Pollinator Posts by May Chen

In the native plant garden at Crab Cove, the Flannel Bush, Fremontodendron californicum is blooming profusely, and yet there’s hardly any insect activity.  The quarterly journal of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Fremontia was named after this plant.

A beautiful morning at Crab Cove. As is my usual habit, I first walk around the visitor center to check on the native plantings around the building.  Many plants are blooming nicely, but there doesn’t

I watch in disbelief as an Inchworm descends from a decrepit Buttercup flower by reaching out and landing with its true legs on a silk thread.  I have never seen an Inchworm do this, and

Although the worst of the heat wave is behind us, the days are still unseasonably warm for spring, with temperatures peaking in the high 70s.  I opt for the cool of the Reinhardt Redwood Regional

Relieved that the worst of the heat wave is over, I take a walk in a leafy neighborhood in Alameda, along Thompson Ave.  Although most of the plants in these gardens are non-native, I do

Pacific Sanicle, Sanicula crassicaulis is blooming in profusion along the northern section of Skyline Trail.   The perennial herb is best identified by its large leaves that are divided into a few deep lobes and

Tucked among the Silver-leaf Lupine and other vegetation, the Narrow-leaf Mule Ears, Wyethia angustifolia is putting on its own show.   Mule Ears (Wyethia spp.) features large, solitary or few, sun-like yellow flowerheads, 2-3 inches

I am excited to meet a new friend today.  Noor, a volunteer with the Skyline Gardens has asked if she could join me on a walk.  We have arranged to meet at the small park

I visit Stefanie’s garden in San Leandro this morning.  It is well-tended and easy to access, and Stefanie’s choice of native plants usually attract a great diversity of insects.  To me, her garden is a

A Mason Wasp, Ancistrocerus bustamente (family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae) is flying low over the Coyote Brush, Baccharis pilularis, stopping occasionally to investigate around the foliage, apparently hunting for prey. Potter wasps (or mason wasps), the Eumeninae, are

Remember this picture from 3/8/26?  It is an Oblique Streaktail, Allograpta obliqua (family Syrphidae) lapping up honeydew from Coyote Brush foliage.  I have wondered out loud what those whitish objects under the hover fly’s thorax might

The morning is still young after I helped Tea with her project at Crab Cove.  I decide to visit the native garden at the other end of the park. The Cleveland Sage, Salvia clevelandii is

I met Tea, a professional gardener at a native plant event recently, when she showed me how to thoroughly remove the invasive Bermuda Buttercups, Oxalis pes-caprae from the garden.  Tea has since asked if I

Fred and I come to Bay Farm for our usual walk.  The level paths are non-taxing, and we enjoy the wide open sky, but I wish there were more native vegetation to look at.  The

The Giant Trillium, Trillium chloropetalum are in bloom.  I gently part the sturdy petals of some flowers, hoping to see insects inside.  Nada.  The pollination of these dramatic flowers remains a mystery to me.  

It’s a bright sunny morning – time to visit the Regional Parks Botanic Garden again! Female catkins hang gracefully from a Coast Silk Tassel, Garrya elliptica.  While the bunches of brown fruits from last year

I am excited to visit Mendocino Park this afternoon.  It is a 0.4 acre suburban park in the hills of Richmond, consisting of a children’s playground and picnic area bordered by wide strips of plantings.

I walk along the spit near the boat ramp at Crab Cove, enjoying the afternoon sun, and watching the antics of California Ground Squirrels on the rocks.     More Ground Squirrels are on the

At Sequoia Arena, I venture onto the shady Sequoia Bayview Trail, hoping not to be run over by mountain bikers who enjoy the bumpy ride down this badly eroded, narrow trail.     I have

Strolling along a path through Sequoia Arena, I come across an old decayed log.  Spots of white bumps on the bark stop me on my tracks.  Slime mold? Closer inspection reveals mature sporangia of a

Our weather seems to have taken a giant leap from winter to summer in a single day.  After a series of cold rain, we are now experiencing temperatures in the mid 70s F.  I opt

Taking advantage of the break in the rains, Fred and I head for Bay Farm Island for our walk.  It is cloudy and I wonder if I would see any insect at all.   It’s

Since my last post, I have had some time to mull over and research the pollination of Bitterroot, Lewisia sp. (family Montiaceae).  I am sharing the new findings here as an addendum to the previous post. 

It’s always a treat to explore Jenny and Craig’s home garden in Alameda.  As I enter the backyard, I see that there have been many changes since my last visit.  The pond has been significantly