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Yolo, Solano farms celebrate Lavender Weekend



Lavender's the word -- and the scent -- of the weekend on the Solano-Yolo
Lavender Trail. (Photo: Kathy Morrison)
See, smell and taste this popular herb along the Lavender Trail


Can you smell it? This special event is perfect for Pollinators Week.

Yolo and Solano counties will celebrate one of the world's most popular herbs (and a favorite plant of bees) with Lavender Weekend, June 22 and 23.

Six major lavender farms and growers will show off lavender in full bloom as well as demonstrate the many ways to use this fragrant medicinal and culinary herb.

These farms are located along the Solano-Yolo Lavender Trail, where this Mediterranean native feels most at home.

Among the participating farms will be Morningsun Herb Farm and Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Araceli Farms in Dixon, Il Fiorello and Girl on the Hill in Fairfield and Patchwork Farm in Capay. Hours vary at each location. Admission is free.

Besides growing tons of lavender flowers, these farms will host a wide range of lavender-related activities such as wreath making and other crafts. Enjoy lavender-spiked lemonade, lavender ale and lavender gelato as well as other treats and beverages. Some locations will offer lavender-inspired lunches.

The farms also will host cooking and crafting demonstrations as well as offer tips on how to grow and harvest this low-water, sun-loving herb. Learn how lavender perfume is distilled as well as take home lavender-scented soaps and candles.

Most stops will offer fresh cut lavender flowers or live plants, too. Take home a plant to grow your own.

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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3

November still offers good weather for fall planting:

* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.

* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.

* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.

* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.

* Plant garlic and onions.

* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.

* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.

* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.

* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.

* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.

* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.

* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.

* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.

* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.

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