Last spring I started replacing non-native with native California plants around our house. I started with a couple small plots front and back and a slope on one side of our house. This spring I expanded this effort to include additional areas in the front and back yards. The plants I put in this spring included a… Continue reading Ceanothus (California Lilac)
Category: Nature
Pacific Gopher Snake – Pituophis catenifer catenifer
During the past month I have encountered the Pacific Gopher snake (video) three times while hiking or running on the fire roads and single-track trails near my house. Each sighting was in a different location. The second and third snakes appeared at least one mile or more from the previous sighting so they were probably three different… Continue reading Pacific Gopher Snake – Pituophis catenifer catenifer
California Mantis (Stagmomantis californica)
The California Mantis lives from less than nine months up to one year maximum. I found the female mantis in this photograph on a plastic pipe and wire enclosure that sits flush with a sliding screen door at my house. The enclosure allows my cat to go outside when the screen door is open while protecting him from the venerable… Continue reading California Mantis (Stagmomantis californica)
Danaus plexippus: Fourth of Four Monarchs
Today, November 18, 2016, I released the fourth of the four monarchs that I brought indoors to raise. That makes four in November and five total adults released since I started planting milkweed in early spring. Four males, one female. At least six or seven caterpillars that I left on the plants disappeared, presumably they… Continue reading Danaus plexippus: Fourth of Four Monarchs