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Garden of Surprises
Since I pick up plants from here and there I am always being surprised. I found this particular plant in its small form, an Echium fastuosum, It is a very popular part of the city landscape in Benicia. Very easy to see in its blooming stages by the side of the road. I thought that would be nice to have closer to home. I purloined one from a street near my house, popped it in the ground, and forgot about it. At least I lost track of it for a few months and then I realized that it was getting larger and larger and taking advantage of good soil and general fertilizer to get bigger and bigger. I thought, well this will be nice to see grown up fully.
Besides, it was another relative, I assumed because the foliage was similar. But there was something different about it. Little by little, it developed into a spike – and it didn't stop growing. I felt like this was right out of a fairy tale – it just didn't stop getting taller. Finally, I was dwarfed by a handsome spike which it took a bit of investigating to pin down: Echium wildpretii. Affectionately, Tower of Jewels. To add to my surprise, I noticed a couple of other specimens in other parts of Benicia. It turned out not to be so rare after all.
My main point here is the fun and value of surprises to be found in the garden. Sometimes the truth is not revealed until the growth is over and done with.
Echium wildpretti. Photos by Lowell Cooper
Painted Ladies on the Move
The painted ladies are on the move. Have you seen these migratory butterflies, Vanessa...
A painted lady, Vanessa cardui, photographed on lantana in Vacaville in 2015. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Meet-n-Greet the Bugs!
It's finals week at the University of California, Davis, and what a great opportunity to take time...
It's finals week! Coco McFluffin, a Chaco golden knee tarantula, will be one of the de-stressors at the Meet-n-Greet Bug Show from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 19 in the UC Davis LGBTQUIA Resource Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis entomology student and Bohart Museum associate Wade Spencer shows Coco McFluffin to students touring the Bohart Museum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bruce Hammock: From ResearchIng Insect Science to Researching Autism and Schizophrenia
Bruce Hammock, distinguished professor at the University of California, Davis, who holds a...
UC Davis researchers Jun Yang (right) and Sung Hee Hwang (center) with Bruce Hammock. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is a photo from the Kenji Hashimoto lab, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Japan, and includes some of the scientists working on the autism/schizophrenia research. In the center, front row, is Kenji Hashimoto. First author Ma Min, third from right, back row. Second author Qian Ren is in the back row, far right. Researcher Tamaki Ishima is the fourth from right, back row. (Photo courtesy of Kenji Hashimoto lab)
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling...There Must Be a Green Insect Nearby
When Irish eyes are smiling, it could be... St. Patrick's Day is approaching or A green insect...
The female metallic green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, nectaring on a purple coneflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The male metallic green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, is partly green; its head and thorax are green, but not its abdomen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A sand wasp, Bembix americana, foraging on a seaside daisy (Erigeron glaucus) at Bodega Bay. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
