From the UC Blogosphere...

Orange Blossom Special

If you like oranges, you can thank a honey bee. Oranges are 90 percent dependent on honey bees for...

A honey bee pollinating an orange blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee pollinating an orange blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

One bee forages while another takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

One bee forages while another takes flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of honey bee on an orange blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of honey bee on an orange blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Daily Life For Master Gardeners

Replenishing Rainwater Gardens Groundwater Part 3 By Andrea Peck   If you're not careful, it will sneak up on you....

Honey Bee Impostor

It's often mistaken for a honey bee. Indeed, to the untrained eye, the drone fly (Eristalis tenax) appears to be a bee....

The drone fly, Eristalis tenax, is often mistaken for a bee. The fly has the letter "H" on its thorax. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The drone fly, Eristalis tenax, is often mistaken for a bee. The fly has the letter "H" on its abdomen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

essie Brown, 14, a junior UC Master Gardener with the Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners, photographs insects in the ceanothus at the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Jessie Brown, 14, a junior UC Master Gardener with the Lake Tahoe Master Gardeners, photographs insects in the ceanothus at the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tenaya Lodge Hotel and Conference Updates

Thank you for registering early to ensure the UC Master Gardener Conference will be an extraordinary event. Currently more than 400 attendees have registered for the conference! 

The Tenaya Lodge is officially sold out of rooms (don't panic) from Oct. 8 -10, 2014. There are a few ways you can do to help manage the situation as outlined below:

• Attendees are encouraged to check with roommate(s) for duplicate hotel reservations and release unneeded reservations as a courtesy to their fellow Master Gardeners. 

• Still need lodging? Continue to check on room availability by contacting the Tenaya Lodge directly, (559)683-6555. There is no waiting list - rooms are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.  

• The Statewide Office is looking at alternate accommodations and those options will be published as soon as they become available.

We are reviewing the lodging list from the Tenaya Lodge to ensure accuracy of reservations. Be on the look-out for an email confirmation from UC ANR regarding your lodging plans in the upcoming weeks. We still have plenty of space for UC Master Gardeners who would like to attend the event.  

We promise to keep you informed on hotel updates and conference activities in the near future!  

 

Ah, Spring!

It's a glorious day, the first day of spring, and what better time to mark the occasion by visiting the UC Davis Arboretum...

A honey bee foraging on ceanothus in the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee foraging on ceanothus in the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A painted lady, Vanessa carduii, finds a cut-leaf lilac, Syringa × laciniata, quite attractive. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A painted lady, Vanessa carduii, finds a cut-leaf lilac, Syringa × laciniata, quite attractive. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Check out the pollen on this honey bee foraging on ceanothus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Check out the pollen on this honey bee foraging on ceanothus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A mournful dusky-wing butterfly (Erynnis tristis) on Spanish lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A mournful dusky-wing butterfly (Erynnis tristis) on Spanish lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Mother Earth, a mosaic ceramic sculpture by Donna Billick of Davis, overlooks the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Mother Earth, a mosaic ceramic sculpture by Donna Billick of Davis, overlooks the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A torrent of emotions on the face of Mother Earth, the work of artist Donna Billick. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A torrent of emotions on the face of Mother Earth, the work of artist Donna Billick. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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