by Cynthia Kerson

Being a UC Master Gardener of Napa County has many joys in volunteering to educate home gardeners. In between volunteering, our members decided to tour each others gardens during spring and summer months. Besides being fun and sharing camaraderie, we learn new things to pass along to others. Let's take a look at the last two gardens we visited this season.

The last tours were both in the city of Napa, a family vineyard and an urban garden. The gardens at the vineyard are beautifully arranged around gathering areas for friends and family between a barn and the home, including a traditional lawn, bocce court (to the left of the roses), and bean bag toss, just outside of the photo. The linden trees they planted that line the home are spectacular.

The family vineyard is 1½ acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and was planted 3-4 years ago. Each row is lined with roses, which look lovely. We are unsure why the tradition started of planting roses at the foot of each vineyard row. Throughout the property, there are fruit trees, including  Blackjack figs, stone fruits, citrus, quince, pomegranate, and olive. Also present is an abundant summer garden with all the usual suspects. Things grow beautifully on the valley floor! 

Now off to our final property, an urban oasis. The property contains a few Redwoods that have personalities all their own. The family utilizes every inch of available sun for their vegetables and other sun-loving plants, outside the umbrella of these beautiful Sequoia sempervirens. There is a Meyer lemon that is pruned in the vase pattern with lots of fruit, so it must be precisely arranged. The property owner cleverly and beautifully shades her vegetables with repurposed lace. Throughout the garden are thoughtful objects, found treasures, and sculptures that add to the artistic, eclectic nature of the space.

Our garden tours were a lovely biweekly social get-together from which we all took little gardening pearls of wisdom home. Watch for next year's tours.

Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Cindy Kerson

 

 

Informational references: Linden Tree http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/linden.html 

Roses http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/rose.html 

Fruit trees, nuts, berries and grapevines http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/fruit.html 

Growing grapes in your backyard https://ucanr.edu/sites/gardenweb/Growing_Grapes_in_the_California_Garden/ 

Coast Redwood 

https://ucanr.edu/sites/forestry/California_forests/http___ucanrorg_sites_forestry_California_forests_Tree_Identification_/Coast_Redwood_Sequoia_sempervirens_198/#:~:text=The%20coast%20redwood%2C%20also%20called,or%20biomass%2C%20in%20the%20world. 

UCMG Sonoma County-Meyer Lemon Tree https://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/The_Kitchen_Garden/FRUITS/Meyer_Lemon/