Often the first clue is leaf damage.
Some insects are so camouflaged it can be difficult to see them. Even when they are quite large.
Month: July 2021
Datura Progress
Harvested seed planted in a flat March 14, 2021.
Normal Leaf Appearance
Abnormal Leaf Appearance
Damaged, but still very beautiful.
Datura Flower
The plants have a pungent odor; the flowers have a delicious fragrance.
Datura Developing Seedpod
Eventually the seedpod will become sharp enough to wound hands.
Gulf fritillary Butterfly
The Gulf fritillary was visiting the Passiflora and resting on a Salvia.
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Nigella damascena
Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus (Acorn Woodpecker)
Visited our 40′ plus oak trees yesterday morning. I heard it before I could sort of see it. Really too far away to get a photo. Even though the photo isn’t great, it records when the woodpecker visited the garden.
Snagged my Attention
Beautiful find when I exited the hospital. I had just completed a pulmonary function test. Feeling a bit high from the albuterol, so I decided to wander around in the parking lot a bit.
The shape is nice.
The bark is an amazing beautiful green.
The flowers are cheerful.
When I did a google image search, I hit on Cercidium-Parkinsonia. The images do appear similar. May or may not be the correct identification.
Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly
This is on my list of nurseries to visit.
Las Pilitas Nursery (Native Plants)
Romneya–Matilija poppy
It is common to see large Romneya growing between fields and roadways on the California Central Coast.
I purchased a 1-gallon Romneya plant. Popped it in the garden; it died. Purchased a second plant. Same thing happened.
After purchasing chicken grit for a soilless mix to transplant succulents, noticed a large Romneya growing near the parking lot, behind an office building. It clearly wasn’t cared for. Trash all around it and definitely multiple years of growth.
Snagged several seedpods with the hope of germination.
The plan will be to soak the seed in Super Smoke Plus.I used the product when I was growing protea.
This is a fun shot of one of the seedpods. Looks sculptural.
Haven’t decided when I will start the process. The seedpods are so beautiful, I am feeling a bit hesitant to crack them open.
Surprise Find
Last night I cleared the spent Evening Primrose from a patch of garden. I found this–
The succulent is about to bloom for the first time.
Passiflora and Datura
Datura Tonight
Common Swallowtail
How can something so beautiful be common?
The Swallowtail visited one of my potted milkweed.
Papilio zelicaon
Wikipedia–Anise Swallowtail
Images of the Lifecycle of the Anise Swallowtail