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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Sacramento, CA
Eliminating ragweed in Sacramento CA
Rag weed. How to be rid of it! My wife and lots of others that live in this part of Sacramento suffer greatly.
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Sacramento, CA
Care of Dracaena fragrans, cultivar
I just recently purchased a tree which I was told was called a Dracaena or also corn plant. I can not seem to find a site that will inform me on how to take care of this tree. If you can please let ...
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Sacramento, CA
California plants poisonous to dogs from Sacramento
Found dodonea viscosa purple. Is it poisonous to dogs? Also Gold Star Potentilla. Going drought tolerant and need small trees, shrubs and plants not poisonous to dogs for sun and partial sun.
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Sacramento, CA
Agave attenuata Poisonous?
Is Agave attenuata (foxtail agave) poisonous to horses or humans?
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Sacramento, CA
Plant identification, possibly Datura
I have a wide green-leafed plant that has white flowers. This plant also has some thorny fruits in the shape of mines that float on the ocean. At the moment it is 2 feet high. I'm beginning to wo...
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SACRAMENTO, CA
Evergreen screening plant for California
I am looking for an evergreen plant that can be used as a screen. Maybe something wispy. Any suggestions?
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SACRAMENTO, CA
Cross pollination of orange and crapemyrtle
I have a crapemyrtle tree growing 3 feet from a navel orange tree. This summer a shoot grew from the ground 5 inches from the orange tree. The shoot looks just like the orange tree but the leaves were...
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Sacramento, CA
Palm tip wound in Sacramento CA
My husband was stuck in his calf with a palm leaf, he is now complaining of stiffness where it went in, is there any kind of poison in it?
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Sacramento, CA
Problems with Acer rubrum in Sacramento
We live in Sacramento California and have two seven year old Magenta Maple trees in our front yard that are planted about 65 feet from each other. This is the second year in a row that the tree on th...
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Sacramento, CA
Plants for flowerbed beside pool in Sacramento, CA
70 foot long 2 ft flower bed running along north side of pool. Gets morning and afternoon sun with late shade on west end and hot sun on east end as sun sets. Need something to help with shooting se...
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Sacramento, CA
Why has yucca not bloomed from Sacramento CA
I looked for an answer to my question on your list but did not find one. We have had a yucca plant that has never bloomed since we planted it about 8 years ago. I has grown tall (6-7 feet) and we ha...
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Antelope, CA
Identification of gourd plant growing in central California
I am not sure if this flowering plant is native to North America. It is found in dry land grazing fields at about 100 feet in elevation in central California. It is large--2-6 feet across with a sti...
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Citrus Heights, CA
Plants to control erosion in shade in California
I need plants that will help prevent soil erosion on a sloping area under a wood fence. The area has filtered light. thank you!
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Fair Oaks, CA
Clearing out non-native Himalayan blackberry
Can you recommend a way to clear an area of Himalayan blackberry? We have cut the canes back but wish to eliminate them completely so that we can replant that area with native plants attractive to wil...
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Roseville, CA
Trimming of dead foliage on trunks of yucca in California
There is a Yucca plant in the back yard. I want to know how to get the old foliage that has died off of the trunks, it looks kind of ragged. The foliage is about three feet from the green. Can you ...
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Folsom, CA
Folsom CA Wall-cover
I live in Folsom, CA and I have an ugly cinder block wall that I want to cover, I want something that is low maintenance and that is going to grow and spread into my grass. The only one i can really t...
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Folsom, CA
Need tree suggestions for a long, narrow strip in Folsom, CA.
I live in Folsom, Ca. I have a long strip (50') of planting area about 2.5' wide at the top of a retaining wall to the fence behind it. I would like to plant alternating (2) trees down this strip to...
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Granite Bay, CA
Changing color of crape myrtle blooms
I have 5 well established crape myrtle trees whose blooms are a very light lavender/pink color. I would like to know if there is any way to deepen or change the color of the blooms. I would prefer a m...
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Rocklin, CA
Non-native banana plants dying back in Rocklin CA
I bought a home last July in Rocklin, CA that had several banana plants growing in the yard. They died back during the winter frost. We pruned them back to the ground and placed mulch over the top. ...
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El Dorado Hills, CA
Propagation of Pacific dogwood
When do I plant Pacific dogwood seeds? How deep and far apart should they be planted? The elevation will be around 5k.
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El Dorado Hills, CA
Non-native blue potato bush in El Dorado Hills CA
I have two blue potato bush topiary planted in my front porch in a very big planter. It's getting a full afternoon sun. I am wondering why they are losing their leaves??? Am I overwatering them??? Al...
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