Posts Tagged: California golden poppy

There Is No Planet 'B'

There is no "Planet B."  The Earth is all we have. Today, April 22, is Earth Day (an annual event launched April 22, 1970) and what a perfect occasion to celebrate a native bee and a native wildflower.  Bombus vosnesenskii,aka the...

A yellow-faced bumble bee,Bombus vosnesenskii, buzzes into a barely opened California golden poppy in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee,Bombus vosnesenskii, buzzes into a barely opened California golden poppy in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Check the orange pollen on this yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Check the orange pollen on this yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

And we have a lift-off! The pollen basket is easily recognized here. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

And we have a lift-off! The pollen basket is easily recognized here. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ready for take-off! The bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, prepares to leave the California golden poppy. Both are natives. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ready for take-off! The bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, prepares to leave the California golden poppy. Both are natives. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Monarchs and California Golden Poppies: Color Them Orange

Monarchs and California golden poppies...Color them orange...Color them bold...Color them beautiful... And color them natives... The California golden poppy, Eschscholzia californica, California's state flower, is popping up all over, while...

Color them orange: A California golden poppy and a monarch butterfly in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Color them orange: A California golden poppy and a monarch butterfly in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sorry, Bee, I'm Closed for Bees-Ness

A honey bee heads for a patch of California golden poppies. She finds a blossom she likes.  Bee: "Hey, Goldie Locks, I'm here to collect some nectar and pollen." Goldie Locks: "You're what?" Bee: "I want to collect some of your nectar and...

"Open up!" A honey bee attempts to enter a California golden poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Open up!" A honey bee attempts to enter a California golden poppy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Maybe I'll try this entrance." The honey bee doesn't realize that some flowers close for the night. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Maybe I'll try this entrance." The honey bee doesn't realize that some flowers close for the night. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Please, please open?" The honey bee makes no progress. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"Please, please open?" The honey bee makes no progress. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"You're closed for bee-ness?" the honey bee mumbles. "Oh, well, guess I'll come back tomorrow."

"You're closed for bee-ness?" the honey bee mumbles. "Oh, well, guess I'll come back tomorrow."

Not Your Usual Pollinator

Since this is National Pollinator Week, you're probably out celebrating the bees--maybe doing hand stands, cartwheels and pirouettes. But have you ever thought about beetles as pollinators? They are. We spotted this little critter on a California...

Melyrid beetle (Endeodes insularis) on a poppy petal. (Photo y Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Melyrid beetle (Endeodes insularis) on a poppy petal. (Photo y Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of melyrid beetle covered with pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of melyrid beetle covered with pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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