The following is the March 18 edition of the Abridged by PBS KVIE Yolo County email newsletter, by reporter Daniel Hennessy and the team at Yolo Local. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
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Stay in-the-know on all things Yolo! Weekly email with stories and insights from Yolo County reporter Daniel Hennessy.
Hey, it’s Daniel! Let’s dive in.
As the weather warms up this week, the signs of springtime in the region are everywhere. The hills are green, tractors are crisscrossing local fields and rivers are starting to swell with snowmelt.
But perhaps most telling are the small clusters of orange, yellow, purple and white that are starting to emerge pretty much anywhere where there is a little open space. It’s wildflower season in Yolo County, and there are plenty of nearby places to see them.
This week, we asked some experts for suggestions on where to catch a glimpse. Whether you prefer to hike, bike or drive to the flowers, this list should have you covered. If we’re missing something, let us know!
We also have an update on potential teacher strikes at Washington Unified in West Sacramento from education reporter Savannah Kuchar.
And we updated our story on the Winters downtown entertainment zone, which the City Council officially approved last night.
We’ve teamed up with Yolo Local, a civic media initiative of Davis Media Access, to bring you this weekly newsletter. Here’s what you need to know today:
STORY OF THE WEEK
Guide to wildflower season around Yolo County: Where to spot some of California’s best
Wildflowers grow throughout Yolo County and just a short drive outside its borders, from the mountains to the flatlands.
BY DANIEL HENNESSY | dhennessy@kvie.org
In short: Spring has come, and wildflowers are popping up across the region. Observers can find unique blooms of native flowers and vast carpets of color in and near Yolo County. Abridged asked experts at the UC Davis Arboretum and Tuleyome, a Woodland-based conservation nonprofit, for suggestions on where to go to see wildflowers in the county or within a short drive.
A bit more: Have a spot you want to share? Write to us in the form at the end of the story or email dhennessy@kvie.org. Feel free to include pictures of the flowers!
IN THE NEWS
Sacramento-area teacher strikes could be headed for Yolo County
Winters approves a downtown ‘entertainment zone’ for to-go alcoholic drinks
As urban farms take off across the Sacramento region, mounting pressures cloud the future
After sexual assault allegations, Sacramento leaders say Cesar Chavez Plaza should be renamed
Thank you for reading Abridged. We are here and our stories are free because people like you donate to PBS KVIE to keep our Yolo County strong. Join in — start donating at $10/month to keep it coming.
DISPATCHES FROM THE FARM
Agriculture is a central part of life in Yolo County, so I’ll be checking in each week with a farmer, rancher or other industry players for the latest ag updates. What are the people who help produce our food thinking about?
This week, Rachael Long from Zamora is keeping us in the loop:
- With dried out soil, farmers around the county are beginning to break ground for this year’s planting season.
- Close observers will see tomato transplanting going on now, though farmers are planting fewer than they have in years past.
- Tomato planting is staggered in the spring so as not to overload canneries with too many tomatoes once they ripen. Farmers will be planting tomatoes now into May.
- The warm and dry weather has brought an early spring to Yolo County. On Rachael’s farm, they’ve already started to irrigate the almond orchard.
- The Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency hosted a series of community workshops in Yolo County to discuss the establishment of a new fee structure for property owners within the subbasin. The fee will start in fiscal year 2027 and will support groundwater management projects that have mostly been supported by grant funding in years past.
HEARING FROM YOU
The best way to learn about a place is to listen to the people who know and love it. Each week, we’ll feature a quote or tip from a community member that captures a slice of life in our county. Write to me with something interesting or ask a question about Yolo County!
This week, we have a long list of tips from community members in our story on where to find wildflowers nearby.
While describing where native plants grow in parts of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, Tuleyome program director Nate Lillge said:
| “This is an interesting place geologically. These soils are so unique and so rare.”
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
It can be hard to keep up with local government and community events, so we’ll continuously feature a few below. Have something you think we should highlight? Email me.
- The Yolo County Library celebrating the 15th anniversary of Dia de los Niños/Dia de los Libros with a series of countywide events through the month of April. All children in attendance will receive a free book and each library location will have activities, crafts and performances. There are nine events through the month, and details can be found here.
- The 39th California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art is taking place on April 24 and 25. The conference, which has happening for nearly four decades, is a free opportunity for the public to view ceramics exhibitions from students across the western United States. The exhibitions happen at Davis Commons, but there will be shows across Davis. More information can be found here.
- YOLOFEST is taking place from March 27 to 29. There will be events countywide, and a full lineup can be found here.
- If you’ve been inspired by the wildflowers, the UC Davis Arboretum is having its Spring Plant Sales on three dates over the next few months. More information can be found here.
- The West Sacramento City Council meets tonight March 18 at 7 p.m. The link to the agenda can be found here.
BEFORE I GO,
Thanks for coming back (and signing up) for this newsletter. Remember: I’m accountable to you. If you read a story and think there’s an angle I’m missing, I want to hear about it! Please reach out with your feedback and know that I take it seriously.
See you out on the trail!
Daniel Hennessy joins Abridged from the California Local News Fellowship. He’s a reporter covering Yolo County.Â