Our Blueberry Cultural Schedule and Wildlife Inventory

Late Jan - Prune twiggy growth for bush/crop balance, apply organic lime-sulfur for plant protection

Feb - Place out Osmia ribiforis bee nesting boxes, rake shoulders, apply contact herbicide

Mar - Watch for aphids

April - Ready irrigation system, watch for hoppers

May - Set out bird control, harvest

June - harvest

July - Prune for structure, compost cuttings, run leaf analyses, download air temperature/soil moisture/soil temperature data logger

August  - Pull weeds from bush crowns, watch for thrips

Late Oct - Apply contact herbicide (if needed), apply organic copper, remove Osmia ribiforis nesting boxes

Nov- Apply mulch, winterize irrigation system, check soil pH

WildLife Inventory 

Below is a list of wildflowers found naturally on our ranch as well as those we have planted to enhance the beneficial insect population, bees, and of course the view. We prefer California native species.

Gold Fields, Prairie Aster, Desert Marigold, Farewell to Spring, Plains Coreopsis, Yarrow, California Poppy (Gold and Red), Mexican Gold Poppy, Indian Blanket, Bird's Eyes, Baby Blue Eyes, Blue Flax, Tidy Tips, Lupine (various), Blazing Star, Five Spot, White Primrose, California Blue Bells, Mexican Hat, Chives, Purple Vetch, White Clover, Daisy, Sunflowers, Larkspur, Iris, Melic, wild mushrooms, Fescue.

And we can not forget the flowering trees and bushes.

Rosemary, Raspberry, Lavender, White Oak, Blue Oak, Live Oak, Willow, Bearberry, Manzanita, and Plum.

Here is a list of known critters seen to roam the ranch.

First and foremost, thousands of frogs and pesky birds including Turkeys (but also nice birds like Hummingbird, Barn Owls, Egret, Heron, various Ducks, various Hawks and Raptors), Coyotes, Bobcats, Bats, Mice, Squirrels, Rabbit (Cottontail and Jack rabbit), Skinks, Lizards, Snakes (Rattle, Gopher and Garter), Salamanders, and rumours of a Mountain Lion. Ah yes, my son reminds me not to forget the Dogs. Ok, sometimes the horses get out and roam around as well. Shoo, shoo, now get'!