Bee Flies – the family Bombyliidae

  Regional gardeners are learning toappreciate nativepollinators, in part due to the activities of National Pollinator Week (the 3rdweek in June).  While most people thinkof bees when they hear the word ‘pollinator’, in fact a wide range of animalsfunction as pollinators.  To learn moreabout pollinators in general see our June 2013 posting (http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/06/life-friendly-gardening-planning-for.html).Amongthe...

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Life-friendly Gardening – Celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 15-21, 2015)

NationalPollinator Week (the 3rd week in June each year) celebrates theimportance of pollinators for alllife on earth. Eighty percent of food crops, as well as many ornamental plants,require insect pollinators.    Life without living pollinators would be verydifferent, indeed.Hereare some things you can do to celebrate National Pollinator Week: Learn more...

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California Invasive Species Action Week – June 6-14, 2015

Removing invasive Ivy, Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve California invasive Species Action WeekThisweek is California Invasive Species Action Week (ISAW).  A bit likeEarth Day, the Invasive Species Action Week focuses on an environmental problem- invasive species.  And like Earth Day, its purpose is to educateCalifornians about the problem and inspire...

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Plant of the Month (June) : Farewell-to-spring – Clarkia amoena

Farewell-to-spring (Clarkia amoena) in Mother Nature's Garden of HealthRightnow, some the prettiest flowers are in Mother Nature’s Garden of Health; infact, it was hard to choose between them. But the showiest by far is Farewell-to-spring, Clarkia amoena.  Of the threeClarkias we grow, this is the latest to bloom – truly ‘Farewell-to-spring’ or‘Summer’s Darling’. ...

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