UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

SOWING IN PLACE: The end of October is here. Halloween is literally just a couple of days away! We made it through another wind event relatively unscathed. At home some small branches came down from neighboring trees, and in the school garden a persimmon branch heavily loaded with fruit snapped. Fortunately, any fires that sparked up in our community were deftly handled by our skilled firefighters. Linus and Sally are already awaiting the arrival of the Great Pumpkin in my so...n’s small front yard pumpkin patch. We’re excited to be a spot on our school’s Halloween scavenger hunt! Our pumpkins are still on the smaller side, but it is really to be expected given our late July start. It’s been full of fun, hands on learning too. My youngest came in to work with me this week, to get away from the sounds of jackhammers and other digging and hydraulic equipment working on our house for the next few weeks. It was great to have his attentive eyes with me, or I might have missed seeing a praying mantis. They are always so fascinating to observe, and she was on the move. Does anyone else have a massive amount of Fuyu persimmons this year? I always feel like each year tops the last. My son helped me pick all of the fruit from the broken branch easily 10 dozen persimmons from one branch! I was also confused and heartbroken to find that our kumquat tree is dying. Some digging had to be done under and around its pot, and I’m left wondering if its root ball was somehow disturbed. The last citrus tree we lost was due to rats gnawing the cambium around a small lemon, but this kumquat seemed perfectly healthy just over a week ago. We continue to harvest a large variety of peppers. I’ve dried enough Korean cayenne for a year’s worth of kimchi, we feast on shishitos, many chilies will be used to make varietal hot sauces, they go into salads, get sautéed and I also plan to make a batch of hot pepper jelly. I had originally worked with my fourth, fifth and sixth grade students to grow peppers for a huge pepper sale to raise school garden funds, but I couldn’t fit all 83 varieties in my strawbale garden. I think I’ve mentioned we are having some major construction done. My husband doesn’t miss an opportunity to quote the movie Money Pit, Driver of Volkswagen: What are you doing here mister, testing bombs? When construction is done each day, we venture out to see progress. There are so many holes and piles of soil! My son and I inspected the soil, though we already knew we have clay soil, I showed him how to make a soil ribbon. Happy Halloween Sonoma County! #MGSC #UCMasterGardenersSonomaCounty #sonomacountymastergardeners #UCMGSC #schoolgardens #gardenteacher #persimmons #fuyu #SHGF

ON PENNY’S FARM: It’s been quite a week! I couldn’t sleep Friday night, thinking about the wind/weather forecastwhich led to the decision to have the cars ready to go, go bags, sleeping bags and pillows, food, dog supplies, all loaded plus the house perimeter completely cleared with all flammable stuff removed, ladders out, etc. Fortunately, Bob agreed. A busy weekend later I was able to sleep again. There wasn’t anything big to do, but all the little things that creep up...Continue reading

A key part of gardening and sustainable gardening is knowing and learning to identify the insects in your garden. Which ones are beneficial, which ones are not? Here is a new field guide specific to California. I know for me really good pictures and clear descriptions that I can take to the garden help. What a great way to also teach the children about what is in our gardens #UCIPM #MGSonoma #SustainableGardening #CaliforniaInsects

Red Flag Warning, there are things you can do to prepare. If you have one of the weather applications on your smartphone, check for the warnings in your area or on any of the weather sites online. Make sure garden hoses are on and are extended throughout your garden with spray nozzles attached; best practice is to never leave a garden hose randomly piled up as it will always tangle if you want it coiled, coil it in equal-sized oval loops with each successive loop offset fe...w inches in the same direction. All portable propane tanks (BBQ, smoker, etc.) should be turned off and moved away from your house. If you have a pool: in an emergency, a pressure washer can be used to pump water from your pool and should be left in an available location; firefighters should have clear access to your pool. Decks and gardens should be cleared above and below of flammable objects: Cushions, umbrellas, decorative items, amazon boxes, and your trash bins. Gas cans for lawn mowers, chippers, whatever should be moved away from house or garage/barn. Cover firewood stacks next to or near the house with a fire-resistant cover. Make sure cell phones are charged and ready for alerts and within hearing at all times. Close exterior doors and windows. Leave doors unlocked. Leave lights on inside and outside the house. If you have a ladder, leave it available outside, next to the house, in case firefighters need to access the roof. Have all your evacuation supplies such as flashlights and a portable radio ready to go. Make sure your cars have plenty of gas and are parked outside, or that the garage door is capable of manual operation and all capable family members know how to open it. If appropriate, shut off the gas supply line at the meter. (More information in the article in the link)

SUNDAYS WITH SUE: I never thought I would love orange so much!! My grandmother loved orange and many times during my childhood, gifts from her would often be orange. I did not always relate to her color choice, but knew her passion for it was great. She lived her whole life in Ohio and I do wonder if the brilliance in the change of seasons, seen well there, influenced her love of orange. At any rate, I am finally seeing it, actually feeling it, the prominence the color oran...Continue reading

Fun times with succulents and baby pumpkins

Make sure to register for our online Ask and MG session on October 29, at 12:30 Registration Link: https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=32024 You can submit questions on the registration form, come with questions, or come to listen to the interaction.

Have you considered removing a lawn but aren't sure what to put in it's place? Find out more about creating a Mediterranean Garden. A style that fits our climate http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Feature_/Mediterranean_Gardening/

Friday groove along with the House plants!

Another high wind event. Not so much heat, but the dry conditions make the wind dangerous. Also, the high wind in areas that were impacted by the fire, pose danger of falling trees. Keep your phones charged and prepare for possible PGE Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Rains not in the forecast, sadly.

If you missed the Ask An MG on October 15, we have another one coming up on October 29. Please remember to register.

TIME TO READ? This week’s suggestions for possible weekend reading. This is a fairly long essay from a farmerone with a PhD! It’s beautifully and poignantly written, detailing his first-hand experience with loss from a recent fire. His observations will give you a lot to think about. Do read! I cry for the Mountains (https://www.chicoer.com//i-cry-for-the-mountains-a-legac/). (BTW: I’ve seen his observation about the rise of water in the streams reported by other observer...s and scientists following several of our recent fires. It’s real, and his explanation appears correct.) One more fire articlethis one has some history and explores possible ways to facilitate clearing forests going forward: Decades of mismanagement led to choked forests; now its time to clear them. (https://www.nbcnews.com//decades-mismanagement-led-choked-) Oh yes! You’ve got to love nature and evolution!: From an indestructible beetle to a crash-proof car?(https://www.ecowatch.com/diabolical-ironclad-beetle-science) And, lessons from many eons ago: CO2 emissions caused Earth's largest mass extinction.(https://www.ecowatch.com/co2-emissions-mass-extinction-stud) Not a happy note to end on, but we should learn from the past. Once again, we have Red Flag warnings. But the temperatures are cooler this weekend. None the less, please keep your fingers crossed and practice that rain dance, please! Take care of yourselves.