Under the Solano Sun

golden yellow sunflower highlighted in a field of sunflowers against the blue sky

Seasonal observations by UC Master Gardeners of Solano County

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Male Carpenter Bee
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Humble to be a Bumble

August 23, 2021
I was aghast when my neighbor walked up to me and asked, "how do I get rid of the bumble bees around my house? They might be carpenter bees and I have to get rid of them." So, it got me thinking, maybe I should do a blog about carpenter bees and bumblebees.
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Havasu & Jalepeno Plants - Al Alvarado
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Havasu & Jalapeno Pepper Adventure

August 20, 2021
My husband has many colleagues with gardens who share their surplus bounty. He has brought home many bags of zucchini, tomatoes, and oranges none of which go to waste. One day, my husband brought home a jar of jalapeo jelly that one coworker made as a special treat.
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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Bobcat_photo.jpg
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Bobcats

August 19, 2021
I used to only worry about encountering a coyote or rattlesnake when I stepped out my front door. But on June 16th, a neighbor wrote a post about a bobcat they've been seeing on their property on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pg/WilkinsonAcres/posts/.
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Milkweed. photos by Melinda Nestlerode
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Monarchs in Minnesota

August 18, 2021
As a young child in Hayward, California, I wandered through our neighborhood observing the flora and fauna. Those were the good old days; when a 6-year-old child walking outside by herself was not considered neglectful child abuse, or even given a second thought.
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Alaska Sitka Spruce (photos by Karen Metz)
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More Alaskan Plants

August 16, 2021
Our naturalists were full of information on the plant life that surrounded us on the hikes in the temperate, coastal rainforests of Southeastern Alaska. Annual rainfall there can vary from 60 to 200 inches.
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