One day, about two years ago, I spent an afternoon in a grove of apple trees, looking at bees. The trees on Lake Arrowhead's Orchard Bay, I learned, pre-date the existence of the lake, which was born in 1915 with the damming of Little Bear Creek (a tributary of the Mojave River). That day, I was amazed to identify four, maybe five types of California native bees, all a-buzz in the ancient tree branches. The one hundred-plus year old trees that were planted to provide shade and food for logging camp workers still bear fruit today! Each year my family gathers the tart mountain apples to add our pies and chutneys. What I recall best about my day observing bees in trees was the miracle of slowing down; as I watched the tiny creatures at work, time seemed to disintegrate. I drank in the sounds and scents of spring, as if for the first time. As Master Gardeners, one of our mantras is that gardening heals. It's good for us and the planet. Today, April 22, 2020 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first Earth Day, established in 1970 to teach about the environment. As the COVID 19 virus curbs our use of fossil fuel and demands that we all slow down, I'd like to reprise my blog about native bees. Happy Earth Day!

Getting to Know Our Native Bees 

Encouraging healthy bee populations has long been part of the Master Gardener mission. In our study of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we learn that chemical pesticides can do harm to entire food chains, from plants to insects, and other wildlife. With bee colony health very much in the news, many gardeners are surprised to learn that in addition to the European honey bee, California is home to hundreds of species of native bees, many of whom reside in solitary nests, hidden in plain sight around our gardens. On a recent walk through a local apple grove, I was excited to identify four – maybe five types of native bee hovering in the blossoms alongside the honey bees. We know that plants and bees rely on one another for their existence. Recent studies published by the UC Cooperative Extension can help us recognize our native species, and help raise awareness about preserving bee habitats. 

I.D. The Bees

How do we identify native bees in the garden? The 2009 report Native Bees are a Rich Resource in Urban California Gardens presents findings of a UCANR study done in collaboration with the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign and the Xerces Society. Over three years, scientists surveyed bees in seven urban areas across the California, including La Cañada-Flintridge, near Pasadena. Of an estimated 1600 native species currently found across the state, 60 to 80 species were observed, along with the plants that attract them. The study studies points to native bees that are likely to show up in our gardens.

Of the native bees counted, the most common was the ultra-green sweat bee (left)(Agapostemon texanus). To spot this bee it's important to look closely. With its slim shape and smooth green body, the sweat bee can be mistaken for a fly. Photos from the UC study by Rollin Coville (©2009) show a female ultra-green sweat bee (above, left) and a male (below, left) as they feed on native blooms.

Another common visitor, the leaf-cutter bee (below, right) (Megachile perihirta) has a distinctive mandible designed for chomping leaves and stems. 

The digger bee (shown below, left and at the top of the page)(Anthropora edwardsii) is prevalent in Southern California and is specifically adapted to the tiny flowers of the manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.). Like many native bees, the digger bee is solitary. The female prefers dark quiet places to lay her eggs, and makes her nest in the ground, or in dead wood. 

Female bees of most native species, unlike their male counterparts, have specially formed hind legs made for gathering pollen. During springtime's brief blooms, native bees can be seen going from flower to flower loaded up with the golden powder. The solitary bee (below) (Svasta obliqua expurgata)  is a muli-tasker at the coneflower (Echinacea pupura), simultaneously sipping nectar and gathering pollen. 

Native bees to look for this spring include those most common in the study: mining bees (Andrena angustitarsata); digger bees (Anthrophora); and three bumblebee varieties (Bombus), California, black-tip and yellow-faced. Others bees found include carpinter bees (Ceratina); gray digger bees (Habropoda depressa) and long-horn digger bees (Melissodes), as well as squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa); cuckoo bees (Xeromelecta californica); large carpenter bees (Xylocopta tabaniformis incompletes); leafcutting bees (Megachile); mason bees (Osmia coloradensis); and the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria propinqua). 

The Xerxes Society's The Citizen Scientist Pollinator Monitoring Guide was created to help communities survey pollinator populations at the local level. The user-friendly guide (downloadable pdf) helps gardeners learn the basics about bees, identify different varieties, and track their activities, over time. 

The full study Native Bees are a Rich Resource in Urban California Gardens is available online through UCANR. It details some of the native plants that attract native bees (California Agriculture 63(3):113-120 (2009)):

http://calag.ucanr.edu/Archive/?article=ca.v063n03p113 

 

This year, while only three months in, has been a rough one in so many ways….and with that, the promise of spring and all its hopes are even more important.  I think that childhood is in so many ways like spring, just like a newly budded flower or a tiny leaf peeking out from a branch,  it is a time when one is approaching the world with fresh eyes ready to see what life is all about.  A gift we can give our children, to prepare them for all that life has to offer, giving them the never-ending joy of working with your hands to create beauty and food, is gardening.  We can teach them how to sow a seed, how to check the soil to see if it needs water, how to use their eyes to look for signs of pests or check plant health.  In the garden they can also learn about loss and understand that we can't control everything when those darn squirrels eat their delicious tomatoes or pumpkins. They learn about wonder when they plant a pea seed that is hard as a rock and it seems impossible that it contains life, then it sprouts, grows, and gives them food!  Parents and teachers can teach children about the cyclical nature of it all when they teach kiddos about letting plants go to seed, saving the seeds and having them to replant for years to come.

We are so fortunate to have produce in the stores throughout the year no matter the season and are not dependent on what we grow in our local gardens to have food on our table.  This lack of need has meant that we, as a society, are losing the skills that were once commonplace knowledge.  When I was a kid my grandparents, parents and auntie taught me so much about gardening, really all I knew about it, until I took the Master Gardener course.  While the access to this bounty in the stores has made life easier for us it has also meant that less and less grandparents and parents are teaching these valuable skills to the youth.

We are out of school now, for the foreseeable future, but as soon as we get back into school these gardens, and the skills they teach will be more important than ever.  Gardens are great at building confidence and showing kiddos that while they are still young, they too can grow food and provide a habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.  Children thrive in a garden environment and it is a place where everyone feels equal and valuable. Gardens empower kiddos, improving self esteem and teaching them about teamwork. So many lessons can be taught in the garden: Math and measuring by planning out spacing and tracking plant growth; Art by capturing what can be seen every day in a garden; History by learning about “new world” foods and “old world” foods; Science, of course, by looking at the biology, chemistry and genetics of plants; Writing through journaling; and PE by just getting outside and moving, bending, planting and weeding.  Gardening is also a great place to bring generations together. Adults and elders can show children how much they know and show children the value of learning from their “elders.”  Children can also become the teachers in the garden by showing adults and other children what they have done, learned and observed. 

     -Just remember to keep on eye on the kiddos, they are still learning, and remind them to ask before they taste if they are trying something new!

 

 

 Editor's note: Back in 2018 Maggie helped a group of Master Gardeners and teachers attend a workshop with Project Learning Tree, an environmental education project co-sponsored by UCANR and the US Forest Service. PLT's K-12 lessons are aligned with California Standards and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). If COVID-19 has you or someone you know in the role of home science teacher, PLT has some great lessons available online: https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/activities-to-do-with-children-at-home

 

I recently spent a delightful morning with UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) San Bernardino County Master Gardener Vikki Gerdes, chatting in her light-filled kitchen over coffee and cookies about why she loves gardening and the UCCE Master Gardener program. As a Master Gardener, her focus in the program has always been water-wise gardening. She believes that "with over 60% of water use occurring outdoors, it is essential for residents to learn how to use water efficiently in their landscapes."

Vikki graduated from the UCCE San Bernardino County Master Gardener class of 2003/2004. She feels lucky to have had the opportunity to take part in the training, especially since she almost missed the application deadline. Luckily for the program, she faxed in her application the last day of acceptance and, due to her background and enthusiasm, was welcomed into the program.

Her Master Gardener's final project was to introduce her classmates to the Maloof Foundation Gardens. Beverly Maloof had conceived of a water-wise garden on the site that would be in harmony with the Southern California climate and respectful of California's limited water supply. She received a Metropolitan Water District Water Wise Grant in 2003. Community members, including Vikki who led a team of volunteers including Master Gardeners, assisted with the plantings. Master Gardeners also created botanical listings of all the plants.

In 2014, Vikki was honored to be named as Featured Homeowner Grand Prize winner of the Cucamonga Valley Water District's (CVWD) 7th annual Water Savvy Landscape Contest. Open to all CVWD customers, the Water Savvy Landscape Contest promotes water efficiency by recognizing residents who have installed beautiful, water-saving landscapes. Each landscape is evaluated based on a set of criteria which includes overall water efficiency, appearance, selection of plant material, and irrigation design. Vikki and other Master Gardener volunteers and homeowners educate participants during the Garden Tour on what plants and design elements work well in California's inland climate. Participants take a self-guided tour through each garden to learn how to make their yards more water-efficient.

Vikki's Water-Wise Moonlight Garden

Vikki entered the Water Savvy Landscape Contest as a result of a complete overhaul of her landscape that included selecting appropriate water-wise plants and installation of a new irrigation system that fit the needs of her water-wise plants. Taking workshops and using the knowledge she gained through the Master Gardener program helped her in this daunting project. Vikki and her husband put a lot of hard work into their landscape to reduce their water use by 65% on their ½ acre lot. Since they wanted a water-wise garden that would blend in with their neighborhood, Vikki decided on a Water Wise Moonlight Garden, named for the water-wise plants that bloom with white blossoms.

Converting an all-turf yard into a more water-wise landscape on such a large lot was no easy feat, taking several years to complete. Attending workshops taught by UCCE San Bernardino County Master Gardener (and then Water Conservation Specialist at Chino Basin Water Conservation District) Debby Figoni as well as other Master Gardeners helped her gain the knowledge and motivation to see the project through to its completion.

Vikki is inspired to make a difference as a resident of the Cucamonga Valley Water District service area. Utilizing her experience and knowledge as a UCCE Master Gardener, she has been very involved with the Cucamonga Valley Water District Annual Garden Tour for several years. Recently, she has served as a judge for the Garden Tour and considers the overall design, level of involvement by the homeowner, use of water-wise plants, and appropriate irrigation system design for a successful water-wise garden in her selections. In 2019, she was recognized as a Garden Tour judge for her continuing commitment to the community and to water conservation.

 

Vikki Gerdes (4^th from left) being honored in 2019 by the Cucamonga Valley Water District Board of Directors for her work with the Water District as a judge in the Landscape Savvy contest.

CVWD greatly appreciates the UCCE Master Gardener program and values its contributions to the community. (The contest and tour for this year have been canceled as a result of the COVID-19 virus.) Vikki asked me to let everyone know that the CVWD offers many landscape programs to assist customers in doing their part to save water, including landscape workshops, the free sprinkler nozzles program, educational resources, and more. For more information about these opportunities, please visit www.cvwdwater.comor call (909) 987-2591.

Like most UCCE Master Gardeners, Vikki has had a life-long passion for gardening. Her parents had a vegetable garden and Vikki's job as a child was to pick up rocks in the garden. Master Gardeners' passion for gardening sometimes “runs in the family” going back many generations, as is the case with Vikki. She developed a love for flowers from seeds and bulbs from her grandmother, who grew many different types. Through research, she was able to find out that her great-great-great-grandfather earned his degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Edinburgh in 1865. After emigrating from Scotland to America, he settled in Detroit, Michigan, where he actively participated in the landscape design of Grand Boulevard, an 11-mile long thoroughfare running east to west in some places and north to south in others. It is recognized as a major civic attraction and its entire length is decorated with trees, shrubbery, and flowerbeds. Vikki's grandfather was also invited to participate in the landscape design of Belle Isle Park, known as Belle Isle, a 982-acre island park in Detroit developed in the late 19th century.

After coffee, Vikki treated me to a tour of her prize-winning water-wise garden. Each plant was specially chosen and planted by Vikki for viability in a water-wise garden. Vikki made an eloquent comment: “Wherever blooms are, people will be initially attracted to that part of the garden.” As Vikki tells me about each plant, the love and care that she has put into the garden are evident. From the story about the California bluebell that she planted by the curb (which then decided it liked a different location better and reseeded itself accordingly) to the three different species of oak trees that she hand-planted from acorns 18 years ago (more about these below!), her attention to the concept of ‘right plant right place' is clearly evident.

People may think that a water-wise garden means a garden with just cacti and agave. Vikki wants people to know that you have other choices (unless, of course, that is what you want.) She has planted a wide variety of water-wise flowers, shrubs, and trees in her garden. The extensive list of plants includes white California poppies (one of my favorites), Chinese redbud and western redbud trees, and a white crepe myrtle tree. There is a beautiful ‘Stellar Ruby' magnolia tree, which buds when there are no leaves. After the buds drop, the leaves start growing. And, of course, her beautiful oak trees!

Vikki attended a presentation several years ago by the Mystic Lake Iris Garden (famous for their award-winning irises). where each attendee received one complimentary iris. That one bearded iris Vikki received many years ago has since been divided by her to number at least 100 beautiful irises!

While we were touring the garden, I spotted several bees pollinating the California bluebells. Vikki told me that her garden attracts many pollinators, including the hummingbird moth, a brown moth that approaches flowers exhibiting the same pattern of flying as hummingbirds. Vikki described this moth so eloquently that I was intrigued enough to find out more information. The US Forest Service says it is “perhaps one of the most delightful insect visitors to your garden is the hummingbird moth. They fly and move just like hummingbirds. They can remain suspended in the air in front of a flower while they unfurl their long tongues and insert them in flowers to sip their nectar. They even emit an audible hum like hummingbirds. Often inexperienced garden visitors notice what they think is a tiny hummingbird fleeting among flowers such as bee balm (Monarda).”

She showed me the three varieties of oak trees (cork oak and a beautiful coastal oak in the front yard and a holly oak in the back yard) that she planted from those acorns about 18 years ago and shared with me how to tell if collected acorns are viable and will grow. After soaking in water overnight, viable acorns will sink rather than float. She suggested that when planting acorns, plant them sideways, and a seedling will start to appear in a few months.

Vikki in front of Coastal Oak tree planted by her from an acorn 18 years ago.

One of Vikki's water-conserving successes was to install a drip irrigation system with low flow sprinklers. The entire property gets watered for no more than10 minutes three times a week including summer. I was surprised to learn that approximately ½ of the front garden area is not irrigated. Vikki explained to me that once plants in the area got established, they were able to sustain themselves. I have to admit that all the plants looked healthy and thriving! Plants in that area include coast rosemary, trailing lantana, drought-tolerant red fescue, two rock rose plants, and white sage (one of Vikki's favorites) used by Native Americans for ceremonial purposes.

Vikki also has a vegetable garden where she grows beautiful purple artichokes as well as other vegetables like green onion and lettuce. She finds that the purple artichokes are more flavorful than the Globe variety we buy in our local supermarkets. After discussions with Northern California artichoke growers and through her independent research, she was able to find purple artichoke seeds from an online distributor in Italy.

Picture of one of Vikki's astounding purple artichokes grown from seed!

Vikki has found the UCCE Master Gardener program to be very rewarding. Near the end of the garden tour, she proudly told me that she has 1000 hours of volunteer time as a Master Gardener volunteer and is looking forward to receiving her Master Gardener Gold Badge, a rare and highly acclaimed accomplishment in the program! She encourages anyone interested in joining the Master Gardener program to apply, stating that “the Master Gardener program is a great place to meet people, make friends, and learn a lot about sustainable gardening." The UCCE San Bernardino County Master Gardeners are fortunate to have Vikki Gerdes as a member of our community. Her dedication and many years of volunteer service to the program are much appreciated!

This month's Spotlight Master Gardener Vikki Gerdes!

   Wondering what it is like to be a Master Gardener, or what a "day in the life of a Master Gardener" might be like? I remember what I was thinking when I first heard that my dear friends' mother was a Master Gardener... I thought "wow! That's amazing...and what does that mean exactly?!" I also thought "wow! She must know everyyything!!!" She knew the botanical names of plants and spoke with an intimate knowledge and passion about gardening that I so admired, and seemed like she had been gardening for many lifetimes! Time passed and, as a lover of gardening and someone who grew up in a family where everyone valued gardening, it just sort of stuck with me, this amazing accomplishment and title of "Master Gardener (cue impressive sounding music!)."

  After years of thinking about it I decided to apply for the program in San Bernardino County, and I was accepted! Yeah!! Now what?! Can I do it? I was a little nervous about what I had gotten myself in to, did I have what it takes to be a Master Gardener?! I had worked several jobs….one as an insectary manager, another as a scuba dive guide on the small, but beautiful, island of Palau, where the people still fish and farm, living very close to the land. I also spent many years caring for my grandmother who lived on an old citrus grove…. what did these things have in common? Not a whole lot, I thought…an odd, but wonderful, assortment of life experiences…. but how would they help me become a Master Gardener!? 

  I remember the first day of class, when we started going around the room introducing ourselves and why we were inspired to take the Master Gardener program. The stories we so varied, people from all walks of life, with a wide variety of backgrounds….but I started to notice a theme…they all spoke with such a passion for what the garden had meant to them in their lives. How it had uplifted them; given them improved health, physically and mentally; been a place of healing; was a connection they had with their families and communities; connected them with the earth and guided them to steward the land; and how they loved sharing and teaching what they knew. That's when I realized the common thread was passion and belief in all that gardening gives back to us (aside from great tomatoes and beautiful flowers!). Over the next 18 weeks our passion became backed with knowledge…about all aspects of gardening, and about what the Master Gardener program was able to give back to the community. It was heartwarming and so inspiring. I begin to see how my own unique and diverse background experiences as an insectary manager with a fascination for entomology, as a dive guide living on a small island, where people still followed traditional farming practices and as a caregiver for my grandmother (who lived to 100, she said "thanks to gardening!") all helped me to become a better Master Gardener!

  It's been several years since I first began the program, and two years into my job as the current Master Gardener coordinator for San Bernardino County, and I can say that my pride and passion for being a Master Gardener has just continued to grow every day. I love meeting our new trainees, and getting to know our seasoned volunteers better, seeing how their own unique and varied backgrounds all come together to make our program strong and multifaceted. 

  You can find our Master Gardeners at events all throughout the county, teaching people about sustainable landscaping, growing food and healthy living through gardening, sharing research-based peer reviewed information with the public. They are working with the community to help them protect their citrus trees from Huanglongbing disease (https://ucanr.edu/sites/ACP/) and the pest Asian Citrus Psyllid. They keep you up to date on the latest emerging pests, like have you heard about the Gold Spotted Oak Borer (https://ucanr.edu/sites/gsobinfo/). They can be found staffing info tables at events and farmers markets, answering questions about what might be ailing someone's favorite tree (http://ipm.ucanr.edu), or what time of year should they plant tomatoes (anytime now is a great time to get seeds started!! And soon it will be time for transplants! See free UCANR publication 8159 “Growing Tomatoes in Your Home Garden” https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=8159), or giving information about how many chill hours someone might get in their area (http://fruitsandnuts.ucdavis.edu/Weather_Services/chilling_accumulation_models/) so they can decide what types of fruit trees they should plant in their yard. 

 

Our Master Gardeners work with organizations all over the county to help them plan gardens that will work in their location and microclimate, and they demonstrate to the public planting techniques, and more, to enable people to garden for themselves. They teach people how to garden successfully in small spaces, and how to manage pests with least toxic methods. We work with our many county partners and local agencies to bring education on all things garden related to you. Another amazing contribution our Master Gardeners make to the community is our knowledgeable volunteers who staff a helpline where you can call or email us all of your plant related questions (I tell people “we are like batman waiting by the phone to answer all of you plant questions! Well…..Sort of, we generally do some research and then call or email you back within a day or so …)! We also have "Ask a Master Gardener" times throughout the county where you can come a talk with us personally and bring your photos and your plant/insect samples (sealed in a bag!). We have two seed libraries in Montclair and Yucaipa where you can come and "check out" free seeds, but also learn all about the seed harvesting and planting part of the growing cycle that so many of us are not sure about! We work with many healthy cities programs throughout the county working to improve the health and wellness of the region though gardening. Our Master Gardeners offer assistance and information at mulch giveaways and community events and give free talks throughout the county on all aspects of gardening. The list goes on and on, your counties Master Gardeners are working constantly to empower the public to get growing and give them the resources and knowledge they need to keep growing!!! 

Master Gardeners Class of 2020

  If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener in our county, we would love to have you join our next Master Gardener class and see what it's all about. Or if you just want to learn more from our great volunteers look for us at our many events, follow us on social media and check out our calendar of events on our website. If you would like to invite us to speak to or work with your clubs, organizations or communities we would love to do that too. With our passion for all things gardening and your knowledge of the needs of your community we can do great things in San Bernardino County together!