Plant native plants!
Check your native plant societies here: http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/native-plant-societies-in-north-america.html?fbclid=IwAR32DeHKuX_rAUKdocjSRvfIKadml0995ao5HzqTtLcmiY8pN1oc2rw1Hio
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee on Ray Hartman Ceanothus
The temperatures for the past few weeks have been cooler, usually 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and in the 40's at night. When we have sunny days the weather is beautiful, cool and crisp. Our Ray Hartman Ceanothus is starting to bloom. That's always puzzling to me because where we used to live, just a twenty minute drive south, the same kind of ceanothus wouldn't bloom until the springtime. There has been at least one Yellow-faced bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii visiti
Lesser Goldfinches feasting in the Berzerkeley Salvia
These photos were taken through our living room window in the morning, while it was still somewhat foggy. Lesser goldfinches were feasting on insects in the Berzerkeley Salvia in the native patch. There are three of them in this photo. On the top of the shrub is a male. You can see its yellow chest and black cap on the top of his head. You can see the male's black cap and yellow chest clearer here, as he faces the camera. Two of the goldfinches in this photo. You can see that
Native bees need native plants, native plants need native bees
A free online book to share with kids and teach others about our 4,000 species of North American Bees! Click here: https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/SC/Bee_Basics_North_American_Bee_ID.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0LFejmXSIqYvNAaEo3juuCIBwjVVoDeCRcMUGfTobmMQU-EavEM6Sv1XY Find your native plant society here: http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/native-plant-societies-in-north-america.html?fbclid=IwAR1JA8i7ztPdfSMpYeZaV_VmHbGdZFBjaHcIJqMfl7Qm_xVPv28DZToLXpk
Fabulous sunset pre-atmospheric rivers
Last weekend we experienced such a dramatic sunset, where the sky was filled with clouds that glowed like molten lava and gold. Every few minutes the glow changed. Mount Tamalpais in the lower center of the photo, under a sky and clouds whose hue turned to lavender, red and a deep pink. The sunset finale in persimmon and peach, before darkness was upon us. The next day it rained non-stop for 24 hours.
Plant Native!
Join your native plant society today! https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/new-smithsonian-study-links-declines-suburban-backyard-birds-presence-nonnative-plants?fbclid=IwAR35JGMmNbsL0ApElgXloNpswrzNZO7hHkupGbO0f3nybx6pbqtGSfVKnq0
Learn about the fascinating mason bees!
My photo of a green mason bee in a California Alba poppy Watch this great video about mason bees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IZdjiiJTgI
The Wall of Birds Project
The Wall of Birds Project, envisioned by Cornell Lab scientists, showcases biodiversity and evolutionary change. The mural was started in 2014 and completed in 2015. Ink Dwell Studio needed to complete one bird portrait per day to complete the mural by the set goal date. More here: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/wall-of-birds-project/
Mycelium and soil
Mycelium helps soil by breaking down organic matter, keeping moisture in the soil, helping to prevent erosion, and much more. Read about the importance of mycelium in your soil in this article by the Permaculture Research Institute: https://www.permaculturenews.org/2017/01/06/mycelium-and-soil/?fbclid=IwAR1oT--Jk27sjeJgvlc1LJqM6HVUrZ0G6EmFNALpoJFHw0ERnLkroLhGuUg
