- Author: Christine Casey
Our understanding of Russian sage's native habitat remains unchanged. It's still not from Russia, but is native to grassland areas in western China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. These hot, dry, sunny areas have summer weather similar to California's Central Valley so it does well in our gardens.
Here are links to some of the scientific papers describing these changes for those who wish to learn more:
Salvia yangii. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Link here.
Taxon. 2017. Salvia united: The greatest good for the greatest number. Read here.
American Journal of Botany. 2012. Phylogenetics, biogeography, and staminal evolution in the tribe Mentheae (Lamiaceae). Read here.
Please consider supporting our Crowdfund UC Davis campaign. We rely on donations and grants to keep the Haven and this blog going to share accurate, science-based information about bees and gardens. Thank you!
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- Author: Christine Casey
It's unlikely we'll be able to resume in-person programs in 2021, but we've got lots of virtual programming planned, and hope to resume limited guided tours when we get University approval. In the meantime, February events include:
February 9, 12:15 to 12:45pm. Bee Garden Q&A. Take a lunch break and join us for this bee garden question and answer Zoom class. Free, no registration required. We'll start with a quick look at what's blooming and buzzing in the Haven and then open it up for any questions about bees and plants. Meeting ID: 966 3997 6701 Passcode: 202584.
February 15, 10:00am. Making a Solitary Bee House and Bee Diversity. Two new videos will go live on our YouTube channel as part of UC Davis Biodiversity Month. This virtual event replaces the annual Biodiversity Museum Day, normally held the Saturday of President's Day weekend.
February 23, 12:15 to 12:45pm. Bee Garden Q&A. Take a lunch break and join us for this bee garden question and answer Zoom class. Free, no registration required. We'll start with a quick look at what's blooming and buzzing in the Haven and then open it up for any questions about bees and plants. Meeting ID: 995 0184 7681 Passcode: 672621.
Additional events will be posted on our webpage as they are scheduled.
- Author: Christine Casey
This year will be a World Bee Day like no other. Created by the United Nations to raise awareness about pollinators, this event is celebrated on the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern beekeeping.
The focus this year is on healthy beekeeping as a way to recognize the impact of coronavirus on beekeepers, and by extension, our food supply.
Want to join in the celebration? Here are some ideas:
- The World Bee Day web page has links to activities and events, including online events
- Closer to home, support a local beekeeper by purchasing their honey and other hive products
- Start watching bees in your own garden to learn more about them and appreciate their activity. Check out our YouTube video for an introduction to bee watching.
- Add bee-supporting plants to your garden. These low-water plants do well in central California.
- Author: Christine Casey
It's the first week of spring at the Haven and our plants are starting to look their best. For those of you who cannot make it to the garden this week, here's a brief tour of what's going on. For those who can make it, I've included some of the bees to look for.
The garden is currently open, although the cities of Davis and Sacramento are now recommending shelter-in-place. If this expands to other areas or becomes mandatory, the garden will close. Check our web page for the latest information.
Now blooming at the Haven:
Ceanothus, many species. For more detail on this genus, see this previous post.
Western redbud, Cercis occidentalis. This plant provides bright pink flowers early in the year, while leafcutter bees use its foliage for nest construction throughout the summer. This California native needs full sun and little to no summer water. It grows slowly, so it's worth buying a larger size for your own garden. It may be fed on by the redhumped caterpillar; damage occurs towards the end of the season so control is not needed.
Brandegee's sage, Salvia brandegii. This is a long-blooming California native sage. As you can see from the photo, which shows one plant, it can get quite large. Flowering from late January through May, pair it with the summer blooming native Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) for season-long bloom. It also needs full sun and low summer water.
Bladderpod, Isomeris arborea. This is another long-blooming California native. It is at its peak in the spring, but will produce some flowers year-round. Our single plant is about 6 feet by 6 feet. Needs full sun and little to no summer water.
Firecracker penstemon, Penstemon eatonii. This bright red California native is used more by hummingbirds than bees, and adds a jolt of color to the early spring garden. It's soon to be followed by the foothill penstemon, a bee favorite. The firecracker penstemon can take part shade and will re-bloom if given some water after the first flush of flowers. Like most of our native penstemons, it will go dormant in the heat of the summer, at which point watering should stop.
Bees to look for this week include honey bees and the blacktailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus. The latter seems to like the Brandegee's sage, so look for it there.
/div>- Author: Christine Casey
UPDATE March 17, 2020
Due to coronavirus restrictions, all programs at the Haven have been canceled through May. The September pruning class remains open for registration. We will reschedule the spring classes if possible. Thank you for your understanding.
I'm excited to announce our 2020 class schedule at the Haven, which includes old favorites as well as a new class. Continual learning and experimentation are at the core of what gardeners do, and I hope these offerings will help you expand your knowledge and success as a bee gardener. I'll be the instructor for all classes.
First up is our popular Planting the Bee Garden class. Bee pollination brings us much of our food and supports most of our wild plants. Interest in helping bee pollinators has never been greater, but what can you do in your own garden to make sure it is bee friendly? We'll review the basics of bee biology as a foundation for understanding how garden design and plant selection can be optimized for bees.
We'll also learn about some of the latest research on bees and gardens and how to incorporate this into your garden. The class will conclude with a tour of the Haven for a hands-on look at plants and bees. Registration includes light breakfast and snacks and course handouts.
This class is being offered twice; content is the same each time. April 25, 8am to 11am, register here. May 16, 8am to 11am, register here.
Returning from its initial offering last year is Bee Watching for Beginners. Observing and identifying live bees can be challenging. If you'd like to become more adept at identifying the bees in your garden, this is the class for you. We'll start with an overview of bee anatomy and learn how to distinguish bees from other insects.
We'll then look at key features of common bees that can be used to identify them in flight. The class will finish in the Haven for hands-on experience observing and identifying bees. Interested students will have the opportunity to use a microscope for closer examination of bee structure.
April 25, 12pm to 3pm, register here.
The final spring class is a new offering, Bee Photography. Bees are among the most challenging insects to photograph, and the goal of this class is to help you better document your own bee observations. We'll start with an overview of bee biology and movement in the garden, followed by a discussion of the tips and techniques used by insect photographers. Participants will have the opportunity to use some of the Haven's bee photography tools and to photograph identified bee specimens.
May 16, 12pm to 3pm, register here.
Also offered last year for the first time, Pruning the Bee Garden will be returning in the fall. Bee gardens are all about flowers, and pruning the Haven's plants is an essential part of creating ample flowers for our bees. In this class we'll learn about the physiology and science behind pruning of ornamental plants and fruit trees, discuss pruning strategies for increasing bloom, review pruning of California native shrubs, and practice pruning in the Haven.
The time for the class has been expanded from last year to allow a more in-depth lecture and ample time for student practice in the garden. Handouts and light refreshments included.
September 26, 9am to 12pm, register here.
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