Pollinator Posts by May Chen

A female Johnson’s Jumping Spider, Phidippus johnsoni (family Salticidae) is resting on a leaf of Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium.  Also known as the Red-backed Jumping Spider, Phidippus johnsoni is one of the largest and most commonly encountered

Closed to car traffic for the migrating newts during winter, South Park Drive is once again open, giving me a short, direct route to the Regional Parks Botanic Garden in the Berkeley hills.  On the

Along the shoreline of Bay Farm Island, a Sedgesitter, Platycheirus sp. (family Syrphidae) is perched on the stigma of a Calandrinia flower.  I have often seen the hover fly forage among the stamens in these

While a few of last year’s fruits are still hanging on the branches, this California Coffeeberry, Frangula californica is starting to bloom again. Coffeeberry The flowers of California Coffeeberry, Frangula californica are small, about 4mm

After a weekend of cold, rainy weather, Fred and I are happy to be back walking at Bay Farm this afternoon.  It is clear and sunny, and rather windy.   Braving the brisk winds, several

I am excited to be visiting Jenny and Craig’s garden in Alameda again.  While the work to upgrade their backyard pond continues, I heard that dragonflies have been seen laying eggs and nymphs have been

This is one of the very few intact flowers on the lower branches of the Flannel Bush, Fremontodendron californicum in the Crab Cove native plant garden.  The quarterly journal of the California Native Plant Society

It’s almost noon when I amble into the large patch of Coastal Bush Lupine, Lupinus arboreus in the native plant garden at Crab Cove.  The rising temperature has brought on good bee action.  A Yellow-faced

The large-flowered Monkeyflower by the Crab Cove visitor center is in peak bloom.  I wonder if it’s Bush Monkeyflower, Diplacus aurantiacus or some hybrid – the flowers seem large and more deeply colored than the

Someone has invaded the foamy home of a Spittlebug on the shoot of an Oregon Gumweed, Grindelia stricta.  I often see Yellowjacket wasps patrol these foamy masses hoping to capture and feed on the nymphs inside.

Fred and I have come for our morning stroll at Bay Farm Island.  The path along the shoreline is lined with feral ornamentals and exotic weeds, but I am always hopeful that I’ll find interesting

The Wild Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum (family Brassicaceae) grows in abundance along the shoreline here.  While the plants are considered a common weed, I often find interesting insects on them. The Wild Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum is

Ah, first sunny afternoon after several days of cool and rainy weather!  It feels wonderful to be out walking again at Bay Farm.  It is windy, and I wonder if I’ll see much in terms

On the grassy slope along West Ridge Trail just south of Skyline Gate, the Common Vetch is starting to bloom.  While the flowers are not fully open, there is already a steady traffic of ants

California Blackberry, Rubus ursinus is blooming well along the side of West Ridge Trail.  This plant appears to be male, as its flowers have numerous stamens.  California Blackberry is dioecious, with male and female flowers

A pale female Conical Trashline Orbweaver, Cyclosa conica (family Araneidae) is resting head-down in the center of her orb web.  The bundles of wrapped prey carcasses on her trashline are a meager display – she

The day is forecast to be hot, with cleaner air in the higher elevations.  The West Ridge Trail of the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park seems like an appealing choice for my ramble today.  Starting from

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