Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
Delicious
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon
UC Blogs
After Christmas Sales for Gardeners
I love Christmas with all the trimmings including the greenery. The wreaths, the trees, the Christmas cacti, the poinsettias, the rosemary topiaries, the amaryllis and paper whites, and a host of others that take center stage during this time of year that otherwise blend into the background.
While many might just disregard and discard these once January 2nd rolls around, I just can’t bring myself to do so. Always looking for a bargain, and believing that I CAN grow anything (just disregard those plastic pots in my recycle bin) I eagerly ask for folks discarded poinsettias vowing THIS YEAR I’ll be able to keep it growing until next Christmas season.
Other than pilfering these rejects from my acquaintances and friends, there are bargains to be had at your local grocery, hardware, and big box stores. Many stores, in their rush to clear out the “old”, mark items like rosemary plants and bulb kits down drastically. I’m talking 2 or 3 bucks for plants they were selling for $15 or more up until the 24th!
The rosemary is very hardy. It can be a great scent in the house and great to plant in the yard or container. http://ucanr.org/sites/ucmgnapa/files/81948.pdf.
The Paperwhites and Amaryllis that fill the shelves will bloom just in time for Valentines (so many of these are in red and white too!). http://ucanr.org/sites/ucmgnapa/files/81913.pdf.
Many stores also pull out last year’s garden supplies (pots, tools, etc.) in a hope that they won’t have to inventory and pay taxes on it.
So gardeners delight! There is something to do besides looking longingly through our seed and farm catalogs and hoping for an early spring. Get out and spot a gardener’s After-Christmas Bargain!
The 'Teddy Bear' Bee
Lots of youngsters received teddy bears as holiday gifts.But native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis,...
A male Valley carpenter bee found in the Robbin Thorp home in Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Yuletime Is Bug Time
Gotta love those entomologists and all the "bug people" who love bugs. The folks at the Bohart Museum of Entomology on the UC Davis campus not only...
James Heydon, 10, of Davis, admires a “bug” wreath made by Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator at the Bohart Museum of Entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The colors of the season at the Bohart Museum of Entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Santa's Nice List
Here’s a suggestion that, if acted upon, may add some names to Santa’s “Nice” list. What if we all donated our surplus, homegrown produce and it was distributed to those in need?
Solano County is a longtime fruit-growing region. Agriculture is still king here, largely because our climate is perfect for growing a variety of crops. Homeowners have long taken advantage of our glorious climate, planting citrus trees, pomegranates, persimmons, or maintaining old walnut, pecan and almond trees that happen to stand in their yards. Right about now, all of those trees are heavy with fruit and nuts.
Sadly, a good deal of this bounty goes to waste. Homeowners are often too busy or physically unable to harvest in time. And, ironically, there are lots of Solano County residents who don’t have regular access to fresh, locally grown produce.
See where I’m heading with this?
Wouldn’t it be cool if we all could step up and help, either by donating fruits or nuts from our own yards, or by volunteering to help with the harvesting? It can be done, and quite easily. Here are two local volunteer organizations that exist to share the wealth of Solano County produce. Share this information with your neighbors who have an overabundance of produce:
— The Vacaville Produce Pipeline. Call Fern Henry, 448-4792, or visit http://vacaproducepipeline.blogspot.com
— The Fairfield-Suisun Produce Pipeline. Call Karyl Hendrick, 399-7080, or visit http://fsproducepipeline.blogspot.com
Merry Christmas and happy New Year. May all your citrus be Solano grown!
Winter Wonderland of Seminars
Assistant professors Louie Yang and Joanna Chiu have just announced the UC Davis Department of Entomology's list of seminar speakers for the winter...
Pollen packin' honey bee (red pollen from rock purslane) nectaring on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee covered with blue pollen from bird's eyes (Gilia tricolor). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
