Winter 2022 - Volume 3, Issue 1
Hello Gardeners,
Although this new year will not be without its challenges, UC Master Gardener Volunteers of Contra Costa County have a positive feeling about 2022 because so many of us, including you, have matured, grown more reflective and grown much wiser!
For this winter issue we have chosen a few articles that will encourage you to go outside and take a closer look at some of the mysterious beauties mother nature offers us this season: Fungi, Lichens, Mosses and Algae.
The bird lovers amongst you will enjoy reading on how to attract more wildlife to your garden. This winter, we welcomed a record rainfall so far for which we are very grateful! So let's put our rainboots on, an extra jacket and go explore!
In case you'd like a fun activity that you can do indoors, our primer on starting your summer garden from seed will give you all the advice and information you'll need.
Happy New Year & Happy Reading!
― Hedwig Van Den Broeck, Editor for News to Grow By
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Lichens, Mosses and Algae
by Laurinda Ochoa
Winter rains and cool weather wake up the lichens, mosses and algae growing in our gardens and yards. They are the areas of colored organisms we see growing on our trees, rocks, fences and roofs. Are they harmful and something we need to get rid of? Or are they a natural feature of our landscape that we can explore and enjoy?
Most lichens, mosses and algae are epiphytes, a type of green plant that survives on nutrients and water from the air. Many people are familiar with epiphytic orchids growing in the tropics. Our common garden epiphytes, like epiphytic orchids, use host trees and other structures for physical support and not for nutrition. Generally, our garden lichens, mosses and algae don’t harm trees and plants and don’t need to be eradicated.
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Lichens are symbiotic organisms composed of an alga and/or cyanobacteria with a fungus. Like mosses and algae, lichens have no roots or woody structures. They grow by attaching to a substrate and can be found on wood, stone, soil and even concrete. On trees, lichens attach to sun-exposed twigs and branches. They don’t harm trees because they don’t take nutrients from the bark and don’t cause disease. In Contra Costa County, lichens are commonly found on mature oak, maple and other landscape trees, as well as on fences and stones.
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Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless primitive plants that form dense green mounds or low mats in damp and shady areas of our gardens. Like mushrooms, they reproduce by releasing spores into the air. The leaves of mosses are generally only one cell thick and are able to quickly and efficiently absorb moisture from their environment.
Mosses, together with liverworts and hornworts, are members of the bryophyte family of plants. Bryophytes occur worldwide, including in Antarctica, and can grow on any surface since they don’t have roots. Locally we find them growing on rocks and trees near creeks, on bridges and older roofs and in the quieter areas of our gardens.
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Algae are relatively simple, primitive organisms in the plant family and lack roots, stems, flowers, or leaves. Like lichens and mosses, algae do not take nutrients from the surfaces they grow on. Most people know algae as the green, wet and slippery growth on our garden walkways or sidewalks. Other types of algae can be red or brown and are found near waterways and on soil.
Although algae don’t feed on garden plants and don't harm surfaces they grow upon, they can slow down plant root growth in our gardens by making it harder for oxygen and gases to get into the soil and reach plant roots.
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Let these subtle beauties live!
After the visual attraction of beautiful fall leaves has faded and our cold winter rains have started, these subtle beauties offer plenty to discover and admire. None of these naturally occurring plant organisms cause disease or directly harm our trees and plants. In addition to being a healthy part of our environment, our native epiphytes add nutrients, moisture, and color. So, whatever your garden style may be – the imperfect beauty of wabi-sabi, the organic beauty of natives in a habitat garden, or the traditional beauty of countryside gardens – let lichens, mosses and algae brighten and enrich your winter landscape.
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Gardening in Small Spaces |
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Starting Seeds Indoors is Frugal, Fun and Fascinating!
by Kate Verhoef
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Another new year is upon us, and so we turn our thoughts to planning our summer garden. While many of us wait until April or May to purchase vegetable seedlings at our local nurseries, there are many benefits to starting your own seeds at home indoors. First, it’s frugal. An entire packet of seeds costs about the same as one store-bought seedling in a 4-inch pot. Second, it’s fun. With a little effort, patience and attention, you can create your own indoor mini oasis. Third, it’s fascinating. Watching tiny seeds sprout and grow under your care is an amazing and rewarding experience.
Where can I get seeds?
Buy seeds from a reputable nursery. Seed catalogues are another great place to look for varieties you might not have considered. Another option is your local library. A few libraries in our county have transformed their old card catalogues into free seed libraries. Check with the library nearest you to see if they’re participating in this wonderful sustainability project. Also consider sharing seeds with your friends and neighbors. This is a great option for people who garden in small spaces or containers.
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How do I know whether my seeds are viable?
The viability of seeds decreases with each passing year, so it’s best to choose seeds that have the current planting year stamped on them. Reputable nurseries and online seed catalogues will only sell viable seeds, but it’s always good to check that stamp. If you’re using old seeds from your previous year or two of gardening (or from the deep recesses of your garage), the following fun experiment will help you determine if your seeds are still viable: Dampen a paper towel. Take ten seeds and line them up near one end of the moist paper towel. Roll the towel up loosely and seal it inside a Ziploc bag to keep the contents moist. Place the bag on top of your fridge and leave it for 7-10 days, depending on the type of seed. Check for moisture every other day, but with a sealed bag this should not be a problem. Then check if the seeds have germinated. If fewer than seven of the ten have sprouted, you’re better off starting with new seeds. If between seven and nine of them have sprouted, use them but sow more of them than you need. If all ten have sprouted, you’re good to go!
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What does the seed packet tell me?
Considerations such as planting depth, thinning rate, and special instructions like soaking and scarification (nicking) will be clearly stated on your seed packet. Be sure to read it carefully and follow the recommendations.
Which veggies can I start indoors? Garden veggies such as tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, and eggplant are good candidates for starting indoors. Other garden favorites that can be started either indoors or in the ground are cucumbers, lettuces, melons, pumpkins, summer and winter squash, and peas. Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, and radishes should only be started in the ground.
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Bring your Garden to Life |
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Creating a Wildlife Habitat
by Kathleen Gage
“In his book Bringing Nature Home, entomologist Douglas Tallamy gives notice: ‘It has become increasingly clear that much of our wildlife will not be able to survive unless food, shelter and nest sites can be found in suburban habitats.’ And which plants we choose to grow, Tallamy points out, determines the diversity in the numbers of wildlife that a particular garden can sustain.” From The California Wildlife Habitat Garden by Nancy Bauer.
When we create a new wildlife habitat in our home garden for birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife, we are replacing—in a small but essential way—the habitats that had been lost to development, urban sprawl and agriculture. To create this wildlife environment, we need to shift our focus from traditional garden design of lawns, trimmed shrubs and neat flowerbeds. When we plant to also benefit wildlife in our garden, we begin to see that our home garden is a living, changing complex community that will bring us hours of pleasure.
In previous publications we discussed pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies extensively. In this article we will be focusing on attracting birds to our gardens. Not only are many birds pollinators too, they also greatly help with weed control and reducing pest populations by eating a lot of harmful insects.
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Food: Native plants are the best choice for our local wildlife, though many plants already in our gardens offer shelter and food as well. Birds, mammals, amphibians and pollinators are sustained by foods such as nectar, seeds, fruit, berries and invertebrates, all of which California natives provide in abundance. A vibrant garden contains a diversity of colorful perennials, shrubs and trees. The best time to plant natives in the garden is October through March, as they develop strong roots during the rainy season. As you fill your garden with California natives, you will begin to hear the spirited conversations of towhees, wrens, finches, robins and sparrows, just to name a few!
Shelter: Think of creating a sanctuary for your wildlife that provides cover, which is the vegetation that exists in your home garden. It includes areas for birds to perch or nest, as well as easy access to natural food sources. Trees and shrubs that are attractive as shelter and nesting sites are usually evergreen and dense. Contra Costa has many bird species, including raptors, owls, shorebirds and songbirds. By planting natives for food and shelter, you can also save money as you will use less soil amendment, fertilizer and water in your wildlife garden.
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Water: All wildlife need sources of water. Make sure to offer wildlife access to water in your garden. One excellent example is a birdbath. A good birdbath mimics shallow puddles, which are nature’s birdbaths. It does not have to be store-bought; a dinner plate is always an option. Birds seem to prefer baths that are at ground level, but if you have cats in the neighborhood, raise the bath two or three feet off the ground and eliminate nearby hiding spots for predators.
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Now that we are talking about wildlife and pollinators here is some Hot News! The Monarch population soared 4,900 percent since last year in a thrilling 2021 Western Migration!
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Secret Life of Mushrooms
by Soubarna Mishra
Have you ever wondered how the ground somehow magically absorbs everything on its surface? Fallen leaves, dead bugs, animals and trees.
Where does everything go? How does this massive ground cleanup occur? What lives in the ground that turns everything into rich, healthy soil for new life to grow? This ground cleanup is managed by our good friends, fungi.
Under the ground a massive network of interconnected living cells helps break down and decompose dead organisms and turn them into organic matter. Fungi feed on decomposing organisms.
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Amazing Facts About Fungi
- Fungi are neither a plant nor an animal. They have their own kingdom, called "Fungi”.
- There are about 3.8 million fungal species on Earth. We have discovered only 5% of them.
- Fungi are found everywhere, on land, in oceans, in our backyards and even inside our bodies.
- Human life as we know today would be impossible without fungi. They help us with food, growth and survival.
- Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of a fungus. They appear like a cap with gills under them, attached to a stem. They come in many colors and shapes. The larger portion of the organism, which is the mycelium, is hidden under the ground.
- Some fungi can be harmful to plants and are called plant pathogens because they infect and destroy plants.
- When eaten, some fungi can harm humans, making them very sick and even causing death.
- Only 0.5% of mushrooms known to humans are poisonous. Yet caution must be applied every time while interacting with mushrooms because their looks can deceive. The most familiar or innocent looking mushroom can be very toxic to both humans and animals.
Sources:
Soubarna Mishra is one of our Schoolgarden co-leads and created this wonderful article for you to share with young children.
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A true gardener will not take breaks!
Let's celebrate the much-wished-for winter rains we received so far and endure the cold with an extra jacket and some solid winter boots ... there might be more to do than you think ONCE you get out there and just observe!
Here are your Winter Garden and Landscape checklists:
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Ever considered Growing Potatoes at Home?
Now through February is the time to get started!
You can grow in as small as a 5 gal bucket!
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Buy seed potatoes (not grocery store bought) at a local nursery or seed company,
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“Chit” the potatoes (grow the “eyes”) as seen on the picture,
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And head to our YouTube channel for a video to walk you through the rest!
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UC Master Gardener Volunteers of Contra Costa County are currently taking a well deserved break but we will be back shortly! Consult the calendar on our website regularly for:
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The 2022 Great Tomato Plant Sale. Dates and detailed information will be published in our spring issue and will also be available on our website.
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Our popular Garden Talks at our Demonstration Gardens: Our Garden (Walnut Creek), Rivertown (Antioch), and the Richmond Dry Garden
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Upcoming 2022 Webinars and Short Talks.
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Jan. 25 - Succulents
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Feb. 15 - Pruning Trees & Ornamentals
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Mar. 15 - Growing Tomatoes
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Apr. 19 - Ready, Set - Soil! Healthy Soil, Before, During & After growing
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May 17 - Los Problemas en mi Jardin de Verano (y Cómo Resolverlos)
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Jun. 21 - Water in your Garden - Taking Control
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Jul. 19 - Pollinator Garden
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Aug. 16 - Engaging Children in the Garden
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Sep. 13 - Soil in your Home Garden
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Oct. 18 - Fertilizers & Amendments
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Nov. 15 - Houseplants
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Can't wait? No problem! All our 2021 Webinars are available on-demand on our YouTube channel and when you sign-up, you will automatically get notified of upcoming webinars.
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Ask a Master Gardener tables at many Contra Costa Farmers Markets. Can't make it to the market? No problem, contact our Virtual Ask a Master Gardener (VAAMG)
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The class schedule for our popular Growing Gardeners and Jardineros en el Huerto will be posted soon on our website.
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Information on other events can be found on our website and Facebook page or seen in our program eblasts.
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Information on Community Gardens, School Gardens, and so much more!
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And last but certainly not in the least Our Helpdesk staffed (virtually) 50 weeks of the year, Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. - Noon.
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During our yearly UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County Recognition Event our UC coordinator, Dawn Kooyumjian asked all volunteers this interactive WordCloud question:
What is your favorite part of being part of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County in 1 or 2 words
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Thank you! Contra Costa County residents!
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”― Marcel Proust
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Images in this issue are courtesy of UC ANR, Fletcher Oakes, Marilyn Saarni, Kate Verhoef, Laurinda Ochoa, Soubarna Mishra, Kathleen Gage, Greg Letts, Dawn Kooyumjian, Andrea Salzman, and Hedwig Van Den Broeck
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