Backyard Orchard News
That Wet Stuff!
The rain that pounded Northern California on Oct. 18--complete with thunder and lightening--also...
Honey bee caught in the storm attempts to dry off. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee on top of its world--a yellow rose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Winning Streak
It's delightful to see the gray hairstreak. We're not talking about the gray streaks in our hair...
A common gray hairstreak, Strymon melinus, nectarine on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Check out the length of the proboscis on the gray hairstreak as it sips nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Peek-a-boo! A gray hairstreak peers at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Joy to the (Monarch) World
Oh, the joys of rearing monarch butterflies. Not for commercial purposes. For conservation...
Female monarch has just eclosed. Next to her is a gold-studded jade-green chrysalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Newly emerged female monarch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Female monarch spreads her wings on a butterfly bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Newly emerged male monarch spreads his wings. Note the black spots on the hind wings, distinguishing gender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Male monarch ready to be released. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Neonics Severely Affecting Queen Bees
Everyone from scientists to environmentalists to beekeepers are clamoring for more research on the...
A queen bee circled by her retinue. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Worker bees cleaning out a queen cell. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A bee breeder's queen cells. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
About Those Drones,,,
Everyone's talking about the drones. You know, the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Those flying...
A drone fly, Eristalis tenax, foraging on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Note the distinguishable "H" on the abdomen on the drone fly, Eristalis tenax. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of a drone fly feeding. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)