Exclusive! Insect Paparazzi

 

I've been obsessed with the air traffic among the garden lately.  Check out the detail of the wings on this honeybee making a mess of himself in the Clarkia pollen!

 

 

The Carpenter bees have finally begun to collect pollen, too as they prepare their nurseries.  The exciting find of today, however...  the first Dragonfly sighting in my garden- ever!  (Yes, I realize I'm becoming a fanatic.)

 

It landed on my Dudleya hassei and even stayed long enough for me to dash inside to get the camera.  I think it's a Pastel Skimmer, or Sympetrum corruptum.  Those orange stripes are so fashionable!

 

Last and most certainly least, a Green Bottle Fly.  Not exactly what I'd like to attract to my garden, but I really do love the green metallic color, like the gas tank on a motorcycle.  What insects have you come across this season?

Seed Scattering, Indeed!

I was so heartened by Town Mouse's post the other day about seed propagation (as well as Country Mouse's response and Ryan's helpful comment.)  Being more artistic than scientific myself, I prefer to scatter the seeds and let Mother Nature do what she will.  While I may believe this upon the scattering, spotty results and confusion lead to a different view come Spring.

I have, however learned that labeling is an important part of starting from seed.  Always the rebel, I've gathered scraps of ribbon matching the color of the flowers they are to be and stuck a piece into each pot rather than write out tags.  Gold pipe cleaners have even made a cameo appearance in labeling this year!

My own attempts this Winter are starting to come into their own.  While I was gallivanting around Israel, a pounding of rain beat my errant seeds into germination.  The Meadowfoam, or Limnanthes douglasii have begun to believe they really live in a vernal pool (their preferred natural habitat) and are showing their sweet baby faces.

The rain was so hard, that it seemed to uncover some of the Lupines that are beginning to sprout.  I covered them up with more soil yesterday and then foolishly tried to uncover them for a portrait this morning.  Snapped the darn beans right off the roots of a couple before I gave up.  Oh well.

The Clarkias have reseeded the front so prolifically that I might have a revolt from the Dudleyas and Eriogonums.  Ryan's comments about them growing well in crowded situations has made me feel like I am returning to my original laissez-faire brand of thinking:  that's the way Nature wanted it to happen, so who am I to interfere?

Don't Compost Them Quite Yet!

It's that time of year when you don't have much to do in the garden except dream of spring and keep yourself from pulling out all the things that are slowly creeping towards decay.  My perfectionist habits tend towards order, but these Clarkia seedpods will provide food for migrating birds and can later lend themselves to an autumnal flower arrangement or Christmas tree bauble. 

Plant of the Week: Farewell to Spring

Well hello, Clarkia! These guys are just the thing for the last exuberant burst of color before the dry days of summer take over. A native wildflower, clarkias of all kinds are found throughout the state. These came from a seed packet when impatience possessed me in February, but I would prefer to find a variety native to the Oakland area next year.

Soil: You really can't go wrong here. Well, perhaps not sand. Mulch, however will make them happy.
Sun: Part sun to full sun (the ones in the photos are in my southern "scorch" zone)
Height: about 1.5' to 2' tall
Plant: by seed in early spring or by seedling around April
Buy it: Browse the varieties that Annie's has. So many to choose from! Larner's also has an impressive selection of seeds.
Good for: that hot spot in your garden. Also helps for filling in the blank spaces in a young garden.