Milkweeds (Asclepias sp.) have been in the news in recent years, mostly because of their critical importance to the monarch butterfly. The larvae of this iconic butterfly must feed on milkweed to develop so the adults seek milkweeds for each generation. There are over eighty species of milkweed found in North America. In Washington we have only three native […]
It’s cooling down – time to plant!
Bumblebee on cutleaf penstemon (Penstemon richardsonii) What a hot summer! It’s been hard on people, wildlife (especially fish) and plants. Even with diligent watering in the nursery there were a number of species that had new growth becoming crispy (I’m looking at you, vine maple!) The change to cooler weather over the past few weeks […]
Native Plants for Native Bees
Anthophora bee on phlox A few weeks back I attended a talk by Don Rolfs, who spoke about the over 700 species (!) of native bees we have in this state. Don, who has done fine work and photography on our local butterflies, is now intensely focused on documenting and photographing the native bees in our […]
Desert Buckwheats: Star Qualities but Often Overlooked
Cushion buckwheat (E. ovalifolium) Desert or wild buckwheats (Eriogonum sp.), members of the Buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), are native to North America with the greatest numbers in the arid regions of the West, particularly in the Great Basin and California. There are about 250 species in total, with at least 17 in Washington and 11 in […]
Attracting MORE Insects with Native Plants – Part 2: Butterflies
(The snow is finally retreating! Derby Canyon Natives will open for retail sales Friday, March 21, and thereafter be open every Friday 9-5 and Saturday 8-12). There are close to 150 species of butterflies found in Washington state. Most are year-round residents, overwintering as either eggs, larvae, pupae or adults in protected locations, such as […]