Central Coast Gardening

February 13, 2016

Milkweed for Monarchs – Native or tropical?

Before planting milkweed (the host plant for the monarch butterfly) know the variety that is best in your area.

January 31, 2016

Gardening in February along the Central Coast

February is the time to start garden on the Central Coast. Weeding now saves work later on. Many drought-tolerant plants are best planted now when the soil is moist. Fertilize with slow-released fertilizer. Passion vines can be planted now along the coast.

January 25, 2016

Cambria’s Art and Wine Festival 2016

Cambria’s Art and Wine Festival is happening this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 29 – 31 in our little Village by the Sea”. For $30 you will be able to stroll and taste all three days and participate in three main pours in the Veterans Memorial Building, Cambria’s Center for the Arts, as well as the Saturday Art Show and Artist’s Faire.

January 18, 2016

Preparing fresh pumpkins after a “bumper crop”

A “bumper crop” of pumpkins means examinating ways to use them. Preparing pumpkins to be cooked is essential. One way of preparing pumpkins is baking them in halves or cube and roast in the oven. Cooked pumpkin can then be frozen or dehydrated.

January 16, 2016

Japanese Tendergreen Mustard Spinach “Komatsuna”

As it turns out, tendergreen mustard spinach, also referred to as “Japanese mustard spinach” and “komatsuna”, is actually not a spinach but in the Brassica family. In most of California, komatsuna can be grown year-around. This means you always have at hand, flavorful fresh greens to add to your salads.

October 29, 2015

“Good” Bugs Control “Bad” Bugs

Get to know beneficial insects and their larva (good bugs) that live in your garden. Become familiar with their appearance and what flowers and plants they find attractive. “Good bugs” do not eat flowers and leaves, they prey on destructive insects, considered “bad buds”, and their larvae, and they will help to keep your garden in balance without the use of insecticides.

September 16, 2015

Pinedorado Parade Winner, Cambria Garden Club

The town of Cambria puts on a Pinedorado celebration each year with a parade, carnival, and bar-b-que. The Cambria Garden Club won the Pinederado Parade “Sweepstakes” and sold over $2,000 worth of succulents to support the Lions club.

August 26, 2015

Australian Labradoodle Happenings

Australian labradoodles enjoy socializing with humans as well as with other dogs. We have regular play dates with labradoodles that live in our community.

June 29, 2015

Feeding a Citrus Tree

Lemon and lime trees need to be fed on a regular basis. If they do not have proper nutrients, their leaves change, giving the gardener an indication of what the soil is lacking and what nutrient is needed. Compost is a long-lasting fertilizer that will will provide nutrients for months. Check the UC Davis Website for pictures of distressed leaves of citrus trees needing nutrients.

June 14, 2015

Tulips in Amsterdam

The story of tulips in Holland and the yearly “living catalogue” display of flowering bulbs at Keukenhof Park in April and May is a “not to be missed”. During the 1600’s, “Tulip Mania” took over in Amsterdam and tulips were being sold for outrageous sums. Still the bulb growing capital of the world, Amsterdam is a colorful and fascinating experience for travelers.

May 19, 2015

Homemade Fertilizer Mixture from The Crop Doctor

Here is a recipe for a homemade liquid fertilizer shared by Dr. Heather Vallier. The mixture can be easily made in a blender and only require four ingredients. Because it includes ripe bananas which contain potassium, it is best for flowering plants. The mixture can be used every few months in the growing season.

May 14, 2015

The end of labradoodle pups, the beginning of spring.

Garden Clubs visit gardens to get ideas and information about gardening in Cambria, California. The Newcomers Club in Cambria visits our garden and views the labradoodles on the deck. Visitors had questions on drought-tolerent plants, fertilizers, and gophers.

January 9, 2015

Labradoodle puppies moved to garden room

Our 4-week-old puppies have been moved from our bedroom into our more spacious garden room. I’ve had no time to post pictures of Tillie’s…

September 4, 2014

Six Australian Labradoodle Puppies

We co-own two breeding Australian Labradoodles. Puppies are raised in a whelping box in our home where the mother is allowed to come and go as she wishes. The puppies are handled several times daily as we follow a bio-sensor, or Super Dog program. The purpose of the program is to stimulate the puppies neurological development, producing intelligent, calm, and loving dogs. Our dogs make excellent service, therapy, and companion dogs.

July 8, 2014

Labradoodles Garden Party

We, who own labradoodles in Cambria, are very proud of our doodles. There are several of us that own them in this town and when we get the chance, we try to get them together in our gardens.