Month: July 2023

It’s the heat (and the humidity!)

My news feed has been filled in recent weeks with many stories about the unusual heat that has affected many parts of North America, Europe, and the Atlantic Ocean. High temperature records are being broken at an amazing rate, and while we don’t expect every day or season to break a new heat record, the trend towards warmer global temperatures overall from greenhouse warming makes periods of extreme heat more likely.

Today I want to talk about the term “heat dome” and explain what they are, how they affect gardeners (and other humans) as well as the plants in our gardens and agricultural fields.… Continue reading this article “It’s the heat (and the humidity!)”

Horse(tail) sense or nonsense?

  • Beautiful…but annoying
  • If you don’t have horsetail problems, you can buy some!
Horsetail can be found in nearly every environment, including the retail nursery.

One of the most annoying weeds in garden and landscape beds is horsetail (Equisetum spp.), a genus native throughout North America and most of the rest of the world. They have survived since prehistoric times because they are highly adaptable to their environments and are almost impossible to eradicate. There is great debate among gardeners on whether to pull or cut horsetail.… Continue reading this article “Horse(tail) sense or nonsense?”

¡Escandalo! Seedy mixup results in #Jalapeñogate drama across the US

There’s a scandal simmering all across the United States that brings to mind a switched at birth storyline on a steamy soap opera or telenovela.  This scandal, though, isn’t about babies, its about….peppers!  Jalapeño peppers, to be exact. 

The issue, dubbed #Jalapeñogate online, has many home gardeners scratching their heads as to the identity or the issue with the peppers that they planted. You see, instead of those glossy dark green peppers that many are used to putting in their salsas and other favorite spicy dishes, the plants are producing bright yellow peppers. … Continue reading this article “¡Escandalo! Seedy mixup results in #Jalapeñogate drama across the US”

I’m hot! So are my plants!

We are again in the midst of excessive heat events in many parts of the United States. Records were broken for the highest temperatures ever recorded just a few days ago. This is also a time when the days are at their very longest, so high temperatures have large impacts on plants in landscapes.

In 2020 temperatures reached over 120 degrees in Ojai California. This caused immediate impacts to both native and introduced landscape plants.

High temperature can have immediate (acute) and continuing impacts (chronic) on plants.… Continue reading this article “I’m hot! So are my plants!”