How come nobody told me?

How come nobody told me a first class postage stamp now costs, or is soon to cost, 41 cents?!!! I think I need to sit down. Oh, I am sitting down. I think I need to lie down.

Well, at least the USPS is lessening the 41-cent sting by coming out with these beauties...

Windmill Nursery's Fall & Xmas Open House Charity Event

Hey, this looks like fun. It's for charity and you'll have the opportunity to eat, drink, shop, mingle with nursery sales reps, and maybe hear about hot new plants for the upcoming gardening season! No charge for the event, but they do ask that you RSVP.

Saturday October 13th from 4:00 till....

"We will also have some special guests. You will have an opportunity to meet with many of our sales reps to ask questions and they may have some sneak peaks at some up and coming items. We were very busy this last year in search of all new gifts and decor for the Holiday Season so don't miss out."

Food and drinks, including beer and wine, will be served around 5:30.

For more info or to R.S.V.P. by phone: 916 972-0794 or email andrew@windmillnurseryinc.com

Windmill Nursery Events Calendar

Scent of a tomato, indeed

I want to go to one of her tastings! This is nuts. This is wonderful. This is why we live in "Sacratomato".

Scent of a tomato
Farmers want to cater to connoisseurs
By Jim Downing - Bee Staff Writer

Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, August 19, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1

Organic/IPM techie California gardeners rejoice!

Coming to a California nursery, library, county fair, garden exhibit, or plant clinic near you!

Touch-Screen Pest Management Kiosks

The University of California Statewide IPM Program has developed a touch-screen kiosk to help consumers around the state solve pest problems, protect the environment, and prevent runoff from residential landscapes. Read more.

New Radio Program: Organic Veggie Gardening with Sue

New to me, anyway. I'll have to have a listen!

Listen to - "Organic veggie gardening with Sue"
1240AM KSAC or online at www.1240talkcity.com
on Friday afternoons at 4:00pm
Join us: Fri. August 17th

Saw this on http://sacgardens.org/

Back from Mendo

I didn't have Wi-Fi at the house this time, so I had to restrict my internet use to Wi-Fi hot spots in the village. The only problem with that is that "free" wi-fi is actually quite costly calorically. At Frankie's Ice Cream Parlour, the price was really good pizza and homemade Cowlick's ice cream. I'll also be paying (at the gym) for those excellent lattes from Moody's Organic Coffee Bar.

I went on a couple great bike rides, attended a yoga class, got a massage, hung out with friends and family, took in the incredible scenery, enjoyed regional cheeses, breads, organic wines and coffees, restaurants and more. As always, I didn't get to do everything I wanted and can't wait to go back. Next time I'm determined to expand my Mendocino horizons by trying lake or river kayaking. I think I'll leave sharky ocean kayaking to those fearless outdoorsy folks I admire safely from shore.

Mendocino bound

Back Friday, August 10. Will try to check in via laptop.

West Nile Spray Info

Find out what's going on with West Nile spraying in our area. You can sign up for spray notifications, check mosquito counts in your area, request inspections and more.

FightTheBite.net

UCD bee research center revival?

UCD wants to rebuild bee research center

By Jim Downing - Bee Staff Writer

Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 29, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D2

Caught my eye this morning

Canna 'Intrigue'





Garden spider breakfast


I've switched out some of the plants in my chair planter. A 'Red Sensation' Cordyline adds some structure and height, and I stuck a mishmash of cuttings and seeds around the rim.

2007 Nature Sweet Tomato Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2007

www.naturesweettomatoes.com

GET GROWING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA!

MORE THAN $6,000 TO BE AWARDED TO SACRAMENTO’S BEST BACKYARD GARDENERS

ATTN: LOCAL GARDENERS WITH THE BEST HOMEGROWN TOMATOES

NatureSweet Tomatoes, America’s year-round tomato garden, will partner with Raley’s to bring the Homegrown Tomato Challenge back to Sacramento this August to see who grows the area’s best tomatoes. This year, the overall prize money has increased as well as your chances to win -- two grand prize winners will walk away with $2500 each for the best tomato in both the small and large categories, while runners-up will each receive $250 in prizes.

“Due to feedback from our contest participants and customers over the past few years, we saw a need to select two grand prize winners for this year’s Homegrown Challenge – one for the best small tomato AND one in the large tomato category,” said Kathryn Ault, Director of Marketing for NatureSweet. “Contestants are also thrilled that we’ve increased the overall amount of cash and prizes from $5,000 to $6,000.”

The event will take place on Saturday, August 25 at the Raley’s located at 25025 Blue Ravine Road in Folsom. Visit www.naturesweettomatoes.com for complete contest details or or call toll free at 1-800-315-8209.

Check out last year's winners.

When life gives you lemons...

... make lemonade, lemon bars, and lemon meringue pie.

In Sacramento, it's criminal not to grow citrus. Despite touchy frosts and occasional freezes, we can walk out front or back and pluck oranges, lemons, kumquats, mandarins and other citrus fruits right off the tree most months of the year. That's one of the wonderful things about living here.

In my early twenties as a renter, I was able to pick grapefruits off a large tree from the roof of my Victorian four-plex apartment in midtown Sacramento. Pretty cool. I envied my aunt Eileen for her spectacular mature Washington navel tree that came with her cute bungalow in east Sacramento. Those were the hugest, sweetest oranges... mere steps from her kitchen.

In my late twenties, my husband and I bought our first house, also a little bungalow in east Sacramento... that came with a mature Meyer lemon tree. Meyer lemons can be used like grocery store lemons (Eureka, Lisbon, etc.) but they have a sweetness and unique fragrance that builds nostalgic loyalty. Lemon bars are great, but have you ever had a Meyer lemon bar? Heaven.

I hated selling our little house when we outgrew it, but I mostly hated losing that tree. Anyone buying a house with mature citrus trees is very lucky. A few years ago, I planted several dwarf citrus trees from Four Winds, hoping to have pluckable citrus sometime in the future. I finally do, or I'm about to. My Eureka lemon is so far the most robust tree and it's covered with egg-sized fruits. Ok, so it's not the Meyer, but I'm not complaining. The Meyer I planted in the ground here bit the dust and its replacement is getting established in a half-barrel. I'm also raising orange trees, a kumquat, a lime, and an indiomandarinquat. They're still in that awkward teenage stage.

Will I be in this house long enough to see all my citrus trees mature? Who knows? If not, at least someone else will inherit mature citrus like I did in my first house. For now, though, I'm looking forward to making lemonade and lemon bars... soon. I guess I didn't have to wait too long. Just a few birthdays.

Perfectly Natural Weed Killer

I contacted the company to see where Perfectly Natural Weed 'n Grass Killer could be purchased in greater Sacramento. Green Acres is apparently the only garden center selling it. Picked up a gallon yesterday, having gotten good results from it last year. Only one nursery... in Roseville... carries it? Sheesh!

BTW, the smaller bottle is ready to use, but you need an applicator for the gallon. I'm not sure how I'm going to apply it yet. I have a tank sprayer, but ugh. Maybe I can attach a sprayer directly to the gallon bottle, assuming it's not a concentrate. We'll see.

Ooh, maybe I still have the old ready-to-use bottle!

Green Acres Nursery & Supply
Address: 901 Galleria Blvd Roseville, CA 95678, US (Just South of the Galleria Mall on the right hand side)
Phone: 916-782-2273

Visit to Bushnell Gardens Nursery, Granite Bay, CA

I came home with some fun stuff-- Coleus 'Royal Glissade', Canna 'Intrigue', Agapanthus 'New Blue', Salvia 'Purple Pastel', Salpiglossis Royal Purple and 'Black Heart' potato vine. It was a hot summer afternoon, but a little heat couldn't dim the dazzling array of plants and pots and garden toys at Bushnell's, a beautiful nursery in a beautiful setting.

'Storm Cloud' agapanthus and 'Intrigue' canna were heavily discounted! I'm tempted to go back for more...

http://www.bushnellgardens.com/

Quick thoughts on Blithe Tomato and The $64 Tomato

I thoroughly enjoyed Blithe Tomato. It was written by a small farmer, or rather, a man who farms organically on a small California farm and sells his produce at farmers' markets. The book reads more like a series of personality profiles rather than an unfolding story, yet still paints a rather charming (though clearly not rose-colored) picture of farmers' markets and small-scale farming.

You get a sense from author Mike Madison that his is a rich life, not always monetarily, but in quality. He works with the land, not against it, and his stories reveal a respect for nature and a tender eye toward farmers and farmers' market customers. Madison strings words together in a pretty way, and he's funny. Need I say more? Ok, I will. Blithe Tomato will make you want to slow down and appreciate your bounty, be it agricultural or floral or human or four-legged.

Blithe tomato not only had me fantasizing about working at a farmers' market, it also got me back in the habit of going to farmers' markets in my area. Thank you, Mike. Last week, I tasted the most incredible red-fleshed farmers' market plums of my life.

Trivia fans will appreciate knowing that Mr. Madison is brother to famous foodie Deborah Madison.




With its catchy title, I had high hopes for The $64 Tomato. I'm glad I read it, but author William Alexander's use of nastier and nastier pesticides and excruciatingly detailed accounts of trapping and killing garden invaders left me a little angry, grossed out and sad. Instead of working with the land, Alexander seeks to conquer it before it conquers him. I feel like he didn't give organic gardening enough of a chance. William Alexander desperately needs to read Blithe Tomato.

The garden can wait...

Impatiens balfourii... Poor Man's Orchid

My friend "Weeder" gave me seeds of Impatiens balfourii last year or the year before and I'm happy to see it reseeds prolifically in my front porch pots. It requires shade here in the Valley and in my experience, its water requirements are average. Now that I think about it, I. balfourii tolerates my erratic watering schedule rather well.

Annie's Annuals offers it in pots, but it's super easy from seed. If a friend doesn't have it, try seed swaps (GardenWeb, Dave's Garden) or online sources.





While I was taking a few pictures, Emily wanted to see what all the fuss was about. She clearly thinks the fuss should be all about her, not Impatiens friggin' balfourii.

There's a slug in my garden...

and it's me. Weeds are getting out of control (I ran out of clove spray), there's lots to deadhead, and I still have plants not hooked up to drip despite the fact that I'm leaving for Mendo (woo hoo!) in a couple weeks. On the plus side, there's plenty to harvest in the way of peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, chard and herbs. Strawberries have taken over two of my flowerbeds. Oh, the horror. I am a little leery of harvesting them in areas the dogs "frequent". I really want to try growing strawberries vertically. I tried them in hanging baskets, but the soil dried out too quickly. I'll figure something out.

This morning, I spotted a tomato hornworm on one of my tomato plants! I'm really hoping to see it become parasitized so I can get some good photos. No, I will not squash it or cut it in half, you barbarians. Ew. Double ew. How would you feel if someone cut you in half? Besides, tomato hornworms are amazing looking!

Organic weed control and salsa on my mind...

and according to my blog stats, that's what's on your mind too. You're also thinking about agapanthus, because it's blooming now and even though it assaults you at every intersection, you have to admit it's really pretty and comes in such refreshing shades of blue. Buy blooming cans now so you can get some instant gratification and to ensure you're getting the variety you want. Plus, they're probably on sale.

Right now, we want to know where we can buy or make "natural" herbicides, and we want to make our own salsa. Thanks to the web and helpful bloggers, I now have some excellent salsa recipes. I also know where I can buy herbicides made from natural plant oils.



If I owned a nursery... and if I had a nickel for every time uttered those words, I'd have enough capital to start one... I'd highlight my natural weed control products right about now. I might even be inclined to offer a hot pepper workshop, complete with tastings and cooking demos. And I'd find someone to demonstrate pepper craft. And I'd find a way to provide a nice microbrew and margaritas to chase the chips and salsa. And I suppose I'll have to throw in free rides home, cuz who knew all my customers were such lushes?

Light Brown Apple Moth found in Los Angeles & Solano County

No longer confined to the Bay area... looks like it's heading our way.


Light Brown Apple Moth larva


Female Light Brown Apple Moth


Male Light Brown Apple Moth

(Photos by David Williams, principal scientist, Perennial Horticulture, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia, via UCD Entomology website)

UCD has a new info page on this new pest:

Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM)

Eating from the garden

'Gold Rush' zucchini
Genovese basil
'Rainbow' Swiss chard
'Sungold' tomatoes

Stir-fried in one teaspoon of Bariani olive oil... seasoned with garlic, sea salt and cracked pepper

Now, where did I put those dunks?

West Nile found in sample
By Lakiesha McGhee - Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:00 am PDT Monday, July 9, 2007

A mosquito sample collected in the Gibson Ranch area of Sacramento County has tested positive for West Nile virus. The finding was confirmed Friday by the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, which routinely collects and tests mosquitoes for disease. The district said it will continue its Mosquito-Borne Disease Management plan by using localized adult mosquito treatments in and around the area where the virus was detected. Response may involve ground and/or aerial treatments, according to a news release.

In Sacramento County this year, three birds and one mosquito sample have tested positive for West Nile virus, which is transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

For more information, call the district at (800) 429-1022 or visit the Web site http://www.fightthebite.net/.

UC IPM Pest Note on Mosquitoes: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7451.html

More June flowers, herbs and citrus

Eureka lemon


Orange daylily and 'Tropicanna' Canna


Mexican lobelia (Lobelia laxiflora)


'Moonbeam' coreopsis and English lavender


Basket of pansies hanging on well past their prime


Mixed herb container

Old pot, new plants

Buddy Purple Gomphrena
Crackling Fire Million Bells
'Apricot Sprite' Hyssop (Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sprite')
Echinacea 'Sundown'

The plants are from Windmill and the pot was from Bushnell's.

My new EcoForms pot

I've been wanting to try biodegradable EcoForms pots and finally picked one up at Emigh Hardware the other day. I really like the way they look and feel and even though they're biodegradable, they're said to last for several years.

July backyard lilies

Gold Rush Zucchini

June 10... planted late, in the ground, the lazy way (from starts)


June 27



June 28... bigger in one day!

I should be harvesting in a few days! I fantasize about grilling these on a gas grill someday. Just thinking about getting the charcoal grill going makes me want to lie down on the sofa and have Chinese food delivered instead. Perhaps that's my camping phobia kicking in... camping phobia induced by camping trauma, if you must know.

I brought some Gold Rush zukes to a family barbecue last year and my culinary academy-trained brother sliced them lengthwise, basted them with a garlic, olive oil, balsamic, salt and cracked pepper concoction and slapped them unceremoniously on my aunt's big, beautiful gas grill. They turned out gorgeously grill-marked and delicious. It would never even have occurred to me to slice them lengthwise, so I suppose brothers are good for something. Who knew?


I also stuck two plants in a half-barrel for the heck of it.

LBAM is in the NYT

National

Tiny but Hungry, Moth May Peril California Crops

By JESSE McKINLEY

Published: June 18, 2007

A voracious Australian moth is threatening to infest one of the nation’s most important agricultural regions.

Thoughts on the light brown apple moth

There's an article in today's Bee about light brown apple moth (LBAM) monitoring at Green Acres Nursery in Roseville. Apparently, they receive plants from a Bay Area wholesaler deep in the quarantine area. I'll bet a lot of our local nurseries do.

The article emphasizes that the main concern is not about the potential damage to California plants, but about economic losses in quarantined regions. The San Francisco Bay Area is currently under a Federal Domestic Quarantine Order. Sacramento and the Sierra Nevada Foothills could be next.

If the moth starts showing up in local nurseries, they will face quarantines, which will force them to spray... at first with Neem oil, then with nastier chlorpyrifos if the invasion becomes an infestation. And until they pass agricultural inspection, nurseries presumably won't be able to ship plants.

As a gardener, it begs the question "What if I do a little shopping in the Bay Area and bring my LBAM-laden plants home to Sacramento? Wouldn't that do a disservice to local nurseries trying to prevent LBAM from invading?" Hmmm...

Should we become familiar with all stages of the moth and get ready with the Neem oil if we see it on our plants? Should we ask Bay Area nurseries if they're monitoring for LBAM? Or should we leave the problem to natural enemies of the LBAM, which include the following:

• Trichogramma wasps.
• Parasitic wasps Dolichogenidea arisanus and Xanthopimpla spp.
• Parasitic flies Goniozus spp. and Zosteromyia spp.
• Predatory bug Ochalia shellembergii
• Lacewings
• Spiders
• Various pathogens
  

The California Department of Food & Agriculture has put out a nice brochure on the LBAM showing pupal, caterpillar and adult stages and urges you to call 1-800-491-1899 if you discover signs of damage or the insect itself.

Dave Wilson Nursery Fruit Tasting

You've probably seen Dave Wilson Nursery fruit and nut trees at local nurseries inside California, outside California, and in mail order catalogs. If you've heard about growing "fruit shrubs" or practicing "backyard orchard culture", these are the folks promoting it and educating us about this revolutionary, gardener-friendly method of growing fruit.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of attending a talk by Ed Laivo, DWN's Retail Nursery Specialist and Field Rep., and it sold me on the technique. He's right... we gardeners are not farmers! We do not have mechanized harvesting machines designed for picking fruit waaaaay up in the air. It totally makes sense to keep what you grow closer to the ground. Selecting trees on dwarfing rootstocks helps, as does summer pruning.

I was psyched about backyard orchard culture, but it wasn't until I saw mature examples of "fruit shrubs" at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center that I knew I had to grow my own. So far, I have three plums planted 18 inches apart and a cherry nearby. I have citrus as well, but that's a Four Winds story.

My plum trees were selected from a catalog without the benefit of any pre-selection tasting. The cherry, a 'Stella', I already knew I loved. If you have a chance to attend any public tastings before buying trees, you'll be sure your investment in trees and time will yield nothing but deliciousness.

If you missed this years tasting like I did (grumble, grumble), you can still benefit from the published tasting results gathered by DWN since 1993. Fruit tasting data is extremely useful because it gives growers and their customers a chance to compare old varieties with new varieties and to narrow the list of what's bought and sold down to only the best-tasting fruit. If only grocery stores did the same...

According to DWN's Mike Tomlinson,"preliminary results (of this year's tasting) show at least a four way tie between Tomcot apricot and three blueberries; Misty, Reveille and Southmoon." Last year's results can be downloaded here.

'Tomcot' Apricot


'Reveille' Blueberry, one of the taller varieties


'Southmoon' Blueberry


Mike added that, "Dave Wilson Nursery has been doing fruit tastings for 14 years now, the first few years only here in Hickman. Since about 1995, all the tastings have been on the road, at various locations in California, such as Cal Poly Pomona and San Luis Obispo. A couple of tastings have been at Copia in Napa... This open house was a homecoming of sorts."

On how tests were conducted, Mike explained, "We invited our customers, garden writers and CRFG members. We started at 10 am with the first of 35ish varieties. Testers sampled each variety and rated them on various attributes, such as ripeness, texture and flavor, in the blind. After they are finished, we give them another and then tell them what the previous fruit was. This is to prevent a former impression they may have of the variety from influencing their evaluation process."

Tasters


Paul Guy, a statistics teacher from Chico (on left)
and Sacramento's own Farmer Fred Hoffman (on right)


After the tasting, participants were treated to lunch. No fruit. After lunch, they toured the nursery and saw high-density demonstration plantings.

Ed Laivo discussing high-density plantings


Also wanting lunch were these DWN peach tree residents Mike Tomlinson happened upon while picking fruit.



15 days later


Is there a DWN tasting near you?

Check the DWN Events Calender!

For additional coverage of the event, see Modesto Bee Reporter John Holland's piece on this year's tasting.

(photos courtesy of Mike Tomlinson, Dave Wilson Nursery)

An Independent Retail Nursery is not Blight

In my estimation, independent retail nurseries are on the decline in greater Sacramento, especially those located within city limits. Eisley Nursery in the city of Auburn has been in the news lately and the key words of concern are "blighted" and "eminent domain". The 100-year-old well-maintained nursery appears safe for now, but let's stay on top of this story.

Here's a post I made after my first visit to Eisley's.

Back in Black Agapanthus

(Photo from Wayside Gardens)

This caught my eye in the Wayside Gardens catalog. Dark blue agapanthus is nothing new, but the blackish stems of 'Back in Black' might be, I believe. It'd be fun to pair this with something chartreuse... and it'd be crazy fun to put it with something red or orange.