Pollinator Posts by May Chen

Remember the Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) that we’ve been talking about previously?  I am walking the same stretch of Skyline Trail, and finding that the mosses have turned yellowish and stringy, while the Hornworts

The day promises to be rainless and clear.  Excited, I arrive at Inspiration Point a little before 10 am, and am surprised that the car’s thermometer registers a chilly 45 degrees F!   Along the

There’s movements in the short weedy grasses along Nimitz Trail.  An insect is struggling to take flight. Its large compound eyes cover most of its head, meeting almost seamlessly on top of its head. Ah,

I take a late morning walk at the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve under heavily overcast skies. Passing a Pink-flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum in peak bloom, I pause to look for insects.  But none appears.  Perhaps

On the grassy hills along Sanborn Drive at Joaquin Miller Park, the trailing vines of the Wild Cucumber, Marah oregana are putting on their own little floral displays if one cares to stop and look.  The Wild

Time to revisit Joaquin Miller Park and check on the stand of Ceanothus!   The Miner’s Lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata is blooming nicely.  I slow my steps to check for pollinators on these minute flowers borne on

It is such a joy to be able to explore a trail again after the seemingly endless days of rain and clouds.  When the sun returns this afternoon, I sprint out the door and head

The Osoberry, Oemleria cerasiformis is in bloom!  The species is dioecious – male and female flowers are borne on separate plants.   A quick check on the flowers show me that this is a male plant.  See

It is still rather cold when I arrive at the East Bay Regional Botanic Gardens this morning.  No insect is flying.  On a Ceanothus with fading flowers I spot this bright yellow female Crab Spider,

The Western Hound’s Tongue, Adelinia grandis (family Boraginaceae) is blooming in profusion in the woodlands at Roy’s Redwood Preserve. Through various stages of maturity, the Western Hound’s Tongue flowers exhibit a wide variation in color, ranging

Braving muddy and poorly marked trails, my friends and I explore Roy’s Redwood Preserve near Woodacre in Marin County on this beautiful day. Passing a California Bay tree, Umbellularia californica, I can’t resist stopping to

A large queen Black-tailed Bumble Bee, Bombus melanopygus (family Apidae) is draped motionless over a cluster Manzanita flowers.  Is she alright? As I watch, the queen bee stirs and slowly maneuvers herself around to take

The sky is heavily overcast, but rain is not expected until the afternoon.  I make a quick visit to the EB Regional Botanic Gardens, hoping to find more plants in bloom.   Near the gate,

A large Yellow-faced Bumble Bee, Bombus vosnesenskii (family Apidae) lands on a cluster of Manzanita flowers.  From her large size, I have no doubt that she is a queen.  She seems to have difficulty getting

I have not been to the Cascades since the beginning of the Covid pandemic.  It’s good to see that the Manzanitas have grown bigger and are blooming profusely.   For a winter-blooming flower in California,

With only a few hours of sun before the next rain sets in, I make a run for Joaquin Miller Park this morning.  Apparently no trees have fallen during the last storm.  The old dead

The California Bay, Umbellularia californica along Skyline Trail has been blooming continuously through the winter, rains not withstanding.  Keeping my eyes peeled, I am constantly on the lookout for its pollinators.   Who’s that lurking

With another series of rain in the forecast, I want to make sure I get in some outdoor time while I can.  Besides, it’s time to check on what’s new at the Skyline Gardens. Along

Much harder to photograph are the feisty Pacific Digger Bees, Anthophora pacifica (family Apidae).  These fast and noisy flyers buzz around the Rosemary plant, appearing to “hop” from flower to flower while foraging.  The chubby,

Along the main trail at the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, pools of water accumulate at the base of the hills, giving rise to healthy stands of Arroyo Willow, Salix lasiolepis.  Willow catkins appear before the

I am at the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve for a morning walk.  At the parking lot my attention is drawn to the spectacular Coast Silk Tassel plant heavily draped with long dangling male catkins. The

Wait, is that some kind of Vespid Wasp on the Ceanothus flowers?   I zoom in and quickly realize that it is not a wasp at all.  Look at those eyes and the antennae!  Definitely

More numerous than the bumble bees at the blooming Manzanita are these gray, stout-bodied bees that fly around noisily.  They are the California Mountain-Digger Bees, Habropoda depressa (family Apidae).  Interestingly none of them seems to

I wind my way to the grove of shrubs that support a healthy stand of California Pipevine, Aristolochia californica.  It is too early in the season.  Most of the vines emerging from the ground are