- (Focus Area) Yard & Garden
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
On Sept. 6, 2016, it happened.
A monarch fluttered into our pollinator garden in Vacaville and touched down on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola.
It wasn't just "any ol' monarch"--if there's ever such a thing as "any ol' monarch."
This one, tagged with my alma mater, Washington State University, came from Ashland, Ore., as part of a migratory monarch research project launched by entomologist David James.
The tag's serial number read “Monarch@wsu.edu A6093.” It hung around for about five hours and then left.
James, an associate professor at Washington State University, studies the migration routes and overwintering sites of the Pacific Northwest Monarch population, which overwinter primarily in coastal California. (Access his Facebook page, Monarch Butterflies in the Pacific Northwest, for his latest research.)
When we emailed him, we learned that citizen scientist Steven Johnson of Ashland tagged and released the monarch on Sunday, Aug. 28.
"So, assuming it didn't travel much on the day you saw it, it flew 285 miles in 7 days or about 40.7 miles per day," James told us. "Pretty amazing. So, I doubt he broke his journey for much more than the five hours you watched him--he could be 100 miles further south by now."
Repeat: 285 miles in 7 days, or 40.7 miles per day. Incredible.
Fast forward to today. It's the anniversary of the sighting of A6093.
Any sightings today? Not. A. Single. One.
And not a single sighting of a tagged monarch since Sept. 6, 2016.
It's an exasperating experience. You go to the nursery, pick out a flowering plant, shrub, or tree and bring it home only to have some critter damage or destroy it within the first week. Pests cause damage and waste time and money. The most common pests in the home landscape and garden are voles, moles, and gophers. By knowing what you're dealing with, it will be easier to eradicate the problem.
Voles are active both day and night and do not hibernate. They are shy creatures and build complex tunnels under dense ground cover such as lawns, grasses, and meadows. They live in colonies, spending most of their lives underground. Voles have an extremely short life cycle, living just three to six months, but females can become pregnant at three weeks old. The gestation period for female voles is sixteen to twenty-four days. A typical litter is five to eight baby voles. Young voles become self-sufficient after several days, at which time the mother vole moves on to find another partner to mate with. Because of their rapid reproductive rate, one mating vole pair can be responsible for producing one hundred voles (offspring, offspring of offspring, you get the picture) in a year. Even a single pair of voles can rapidly become a vole kingdom.
Modifying the habitat can be effective in controlling vole populations. Keeping the yard cleared of dense vegetation, any lawn mown, and shrub branches trimmed up off the ground can deter voles. Circling tree trunks with guard mesh is also helpful. Voles often thrive underneath weed cloth put down to prevent weeds from growing around ornamentals, and beneath mulch used to keep plant roots cool in the summer. Removing both is a deterrent tactic. It is also helpful to remove bird feeders, or control birdseed spillage. Keeping birdseed off the ground reduces food for voles.
Exclusion, repellants, and traps are more effective means of controlling voles. Hardware cloth (with one-quarter inch or smaller mesh) can be a useful barrier. The cloth can be fashioned into a fence at least twelve inches high and buried three inches in the ground to surround flower beds. Baskets can be made or purchased to protect trees and shrubs. Because coyote and fox urines are stressful to voles, application encourages them to move on. Coyote urine and fox urine can be purchased online. Repellants containing capsaicin (and active component of chili peppers) and thiram (a fungicide) have also proved to be effective on ornamental plants, but remember that repellants often wash away with rain and need to be reapplied. Although bait is not required, peanut butter mixed with oatmeal can be smeared on trap triggers when using mouse traps to eradicate voles. Two to three traps need to be set by each hole or runway. Baited traps need to be covered with a box or PVC pipe to deter other critters such as birds and squirrels. Make sure the box has a one-inch hole cut out in order to allow the vole to reach the trap.
Gophers. Like voles, pocket gophers are rodents and herbivores. They prefer the fleshy underside of plants and roots. Called pocket gophers because of their furry cheek pouches that carry food and nesting materials, these critters are larger than either moles or voles, ranging from six to ten inches long. Gophers have long, yellow-orange front teeth, small eyes and ears, and short tails.
Gophers can wreak havoc on a row of plants by pulling entire plants down into their tunnels. They use their sense of smell to locate a source of food, preferring herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees. Gophers will also gnaw on drip irrigation tubes and hoses.
Gophers reach sexual maturity at one year. Females produce up to three litters a year, with an average of five to six offspring per litter. Gophers live alone in their burrows except when females are caring for their young or during mating system. Since gophers can live up to three years, a gopher colony can become quite large over time.
Voles, moles, and gophers can wreak havoc in the garden but they can be managed using various methods to control, deter, or eradicate. Consider your natural environment, whether children and pets can be harmed by deterrents, the expense of the deterrent method, and your commitment to the program of eradication when choosing a plan to deal with these pests.
For further information, see Kim Pokomy, Moles, voles and gophers dig the garden | OSU Extension Service (oregonstate.edu).
For in-person help in dealing with these critters (including a demonstration on exactly how to set a gopher trap), attend our free workshop on gophers, moles, and voles October 9th, part of the Master Gardeners' Fall 2024 Workshop Series. For details, and to register, visit our website.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
When a tiger meets a Tithonia, or a Tithonia meets a tiger, Nature bursts forth in all its glory.
Such was the case when we spotted a Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus, foraging for nectar on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville garden.
It was a newly eclosed swallowtail in perfect form, devoid of ripped, stripped and shattered wings signifying non-successful predatory attempts.
The magnificent butterfly fluttered over the Tithonia, sometimes chased by a territorial longhorned bee. But still it cruised. It raced. It soared.
Spread your wings, little tiger. You have no claws, but you need not pause. The Tithonia, the touchdown, the nectar--they're all yours for the taking.
(Taken with a Nikon D500 with a 200mm lens. Settings: Shutter priority, 1/4000 of a second; f-stop, 6.3; and ISO 800.)
- Author: Esther N Lofton
Hello and welcome to the SoCal Water Resources Blog, your go-to source for all things related to water in Southern California, especially in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino! Whether you're a concerned citizen, a curious student, an environmental advocate, or a policymaker, this blog is designed to provide you with insightful information, expert opinions, and actionable tips on managing and conserving our most precious resource—water.
Why Water Matters
Water is the lifeblood of Southern California. It's essential for our drinking needs, agriculture, industry, and the natural ecosystems that make our region so unique. However, Southern California faces significant challenges, including drought, climate change, population growth, and pollution. Understanding these issues is crucial for fostering sustainable water management practices that will ensure a reliable water supply for future generations.
What You Can Expect in this blog!
We will dive deep into a wide array of topics concerning water resources in the region. Here's a sneak peek at what you can look forward to:
- Drinking and Environmental Water Quality
Discover the intricate factors affecting our drinking water and environmental water quality. Learn about the stringent measures in place to ensure safe drinking water and how you can contribute to protecting our natural water bodies from pollution.
- Water Use Efficiency and Conservation
Explore practical tips and innovative strategies for using water more efficiently in your home and community. From drought-tolerant landscaping to advanced irrigation techniques, we'll share methods to conserve water and reduce waste, ensuring every drop counts.
- Water Supply Security
Stay informed about the sources of our water supply, the challenges we face, and the innovative solutions being implemented to secure a reliable water future. Learn about local reservoirs, groundwater management, and the role of imported water in meeting Southern California's needs.
- Water Equity
Delve into the important topic of water equity, understanding how access to clean and affordable water is a fundamental human right. We'll discuss the disparities in water access and quality and highlight initiatives aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of water resources for all communities.
- Policy and Management
Stay updated on water policies, regulations, and management practices that shape how we use and protect our water resources.
- Sustainability Initiatives
Get inspired by local and global sustainability initiatives aimed at improving water efficiency and resilience.
- Community Spotlight
Highlight stories of individuals, organizations, and communities making a difference in water conservation and management.
- Educational Resources
Access a wealth of resources, including articles, infographics, videos, and webinars designed to educate and empower you to become a water steward.
Join the Conversation
We believe that everyone has a role to play in ensuring a sustainable and equitable water future. Your insights, questions, and feedback are invaluable to us. We encourage you to engage with our content, share your thoughts in the comments, and connect with us on social media. Together, we can foster a community of informed and proactive water stewards.
Stay Connected
To stay updated with the latest posts, tips, and news, be sure to subscribe to our blog using this form and follow us on our social media platforms. We are excited to embark on this journey with you and look forward to exploring the intricate world of water resources together. You can also access our website using this link.
Thank you for joining us. Let's work together to ensure a secure, equitable, and sustainable water future for Southern California.
Warm regards,
Esther Lofton
The SoCal Water Resources Blog Team
Together, we can make every drop count!
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, and the Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, seem made for one another.
Both are a showy orange. Both are show-stoppers. And both attract a photographer's eye.
Especially when a Gulf Frit flutters over a Tithonia on a warm sunny day in a Vacaville garden.
A shutter speed of 1/5000 of a second (Nikon D500 with a 200mm lens) stopped the action.
"This dazzling bit of the New World Tropics was introduced into southern California in the 19th Century--we don't know how--and was first recorded in the Bay Area before 1908, though it seems to have become established there only in the 1950s," writes butterfly guru Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor emeritus, on his website, Art's Butterfly World. "It can be quite common in the East and South Bay --particularly in Berkeley-- and has been found breeding spontaneously as far inland as Fairfield where, however, it is not established."
Shapiro, who has monitored butterfly populations in Central California since 1972, continues: "There are scattered records in the Central Valley and even up to Folsom, perhaps resulting from people breeding the species for amusement or to release at social occasions. According to Hal Michael, who grew up in South Sacramento, this species bred there in abundance on garden Passiflora in the early 1960s. It seems to have died out by the early 1970s, however. Intolerant of hard freezes, it still managed to survive the record cold snap of 1990 that largely exterminated the Buckeye regionally!"
"This butterfly has no native host plant in California and is entirely dependent on introduced species of the tropical genus Passiflora (Passion Flower, Passion Vine), including the common Maypop (P. incarnata) and P. X alatocaerulea. However, it will not eat all of the Passiflora in cultivation in California."
"In the Bay Area this species can be seen flying any day of the year, if it is warm and sunny enough."
On this day in Vacaville, it was indeed warm and sunny enough: 100 degrees.