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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | APRIL 2021 11 By Clare Mendez, Resident The beauty of container gardening is that it can be done in very little space and you can bring your blooms, veggies and spices up close where they can be appreciated and used. All of our back yards here at Solera Diamond Valley have enough space to grow some fresh herbs, vegetables and even fruit. If you prefer to shop locally for your fresh food, an array of containers with brightly colored blooms will dress up your outdoor space. Grouping pots with a cohesive color or form makes a more stunning vignette if they will be viewed from your patio or windows. Adding some color to attract the bees and butterflies will assist with the pollinating. I recently attended some webinars offered by the Riverside County Master Gardeners and have some information to share with you if you are thinking about adding container gardening to your outdoor space. First, to have a successful container garden you must have good soil and access to water and sunlight. Soil should be loose and amended with a peat moss or coir and compost or slow release fertilizer. When choosing the container, take into consideration the size and weight of the pot and saucer if you will be moving it around. Too small of a pot and you'll end up repotting it later. If the container is too large, the roots won't drink up all the water in the soil and it will start to smell. All containers need to have drainage holes in the bottom, even if you are planting in ½ whiskey barrels or water troughs. You don't want the roots to stay wet over a long period of time because they become mushy, and die. A saucer on the bottom of the pot will capture water runoff and protect surfaces. Some vegetables, such as, tomatoes, peppers, green onions and cooking herbs do really well growing in containers. I'm told that if you add some crushed Tums (calcium) to your soil around the base of tomato plants it will make them extra sweet tasting. I haven't tried this yet, but plan to experiment with it this year to check it out. Lettuces grown from seed only take seven to 10 days to emerge from the soil and can be grown in as little as six inches of soil. Even dwarf fruit trees do well in containers. Once you start tasting the fresh produce that was picked just minutes or hours ago, you'll be hooked on container gardening. If your plants are looking poorly for any reason, check your soil, be sure to add some slow release fertilizer, and move the container around until you find the right amount of light they prefer. "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." ~ Audrey Hepburn By Cindy Ponce de Leon, Resident Make your DMV visit faster when applying for a driver license, Real ID Driver License or ID card. The Real ID is only an endorsement. It can be on a driver license or ID card. At age 62, California residents are eligible for a free ID card. This card is valid for 10 years. Get one! Your Real ID can be used to board airplanes for domestic flights. (When flying internationally, you need your passport). The Real ID is also used to purchase firearms and ammunition, get you into military bases and into federal buildings. If you moved and need to update your driver license, follow the steps below. • DMV is constantly updating their website. I went online this morning, and this is the easiest way to get organized with everything you need prior to your visit. • Go to DMV.CA.gov from your computer. Click the tab on the top- Driver License and ID Cards. Click-Apply for a Real ID. Click- Gather Documents. Select what you have, a birth certificate from a US state or territory (not a hospital), a valid passport, etc. Click- Next. A question comes up: "Does your name match your identity document?" If NO, enter your full name change information. Hint: If a person has been married five times with five name changes, and their marriage certificate lists their birth name, (fourth) married name and current last name, all that person needs to enter is the information from this certificate. • Continue entering all your information. Come to the page-Get Your Documents. When finished, print your Checklist. • After the Checklist, fill out a Driver License or ID Card Application. You will be creating an id.me account with your email address and cell phone number so that you can receive appointment or check- in information. At the end of the application is a code containing letters and numbers. DMV needs this code to make the necessary changes. IF you go the extra mile and upload your documents you will get the code and a message. "Now go to the appointment line at the DMV." Print this page and bring it with you along with your documents. Hint - If you have recently changed your name, you need an updated Social Security Card. Your two residency documents (such as utility bills) are the only paperwork that can be photocopies, all other documents must be original copies. Tip-If you are disabled go to the appointment line. If your disability is not evident, announce you are disabled, and they will be happy to serve you faster. CONTAINER GARDENING DMV TIPS

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