Beautiful Buckwheat
It's that glorious time of year when buckwheat is nearly the main event in the native garden.
This is a true California garden.
From left to right, naked buckwheat, red buckwheat, Ella Nelson's yellow buckwheat (now rust colored), and Seacliff buckwheat.
In the foreground is a native grass.
In the back, from left to right, Ceanothus Ray Hartman, Salvia Berzerkeley, and Salvia leucantha, Mexican Bush Sage.
Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are very busy in this patch all day long.
Birds are also frequent visitors, foraging in the ground.
Here a sweat bee and digger bee have plenty to share on a flower head of the Seacliff Buckwheat.
After remaining just about the same size in height and circumference for many years, this plant has grown triple its size within the past three months! It has been given no water since April.
The Red-flowered Buckwheat Eriogonum grande var. rubescens is considered a rare California native perennial herb. It is native to the northern Channel islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz).
Aren't those blooms just lovely...
This honey bee definitely appreciates them.