![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_0127bf1bd1504a10a78b40e70e8b47e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_0127bf1bd1504a10a78b40e70e8b47e2~mv2.webp)
![First Mining Bee sighting of the year](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_0127bf1bd1504a10a78b40e70e8b47e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_0127bf1bd1504a10a78b40e70e8b47e2~mv2.webp)
First Mining Bee sighting of the year
Ever since the delightful Birds Eye aka Tricolored Gilia began to pop up in the native garden, I've been waiting for the mining bee...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_3a8a7b1b10c3421c8d72d1ce0b3f3890~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_3a8a7b1b10c3421c8d72d1ce0b3f3890~mv2.webp)
![Ivory Banded Digger Bees visiting patio plants](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_3a8a7b1b10c3421c8d72d1ce0b3f3890~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_3a8a7b1b10c3421c8d72d1ce0b3f3890~mv2.webp)
Ivory Banded Digger Bees visiting patio plants
Now that the Blue Bush Lupine is blooming, bees visit it all day. It is an excellent nectar source for hummingbirds and bees. Here, the...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_f816aa6d67d8405381f8d4fd0a19b9d9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_f816aa6d67d8405381f8d4fd0a19b9d9~mv2.webp)
![Turn your yard into an ecological oasis](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_f816aa6d67d8405381f8d4fd0a19b9d9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_f816aa6d67d8405381f8d4fd0a19b9d9~mv2.webp)
Turn your yard into an ecological oasis
Photo by Toni Genberg A great article by Tyler Wells Lynch https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2020/02/07/yard-sustainability-native-...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_017494cbc5c743838b8296482b593bff~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_017494cbc5c743838b8296482b593bff~mv2.webp)
![Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and a California Poppy](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_017494cbc5c743838b8296482b593bff~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_017494cbc5c743838b8296482b593bff~mv2.webp)
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee and a California Poppy
Oh what a lovely sight! California poppies are blooming in the yard and the Yellow-faced bumble bees Bombus vosnesenskii are back,...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_cb17de9228b042ee9f5e6d515191297c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_cb17de9228b042ee9f5e6d515191297c~mv2.webp)
![Wild, not Tame](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_cb17de9228b042ee9f5e6d515191297c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_cb17de9228b042ee9f5e6d515191297c~mv2.webp)
Wild, not Tame
Photo: Claire Takacs Great article on Forbes website about more interest in developing environmental friendly gardens:...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_3b52804cf34245709217f0dd9443cf01~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_3b52804cf34245709217f0dd9443cf01~mv2.webp)
![Butterflies are back!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_3b52804cf34245709217f0dd9443cf01~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_3b52804cf34245709217f0dd9443cf01~mv2.webp)
Butterflies are back!
Hooray, it's Spring! The front yard is bright with native plants in shades of purple, lavender and orange. Shortly after the blooming...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_163b387740614a4d99182309249b74e9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_163b387740614a4d99182309249b74e9~mv2.webp)
![Native milkweed plants awakening](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_163b387740614a4d99182309249b74e9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_163b387740614a4d99182309249b74e9~mv2.webp)
Native milkweed plants awakening
Oh, don't you love Spring? I've been monitoring our native milkweed pots for the past few weeks, wondering if the milkweed plants that...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_335b186907d14d2d85f7f7a2067b7366~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_335b186907d14d2d85f7f7a2067b7366~mv2.webp)
![Native bees out and about](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_335b186907d14d2d85f7f7a2067b7366~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_335b186907d14d2d85f7f7a2067b7366~mv2.webp)
Native bees out and about
Here they are! A Black Tailed Bumble Bee Bombus melanopygus approaches a cluster of Ray Hartman ceanothus blossoms. Note the yellow...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_b86fd62e9d524878aa9653025e388dbd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_b86fd62e9d524878aa9653025e388dbd~mv2.webp)
![Spring is here](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_b86fd62e9d524878aa9653025e388dbd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_b86fd62e9d524878aa9653025e388dbd~mv2.webp)
Spring is here
Birds are singing and building nests, while some of the native bees are emerging from their nests. Fortunately our native plants are...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_6866944483b4417fbb7d9c088b2c3ba3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_6866944483b4417fbb7d9c088b2c3ba3~mv2.webp)
![Poppies and other native plants waking up](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_6866944483b4417fbb7d9c088b2c3ba3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_6866944483b4417fbb7d9c088b2c3ba3~mv2.webp)
Poppies and other native plants waking up
California poppy plants are growing taller and lusher in the front yard. The color of the poppies are so vibrant that they seem to glow...