Bees-n-Pollen

Posted on May 10, 2026 by Tina

The cool and sometimes wet spring has encourage the dreamsicle-orange flowers of Desert Globemallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua, to perform spectacularly. This pollen-rich, simple-petaled bloom attracts a number of different pollinators, but my honeybees are big fans of the flowers, certainly all-in with the bounty of the beautiful blooms.

Bees land in the blooms, dig in, and roll around the golden glory, exiting the flower with a good sprinkling of pollen as they make their way to other flowers and eventually back to the hive.

The Globemallow is a cool season bloomer, producing its showy flowers until summer’s heat sets in. If a significant June or July rain event occurs, the shrub is happy to deliver another dose of orange crush, much to the pollinators’ appreciation and the gardener’s delight.

Among the Flowers

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Tina

I caught a Grey Squirrel enjoying a mid-afternoon snack in my Rough-leaf Dogwood tree, Cornus drummondii.

He (and I know he’s a he–I saw!) stayed a while, noshed on the bark and maybe some foliage. The dogwood sits by the pond and has lots of visitors. This–and other squirrels–routinely race along the limbs, either chasing one another or searching for nibbles. Birds of all sorts make a bee-line to the tree after bathing in the waterfall or bog areas of the pond. And a few times during the overnight hours, the wildlife camera has recorded raccoons climbing up the tree, to what rascally purpose only the raccoons understand.

It’s a good tree, this dogwood. It’s partner dogwood is twice as tall, but also receives more sun. I’m happy with the height of this tree and apparently, so are the wild things in my garden.

Red-n-Blue

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Tina

Spring bird migration is in full feathers! I haven’t had as much time to sit and observe as I’d like, but have enjoyed the brief visits of some colorful visitors. This Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra, showed up a little earlier this year, as I typically see a crew of them in late April. Still, this stunning male brightened the garden for a time, checking out the bees for a meal.

The same afternoon, an Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea, perched here and there in the garden. While I see a number of the same species during spring and fall migrations every year, I don’t see this kind of migrant often. I’m chuffed that this one chose my garden to rest in that one afternoon. Smaller than the tanager, it was was easy to spot, those blue feathers a decorative focal point in the Rough-leaf Dogwood.

Both birds stayed around only one afternoon, but I’ve seen other migratory birds since and the season should continue through May. Safe travels, my feathered friends, and wishing all of you a successful summer of breeding and chick rearing.