Backyard Orchard News

Buy a Plant and the Pollinators Are Free!

When you head over to a nursery, and see bees and butterflies and other pollinators foraging on the...

An anise swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon, sets the scene in the Kate Frey Pollinator Garden at Sonoma Cornerstone. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An anise swallowtail, Papilio zelicaon, sets the scene in the Kate Frey Pollinator Garden at Sonoma Cornerstone. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Targeting the Tsetse Fly

He targets the tsetse fly. Tsetse flies, large biting flies that inhabit much of Africa, feed on...

Medical entomologist Geoffrey Attardo in his office. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Medical entomologist Geoffrey Attardo in his office. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Watching It Like a Hawk

Watching it like a hawk... A variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum, that...

A variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum,in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum,in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Touchdown! The variegated meadow hawk perches on a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Touchdown! The variegated meadow hawk perches on a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, a strong wind drooping its wings, nevetheless kept returning to this perch, a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, a strong wind drooping its wings, nevetheless kept returning to this perch, a spent salvia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Eye to eye with a variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Eye to eye with a variegated meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Red Passionflower Vine: Pretty But Poisonous?

If want to plant a passionflower vine (Passiflora)--the host plant of Gulf Fritillary butterflies...

A Gulf Fritillary foraging on a lavender passionflower vine, genus Passiflora. This is the Gulf Frits' host plant, they lay their eggs only on Passiflora. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Gulf Fritillary foraging on a lavender passionflower vine, genus Passiflora. This is the Gulf Frits' host plant, they lay their eggs only on Passiflora. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillaries avoided this species of red passsionflower vine, Passiflora jamesonii, planted in the Garvey yard. Honey bees, however, did not. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gulf Fritillaries avoided this species of red passsionflower vine, Passiflora jamesonii, planted in the Garvey yard. Honey bees, however, did not. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Science Café: Ask a Scientist a Question, Such as 'Are There Upper Limits to Human Lifespan?'

If you've ever wanted to ask a scientist a question, here's your opportunity. Ask away at the...

Many senior citizens who develop new hobbies (such as rearing monarch butterflies) believe this keeps their brain active and leads to greater enthusiasm for life. Supercentarian Jeanne Calment of France lived to be 122. One of her interests was playing the piano. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Many senior citizens who develop new hobbies (such as rearing monarch butterflies) believe this keeps their brain active and leads to greater enthusiasm for life. Supercentarian Jeanne Calment of France lived to be 122. One of her interests was playing the piano. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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