The Science Behind Nature - in Layperson Speak
I've been fishing up to a dozen bees - both European honeybees and native bees (Note: there are 1600 in California) - out of our pool the last few days (about 2/3rd survive if I make my rounds frequently) so I knew something was blooming in the vicinity. Yep, looking nearby, the loquats were in …
Continue Reading about Plants for Bees: 12 month log of plants
I attended a local Audubon talk by Monika Moore on the experiences with her butterfly garden. In 2002 she started transforming the hardscape in her Fullerton, CA backyard into a butterfly haven, particularly for Monarchs. I think photos tell the story better than words so will begin with photos …
This weekend I came across a Harper's magazine issue from this summer that had a couple features on the relationship between humans and animals. Some of the thought-provoking points are below, along with other research and a couple experiences of our own. How different are animals from …
Continue Reading about Animal Emotions…. and Animal Demotion
I’ve been following the campaign dollars and the newspaper endorsements surrounding Proposition 37 --where a yes vote would approve the genetically engineered foods labeling initiative. Polls conducted two months ago showed 2/3 voters supporting it. Now, after a huge ad blitz against the …
Native California salvias (commonly called sages) make my favorite list for many reasons: their spectacular show of flowers spring through summer, their aroma that permeates the air, especially after rainfall. Also, the sages in our landscaping offer great wildlife habitat. I have photos of …
Continue Reading about Favorite Natives: Salvias (Sages) for Aroma, Wildlife and Spectacular Flowers
First a full disclosure: I have had both indoor cat and outdoor cats. Yesterday I came across a half-eaten bird kill caused by a cat I’ve seen stalking our bird-friendly property. It made me think of some research The Secret Life of Roaming Cats I heard on NPR in August. Working with the National …
Continue Reading about Saving Wildlife: Keep Cats Indoors (and Other Suggestions)
