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![Echinacea Rainbow Marcella](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c10d9cc8486f4ed5bdc1c8b6889fba05~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c10d9cc8486f4ed5bdc1c8b6889fba05~mv2.webp)
Echinacea Rainbow Marcella
I love these echinaceas/coneflowers! Look at those delicious colors. This is their third year growing in a large container pot and look...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_04238001949a4f558c8d332f9917954d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_04238001949a4f558c8d332f9917954d~mv2.webp)
![Don't spray mosquitoes](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_04238001949a4f558c8d332f9917954d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_04238001949a4f558c8d332f9917954d~mv2.webp)
Don't spray mosquitoes
Please remember this! Read about an excellent alternative to spraying here: https://ui.charlotte.edu/story/try-%E2%80%98bucket-doom%E2%80...
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![Lovely, tattered Ladies](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_c2574102e9214c1aa37d4fab97d29b77~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_c2574102e9214c1aa37d4fab97d29b77~mv2.webp)
Lovely, tattered Ladies
The sight of female butterflies that are a little tattered is a poignant one. They survive close calls, intent on creating a new...
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![Encore Sleeping Bees](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_2e4771d58e8f44dfa6bf93c994bbac1b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_2e4771d58e8f44dfa6bf93c994bbac1b~mv2.webp)
Encore Sleeping Bees
When you least expect it, there's always a surprise in the garden. I had never seen a Yellow-faced Bumble bee sleeping on Godetia...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_fada7179f5c94985a2973703f860d36c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_fada7179f5c94985a2973703f860d36c~mv2.webp)
![More sleeping bees](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_fada7179f5c94985a2973703f860d36c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_fada7179f5c94985a2973703f860d36c~mv2.webp)
More sleeping bees
Last week, during my morning stroll around the native plants, I saw no Long-horned bees on the California nude buckwheat. How strange, I...
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![More sleeping bees](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_ce09663eff484c50949f6d0028953975~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_ce09663eff484c50949f6d0028953975~mv2.webp)
More sleeping bees
Every morning and evening I walk around our backyard, along the California native plant area, looking for sleeping bees. There are mostly...
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![Painted Lady Caterpillars!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_e85a5a1818fe48e198b2ae3896be83e8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_e85a5a1818fe48e198b2ae3896be83e8~mv2.webp)
Painted Lady Caterpillars!
We are starting to see Painted Lady Vanessa cardui caterpillars in our garden. This is the first time we planted mallow shrubs, including...
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![Moths are Pollinators, too](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_7d658ec176de41ada95b08a3c702a4d0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_7d658ec176de41ada95b08a3c702a4d0~mv2.webp)
Moths are Pollinators, too
Don't forget that moths are pollinators, too! It's so important to turn off all unnecessary exterior nighttime lights because the light...
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![Butterfly weather](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_ffa90a6556ff45c3936127e8552dfff4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_ffa90a6556ff45c3936127e8552dfff4~mv2.webp)
Butterfly weather
Here in the Bay Area we have, so far, been spared extreme weather conditions this summer. Now that the temperatures are slowly rising,...
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![Will you help baby birds?](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_b9dc20095e79427e8b060a6b1bd7c6f9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_b9dc20095e79427e8b060a6b1bd7c6f9~mv2.webp)
Will you help baby birds?
Insect food is required by nearly 100% of baby birds to survive. Moth caterpillars are a key food. Plant keystone native plants and just...