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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County is one of the undiscovered gems in California: its beautiful mountains, the slow pace of life, friendly people and fresh clean air, the cleanest in the nation.

Swaddled in the midst of stock and agriculture, it’s a great place to live and raise your children, but it can be a bit challenging to raise a home garden.

If you’re new to Lake County or to gardening in general, this article will address some of the local difficulties.

For starters, Lake County is a land of microclimates. Everyone says that about where they live, but it’s truer here.

We’ve got the banana belt around the lake where some people can grow citrus. We’ve got high upper valleys where cold pools and settles in, so that some years the length of the growing season is just 4 months.

The east side of the lake is more temperate than the west because of moderating winds across the lake. USDA growing zones show the east side of the lake 8b (normal winter temperatures average 15F) while the west side is 8a (average 10F).

What diverse microclimates mean to the gardener is that it’s difficult to know what will grow where you live. You could figure it out by trial and error: buy it, plant it, watch it die… buy it, plant it, watch it die. But, dang, that’s a lot of money down the tubes.

Another way is to look at what your neighbors are growing, peek over the fence: if it grows down the street, it’s likely to make it in your yard. In addition, you can consult the UC Master Gardener Program of Lake County. We have lists of plants that grow well here, even ones that are deer and gopher resistant. 

One of the most difficult challenges in Lake County is what I like to call spastic weather or psychotic temperature extremes.

March and April can sport several weeks of wonderful sunny days with temperatures soaring into the 70s and above and then bam – a sudden blast of arctic air comes barreling down sending nighttime temperatures into the 20s.

Some plants get tricked into budding out too early only to have their leaves frozen back. In Lake County the general rule of thumb is that it rarely frosts after the ides of May (that’s Latin for May15).

In those high valleys isolated from the lake’s influence, trees, such as cherries, can be tricked into budding out by the lovely March weather. But after several years of being frosted back, they start to decline and eventually die. The trick is to grow trees that don’t get tricked, like those plants smart enough to wait until May to bud out.

Your UC Master Gardeners’ Office has an extensive list of both ornamental and fruit tree cultivars that can save you from plantings that don’t do well here, and that translates to saving lots of time, money and heartache.

Most people would agree that Lake County has hotter sun than elsewhere, eh? And, while there are those that would think that statement doesn’t make sense, I would say those folks aren’t gardeners.

Think about it, if the last day for a killing frost is May 15 and by June we’re having heat waves, that doesn’t give plants much time to equilibrate.

If you’ve ever grown vegetables here and wondered why the skins were so tough, it’s the sun, coupled with the thinner atmosphere.

Vegetables are tougher here, because they produce extra lignin in an effort to protect themselves from sunburn. Extra lignin makes the skin tough and gnarly to eat.

This atmosphere can also produce a weird condition in tomatoes call physiological leaf roll, where the leaves curl upward, turn brown and die. Although this condition doesn’t affect the yield, it does get your attention. In both situations, a little shade cloth will go a long way.

Winter flooding and summer drought is standard here in California. You’ve heard the song “It never rains in California, but when it pours, man, it pours!” Ain’t that the truth!

So you need to be mindful of how, both, no water in the summer and too much water in the winter, can affect what you plant. For example, I just learned Deodar cedars don’t like to be flooded.

Would you believe that UC Master Gardeners can help you with all these challenges? Yep. Give us a call, that’s what we live for.

Here is a sampling of some of the types of information we can provide: a planting schedule for vegetables, trees to avoid, trees that do well, native plants for carefree landscapes, veggies that grow in the fall, deer resistant plants, gopher resistant plants, and soil and compost.

Karole Ward is a member of the UC Master Gardener Program of Lake County. For more information, stop in at the UC Cooperative Extension, 833 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport, or call 707-263-6838.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The winners of the annual Lakeport Memorial Day weekend parade, which took place on Saturday, have been announced.

This year’s parade theme was “Honor Our Veterans.”

Operation Tango Mike won both the grand sweepstakes and judges’ choice awards.

The winners, reported by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, are listed below.

DIVISION I – FLOATS/GROUPS

Best of Division: Operation Tango Mike       
   
ORGANIZATIONS
       
First place: Operation Tango Mike
Second place:     Lakeport Elks Lodge
Third place: Lake County Rodeo Association

MILITARY

First place: Lake County Pearl Harbor Survivors   
Second place:     Vietnam Veterans of America   

SENIOR/ADULT

First place: Tie – Sons in Retirement, SEIU 2015
Second place: Lakeport Senior Center

YOUTH

First place: Mountain Vista Middle School   
Second place: United States Sea Cadets
Third place: Lake County Sheriffs Activities League
           
DIVISION II – VEHICLES

Best of Division: Lake County Funeral Honors

CARS

First place: Corvettes of Lake County   
Second place: Cadillac Pat
Third place: Red Cross

MILITARY

First place: Lake County Funeral Honors
Second place: David Kacharos

OTHER

First place: 40 & B Voiture 912 of Lake County
   
DIVISION VI – MUSIC

Best of Division: Mountain Vista Middle School

BANDS

First place: Mountain Vista Middle School

DIVISON VII – EQUESTRIAN   

Best of Division: Lake County Rodeo Association

MOUNTED GROUP

First place: Lake County Horse Council

NOVELTY COSTUME

First place: Lonne Sloan

JUNIOR/SENIOR PARADE HORSE

First place: Lake County Rodeo Association   

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lower Lake was in a festive mood on Sunday as it hosted its annual Lower Lake Daze parade and barbecue.

It’s been nine months since the town was ravaged by the Clayton fire, but the Memorial Day weekend celebration was further sign of the community’s determination to rebuild and reclaim its unique – and resilient – character.

The colorful and entertaining parade through town included everything from horses, antique autos and tractors to a mariachi band, Lower Lake High student athletes and the school marching band, and Lake County Fire Protection District’s popular antique engine that shot water into the crowd lining the route, among many other parade participants.

Sheriff Brian Martin and his deputies were on hand to help lead the parade through town, along with numerous fire units from Lake County Fire

Afterward, events moved to Russell Rustici County Park for the barbecue and an afternoon of activities.

The full parade can be seen in the video above.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man is in custody on numerous charges for stabbing a man with a machete in a Saturday night attack that police said appeared to have been racially motivated.

Anthony Robert Hammond, 34, is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1 million bail for felony charges of aggravated mayhem, battery with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, felony resisting executive officer, hate crime and two outside agency felony arrest warrants, and two misdemeanor charges of battery on a person, and obstructing or resisting a peace officer.

Sgt. Travis Lenz said that just before 8:15 p.m. Saturday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the Beachfront Apartments on Lakeshore Drive for a report of a male victim who had been stabbed with a machete.

Upon their arrival, officers discovered one black male victim who told them that a white male adult – later identified as Hammond – had been yelling racial slurs at numerous people located in the parking lot of the apartment complex, Lenz said.

Lenz said Hammond returned to his apartment, and then exited while holding a large machete. As he continued yelling racial slurs at the victim, Hammond struck the victim on the shoulder with the machete, causing serious bodily injury.

After the attack, Hammond retreated into his apartment, Lenz said.

The victim was transported from the scene by paramedics from Lake County Fire Protection District Station 70 to Adventist Health Hospital Clearlake, according to Lenz.

Lenz said Clearlake Police officers established a perimeter around the apartment to prevent Hammond’s escape and proceeded to evacuate all nearby residences.

After residents were evacuated, officers approached and were able to view through a window one male adult asleep on the couch, and Hammond attempting to conceal himself inside his refrigerator, Lenz said.

After being unsuccessful in concealing himself, Hammond ran into the rear bedroom of his residence, out of sight, Lenz said.

Lenz said officers were able to remove the male subject who was asleep on the couch from the residence but Hammond would not exit the residence.

Officers could see a pistol case which was open inside of the residence, yet did not view the firearm. Lenz said that led officers to believe Hammond was now armed with a pistol.

The Clearlake Police Department Detective Unit responded to the scene and began authoring a search warrant, which would allow officers to enter the residence, arrest Hammond and search his residence for any evidence related to the crime, Lenz said.

After a standoff that lasted several hours, Lenz said Hammond eventually complied with officers’ commands and exited the residence, where he was placed under arrest.

During the search of the residence, officers located the machete that was used during the commission of the crime. However, Lenz said officers did not locate any firearms inside the residence.

During transport to the Lake County Jail, Hammond threatened to kill the transporting officer and his family upon his release from jail, Lenz said.

The victim’s name is being withheld at this time due to the severity of the crime, Lenz said.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact Officer Joseph Myers at 707-994-8251, Extension 502.

Although it is encouraged for witnesses to identify themselves, those who wish to remain anonymous may do so, Lenz said.

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Barbecued chicken meals, music, dancing, a silent auction, a 50-50 raffle and children’s activities will highlight the annual People Services Inc. Chicken-Que on Saturday, June 3.

The public is invited to the event from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St.

Tickets for the Chicken-Que are $10 each or four for $30.

People Services Executive Director Ilene Dumont said this is the 43rd year of the fundraiser.

The annual event benefits the nonprofit business which serves as the local community agency, providing the delivery of quality services for people with disabilities.

People Services has been in business for more than 40 years.

The LC Diamonds, known for its upbeat, danceable vintage tunes, will perform throughout the event.

Chicken meals will include barbecued chicken, baked beans, salad and a roll. Alternative meals featuring hamburgers, hot dogs or a vegetarian entrée will be available.

People Services thanks the many sponsors for this year’s event, said Dumont. They include WestAmerica Bank, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Umpqua Bank, North Lake Medical Pharmacy, Mendocino Redwood Co. LLC, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Middletown Luncheon Club, Lakeport Kiwanis and the Lakeport Rotary.

For ticket and event information, or to learn more about People Services’ services and programs, call 707-263-3810 or visit www.peopleservices.org .

The University of Minnesota Press has published a wonderful new collection of bee poems, “If Bees Are Few,” which may in some small way help the bees and will certainly offer some honey to poetry lovers.

Here's just one poem, by Heid Erdrich, who lives in Minnesota. Her most recent book is “Cell Traffic: New and Selected Poems” from the University of Arizona Press.

Stung

She couldn't help but sting my finger,
clinging a moment before I flung her
to the ground. Her gold is true, not the trick
evening light plays on my roses.
She curls into herself, stinger twitching,
gilt wings folded. Her whole life just a few weeks,
and my pain subsided in a moment.
In the cold, she hardly had her wits to buzz.
No warning from either of us:
she sleeping in the richness of those petals,
then the hand, my hand, cupping the bloom
in devastating force, crushing the petals for the scent.
And she mortally threatened, wholly unaware
that I do this daily, alone with the gold last light,
in what seems to me an act of love.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited submissions. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2016 by Heid Erdrich, “Stung,” from If Bees Are Few: A Hive of Bee Poems (Univ. of Minnesota Pr., James P. Lenfesty, Ed., 2016). Poem reprinted by permission of Heid Erdrich and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2017 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.