Backyard Orchard News
The Very Hungry (And Very Striking) Caterpillars
When Eric Carle designed, illustrated and wrote the children's picture book, The Very Hungry...
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanilla) heads for a tasty leaf on a passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Two Gulf Fritillary caterpillars chowing down on the leaves of a passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of a very hungry caterpillar eating its fill. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Greeting the Gulf Fritillary
Ah, the Gulf Fritillary... We spotted this orange-reddish butterfly nectaring lantana last...
Gulf Fritillary on lantana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Gulf Fritillary is one of the showiest butterflies in California, according to butterfly expert Art Shapiro of UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
On its underside, the Gulf Fritillary is spangled in iridescent silver. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Chef Ernest Miller Hits The Culinary Styles Stage
Sadly, I missed the event, but fellow MFP Karen Hobart was there and took these photos. (Thanks, Karen!) She reports that Chef Miller gave a great demonstration of classic preservation techniques, which included making strawberry jam, fermented dill pickles, and crushed tomatoes.
If you missed Chef Miller's demonstration and you're still wondering what to do with an overabundance of tomatoes from your garden, check out this new resource page on Home Preserving Tomatoes from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
A Bee for Breakfast
Some folks enjoy a doughnut, bagel, muffin or fruit for breakfast--and maybe some cream cheese on...
Praying mantis lops off the head of a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Praying mantid polishing off the bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Flies Are Pollinators, Too!
You may have noticed this little floral visitor in your garden. It might appear to be a bee, a...
Close-up of a fly, genus Eristalis, on a flower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Flies are pollinators, too! This little Eristalis is nectaring a zinnia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Side view of an Eristalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)