Backyard Orchard News
Saving the Monarchs
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation issued news today that is both disturbing and...
Monarch butterfly nectaring on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia, as a territorial male longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, takes aim. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Monarch butterfly heading toward a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is milkweed, the monarch's host plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hybrid trifoliate rootstocks popular in San Joaquin Valley
Rootstock selection is an important component of commercial citrus production worldwide. Soil...
Hybrid trifoliate seedlings
A Streak of Gray
Are you on a winning streak? Or a losing streak? Or somewhere in between? The Gray Hairstreak...
Gray Hairsteak, Strymon melinus, nectaring guara. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bottoms up! Gray Hairstreak sipping nectar from guara. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Miss Is as Good as a Smile
Our buddy, the resident praying mantis, appears to be in perfect form. Crouched beneath the...
Praying mantis hides beneath the petals of a Mexican sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Are you looking at me? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A leap and a near miss as a startled fiery skipper spins away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Gulf Fritillary moves out of the way of the praying matnis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Artichoke in Bloom: Bee Food
Bee food. That's what the globe artichoke is. Bee food. Many of us let our artichokes flower, not...
Honey bees flying in formation toward an artichoke in bloom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Carrying heavy loads of pollen, bees look for more. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A hot spot! Honey bees engage in a little pushing and shoving. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)