She Got Away

It was overcast and cooler today. A bee got caught in a spider web in the late afternoon. Although the daddy long legs furiously wrapped her with silk, mummy-style, the bee eventually won the contest.

Fields of Color

Temperatures have returned to normal. Got outside for a walk. Definitely warm.

My Buddleia

Warm weather has arrived. My new buddleia is finally blooming. Now, if some bees and butterflies would visit it, that would be great.

Salad Days Ahead

As yet, only one cherry tomato. But, it's been cold and rainy for most of the spring. The bees might be more active from now on.

Between Showers

Such a "shock" to have more rain today. I will say that everything looks pretty lush. And my allergies have been minimal.

Promising

More rain this morning. Even with the cold and rain, the squash seem to be going to town. Can't wait to harvest and eat them.

Soggy Tomatoes

Rain began again this afternoon. It's tapered off now but it's damp and cool. So confusing.

Succulent

It was cloudy and cool for most of the day. High temperature of 68 degrees! That's much more like March.

Spiny Leaf Gall

A gall on Rosa californica caused by the spiny leaf gall wasp, Diplolepis. It's quite windy out there today but the sky is mostly blue in the valley. Storms in the mountains, however.

Wandering Off

The sky was filled with clouds but it didn't rain in our neighborhood. We, as well as this deer, got outside to enjoy the sun and the cool weather. Few bees out today--probably, they don't like wind.

Electric Blue

The clouds were threatening and it was chilly all day. It started raining as I made my way home. By the time I arrived, the storm was over.

Thirsty Bee

For a few minutes I couldn't figure out why there were bees hovering over the lettuce but a closer look revealed they were licking up the water droplets caught on the leaves. Today was supposedly the warmest day we'll have for the next week and it was almost 10 degrees below normal. Our poor tomatoes!

Mellow Yellow

Yellow flowers cover these bushes. Usually, I'm told, they're attractive to honeybees. But, today, there was not one bee (except the one that tried to take shelter from the wind by coming indoors).

Spinning

Wandered a labyrinthine path. Was blown about by the wind. Had a good time.

Like Flames

Supposedly it was going to rain today. I didn't see it. Overcast, windy, and cool--perfect for a miserable Monday.

Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex

Another kind of carpenter bee besides my usual X. varipuncta sighting. This one is a male X. tabaniformis orpifex with lovely greenish eyes. Overcast and cooler today but many species of bees were out on the vetch anyway.

The Slow Return

Finally, a chance to get outside for a walk. It was pretty warm out there. Lots of swarming bugs.

Spring Break

The landscape therapist is out frolicking in nature. Will she return with new photographs? Stay tuned next week for more exciting (or not) adventures.

Itsy-Bitsy

North winds blowing through town again. Oregano and thyme were attracting all sorts of insects and spiders. The scent of ripening strawberries was lush.

Some Bug

Yet another bug in the glow of the porch light. Can't figure out what it is though it looks a bit like an enormous mosquito. Its body was over an inch long.

Halictus ligatus?

One of the multitude of very small bees in the garden. I'm not very good at identifying them. They just don't oblige me by sitting still long enough.

Blue Bloom

It almost seems like there are more Mondays in a week than any other day. It was warm and sunny for the few minutes I got to be outside. More tomorrow.

It Followed Me Home

Needed some indoor flowers to go with the furious blooming going on outdoors. Love the creamy yellow tint to these orchids. At least they're safe from the howling wind that came back today.

May Day

Breezy but not crazy windy like yesterday. Saw carpenter and bumble bees hanging out by the blooming lemon tree. Lettuce and basil seeds have finally sprouted now that there's been some sun.