always a difficult plant to grow, but in a terrarium, they might work. The humidity of a closed or open top terrarium suits their needs well.
You can also find on the Internet; little, fun decorations you can add to your terrarium. On one site, I found had miniature metal garden furniture, watering cans, and bird baths! In my large terrarium stands a figurine from England. My friend,Karen, placed it in there with care. You can see in the picture below how sweet that little addition is to the terrarium. Rocks, driftwood, colored glass are just a few suggestions of what you might add to the container to give it extra interest.
I am going to try and put together a terrarium on my own and I’ll have to update you all on how that went. For now, enjoy these few pictures I have of the gifts I received from my friends.
Super cute terrarium. (photos by Jennifer Baumbach)
Ornament terrarium.
