The Root Children
Oh how I love illustrations such as this one "The Root Children - Spring" from the book by Sibylle von Olfers, 1928.
You too can participate in The Monarch Ultra
What an opportunity to participate in an inspiring journey to follow the flight of the monarch by running the same distance from Canada to Mexico! More information about The Monarch Ultra here: http://www.themonarchultra.com/?fbclid=IwAR2P6SvYfBMQqWJIwh3AuhOvoHlWuB3vy49iEYp76S3d24EcQCV498I7OTc
Insects and a sprig of rosemary
Jan Van Kessel "Insects and a Sprig of Rosemary" 1653 National Gallery of Art, Washington Such beautiful details of different insects!
Brown eyed Bushtit fledgling
A group of Brown-eyed bushtits visited the patio, including a fledgling. It caught my interest because of its behavior. After the rest of the flock left, this bushtit perched on different branches. The bushtits normally visit to feed on insects, not to perch or preen their feathers. Here it is perched on the branch of the India Fire abutilon, looking skyward, probably waiting for its mother. Checking a spent flower head of the Hummingbird sage for insects. Perched on a Silver
Let's celebrate some of our hardest working pollinators today, World Bee Day
We should celebrate our hard working pollinators EVERY day, but at least a day is designated to officially celebrate bees. Above, a Yellow-faced bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii approaches Silver Bush lupine blossom. Look at those orange pollen baskets compared to the tiny legs. A honey bee resting on the tip of a lambs' ear as it moves pollen to its baskets. A Black tailed bumble bee Bombus melanopygus on a Verbena De La Mina flowerhead.
The adorable umber skipper
How I love the Umber Skippers Poanes melane! I look forward to their arrival every spring. They flit and flutter around the garden all day, and are very willing to sit and pose for me when I take their photo. Sometimes they seem to like to land right in front of me, on blossoms, leaves, bamboo arches, and in this case, on the head of a Poppy of Troy whose petals were blown away in the wind a few days ago. Doesn't the skipper look like it is straight out of a fairy tale story?
Sleeping bees
Take your time, keep your eyes and ears open when you are outdoors in nature, and you will witness the most amazing things. This morning while checking out the latest developments in our garden, I noticed this sleeping Yellow-faced bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii. After a week of mostly cool and cloudy days, this was the first sunny and warm morning. So when I slightly moved the lambs ear stalk, the bee immediately woke up, flew up in the air and headed for the closest Califor
Brown-eyed Bushtits on the Abutilon
Oh, how I love to watch the bushtits descend upon the garden. Around the patio one of their favorite places to feed is on the Tiger Eye Abutilon flowering maple. I used to think they were eating tiny insects such as ants. Actually, these birds love to eat the sepals of the blossoms. This activity involves a lot of acrobatic movements.
Lambs ears are starting to bloom
The week has been mostly cloudy, cool and very breezy. But it looks like the very warm weather we had last weekend encouraged the lambs' ears to start to bloom. As soon as they bloom, bees, lady bugs and other beetles are immediately attracted to the blossoms for the nectar. Here is a Yellow-faced bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii visiting. If you look closely you'll see a smaller insect on the plant. From the bee it is located diagonally lower right. The same bee from the rear,
Bee visitors today
What a wonderful scene, bees active all over the garden, humming everywhere. Above, one of the Yellow-faced bumblebees Bombus vosnesenskii landing in California poppy. The morning sun was already so bright mid-morning, that it cast a sharp shadow of the bee in the blossom. A Wool Carder bee Anthidium manicatum peering at me from behind the top of a Lambs ear spike.
