Quarry Lakes Demonstration Garden

If you have been to the garden recently you may have noticed some new structures. We have several new bee houses thanks to a group of Girl Scouts. The goal of the bee houses and sign posts is to call attention to the decline of the native bee population. So wonderful to see young people engaged in such important work. Many native bees nest in the ground while others nest in cavities of dead branches. The bee houses can provide those cavities. While native bees do not ...produce honey they are critically important pollinators of our flowering plants including our food crops. To learn more about California native bees visit the website for the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab, http://www.helpabee.org/index.html There you will find a wealth of information.

A timely talk. Fall is a great time to plant natives.

Happy first day of Autumn. Here are a few plant suggestions that will bring color to your garden throughout the fall.

If you have been to the garden recently you may have noticed some new structures. We have several new bee houses thanks to a group of Girl Scouts. The goal of the bee houses and sign posts is to call attention to the decline of the native bee population. So wonderful to see young people engaged in such important work. Many native bees nest in the ground while others nest in cavities of dead branches. The bee houses can provide those cavities. While native bees do not ...produce honey they are critically important pollinators of our flowering plants including our food crops. To learn more about California native bees visit the website for the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab, http://www.helpabee.org/index.html There you will find a wealth of information.

Please join us.

A timely talk. Fall is a great time to plant natives.

It's interesting and fun to observe the creatures in our gardens - have you ever seen a caterpillar with these bright orange nobs? They are osmeterium and are only found on swallowtail butterfly larvae. Read more about their purpose in the Xerces Society post below. Some of the species of swallowtail butterflies you will see in the Bay Area include the Anise Swallowtail, the Western Tiger Swallowtail and perhaps most striking the Pipevine Swallowtail. The host plants fo...r the Anise Swallowtail are in the parsley family like dill, parsley, and fennel. Also sometimes citrus plants. Host plants for the Western Tiger Swallowtail are sycamore, ash, cottonwood, and willow. In California the pipevine's host plant is the dutchman's pipevine. Here are some resources to help you make your garden more pollinator friendly: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8498.pdf http://www.ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm https://www.cnps.org/gardening https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/california

Learn from an Alameda County Fair winning onion grower tips and techniques for your own onion and garlic growing success! Join us Saturday, September 26th from 4 to 5 pm. Advanced registration required to receive the event link.

Happy first day of Autumn. Here are a few plant suggestions that will bring color to your garden throughout the fall.

The University of California Landscape Plant Irrigation Trials evaluates landscape plants in a 2-year trial under varying irrigation levels to determine the best level for optimal plant performance in regions requiring supplemental summer water. The article below highlights some of their favorites.

It is too hot today to do much gardening but maybe a good day to do some garden planning. Fall is a great time for planting. Here is another suggestion for late summer/fall color in the garden. Corethrogyne filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet' (previously known as Lessingia filaginifolia) is native to much of coastal California. It is a relatively fast growing ground cover with silvery leaves and pink flowers later summer, fall and winter. It requires very little water and while only a few inches tall it can spread 3-4 feet, likes full sun and is not fussy about soil. Commonly called silver beach aster this plant attracts butterflies but is deer resistant.

Even though it is late summer, there is a lot of color in the garden. Here's one that seems appropriate for this weather. Salvia x Heatwave Blaze. It is a selection from a cross of Salvia greggi and Salvia microphylla. It takes full sun, heat and drought but does better with some deep watering in the summer. Grows 2-3 feet tall and wide. This salvia can also handle partial shade. You'll find it growing in the Sensory Section of the garden.

A good reminder.