Fuzzy Wuzzy Moth

I found this moth out by the front door. It was cold enough that he couldn't fly. I wonder what kind of a moth he is?  His markings remind me of a Giraffe.

Come and Get It

Dinner time in cat country.

The Stand Off

And the cat won!

The Big, the Bad and the Not So Ugly

 

I think these guys are interesting and thought about getting one until I found out their life span is over 50 years! On the way into town on Highway 1, we pass a field of tortoises. There are lots of them, big and small. They share the field with goats and seem to get along fine. I'd say this guy is about 24 inches across. They dig a burrow into the ground where they stay during our coldest days but mostly they are out and about eating grass or hay and sitting in the sun. In the fall I have seen pumpkins tossed into their field. I think I could learn something about how they live their life...slow and steady. And personally, I think they are cute!

The New Visitor

We were surprised to see this Acorn Woodpecker in our bird feeder. He stayed for quite a while. I often hear a woodpecker in the eucalyptus trees but have never been able to see it. Now I know what he looks like. That red crown on his head is the most vivid red. This truly made my day!

SLO Bubble Gum Alley

There is this famous, or should it be infamous, place in San Luis Obispo known as Bubble Gum Alley. If you want to take a short cut from one of the few parking lots in down town to Higuera Street, the main drag where everything happens, you go through this narrow passage.

It's gross and I sneak through without touching anything! Many a Cal Poly student plus tourists have left their mark. It started in the 60's and just keeps on coming.

Evening Snack

The Black Headed Grosbeaks were getting their fill of white Millet about 6:15 yesterday evening. There were a total of 4 in two feeders. Their markings are vivid and they are quite tame. It seems they are nesting somewhere close because they are around morning and evening. I have watched them trying to see where a nest might be but have no clue yet.

Busy Bee Or Not?

There have lots of these bees on the berry plants. They don't look like honey bees to me but more like bumble bees only smaller. We always have lots of honey bees when the eucalyptus trees are in bloom but that is over and these bees are different. They are black and yellow and very fuzzy. I'll have to do some googling and see what I find.

Remember when we had sets of encyclopedias to go to for information? My folks bought our kids a set when they started school. They poured over those books and had them spread all over the floor. Each letter was a separate book except down at the end, U-V-W-X-Y-Z were in a couple books. There was a yearly update book to capture new information. The kids looked forward to an assignment in school where they were to do research so they could get out all those books...at least until the newness wore off!

Now, we go to the computer to get our information. I'm afraid libraries are going to be a thing of the past. I don't want to read from a Kindle either. I love books. Love turning the pages, checking the inside cover and the blurbs on the back cover. Flipping through for pictures and marking a page by turning down the corner. I don't know if the Kindle has any features like this and I'm not in any hurry to find out.

Now...about these bees...

Here's what I found. There are about 250 kinds of bees. The fuzzy ones are bumble bees and pollinate plants like all bees. They make honey for their own use but don't store it. Their nests are on the ground or in hollow logs or holes in the ground. They are very beneficial and I'm happy they are here.

PS:  I think this might actually be a Bumble Bee Moth. I'm going to do more reading...

Bunches of Blossoms

It seems that everything has burst into bloom. These Raspberries are doing well and in fact I found a small handful that were ready to pick. We are looking forward to bowls full!

The Golden Delicious Apple tree has a spectacular amount of blooms. We will have to do lots of thinning or branches will break. I see dried apples and applesauce in our future. They also work well for apple pies when used early in the season.

The delicate nature of apple blossoms amaze me...and the way the bright pink fades to pale pink as they open spans a whole range of color.

The Black Mexican Avocado is blooming up a storm. The whole tree is just covered. The Haas and the "volunteer chicken pen avocado" haven't  nearly as many blossoms. Maybe it will happen yet. It's nice to have different varieties produce at different times. Guacamole all year long...yummmmmm!