Poppies (1st photo) are now in full bloom and clarkias (2nd) are about to do the same. 🌱
Native Garden
Now in bloom in our backyard: cultivated California Wild Roses (pic 1) and Elderberry (2). Still gorging themselves: ladybugs. Everywhere in our front yard. They’re just decimating aphids. Ladybugs particularly love coyote bush (3) and sage.
Ladybug larva gorging on aphids gorging on sage. And nearby, a bright orange ladybug pupa. 🐞 🌱
Today I noticed my cultivated native grapevines we’re leaking water where I recently pruned them. A quick search revealed that is totally normal. I’ll try to grab a photo tomorrow. 🤯 🌱
… and here’s a lovely jumping spider hanging out on a manzanita leaf that’s surrounded by a creeping sage bush. Some white manzanita flowers show through the leaves.
Our front yard cultivated native fuchsias are still blooming. All summer, with minimal added water, and into winter. Amazing plants.
Our apricot is almost ready to overwinter. The nectarine at the bottom left is being a bit stubborn. California wild rose at the bottom right is in full growth mode.
Our street is nicely obscured from the front yard by cultivated native California plants. They rarely get watered but has been more frequent the past two summers. California buckwheat is showy now with its rust colors and white flowers.
Preying Mantis in our California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). They sure do keep two eyes on you.
Saturday, September 25, 2021 →
California fuchsias still blooming, and that makes our hummingbirds very pleased.
Here’s my annual “elderberries are breaking summer dormancy” post.
Before and after: California grape leaves.
I kept thinking that my elderberries are late waking up from summer dormancy but my log shows they wake up in early October. I’m impatient! 🌱
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 →
California fuchsias and hidden mantis in the front yard this morning.
Grapes are now turning to raisins but the birds still love them.
One variety of Cultivated California Fuchsias are full bloom in the front yard. This clump regularly blooms first, the others a month or two later.
First bloom of cultivated California fuchsias. The California buckwheat is about to start feeding pollinators. Toyon is next, though about a week behind last year.🌱
Our back porch grapes look awesome this year! The fullest they’ve ever been.
While adding 1/2 GPH drip to the backyard Ceanothus plants, spotted this glorious lizard doing its thing on our largest Ceanothus. 🌱💚
Front yard update. Poppies are now blooming, joining the creeping sage and the Ceanothus (California Lilac). 🌱
Backyard Elderberries are seeking pollinators.
I just hooked up one more drip line to the little Antelco eZyvalve valve box. I think I’m done for the season reconfiguring our drip system. Time to see how reliable this thing is. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the last two valves. Spares for now. 🌱
Spring mornings in our front yard. Sage and Ceanothus are in full bloom. 💚🌱
Our native California grapes have been very busy over the last week! 🌱
I just installed this Antelco eZyvalve 4 Zone Valve Box. I’m very pleased so far. We’ll see how durable and long lasting it is. I’ll be connecting drip to it. It’s wired to my Rachio Gen 2 irrigation controller.
Ceanothus (California lilac) is magnificently blooming. 🌱
Took a Potensic D58 drone photo today of the backyard (bottom photo) to compare against January 2020 (top photo). Looking real nice. Fun to have unusual views of the yard.
The front yard blue oak has awakened! 🌱
Front yard update: the manzanitas are in full bloom! The poppies are trying to take over. Waiting on the Ceanothus (California lilac) to bloom… they’re the most showy.
We’re craving Manzanita flower blooms in the front yard. Almost there… 🌱
