Northern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
June, 2007
Regional Report
National News - From NGA Editors
Stunning Black and White Calla Lilies
Calla lilies ( Zantedeschia ) are valued for their speckled leaves and unusual, cup-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors. Two new varieties -- one with black flowers and one with white...
Best Birches for the South
White-bark birches, such as paper birch ( Betula papyrifera ) and European white birch ( B. pendula ), are popular landscape plants in the North, but not widely grown in the South. Southern...
Americans Not Eating Their Fruits and Veggies
Many Americans are familiar with the "5 A Day" program that encourages people to eat more whole fruits and vegetables. Although the U.S. government, food advocacy groups, and public health...
Keeping Ants Out of Hummingbird Feeders
Feeding hummingbirds is a popular pastime for many gardeners, who hang hummingbird feeders containing sugar water outdoors close to their windows for easy viewing. One of the drawbacks of...
In the Garden
Buzzing Bugs Bugging You?
Buzzing bugs got you down? We spend long hours outdoors during the summer months in the company of bees, wasps, beetles, caterpillars, and other creatures intent on their tasks.
Many years ago I was working at the Senior Center in Napa, hoeing weeds...
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Resources
Tool or Gardening Product
Therapik Therapik is a compact, battery-powered tool that relieves the pain of insect bites by heating...
Books
Botanical Mystery Day of the Dandelion , by Peter Pringle (Simon and Schuster, 2007; $25), is a ripping good yarn...
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Regional Reminders
- Turn Compost Piles
- Patrol for Tomato Horn Worms
- Pinch Fushsias
- Keep Container Roses Well Watered
- Pollinate Pumpkins
