Monarch Motivation: Population Increase in 2021

Sometimes you need some good news and motivation, and we have some for you today–the western monarch butterfly population has increased! Biologists and volunteers count overwintering monarchs in coastal California each year. During the fall of 2021, the Xerces Society counted nearly 250,000 butterflies compared to less than 2,000 butterflies counted during fall 2020. Although that is merely a sliver of the millions of monarch butterflies that migrated in the 1980s and …continue reading

Byron Roos-Collins2022-02-01T12:06:02-08:00February 1st, 2022|Blog, Pollinator Gardens, SNAP|

ESLT’s Deep Roots Pollinator Garden Workshop

Did you know that gardening with native plants can save you money and water? It’s true – native plants found in the Eastern Sierra are often drought tolerant and require less maintenance than lawns or high water-use plants. Native plants also attract pollinators like birds and butterflies that are essential for wildflowers and productive gardens. Learn how to design a garden using native plants at ESLT’s free Pollinator Garden Workshop from 10am-1:00pm …continue reading

Byron Roos-Collins2022-03-23T17:08:38-07:00January 31st, 2022|Pollinator Gardens|

California Native Plant Society, Bristlecone Chapter’s Native Fall...

Monday, August 16th through Friday, August 20th - Participate in California Native Plant Society, Bristlecone Chapter’s Online Plant Sale to purchase your garden’s native plants for the fall season. Invite passing pollinators to your outdoor space! Participants of ESLT's Eastside Pollinator Garden Project will receive their voucher and coupon code ahead of time for up to $125 worth of plants and will be given an earlybird plant sale window. Plant Pick-Up will …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-07-12T16:05:04-07:00July 12th, 2021|Pollinator Gardens|

Sleeping bee photo courtesy: Joe Neely, https://www.jmneelyphotography.com/

National Pollinator Week Day 6: Globe Mallow Bees

Today is Saturday, and while you were probably sleeping in, it’s most likely that the bees were too. Have you ever seen a bee nap? Well today, National Pollinator Week Day 6, is dedicated to a little pollinator known for many things, and one of them is their notorious tendency to nap in flowers all dusted with pollen. Have you ever fallen asleep after eating some cake to wake up and find …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-09-18T12:01:34-07:00June 26th, 2021|Blog, Pollinator Gardens|

(Male Anna’s) Photo Courtesy: 2013 © Kyle Blaney

National Pollinator Week Day 5: Hummingbirds

We know what you’re thinking, Hummingbirds are a big topic for such a small bird. With about 15 different species nesting in North America, there are several species that visit during migration. So for National Pollinator Week Day 5 we’re going to celebrate Hummingbirds and keep it simple like simple syrup. Let’s talk about the ones we love to watch in our California landscape – you know, the small bolting creatures that …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-09-18T12:01:34-07:00June 25th, 2021|Blog, Pollinator Gardens|

leafcutter bee cutting leaves into perfectly round shapes

National Pollinator Week Day 4: Leafcutter Bees

National Pollinator Week Day 4 is all about Leafcutter Bees! Yesterday we gave our attention and support to Mason and Blue Orchard Bees, two species of the Megachilidae family and both very important native pollinators of some of our favorite spring foods. Today, we are not straying too far from these busy little fruit pollinators as we dedicate our Thursday to the Leafcutter Bee. The Leafcutter is also a member of the …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-09-18T12:01:34-07:00June 24th, 2021|Blog, Pollinator Gardens|

Blue Orchard Bee Photo Courtesy: © 2019 dvoribird

National Pollinator Week Day 3: Mason Bees &...

National Pollinator Week Day 3 is all about Mason Bees, a native species of bee in the Osmia genus and the Megachilidae family. Blue orchard bees are also a mason bee, and sometimes called Orchard Mason Bees. Mason bees are a native species of bee that play an important role in pollinating food plants and for the Blue Orchard, orchard trees. Some of these foods include almonds, …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-09-18T12:01:34-07:00June 23rd, 2021|Blog, Pollinator Gardens|

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus Plexippus), a member of the Nymphalida

National Pollinator Week Day 2: Monarch Butterflies

National Pollinator Week Day 2 is all about Monarch Butterflies! They are scientifically known as Danaus plexippus, belonging to the Nymphalidae family. As we all well know, the monarch is a crucial and highly studied species of milkweed butterfly and it calls many places home as it migrates throughout North and Central America. These beautifully winged creatures prepare for the cold weather of winter and begin to fly south, from as north …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-09-18T12:01:34-07:00June 22nd, 2021|Blog, Pollinator Gardens|

National Pollinator Week Day 1: Squash Bees

female squash bee with pollen, photo by E. Youngsteadt We’re kicking off National Pollinator Week with waffles! Wait, what? Yes, waffles. Not just any waffles though – zucchini waffles! We’re doing this in support of a very specific and extremely helpful bee native to North America: the Squash Bee, belonging to the two Peponapis and Xenoglossa genera. Hearing your garden bed zooming and buzzing more than usual as those squash blossoms bloom? …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-09-18T12:01:34-07:00June 21st, 2021|Blog, Pollinator Gardens|

National Pollinator Week 2021

National Pollinator Week Monday, June 21th – Sunday, June 27th National Pollinator Week is here! What is National Pollinator Week, you ask? It is a time for celebration and awareness of the health of pollinators! Pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem, food chains, and habitat well-being. In the United States alone, bees are essential to the 150 and counting food crops. And while bees are a quintessential pollinator, other pollinators …continue reading

Heather Freeman2021-06-28T10:15:59-07:00June 18th, 2021|Pollinator Gardens|