The Coastal Gardener:

May is a busy time for gardeners. There is so much to do and so much to report on that I don’t know where to begin.

Ground Beetles

Seems like everyone is asking about the large, shiny black beetles running around during the day. They’re everywhere: gardens, vacant fields, schools, patios, etc. The common name for this beetle the Caterpillar Hunter (Calosoma semilaeve). It is a large beetle that moves around very quickly during the daytime in search of prey. It can also emit a foul odor that smells like burnt rubber or electrical insulation. This species occasionally has outbreak years, and this is one of them.

The good news is that this insect is harmless to your garden; even beneficial and will probably only be noticed for another month or so. It feeds on garden pests like wireworms and caterpillars, and especially cutworms.

However, don’t mess with them. In addition to its foul odor, it can pack a hefty bite.

Lawn Hotspots

Now that we’ve had a few heat spells, lots of dry spots are showing up in turf areas. In gardening terms, these “hotspots” are the areas irrigation systems do not cover adequately.

During cool weather, these problems are masked; but once warm weather begins, we see them everywhere. Adjusting the irrigation system to water longer or more often just wastes water on the 95% of the lawn that doesn’t need it. Don’t crank up the sprinkler system; usually you just need an adjustment to your system.

California Friendly Winners

The winners of Orange County’s California Friendly Garden Contest were announced at last Friday’s awards celebration.

The grand prize winner and the winner for the best Native Plant Garden was Sarah Sarkissian. Her amazing garden in the canyons of east Orange County was spectacular and a showcase of how a beautiful garden can also protect and preserve our natural resources.

Kelly Holcomb of Huntington Beach won Best Aesthetics. Cheryl & Robert Dickey of Tustin won Best Use of Plants. Vid and Cecilia Duda of Los Alamitos won Best Water Efficiency and Kris and Dave Ethington of San Clemente won Best Do-it-Yourself. Congratulations!

Blueberries for the Coastal Gardener