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Posts Tagged: Solano County

UC Davis Arboretum Is the Magical Place to Find the First-of-the-Year Bumble Bee

If history repeats itself, the person who finds and photographs the first bumble bee of the year in the two-county area of Yolo and Solano will do so in the 100-acre UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden--or will find it foraging on a plant...

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, forages on Eryngium amethystinum, a genus that belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, forages on Eryngium amethystinum, a genus that belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, forages on Eryngium amethystinum, a genus that belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, nectaring on ceanothus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, nectaring on ceanothus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, nectaring on ceanothus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 3:25 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Solano County Fair, June 15-18: Bees, Butterflies and More

You might not expect to see Anthocharis sara sara in McCormack Hall during the 74th annual Solano County Fair, Vallejo, June 15-18.  But you will. It's a photograph titled "Painted Wings" by Regan Van Tuyl, 13 of Dixon. UC Davis distinguished...

A clerk at McCormack Hall, Solano County Fair, displays two junior division photos: one of a honey bee by Jesse Means of Dixon, and the other of a orange-tip butterfly by Regan Van Tuyl of Dixon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A clerk at McCormack Hall, Solano County Fair, displays two junior division photos: one of a honey bee by Jesse Means of Dixon, and the other of a orange-tip butterfly by Regan Van Tuyl of Dixon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A clerk at McCormack Hall, Solano County Fair, displays two junior division photos: one of a honey bee by Jesse Means of Dixon, and the other of a orange-tip butterfly by Regan Van Tuyl of Dixon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is a portion of a painting by Caitlin Douglas of Vallejo. It's titled
This is a portion of a painting by Caitlin Douglas of Vallejo. It's titled "Clover Honey."

This is a portion of a painting by Caitlin Douglas of Vallejo. It's titled "Clover Honey."

McCormack Hall superintendent Sharon Payne (left) and daughter Julianna Payne Brown, assistant superintendent, display a quilt.
McCormack Hall superintendent Sharon Payne (left) and daughter Julianna Payne Brown, assistant superintendent, display a quilt.

McCormack Hall superintendent Sharon Payne (left) and daughter Julianna Payne Brown, assistant superintendent, display a quilt.

Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

In Search of the First Bumble Bee of the Year

What are you doing on New Year's Day? Well, weather permitting, you can begin searching for the first bumble bee of the year in the two-county area of Yolo and Solano. If you photograph it and you are judged the winner, a prize awaits you--in addition...

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee and a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee and a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee and a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on rosemary on Jan. 25, 2020 on the grounds of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on rosemary on Jan. 25, 2020 on the grounds of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on rosemary on Jan. 25, 2020 on the grounds of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on a rose on Jan. 25, 2020 in downtown Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on a rose on Jan. 25, 2020 in downtown Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on a rose on Jan. 25, 2020 in downtown Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 2:56 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

A Checkered Past, a Checkered Future or Just Checkered?

Have you seen any Checkered White butterflies lately? They're quite common in the southern United States and northern Mexico (they're known as the Southern cabbage butterfly), but one CW fluttered through our pollinator garden in Vacaville, Solano...

A female Checkered White butterfly, Pontia protodice (as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro) nectars on lavender in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A female Checkered White butterfly, Pontia protodice (as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro) nectars on lavender in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female Checkered White butterfly, Pontia protodice (as identified by UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro) nectars on lavender in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The female Checkered White spreads its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The female Checkered White spreads its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The female Checkered White spreads its wings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female Checkered White butterfly, Pontia protodice nectaring on lavender.  (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A female Checkered White butterfly, Pontia protodice nectaring on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female Checkered White butterfly, Pontia protodice nectaring on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The female Checkered White showing a rejection behavior although no males are around.
The female Checkered White showing a rejection behavior although no males are around. "The 'tail in the air' is a sexual rejection posture," says UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The female Checkered White showing a rejection behavior although no males are around. "The 'tail in the air' is a sexual rejection posture," says UC Davis distinguished professor Art Shapiro.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Sneak Peak at a Couple of Solano County Fair Entries

A sneak peak at a couple of Solano County Fair entries...think insects! The COVID-19 pandemic derailed fairs and festivals, but now they're back on track. Take the 73rd annual Solano County Fair, themed "Bales of Fun." Located at 900 Fairgrounds...

Heather DeGroot of Vallejo, coordinator of the McCormack Hall exhibits, Solano County Fair, shows a watercolor by Richard Laswell of Rio Vista that depicts three dragonflies. In back is an oils-acrylic butterfly by Ashley Workman of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Heather DeGroot of Vallejo, coordinator of the McCormack Hall exhibits, Solano County Fair, shows a watercolor by Richard Laswell of Rio Vista that depicts three dragonflies. In back is an oils-acrylic butterfly by Ashley Workman of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Heather DeGroot of Vallejo, coordinator of the McCormack Hall exhibits, Solano County Fair, shows a watercolor by Richard Laswell of Rio Vista that depicts three dragonflies. In back is an oils-acrylic butterfly by Ashley Workman of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Heather DeGroot displays an image of a syrphid fly and honey bee, the work of 17-year-old Matthew Agbayani of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Heather DeGroot displays an image of a syrphid fly and honey bee, the work of 17-year-old Matthew Agbayani of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Heather DeGroot displays an image of a syrphid fly and honey bee, the work of 17-year-old Matthew Agbayani of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Talented artist Iris Mayhew of American Canyon entered these pieces in the Solano County Fair. She drew inspiration from her safari in Kenya. Her work will be displayed June 16-19 in McCormack Hall. She'll be depicting monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries next. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Talented artist Iris Mayhew of American Canyon entered these pieces in the Solano County Fair. She drew inspiration from her safari in Kenya. Her work will be displayed June 16-19 in McCormack Hall. She'll be depicting monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries next. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Talented artist Iris Mayhew of American Canyon entered these pieces in the Solano County Fair. She drew inspiration from her safari in Kenya. Her work will be displayed June 16-19 in McCormack Hall. She'll be depicting monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries next. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Syrphid flies are often mistaken for honey bees. Here a fly shares a blanketflower (Gaillardia) with a jumping spider, unaware of its presence. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Syrphid flies are often mistaken for honey bees. Here a fly shares a blanketflower (Gaillardia) with a jumping spider, unaware of its presence. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Syrphid flies are often mistaken for honey bees. Here a fly shares a blanketflower (Gaillardia) with a jumping spider, unaware of its presence. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 4:13 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Innovation, Yard & Garden

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