Rangelands

Gardeners are always looking for ways to add more plants, especially in a small garden. One way to do this (and in hot California add some much-needed shaded seating) is with a pergola.

Community ecologist Romina Rader of the University of New England's School of Environmental and Rural Science, will speak on "The Journey to Effective Pollination" at the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's virtual seminar on Wednesday, March 10.

This month's Spotlight Master Gardener, Valerie Kimmel-Oliva had a personal goal to complete three UCCE programs in one year which she did (fall to spring 2017-2018).

Our population of urban trees is shrinking! You can help turn this around by protecting your own trees and by planting new ones recommended for your climate and the conditions around your home.

It's always a delight to see bumble bees and honey bees foraging together on flowers during the winter "sun breaks." Lately we've been seeing them sharing rosemary blossoms in Benicia and Vallejo.

If you missed the family-friendly seminar on ants by UC Davis Professor Phil Ward on Feb. 20 during the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day/Month, not to worry. "All About Ants II" is posted on YouTube at https://youtu.be/d8eRNsD8dxo.

Thankfully, they're out there. Butterfly guru Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology, spotted a female monarch butterfly at 1:35 today. As he mentioned in his email: "So, at 1:25 p.m.

Perseverance prevailed. The third instar monarch caterpillar we found munching on the remnants of our cut-back milkweed on Jan. 23 in Vacaville, Calif., is now an adult butterfly fluttering around the neighborhood.

Assistant professor Monika Gulia-Nuss of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada, will speak on "Progress Towards Making Ticks as a Genetically Tractable Model" at the next UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar.

To bee or not to bee? That's a crucial question as the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day/Month, Honey Bee Haven and the California Master Beekeeper Program scramble for funds between now and Sunday, Feb. 28. That's when the UC Davis-authorized crowdfunding drive ends.