tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257297812024-03-07T02:04:29.594-08:00An Alameda GardenAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.comBlogger457125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-31558763190803914182016-04-09T19:33:00.000-07:002016-04-09T19:33:28.028-07:00Farewell and Happy Gardening!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXquqIvqJ3HfUcQLojDZo6LJs0r3IOAAOH1AxuzaH1JVqK0yOdW7CckdTbW_YjkOWkuzloqok8i4W8KM55BWerkqp2itfcxHa_tvWfqU0nULw0uHc4x1ORPFXnS0xVQzWvv90/s1600/tete+a+tete+daffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXquqIvqJ3HfUcQLojDZo6LJs0r3IOAAOH1AxuzaH1JVqK0yOdW7CckdTbW_YjkOWkuzloqok8i4W8KM55BWerkqp2itfcxHa_tvWfqU0nULw0uHc4x1ORPFXnS0xVQzWvv90/s400/tete+a+tete+daffs.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Today is the 10th anniversary of the start of this blog. On April 9, 2006 I began this blog with this photo of some Tete-a-Tete daffodils that were in bloom that day in my garden. I started the blog because I was frustrated that we were having a particularly wet spring that was making it difficult to get any gardening done. Of course, in those early days I had no ideas of what this blog would lead to: writing for garden-related websites; writing and publishing two books on gardening in California, one of which won an award from the Garden Writers Association; and speaking at garden shows, botanical gardens, nurseries, and garden clubs throughout the state.<br />
<br />
I still love writing about gardening but I've come to the conclusion that what I really love is writing books and that's hard to do while blogging at the same time. I've been neglecting this blog too much in the last couple years so I've finally decided that it's time to bring it to a close. I will leave the blog up so anyone can search it or ramble through it as the mood strikes, but I won't be adding any posts after this one.<br />
<br />
I will keep writing, though. I have a new ebook,<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Not-So-Hot-Tomatoes-Growing-Delicious-Climates-ebook/dp/B01CQ26JZ4/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=123M58WXVQ5PHHBJBG20"> Not-So-Hot Tomatoes: Growing Delicious Tomatoes in Cooler Climates</a>, which will be released on Amazon.com on April 15th and is available for pre-order there now. It will also be available soon in softcover on Amazon and in ebook format on other platforms such as Kobo, Nook, iBooks, and more. And more books will follow, including some garden-related fiction that I'm pretty excited about.<br />
<br />
If you want to keep up on what I'm writing or on other gardening news I want to pass on, you can like my Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaGardeningBooks/">California Gardening Books</a>, or follow me on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/AlamedaGardener">@AlamedaGardener</a>. You can also subscribe to my newsletter, Time in the Garden (see the Subscribe button at the end of this post).<br />
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<label for="mce-EMAIL">Most importantly, I want to thank you for visiting this blog, whether you're a first-time visitor or you've been following for the past ten years. I hope you found it interesting and informative. But more than anything, I hope you're having a great time in the garden!<br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-49357294888282923522016-04-08T21:19:00.001-07:002016-04-08T21:19:02.190-07:00What to Do in the Garden in April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9nhg0B4StQTAmT_xts6e1v6GFq9Gfx9_H6DwJSBjpY8y81OgSSGwSbpGd24ITgQrwlYbJQA13qJ-jhDqcDONAqUVJvJya1_qHUx6nRpHzw-HW8fFqeFDnqBTPBvlTKLi0DJ4/s1600/April.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9nhg0B4StQTAmT_xts6e1v6GFq9Gfx9_H6DwJSBjpY8y81OgSSGwSbpGd24ITgQrwlYbJQA13qJ-jhDqcDONAqUVJvJya1_qHUx6nRpHzw-HW8fFqeFDnqBTPBvlTKLi0DJ4/s400/April.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfefa; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfefa; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">Wow, this is going to be a busy month! Here's what to focus on in April:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfefa; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br />
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<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Plan</h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">If you're feeling the need for some garden inspiration, check out some of the garden tours that pop up around this time of year. You'll find lots of fresh ideas you can put to use in your own yard.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">If you need to expand your back yard vegetable garden, consider moving some edibles into the ornamental beds in your front yard, Herbs and greens like Swiss chard and lettuces can blend in easily, as can fruit trees, especially citrus.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Plant</h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Try implementing a <i>hydrozoning</i> plan with your new plantings. That means grouping plants together by their water needs. Whether you use an irrigation system or hand-water, you'll find that watering will become a much simpler process.
</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Plant annual flowers for a cutting garden. Good choices include asters, baby's breath, calendula, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, larkspur, rudbeckia, scabiosa, snapdragons, statice, stock, sunflowers, and zinnias.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">This is a good time to plant blackberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and if you live in an area where night-time temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees F, tomatoes.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">It's also a good time for planting vines such as wisteria and passion fruit vines.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Care</h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">There's lots of clean-up to be done this month. You can remove frost-damaged branches, prune evergreens, and keep weeding!
</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Water</h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Rain can be spotty this month. Make sure you actually check the soil occasionally to see how deep the moisture goes. Even if the surface of the soil is wet, you may need to supplement with some deep watering.
</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Fertilize</h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Get organized about your fertilizing schedule. It's helpful to keep track of what plants you feed and what amendments you use. If you apply a timed-release fertilizer, note on your calendar when you'll need to re-apply it and where. </li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Lawns need a spring boost at this time, but take care not to overdo it. Apply about 1/2 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and make sure it gets spread out evenly.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<b>Problem-Solve</b></h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Go on pest-patrol to watch for snails, slugs, and sucking insects like aphids and scale. If you notice ants going up and down trees, they're probably farming aphids on the trees for their honeydew. You can control both the ants and aphids by applying a sticky barrier like Tanglefoot around the base of the trunk.
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;">For more details on caring for your garden each month, check out my book, </span><i style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159186609X/ref=s9_simh_hd_bw_p14_d4_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_r=1AFQX6ZGCYJF6W585ZJ4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=2154370242&pf_rd_i=283155" style="color: #7d4417; text-decoration: none;">California Month-by-Month Gardening.</a></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE70mpwLTJtzyKJZS1zy7D3eg_BVaVyNsnOmcke0FqwaIRtrXluPzzm8gtrNt-x2dbNhncuWvxWIwXoyLLg3RQTMB_05gO8u-kUBUXcW8URgJv7AGuQ2JV1RRy7idwpnB-aHbR/s1600/February.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE70mpwLTJtzyKJZS1zy7D3eg_BVaVyNsnOmcke0FqwaIRtrXluPzzm8gtrNt-x2dbNhncuWvxWIwXoyLLg3RQTMB_05gO8u-kUBUXcW8URgJv7AGuQ2JV1RRy7idwpnB-aHbR/s400/February.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfefa; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;">This month can be such a mix of winter weather and false spring, it can make a gardener crazy. Just when a few days of spring-like blue skies and warm temperatures get our hearts beating faster, rainstorms can come crashing back in on us. But let's be thankful for every drop of rain we're getting this year--it's been a long time coming! And let's <i>not </i>let the rains keep us from our gardens! Here's what to focus on this month:</span></span><br>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfefa; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px;"><br></span></span>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
Plan</h3>
<ul style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Make a list of winter chores that you've yet to accomplish and make a plan of action for getting them done. Prioritize the tasks that must be done when plants are dormant: bare-root planting, transplanting, pruning or spraying.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Order summer-blooming bulbs from catalogs.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;">Make note of areas in the garden that are lacking winter color and consider filling in with winter-blooming natives like ceanothus and manzanita.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="background-color: #fdfefa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
</h3><a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2016/02/what-to-do-in-garden-in-february.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-20182137899215164882016-01-17T18:30:00.001-08:002016-01-17T18:30:08.566-08:00What to Do in the Garden in January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZUEg5PQZ0FQuz0HcYB579D5tPwJjKpuEflFMcCewbLCRB7oRnmZ4OUXYnkJJCkhbaSjRhpTuAyCXPuKC6f_AQIeeSVJ1_gIFpe8c3EMLjipCDio12Wzys6d-aR1fP-AVTl16/s1600/January+garden+checklist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZUEg5PQZ0FQuz0HcYB579D5tPwJjKpuEflFMcCewbLCRB7oRnmZ4OUXYnkJJCkhbaSjRhpTuAyCXPuKC6f_AQIeeSVJ1_gIFpe8c3EMLjipCDio12Wzys6d-aR1fP-AVTl16/s400/January+garden+checklist.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
I always feel like January is like a reboot of the garden. Time to wipe away whatever didn't work last year or what you may be tired of this year and start fresh. El Nino rains are helping to ease the effects of the drought but they may also be presenting challenges of their own. Let's get busy planning, planting, pruning and more to make this our best garden year!<br>
<br>
<h3>
Plan</h3>
<ul>
<li>This it the time to think about what you want to accomplish in your garden this year. What problem do you want to solve? What new feature would you like to add? What new plant would you like to try growing? Then take stock of how your garden looks right now--winter is a great time to really see the bones of your garden--and make a plan for how you're going to move closer to having the garden of your dreams.</li>
<li>If you're going to be growing from seed, you should be reviewing seed catalogs and putting in your orders. But before you order, maybe you better sort through the stock of seeds you already have. Toss out the seed packs that are too old and test the viability of those that are of a questionable age.</li>
<li>If you still have a lawn, this is a good time to clean and tune-up your lawn mower.</li>
<li>Shop your local nurseries or mail-order nurseries for bare-root roses and trees.</li>
<li>Are you seeing areas of soil erosion? Make a note to address these spots by planting groundcovers or taking other action in the spring.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3><a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2016/01/what-to-do-in-garden-in-january.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-47772972798952018572016-01-07T11:37:00.000-08:002016-01-07T11:37:30.809-08:00Gardening Flow Chart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To get your gardening year started:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://coffeeforroses.com/gardening-flow-chart/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9S17cBCYjcfmogssdfGU_9OY1tqq2eyE0JTXyX0OtA9IeDDv2SUf_XRFaIguBsXgS-MhWHR6LvokWSUqsUnKCCNxmTc3VGAecmeAhWNR6Z4-fMoKNN2_dspTgl8XcyFu6fxM/s320/gardening+flowchart.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
H/T: <a href="http://coffeeforroses.com/gardening-flow-chart/">Coffee for Roses</a><br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-11306863110815581382015-11-09T11:03:00.001-08:002015-11-09T11:03:59.747-08:00Books on Sale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m7nPTJ7i9QKO6kjTToCKgy3GfFqtVUF6oTT_cossK-MqD-OZE7bPiCNBc47dvI4OxTsjKU58aYCvrMQAHbyZzLisVuUKIgES4xn5j9E1Bg9OXi5pmATKg2WZd1rlxOffXpvg/s1600/CA+Month+by+Month+hi-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m7nPTJ7i9QKO6kjTToCKgy3GfFqtVUF6oTT_cossK-MqD-OZE7bPiCNBc47dvI4OxTsjKU58aYCvrMQAHbyZzLisVuUKIgES4xn5j9E1Bg9OXi5pmATKg2WZd1rlxOffXpvg/s200/CA+Month+by+Month+hi-res.jpg" width="139" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVshl481lKTT4m3lmMLqvq9GzrAxl1wbuNoodwf_GQxJcyRr5Z0nSMCz-ztSxNAftMbOdOyA_behIZPfe3KJaI7bQZ-4Okvtcd7ndOXEhxaOI7jEBdnjUcBif0aGmgYed_Gbv6/s1600/CA+Fruit+%2526+Veg+hi+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVshl481lKTT4m3lmMLqvq9GzrAxl1wbuNoodwf_GQxJcyRr5Z0nSMCz-ztSxNAftMbOdOyA_behIZPfe3KJaI7bQZ-4Okvtcd7ndOXEhxaOI7jEBdnjUcBif0aGmgYed_Gbv6/s200/CA+Fruit+%2526+Veg+hi+res.jpg" width="138" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">There's a great sale going on this week at the bookshop at <a href="http://www.quartoknows.com/Quarto-Homes/Gardening/#titlelist">Quarto </a>(the parent company of my publisher, Cool Springs Press). You can get <a href="http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781591865285/California-Fruit-Vegetable-Gardening.html?direct=1">California Fruit and Vegetable Gardening</a> for $18.39 (down from the regular price of $22.99) and<a href="http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781591866091/California-Month-by-Month-Gardening.html"> California Month-by-Month Gardening</a> for $19.99 (regular price $24.99). Plus you can enter the promo code<b> VETS15</b> to save an additional 30%. Plus, there's free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Lots of other books are on sale so it might be a great time to do some early Christmas shopping! (Promo code expires 11/16/2015.)</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-67491565482658679032015-10-15T13:57:00.001-07:002015-10-15T15:22:09.239-07:00Talking About Fall Edibles<img src="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/12063114_199294930401547_1049613031_n.jpg" style="max-width: 586px;" /><br />
<div>
<br />
I had big fun this afternoon at <a href="http://www.orchardnursery.com/">Orchard Nursery</a> in Lafayette picking out edibles for my talk this Saturday morning--like a kid in a candy store! What a great nursery this is! I can't believe I haven't been here before. If you're in the area, please join us on Saturday!<br />
<br />
Topic: <b>The Best Edibles for Fall and Winter</b><br />
When: <b>Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m.</b><br />
Where: <b>Orchard Nursery, 4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, CA</b><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-32100503886796751152015-10-13T13:37:00.001-07:002016-01-17T23:56:43.193-08:00Ohuhu Expandable Garden Hose: Product Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-TQOTaOa8cqMe_Vw94oB0g07lADn4bBOEVCZT49YhFvPAKKAgg0buPqvKvotq-kXbLcG9kQEH6Yk6myKbQ7fbpGN6ji26257wmnpPDR_TNGWdX0a33EbFKkIFNLY9bc8l7fN/s1600/Unexpanded+hose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-TQOTaOa8cqMe_Vw94oB0g07lADn4bBOEVCZT49YhFvPAKKAgg0buPqvKvotq-kXbLcG9kQEH6Yk6myKbQ7fbpGN6ji26257wmnpPDR_TNGWdX0a33EbFKkIFNLY9bc8l7fN/s200/Unexpanded+hose.JPG" width="200" /></a>Who's tired of lugging around heavy rubber hoses to water the garden? I know I am! I've been trying out the <a href="http://gardeningproductsreview.com/ohuhu-expandable-garden-hose-review/">Ohuhu expandable garden hose</a> the last few months and you can read my review of it at <a href="http://gardeningproductsreview.com/ohuhu-expandable-garden-hose-review/">GardeningProductsReview.com</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxYrOUrzexk3ZVEjwnzOQsc3jDNPSr_qTaTC16kkr-MbuSK35M4C1-Y9_9dzsGoNhsHlGdeBR86jc6KKYwn8FyCeLslCS6UQnhONOs_JLCQt1Oskx4x2LrL6MHyNvZAX8s0ra/s1600/October.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxYrOUrzexk3ZVEjwnzOQsc3jDNPSr_qTaTC16kkr-MbuSK35M4C1-Y9_9dzsGoNhsHlGdeBR86jc6KKYwn8FyCeLslCS6UQnhONOs_JLCQt1Oskx4x2LrL6MHyNvZAX8s0ra/s400/October.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
With any luck, El Nino rains will start kicking in in another month or so, but it's likely we have at least one more month of dry, dry, dry. For October, let's focus on cleaning up and preparing for the hoped-for rainy season as well as beginning the first plantings for next spring.<br>
<br>
<h3>
Plan</h3>
<ul>
<li>Your soil may be pretty tired after a productive summer. This is a good time to run a soil test to see what, if any, nutrients are lacking.</li>
<li>Make sure your garden is ready for whatever amount of rainfall and winter storms El Nino may bring. That means clearing debris, removing dead or damaged branches, and securing or protecting garden furniture and ornaments.</li>
<li>Update your garden journal or make notes on your calendar regarding what worked and what didn't work in your summer garden. You'll be glad next year to have these reminders so you can adjust your garden plans and avoid repeating mistakes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3><a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2015/10/with-any-luck-el-nino-rains-will-start.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-63548081574225851692015-09-22T08:00:00.000-07:002015-09-22T08:00:03.769-07:00Cultivating Garden Style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnr6sIwiO1N_M6gbu1CHoyd83SlmhouthSED1MM58OO8vWCIUEZ79U3hV7C4o_a8BkEkrjlKf8evOVx-6R0XPxuH5nG6qV5Wknvkfg31QmWxSL-D27R7fIkHG_Gysi7LvxHV-/s1600/Cult+Garden+Style.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnr6sIwiO1N_M6gbu1CHoyd83SlmhouthSED1MM58OO8vWCIUEZ79U3hV7C4o_a8BkEkrjlKf8evOVx-6R0XPxuH5nG6qV5Wknvkfg31QmWxSL-D27R7fIkHG_Gysi7LvxHV-/s320/Cult+Garden+Style.jpg" width="256" /></a>I haven't found many garden design books that I think do a good job of presenting design concepts in a way that non-designers can relate to without taking a cookie-cutter approach that leaves no room for personalization. Rochelle Greayer's book <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604694777/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1604694777&linkCode=as2&tag=analagar-20&linkId=MLGCXE2UGJEBXF6W%22%3ECultivating%20Garden%20Style:%20Inspired%20Ideas%20and%20Practical%20Advice%20to%20Unleash%20Your%20Garden%20Personality%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=analagar-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1604694777%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Cultivating Garden Style</a></i> is different. Check out my book review at <a href="http://gardeningproductsreview.com/">GardeningProductsReview.com</a>.<br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-55355205999956968062015-09-21T13:14:00.001-07:002015-09-21T13:14:40.154-07:00Dry gardening #GWAP15 #blog<img src='https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11917815_1638706073071800_674133988_n.jpg' style='max-width:586px;' /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-11534945950709404642015-09-21T13:11:00.001-07:002015-09-21T13:11:10.372-07:00Courtyard fountain #GWAP15 #blog<img src='https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11850396_470285253150594_498717926_n.jpg' style='max-width:586px;' /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-37061785522566689642015-09-21T13:07:00.001-07:002015-09-21T13:07:03.549-07:00Water garden in Pasadena. #GWAP15 #blog<img src='https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/e15/11918005_671163673025228_1932054182_n.jpg' style='max-width:586px;' /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-18645663369067327342015-09-15T15:07:00.000-07:002015-09-15T15:09:10.992-07:00What to Do in the Garden in September<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLc6xMVm9RGj-63cGcwx_cev3tEyI9MQCNFHoVVjrzLyJtwmay1lPx8Aq_k9NE2DpFSaP9Iex3UWBAhmd8L-lewnnydbVqOfGh69fv7FnfSzhKDvAvuFpWFeF76OAZdoaqdTL/s1600/September.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLc6xMVm9RGj-63cGcwx_cev3tEyI9MQCNFHoVVjrzLyJtwmay1lPx8Aq_k9NE2DpFSaP9Iex3UWBAhmd8L-lewnnydbVqOfGh69fv7FnfSzhKDvAvuFpWFeF76OAZdoaqdTL/s400/September.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
During the heat waves that often occur in September, my gardening advice is to do as little as possible. Keep the garden as well-watered as you can given our current water restrictions, but other than that, don't risk heat stroke by taking on strenuous gardening tasks while the temperatures remain high. Once the heat wave passes, here's where you can focus your energy this month:<br>
<br>
<h3>
Plan</h3>
<ul>
<li>As days get shorter, it's a good time to re-evaluate your outdoor lighting, both for safety and for ambiance. You may need to adjust timers or want to install newer, more efficient LED ligthts.</li>
<li>It's time to shop for spring-blooming bulbs! Make a plan for how many you're going to add and what types, then shop the fall catalogs or local garden centers for the best price.</li>
<li>Map out a system for rotating your fall crops by plant family. For example, plan on planting something from the <i>Brassicaceae</i> family, such as broccoli or kale, where you grew your tomatoes (<i>Solanaceae </i>family), or beets (<i>Amaranthaceae</i>) in the spot where you grew beans (<i>Leguminosae</i>). By rotating plant families, you can break cycles of certain pests that may overwinter or diseases that settle into the soil.</li>
<li>There's still time to check with your water utility to see if you qualify for rebates for reducing your lawn.</li>
<li>Make a list of the plants you want to transplant from one spot in your garden to another. Once you identify the plants to be moved you can watch for the optimal time to transplant.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
</h3><a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-to-do-in-garden-in-september.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-50945480204585859412015-08-25T14:59:00.000-07:002015-08-25T14:59:11.816-07:00Gary Bukovnik Watercolor Exhibition at UC Botanical Garden<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5iIrBR8wfLpLL7i1-9prCeDFJabTSpC-dbvOrACnVLb7jcPFGfb6DWVcgL3Dkxwch1yPPCTzuLaRvY0FnKrN541VznzgXp2ItrGg1rPFiI6d_lF4snf5rphRbx1apwBzpO2S/s1600/Vase+of+Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN5iIrBR8wfLpLL7i1-9prCeDFJabTSpC-dbvOrACnVLb7jcPFGfb6DWVcgL3Dkxwch1yPPCTzuLaRvY0FnKrN541VznzgXp2ItrGg1rPFiI6d_lF4snf5rphRbx1apwBzpO2S/s400/Vase+of+Roses.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Vase of Roses</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you can get to the <a href="http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/">UC Botanical Garden</a> in the next couple weeks, you can enjoy more than the garden's insanely large collection of amazing plants. Starting today and running through September 3rd, the garden is hosting an exhibit of floral watercolors by artist Gary Bukovnik. Bukovnik is a Bay Area artist whose work has been shown in major museums across the country.<br />
<br />
If you want to meet the artist himself, you can attend a salon and reception on August 30th ($50/$40 for members; space is limited and you must register in advance. And if you've always wanted to explore watercolor painting, you can enroll in a day-long workshop with Bukovnik at the garden on September 3rd ($200/$175 members). You'll learn the principles of working with watercolors and benefit from the artist's unique perspective on seeing and representing plants in paint.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48AylbSE1nLQP3zeyUvgxbM13BDomewSXbo26UfxTaBSULX-NDM7okFsDyXBuR0OmSZvX5K8p7VcmXIL-yskf5GsKOl8qDuC6zzNKirpIKSLjStcs3j6YFNoQB-G6fyvZAmI4/s1600/Spring+Fever%252C+Tumbling+Composition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48AylbSE1nLQP3zeyUvgxbM13BDomewSXbo26UfxTaBSULX-NDM7okFsDyXBuR0OmSZvX5K8p7VcmXIL-yskf5GsKOl8qDuC6zzNKirpIKSLjStcs3j6YFNoQB-G6fyvZAmI4/s400/Spring+Fever%252C+Tumbling+Composition.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Spring Fever, Tumbling Composition</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/education/public-programs/exhibitions/">For details and to register for the salon or workshop, click here.</a><br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-38893342520975284212015-08-21T15:46:00.000-07:002015-08-21T15:46:20.056-07:00How to Choose and Site a Garden Bench<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztQYxt9o_QVhqfLnAVt3UOkDmd1TXhIIMlxA28NtWqQm9Lpw_lZES2LTksjfG7r-iD7I69vw1CgM13iQC94NWI8tsAHFNWUcbh276NX5ZB2bp0dy6wuZYaJbW6b59QLGKsT-Y/s1600/garden+benches.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztQYxt9o_QVhqfLnAVt3UOkDmd1TXhIIMlxA28NtWqQm9Lpw_lZES2LTksjfG7r-iD7I69vw1CgM13iQC94NWI8tsAHFNWUcbh276NX5ZB2bp0dy6wuZYaJbW6b59QLGKsT-Y/s400/garden+benches.png" width="400"></a></div>
Have a seat! We're going to talk about one of my favorite elements in a garden--benches. Ever since I started going on garden tours and to garden shows, I've become a little obsessed with benches in the garden. They are an inviting way to add structure and style to your garden, as well as a way of establishing or augmenting a focal point.<br>
<br>
<h4>
Choosing a Bench</h4>
There is a seemingly endless range of styles for garden benches, from formal or traditional to funky and eccentric, as well as a wide array of materials. Before you try to select a bench, you should consider what role you want it to play in your garden. If your garden has a woodland style, you may want a bench that will blend with that setting, such as natural wood or faux bois concrete. In a traditional garden, a classically styled bench of wood or wrought iron will suit. Got a Bohemian garden? Then you can really push the boundaries and select a bench with color and flair.<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-choose-and-site-garden-bench.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-38568653925394848572015-08-14T14:48:00.000-07:002015-08-14T14:48:22.233-07:00Newsletter Launched!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I feel like celebrating a little! This week I finally launched the first issue of my email newsletter, "Time in the Garden." This is a project I've been wanting to start for a long time and it felt great to finally get it out there. If you haven't subscribed, you're missing out on one simple email a month that will remind you what gardening tasks you should be taking care of that month, as well as offer news, reviews, and recipes to help you make the most of your precious garden time.<a href="http://blogspot.us6.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=099a50158f2b1424f07721006&id=0f086bc542"> Click here to subscribe!</a><br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-61979874358330340322015-08-12T21:39:00.000-07:002015-08-12T21:39:49.059-07:00Cook This: Yellow and White Summer Succotash<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwguWyJnOHe0cBtROU44Rjf83mSUz8Eg6Y3RicOQovcspg0Zbv5gIYgh2e61M7qGpY1KVDurSp3mMw3wF9Nw1ZxdhVjyviJCaA8l0C18QKY77R8gYVfeC2me99orSOpoq-9hcY/s1600/succotash.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwguWyJnOHe0cBtROU44Rjf83mSUz8Eg6Y3RicOQovcspg0Zbv5gIYgh2e61M7qGpY1KVDurSp3mMw3wF9Nw1ZxdhVjyviJCaA8l0C18QKY77R8gYVfeC2me99orSOpoq-9hcY/s400/succotash.png" width="266" /></a>I never even knew that I liked succotash until I had it at the <a href="http://homesteadoakland.com/">Homestead Restaurant</a> in Oakland about a year ago. Prior to that, the turnoff for me was that succotash was made with lima beans, one of the few beans I've never taken a liking to. But Homestead made a delicious fresh succotash with white beans instead of lima beans and served it with a poached egg on top and a side of fried sourdough bread. Yummy!<br />
<br />
So with all the great summer corn available (alas! not from my garden, which is too small to grow corn), it seems like a good time to take Homestead's version of succotash and give it a little bit of my own twist. I did that by making it a strictly yellow and white dish--white corn, yellow onion, white beans, yellow bell pepper, and of course a sunny poached egg on top. I kept the seasoning extremely simple (just salt and pepper) so the fresh corn taste doesn't get overwhelmed, but if you want it more seasoned you could add some thyme. Couldn't be easier and it makes a nice light summer meal for brunch or dinner.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmTAnBypsDKPT4Ci7gemoXm7Gvrb9gyiU5In62dafAAlCZqcPPsFSzxZdv4Qu4Eyw5as56MHVVFw_KjvTrhjC2tFKLFcmjInfH_5qiXHQaarcza-o8TKz5O7lutBTjuYQtxXs/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmTAnBypsDKPT4Ci7gemoXm7Gvrb9gyiU5In62dafAAlCZqcPPsFSzxZdv4Qu4Eyw5as56MHVVFw_KjvTrhjC2tFKLFcmjInfH_5qiXHQaarcza-o8TKz5O7lutBTjuYQtxXs/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" width="320" /></a>
Yellow and White Summer Succotash</h3>
2 ears white corn (about 1 1/2 cups)<br />
Olive oil<br />
1/2 yellow onion, diced<br />
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper<br />
1 yellow squash (such as 'Yellow Eight Ball'), diced<br />
White wine<br />
1 15-oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed<br />
Salt and fresh pepper to taste<br />
4 eggs (1 egg per serving), poached (see Note)<br />
<br />
Using a sharp knife and standing the ear of corn on its end, slice the corn kernels off of the cobs. Set aside.<br />
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Heat a large fry pan on medium heat. Add olive oil to the pan and saute the onion until translucent, stirring as needed to avoid burning. Add bell pepper and cook a minute or two before adding the squash. Add a splash of white wine and cover the pan for a couple minutes to steam. Add the corn. Cook another minute or two and then add the beans. Cook just until the beans are heated through and add salt and pepper to taste. Plate the succotash and top each serving with a poached egg and another dash of salt and pepper. Serve with warm or toasted bread on the side. Serves 4 generously.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJmAbHugKGfVl6fkstAgrMlmp4q_jEBn3goKpnpJ2kWIziHMhR6fV2aF_X8a8BL_rQvk62xhfqxL735d3j515nfWpu8IGcUJy3UtpHodV3OOb9mbpmv2P4Rdve3rtd34yopRY/s1600/IMG_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJmAbHugKGfVl6fkstAgrMlmp4q_jEBn3goKpnpJ2kWIziHMhR6fV2aF_X8a8BL_rQvk62xhfqxL735d3j515nfWpu8IGcUJy3UtpHodV3OOb9mbpmv2P4Rdve3rtd34yopRY/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" width="320" /></a><i><b>Note:</b> To poach an egg, bring a medium saucepan filled with water to a depth of about 3 inches to a simmer (so that you can see steam rising and tiny bubbles on the sides of the pan). Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. (You can poach an egg without vinegar, but the vinegar helps the egg white to set and hold together, which makes for a much better poached egg.) Crack and ease a raw egg into the simmering water. Gently nudge the egg around in the water a bit but be careful not to break the yolk. The timing depends entirely on how cooked you like your eggs, but 2 1/2 to 3 minutes in the water will give you an egg with the whites cooked through and the yolk still runny, which I think is just right. Scoop the egg out carefully with a slotted spoon, allowing as much water as possible to run off, then turn the egg out to drain onto a paper towel folded in quarters. Carefully turn the egg over onto the plated succotash.</i><br />
<label for="mce-EMAIL"><i><br />
</i></label> <label for="mce-EMAIL">And because I can't help myself, I'll leave you with this:</label><br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-74730357639459989132015-08-11T17:29:00.000-07:002015-08-11T17:29:29.357-07:00A Tale of 7 Mulches: How to Choose the Right One for Your Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYM35eLywADn0ub56RMGeX3CpSCqdHU39cEBGiBgKZ2ceJXjwAcrMTZg02G9H9s3OBuFCgwoVH48Vgucnk9yuyOtBoq3Yk9qmLrDWFBbmy2Xto1i3McObypPvuqlvpJQauEHa/s1600/7+Mulches.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYM35eLywADn0ub56RMGeX3CpSCqdHU39cEBGiBgKZ2ceJXjwAcrMTZg02G9H9s3OBuFCgwoVH48Vgucnk9yuyOtBoq3Yk9qmLrDWFBbmy2Xto1i3McObypPvuqlvpJQauEHa/s400/7+Mulches.png" width="266"></a></div>
If there is one business to be in during this stubborn drought, it might be the mulch business. Mulching your garden provides so many benefits, not the least of which are minimizing evaporation and suppressing water-stealing weeds, both important objectives in a drought. But there are many materials, both organic and non-organic, that you can use as as mulch. How do you choose? Following are the pros and cons of some of the best and/or most popular options.<br>
<br>
<h4>
1. Bark or Wood Chips</h4>
Among the most commonly used mulches, bark and wood chips are easily available in bags from garden centers but can also be obtained (sometimes for free) from tree services. Wood chips can be slow to deteriorate, but they can temporarily bind up nitrogen in the soil as they do, which robs nearby plants of needed nutrition. Bark chips can also be toxic to plants if they are too fresh. You can also buy bags of colored wood chip mulches (generally red, brown, and black).<br>
<br>
<h4>
</h4><a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2015/08/a-tale-of-7-mulches-how-to-choose-right.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-22981957491211404832015-08-10T06:00:00.000-07:002015-08-10T06:00:01.522-07:00What to Do in the Garden in August<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWmPfoHIQvLXPY4hDvPg3wU9TztzE03RxliqDMDeoHGn2Cxnkg3jJ3fuD6BmwLbt5KltG8TXYAqIi2n-EtWottSuwaVC1E1VdkOBwmSuc9LfeCPMN-tJnhekvDWg4WR3aBNL9/s1600/August+garden+checklist.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWmPfoHIQvLXPY4hDvPg3wU9TztzE03RxliqDMDeoHGn2Cxnkg3jJ3fuD6BmwLbt5KltG8TXYAqIi2n-EtWottSuwaVC1E1VdkOBwmSuc9LfeCPMN-tJnhekvDWg4WR3aBNL9/s400/August+garden+checklist.png" width="400"></a></div>
<label for="mce-EMAIL"><i><br>
</i></label><label for="mce-EMAIL">Although it's not a good time for planting most things, there's plenty to do in August in spite of the heat and the lack of rain:</label><br>
<label for="mce-EMAIL"><br></label>
<h4>
Plan</h4>
<ul>
<li>To get ready for the planting to be done in the fall, clean up your potting area and organize your tools, pots, and seeds.</li>
<li>Fall catalogs from nurseries are probably starting to arrive in your mailbox. Take some time to peruse them and order spring-blooming bulbs and other plants you want to add to your garden.</li>
<li>Are you ready for the final major harvests of the year? Make sure you're fully stocked on canning/freezing/dehydrating equipment to preserve your crops.</li>
</ul>
<h4>
</h4><a href="http://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2015/08/what-to-do-in-garden-in-august.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-64835556677098428582015-08-09T13:25:00.000-07:002015-08-09T13:36:02.930-07:00Talking About Vertical Gardening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Interested in finding out how to maximize your gardening space by growing edibles vertically? Come to the meeting of the <a href="http://www.alamedabackyardgrowers.org/">Alameda Backyard Growers</a> tomorrow night where I'll be talking about ways to get your edibles to grow up. The talk and the meeting are free and I'll be selling copies of my books, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/California-Fruit-Vegetable-Gardening-Edibles/dp/159186528X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=16VCCWR7PF5J8QRY42V3">California Fruit and Vegetable Gardening</a></i> and<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159186609X/ref=s9_simh_bw_p14_d2_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-3&pf_rd_r=0K7TM3DNQ8ZZKY6V1SFE&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=2155823362&pf_rd_i=283155"> California Month-by-Month Gardening</a>,</i> afterward. Hope to see you there!<br />
<br />
<b>"Growing Edibles on the Up and Up:<br />Vertical Gardening Techniques for Fruits and Vegetables"</b><br />
Alameda Backyard Growers monthly meeting<br />
Rythmix Cultural Works<br />
2513 Blanding Ave.<br />
Alameda<br />
Monday, August 10, 2015<br />
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: Heidi Hornberger</span><br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-72448580749068905172015-08-05T16:41:00.000-07:002015-08-05T16:41:14.169-07:00Creating a Pet-Friendly Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QhQ6BaislBK7-B9vhqmR4STR1fBMDnCPPouqLcFi0y0v5_5CHW71ueGfN2e6SYX6PwVhZ_9xx0OP-uMpWtYVjxPIaFPVqbRmpPUm-2ut2-q0D_6YWrtJwnLJ22UbFoQZP3ME/s1600/cat+in+garden+public+domain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QhQ6BaislBK7-B9vhqmR4STR1fBMDnCPPouqLcFi0y0v5_5CHW71ueGfN2e6SYX6PwVhZ_9xx0OP-uMpWtYVjxPIaFPVqbRmpPUm-2ut2-q0D_6YWrtJwnLJ22UbFoQZP3ME/s400/cat+in+garden+public+domain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It's not hard to make your garden a safe and fun place for dogs and cats, but it does take a little planning, and maybe some training.<br />
<br />
You may want to create an enclosed area so that your pet is limited to one part of your garden and is safe from predators. Make sure that it includes a shaded area so that he has a place to retreat to when the sun is too intense. Make sure as well that there is fresh water always available and that it can't be knocked over.<br />
<br />
Know which plants in your garden are toxic. Most animals seem to know what plants are poisonous and when they do eat the wrong thing, they usually spit it back up in pretty short order. But if you know what plants are toxic, you can take steps to keep your pets away.<br />
<br />
There's a greater chance that your pet could be poisoned by fertilizers and soil amendments than by toxic plants, so keep all containers of pesticides and fertilizers safely out of your pets' reach. Don't assume that even organic products are safe. Amendments like bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, and cocoa bean hulls used as mulch can smell very appealing but can make an animal very sick.<br />
<br />
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Use the carrot-and-stick approach in selecting plant materials. Use tall or thorny plants as barriers to keep animals out of certain areas and plants with appealing scents to lure them toward the areas that are pet-friendly. Cats dislike citrus scents but love catnip, catmint, and cat thyme. Dogs may be turned off by natural repellents like citronella grass (<i>Cymbopogon nardus</i>) or some scented geraniums like <i>Pelargonium </i>'Citronella'.<br />
<br />
Keep other animals safe from your pets. Adding a bell to your cat's collar can make it harder for him to attack songbirds. It may also be necessary to keep pet chickens in a separate part of the garden or install a barrier to a pond containing fish.<br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-80699415900734845192015-08-03T20:58:00.001-07:002015-08-03T20:58:45.728-07:00Cat Grasses and Other Kitty Treats: You Can Grow That!<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2AXSgg833JqrifnkoBg1_ndiGqdHEc4-CyWj2DPP2fI1f-r8TmSTxYXMkregp-MAkpiRWJ3xcT5f760sTSbKKiQV4hiCK0NulRVq6Y6tMV6A8JE_Xvzf2hmTbBsXvVczvp9F/s1600/cat+grasses.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2AXSgg833JqrifnkoBg1_ndiGqdHEc4-CyWj2DPP2fI1f-r8TmSTxYXMkregp-MAkpiRWJ3xcT5f760sTSbKKiQV4hiCK0NulRVq6Y6tMV6A8JE_Xvzf2hmTbBsXvVczvp9F/s400/cat+grasses.png" width="266" /></a></div>
Cats (and some dogs) love to nibble at grass, but you may not want to encourage them to chew on the lawn, particularly if the lawn's been treated with non-organic amendments or pesticides. Planting a pot of grasses especially for your pets will encourage them to leave other plants alone (particularly housecats that sometimes nibble out of boredom). You can sow seeds of just about any annual cereal grass but many seed companies sell packets of grass mixes especially for cats. These combinations of rye, oats, barley, and wheat are very appealing to cats, especially when you fertilize them with a shot of fish emulsion.</div>
<br />
<h3>
Growing Annual Grasses </h3>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz1kll4U0eOAJVdz2ZVSFEXH2qzhMGJKi4KLfDqNjqfI-JGf4BuWL2h1PZmYWIG_se37I3P3gdzfK-jJGDN1C1oezRhMnLMXtLQVmMnsfiYGUFGSc1KUZ1ERzyhfUWdSC6mif/s1600/Cat_Grass_Organic_Front_3001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz1kll4U0eOAJVdz2ZVSFEXH2qzhMGJKi4KLfDqNjqfI-JGf4BuWL2h1PZmYWIG_se37I3P3gdzfK-jJGDN1C1oezRhMnLMXtLQVmMnsfiYGUFGSc1KUZ1ERzyhfUWdSC6mif/s200/Cat_Grass_Organic_Front_3001.jpg" width="143" /></a>Choose a wide, shallow pot, such as a bulb pot, to sow the seeds in. Fill it up to about an inch from the top with potting soil, then sprinkle the grass seeds over the top. Aim to space the seeds about 1/4 inch apart. Sprinkle about 1/2 inch of potting mix over the seeds and press to get good contact between the soil and seeds. Water well and place where it will get at least a half-day of sun. Keep evenly moist and seeds should germinate within a week. Wait until the grass is a couple inches high before giving it to your cats to nibble. Water regularly and feed with a fish emulsion solution every couple of weeks. If you plant a container every 4 to 6 weeks, you'll have a steady crop of grass to keep your cats happy.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Growing Catmint and Catnip</h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkhMrgGO-swxDFUtjKV_qLayUlwlRFVZHq9EWSU7jTcm70SCDw3dxGnOf5BbTqG-1V5c7peiDwwFASlayvNPUF4DDW3GnMO0bOVoW5zeVdDoorOF1sJ1qEMDAcyMMMX4tkSPJ/s1600/catmint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkhMrgGO-swxDFUtjKV_qLayUlwlRFVZHq9EWSU7jTcm70SCDw3dxGnOf5BbTqG-1V5c7peiDwwFASlayvNPUF4DDW3GnMO0bOVoW5zeVdDoorOF1sJ1qEMDAcyMMMX4tkSPJ/s200/catmint.jpg" width="144" /></a>While cat grasses are fast-growing and tasty (if you're a cat), they are annuals, which means you need to re-sow seeds in order to keep them continuously growing. Catmint (<i>Nepeta mussinii</i>) and catnip (<i>Nepeta cataria</i>) are herbaceous perennials, meaning that they will die back to the roots in the winter, but re-sprout from the same root system in the spring. They also both contain the organic compound called nepetalactone, which is known to attract felines. In other words, catmint and catnip are recreational drugs for cats.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg881Y2KYB-CeHYHRstQvLZ6sP11bRJ3LDMNTX_Q6S2QuQpPzq_DjS3G1KZ1wjvo4QpvRqJ2QjysYjwL6cAi6SJR73BT0pUfBm_Lbg5hwXttpBDqM_2uESL18B96md_g8aD59PG/s1600/P5180013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg881Y2KYB-CeHYHRstQvLZ6sP11bRJ3LDMNTX_Q6S2QuQpPzq_DjS3G1KZ1wjvo4QpvRqJ2QjysYjwL6cAi6SJR73BT0pUfBm_Lbg5hwXttpBDqM_2uESL18B96md_g8aD59PG/s320/P5180013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Linus, the undergardener, looking for catnip</i></td></tr>
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Catmint and catnip need full sun. Sow seeds in the spring or plant container-grown plants in the spring or fall. They will grow into mounded plants between 12 and 18 inches high. Catmint in particular makes a nice groundcover. Both plants will develop flower spikes (catmint flowers are lavender and catnip can be white/pink/lavender). When the flowers fade, just cut them back and the plant will be rebloom. Although they tend to be hardy plants that will grow in almost any soil, they do best when fed every couple weeks with a weak organic fertilizer. With regular feeding they'll be better able to withstand the constant nibbling that they will have to endure.<br />
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<h3>
Resources</h3>
There are several companies that offer seed mixes for cat grasses as well as catmint or catnip seeds. My favorites include <a href="http://www.reneesgarden.com/seeds/seeds-hm/herbsC.htm#catgrass">Renee's Garden Seeds</a>, <a href="http://www.burpee.com/herbs/cat-grass/cat-grass-prod000463.html">Burpee</a>, <a href="http://www.groworganic.com/pvfs-catnip.html">Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply</a>, and <a href="https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/4517/Cat-Lovers-Seed-Collection/srch:cat">Botanical Interests</a>. You can also use pre-seeded disks, available from <a href="https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/4310/Cat-Grass-Two-8-inch-Seed-Disks/srch:cat">Botanical Interests</a>, which are more expensive, but easy to use and result in more even sprouting.<br />
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<!--End mc_embed_signup-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683254145775608514noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25729781.post-44196578044440441952015-07-31T14:32:00.001-07:002015-07-31T14:32:34.591-07:00Collapsible Rain Barrels: Maybe the Best Idea Ever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just found this<a href="http://gr.pn/1VRYgWA"> listing on Groupon for a collapsible rain barrel</a>. I've been slow to embrace the idea of installing a rain barrel in my garden simply because I knew that even in a non-drought year it would sit empty, taking up room in my garden or in the driveway for most if not all of the summer. But given how severe the drought has been, I've finally started shopping around for one. <br /><br />But this collapsible rain barrel has caught my eye. I love the idea that I could easily take it down during the winter (assuming we get rain again during the winter), and only put it up in the summer when rain is in the forecast. Then after it's empty again, poof! I can fold it up and put it away until it's needed the next time.<br />
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The question is, is it durable? Has anyone tried one of these yet? For the price, even the steeply discounted Groupon price, I would want it to last at least a few years. Please leave a comment if you have any experience with these!<br />
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