Backyard Orchard News
Bugs Galore at Dixon May Fair
There are bugs galore at the Dixon May Fair, which opened today (Thursday, May 8) and continues...
Sharon Payne, superintendent of the Today's Youth Building at the Dixon May Fair, stands by a 6-year-old's bug exhibit, which won a blue ribbon and best of show. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Amina Harris, director of the Honey and Pollination Center, will engage youngsters in arts and crafts. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomologist Jeff Smith of the Bohart Museum of Entomology will show fairgoers his rose-haired tarantula. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Evaluation of new avocado varieties
Sixty young avocado trees were recently planted in the avocado block at Lindcove REC. ...
Senior agricultural technicians Gerry Perez and Jose Hernandez planting avocado trees
Bee-ing a Part of the Solution
This is a story about a third-grade classroom in Galt, Calif., that loves honey bees. It's also a...
Beekeeper Brian Fishback shows students at Lake Canyon Elementary School, Galt, a frame of bees. (Photo by Beth Bartkowski)
Brian Fishback points to an emerging bee. (Photo by Beth Bartkowski)
Students wrote "love notes" to the bees. (Photo by Beth Bartkowski)
This is the students' interpretation of a hive. (Photo by Beth Bartkowski)
Not a 'Mosquito Hawk'
Some folks call them "bugsy" or "mosquito hawks" or "skeeter eaters" "flying daddy longlegs." They...
A crane fly lands on a stucco wall. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A resting crane fly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
'Bee a Scientist' on May 8
Get ready! It's almost time to count the pollinators! The University of California's Agriculture...
A male longhorned bee, Melissodes communis, as identified by native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A male green metallic sweat bee Agapostemon texanus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum, in flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee, Apis mellifera, on a begonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)