An epiphyte is a fascinating plant, almost otherworldly, like the star of Little Shop of Horrors. In their preferred habitat, these cactus that normally grow in the jungle attach their roots to the crotch of trees and dangle their branches downward.
One of my fondest early memories as a Master Gardener involves a Master Gardener field trip to the Chalk Hill Clematis nursery near Healdsburg. It was one of my first big outings with my newborn daughter and I was excited to get out, see some familiar Master Gardener faces, and learn about plants.
It is such a hot and dry time of year that it is axiomatic that the garden must be watched over for water needs. I know that what I am about to say about watering is obvious, simple and maybe redundant. But I think it needs to be said again.
We had an overnight visitor, a bird. It spent almost 2 days in our garage. It was a young Mockingbird. It all started in the morning; my daughter Toni was doing some gardening in the front yard. When this young Mockingbird flew and landed right in front of her. It stayed to watch what she was up to.