Category Archives: Back Yard Garden

Shaggy Bumblebee in our Garden

09 Friday Apr 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bee, Bumblebee, Canon, Costco, Garden, Home Garden, Sloat Garden Center, Spanish Lavender

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I saw this new type of Bumblebee in our yard a few days ago. It is a little smaller and has more yellow than black color on her body. Her hair is a little more spiky looking than the other Bumblebees I saw last week. This one moved faster and was harder to photograph as she moved from flower to flower more quickly.

It is nice to get up close to observe this bumblebee. The spiky and shaggy yellow fur is interesting. Normally when we observe bees with the naked eye, this bee’s spiky fur probably would not be noticed. Observation to get up close takes time and patience.

This Bumblebee was indulging on the Spanish Lavender flowers we purchased from Costco and the Sloat Garden Center.

During this pandemic times when hair salons and barber shops were closed, many of us also had the shaggy look. We were not able to go to normal salons to get our hair cuts. It can get uncomfortable for me as my hair trickles over my ears. I finally had to come up with a new plan to cut my hair while we were sheltering in place.

Many men decided to buy the Wahl’s Hair Clippers to cut their own hair. Of course, many of us came to the same conclusion at the same time. I had to wait patiently to purchase from Costco. Apparently, someone, in the Bay Area, was buying all these Wahl’s Hair Clippers from the different Costco’s and probably reselling some place else. I also decided to purchase the Braun’s Hair Clipper from Costco too. The Braun’s Hair Clipper is lighter and cordless. It is helpful to do the close shave cut in the back of the neck and bottom at the hair line.

Even my wife is cutting her own hair in addition to her mom’s. Watching YouTube videos to learn technique is helpful. Their hair looks pretty good considering the technique probably is not perfect. My dad is cutting my mom’s hair too with good results.

I feel bad about not returning to the hair salon to get my hair cut. But during this pandemic, we’ve learned new skills to cope with our circumstances.

This shaggy bee reminds me of our shaggy hair during 2020. But our shaggy hair taught us how to adapt to changing circumstances.

When we had a video doctor’s visit with my mother-in-law’s physician, he mentioned about certain simple practices we could just do ourselves. Learning to be self-reliant is a valuable lesson.

Feel free to share any new skills obtained during our pandemic experience.

Photos remind us you can teach a shaggy old dog (talking about myself) new tricks.

Busy Smaller Bumblebees are Hard Workers!

08 Thursday Apr 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bee, Bumblebee, Canon, Flower, Garden, Home Garden, Lemon, Meyer Lemon, Pollination, Pollinator

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It was good to see some new smaller Bumblebees back in the garden this afternoon. She was about 3/4 the size of the Bumblebees I saw last week. This one landed and sipped some nectar from our Meyers Lemon Tree flowers. Smaller bumblebees can be the worker bees. Apparently worker bees come in different sizes.

Enjoying pandemic life, by photographing visitors in my backyard, is a discovery experience. I’ve been discouraged that the hummingbirds show up in the yard when I am not packing my big zoom lens. The bigger bumblebees seem to be off on vacation. Then out of the blue, the interesting moth (See in the previous blog) made an appearance. Lately, these smaller bumblebees are visiting.

Watching this worker bee flying from flower to flower reminds us about the importance of working hard. These bees do not stop for any coffee break. They constantly move to collect nectar to feed themselves, so they have energy to work. They also bring back nectar back to their hive family. These bees are not self-seeking, but are focused on their collective group. They give everything they’ve got and more.

These bees are good role models to remind us to be there for our collective group of family, friends and relatives. The bumblebees regularly contribute and help their hive family. When we were teenagers, were we accustomed to being with our parents but not really listening or helping our family unless we were compelled to do so? Did we often just nod our heads while ignoring the lectures? As we grew older, are there times that we are present with our family, but not really involved?

We try to be involved especially in our parents’ lives. All of us can think of examples where individuals may be physically together but not involved or helpful with others in their collective. In families, there are members who contribute more to help, while other members are minimally involved to assist. Consider the walls which stop involvement. Can they be torn down?

These bumblebees remind us to keep busy as bees to help. If an individual feels they contribute more than other members and is frustrated, what is the answer? Perhaps the answer is in following the bee’s example. It’s not about what is fair. Life is not fair or equitable. Life is giving expecting nothing back in return. That is a hard principle to grasp. By serving our collectives, hopefully we will eventually influence other individuals to help and assist. Actions speak louder than words. It is a nice dream to hope for a collective like the bees where everyone contributes. The bees do not expect anything in return and are just dedicated to their duty.

Worker bees remind us to keep working to serve.

Photos inspire selfless service.

Moth showing his Colors

07 Wednesday Apr 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, California Pyrausta Moth, Canon, Garden, Home Garden, Moth, Pyrausta californicalis

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California Pyrausta Moth – Pyrausta californiacalis

The Hummingbirds and Bumblebees are taking their spring break from showing up in front of my camera lens. In the meantime, I photograph whatever else shows up in the garden. This moth, which was about half an inch wide, showed up a few days ago. I did not know what kind of moth it was, but it caught me eye.

Usually the moths flying in the house are mostly beige or gray in color. They are not too interesting. My wife wants them out of the house so they do not eat her wool clothing. So I do have a bug bazooka to catch these flying insects in the house.

This moth is so colorful with it’s wing pattern. I’ve never seen a moth like this one. The pink, oranges and dark gray colors are unique in the design. It is interesting how symmetrical the pattern is for the 2 wings. The bright colors make this moth unique. This moth look like a California Pyrausta Moth

Apparently, this moth likes mint as per the Bug Squad at University of California. There is an abundance of mint in my yard. This leaf is on my meyer lemon tree. So maybe this moth wanted a 2 course meal.

How do we recognize uniqueness? All life entities possess unique characteristics. Often we look for visible or obviously characteristics to notice uniqueness. Just like this moth’s brightness highlights its unique outward appearance. It is easy to look on the outward appearance to find uniqueness. Outward appearances deteriorate and change with age. Look at my other blog posts for the butterfly with the tattered wings. I was naturally attracted to the bright colors of this moth.

As a photographer, I do tend to look at outer appearances, since that’s what I do. Personally, I avoid bright colors. I do not want to stand out and prefer to be hidden. My unique talent is seeking the obvious and the hidden qualities in the objects or living things I photograph.

Perhaps, this moth was enjoying the taste of the meyer lemon leaf versus the mint leaves in my yard. That’s a secret I will keep looking to reveal if this is true.

Our challenge should be to appreciate the hidden unique qualities of each other. Do we take time to see how the people in our life are not just changing outwardly but also inwardly? Have they changed their tastes in food from a minty flavor to lemon perhaps like this moth?

Do we compliment those for their hidden unique qualities or do we take their uniqueness for granted?

Appreciate the hidden and unique qualities of those around us!

Photos remind all are individually unique!

Osteospermum ‘Serenity Lavender Frost’

05 Monday Apr 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Canon, Flower, Garden, Home Garden, Osteospermum, Serenity Lavender Frost, Sloat Garden Center

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We purchased this plant from the Sloat Garden Center in the late Fall of 2020, and it is really starting to spread out and grow. So far it has not attracted any bees or butterflies, but hopefully it will attract them later in the spring and summer. I’m trying to figure out if color matters to attract these creatures.

The Hummingbirds and Bumblebees have been camera shy the past few weeks. I have seen the Hummingbirds while gardening without my camera. But when I bring my camera out to take pictures of them, they disappear.

How many of us are camera shy? Unfortunately and tragically, some have died over getting the perfect selfie in a dangerous scenic location. I rarely take selfies. We’ve only taken selfies while on vacation by ourselves. We wanted to remember a moment and wanted our selfie. You can tell from my website, my face is not too visible.

I probably was photographed the most when I got married. I did not mind all the pictures, since it was one the most happiest moments of my life. I wanted to remember every moment. To be photogenic, an individual needs to be relaxed and genuine. When you look at our pictures, it is easy to see individuals who look uncomfortable, and their pictures did not turn out good.

Maybe those who are camera shy are a minority. But if you are in this minority, try to reflect why there is the feeling of insecurity which gives the funny expressions in your pictures. When I was younger, I was uncomfortable with myself for various reasons. As I matured, I’ve learned to overcome some of the insecurities. By no means, I still have insecurities. But I’ve learned to relax in front of the camera, as I’ve learned to be more comfortable with me.

When I figure why they hummingbirds and bumblebees are being shy to get photographed, I will be sure to report this revelation.

If you are camera shy, determine what factors bring uncomfortable feelings. Let go of the insecurities to enjoy a better selfie.

Photos of ourselves reveal who we are.

Lately Only Honeybees Guests

03 Saturday Apr 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bee, Canon, Flower, Garden, Home Garden, Honey Bee, Pollination, Pollinator, Sloat Garden Center, Spanish Lavender

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I spotted this Honeybee yesterday buzzing around our Spanish Lavender plant. We have purchased a few of them from the Sloat Garden Center and Costco. I have not see the Bumblebees or Hummingbirds much this past week. Hopefully they will come a lot more often later this Spring. I miss not seeing the bumblebees and hummingbirds in the yard. I keep attempting to analyze and figure out what I can do to bring them back. Do I need brighter flowers? Is it too noisy in the neighborhood, and therefore they are staying away?

One reminder I am learning is how to prepare for guests whether human or other life. I do miss not being with family, relatives and friends for gatherings and enjoying a good meal together. We’ve only eaten with a handful of people for over a year. Mother’s Day will be the first larger gathering we will have with vaccinated family and relatives in an outdoor setting.

A goal during the pandemic was to declutter which is an ongoing struggle. We’ve made a little progress but still have a mountain to climb to accomplish. Whenever we should welcome guests into the house, we do have a little work to do to tidy up and throw away.

Even as we plan for our future Mother’s Day potluck celebration at my cousin’s home, my wife wants to prepare separate packaged portions of food just to be safe. She will probably have little bags of cookies and covered containers of Asian noodles with vegetables. Guests can just pick up a package or a container without risks of any contamination from individuals.

We’ve been blessed with a large circle of “our” people. Not only do we need to welcome back guests with physical food and comfort, but we can welcome others with our demeanor. If I am in a “bad” mood, no one would want to be around me. We can feel good or bad vibes from people. People can sense our genuine concern. Hopefully, we did not totally isolate ourselves that we forgot how to show genuine care for others even in SIP.

As we prepare for Easter, how will we celebrate Christ’s resurrection? Will we celebrate “He is Risen” and show His Love to others who may not understand this sacrifice. If you are not meeting with others due to the pandemic, can you still share a meal together remotely?

We’ve been supplying my parents with holiday meals even though we are not quite ready to eat together. We realize they enjoy a change from their routine cooking. Tomorrow’s resurrection meal will be a Ham and Asparagus.

We look forward to welcoming all creation in spirit and in truth!

Photos help reflection!

Gallery

Bumblebee buzzing around the Spanish Lavender

02 Friday Apr 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bee, Bidens Pop Star, Bumblebee, Canon, Flower, Garden, Home Garden, Pollination, Pollinator, Sloat Garden Center, Spanish Lavender

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This gallery contains 13 photos.

It is hard to see all the intricacies of a bumblebee’s movement while sitting and watching due its size and …

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Thirsty Honeybee

31 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bee, Canon, Garden, Home Garden, Honey Bee

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After I watered my potted Avocado plants, I noticed this Honeybee taking a drink of the water that came out from the bottom of the pot. It was a sunny and warm day, and this Honeybee was thirsty. She came by a few times to take a sip of water before the water evaporated off the concrete in our backyard.

Notice the intricate wings. The veins in the wing resemble tree branches. It is pretty interesting to see the honeybee suck up the water. The wings look so fragile, yet they are quite strong to fly quickly and efficiently. The wings’ appearance is deceiving. The honeybees fly quickly and travel great distances for a small creature.

We can all relate to being thirsty like this bee. Especially during this pandemic, many of us have found new drinks to entertain ourselves. I’ve become our local coffee barista at home. An electric coffee maker was our former choice to brew our morning beverage. When it broke, a decision had to be made what to purchase next.

We do like making cold brew, since the flavor is intense with less acid. We especially enjoy Philz Coffee as our choice for making cold brew. We have a big cannister to make cold brew in addition to individual tall cylinder glass containers to allow the coarse grounds to sit and slowly brew the coffee.

Having a hot cup of coffee in the morning is also good. My wife reminisced how her mom would brew coffee on the stovetop each morning for her dad. Brewing coffee on the stove top is a contraption that will not break like an electric coffee maker. I investigated this idea. I decided to buy this Farberware Stainless Steel Stove top Percolator from Amazon. I love this percolator. It does take a little more time to brew coffee. But the flavor is mellow and different than the old electric coffee maker. An electric coffee maker makes a quick cup of Joe. But taking a slower method to brew does give taste benefits.

Have you found a new thirst quencher during this pandemic? Our new drink choice is to use a bunch of meyer lemons from our garden and add to our pitcher with a center reservoir for the fruit. We add water and plan to use fresh mint with the lemons for a healthy easy drink.

This bee needed hydration and comfort. We all need this during our pandemic life. We’ve learned new ways to create drinks at home to give comfort and help us relax.

Identifying with this bee and his thirsty needs reminds us to enjoy our drinks and feel comforted. Hope the bee’s drinking will help encourage others to find new drinks for entertainment and comfort.

Photos reminds us to be comforted with good drinks!

Younger Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Visits!

29 Monday Mar 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Butterflies, Butterfly, Canon, Garden, Gulf Fritillary, Home Garden

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Here’s another Gulf Fritillary Butterfly. I’m not sure why I am seeing these butterflies when I’ve not seen them during my years searching for these creatures. This butterfly’s wings are not tattered and worn compared to the first butterfly who flew in earlier in the week. This butterfly’s visit was very brief. I barely had time to photograph these 2 photographs.

When trying to capture a photo of a fast moving creature, there is not much time to fiddle with the camera. For the first picture, my focus was on the bottom center of the butterfly. For the second picture, I focused the lens around the head. So the other parts of the butterfly’s body are not totally focused. I know if I had adjusted other settings on my camera, the butterfly’s picture could have been sharper. But the butterfly would have been long gone by the time I competed the setting adjustments.

Since I’m a little crazy in my fondness of butterflies, it was important for me to photograph this new visitor. I don’t know if it will return or if this same species will return. I had to grab the opportunity to get a few pictures of this butterfly.

No one wants to miss a once in a lifetime opportunity. It can be hard to determine if a missed opportunity will be available again. We do not know what a day will bring. Photographing a memorable moment is important. Each photograph is unique. That captured moment may not happen again. So be quick to not miss any opportunity and grab it. The grab may not be perfect, but it is better than letting it slip away from your grasp.

Photos catch unique moments!

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Surprise!

25 Thursday Mar 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Butterflies, Butterfly, Canon, Garden, Gulf Fritillary, Home Garden, Meyer Lemon

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This is the first time in my life I saw a Gulf Fritillary Butterfly. I have been a  butterfly observer in the San Francisco area my whole life, since I was a kid. It caught me by surprise when I saw this butterfly, as I was hoping to photograph Hummingbirds or Bumblebees. It was in our yard for about one and half minutes. I only had about 30 seconds to photograph it, when it landed on the flower of our New Improved Meyers Lemon tree. It looked like it traveled many miles as the wings were tattered. This was a very cool surprise visit from a butterfly I never knew existed until I identified this species looking on the internet.

When I was a kid, I would watch the butterflies in our backyard or when I went out with friends to play. I enjoyed seeing the different types of butterflies in the Bay Area. I tried to catch butterflies and keep them in. I used to raise Anise Swallowtail caterpillars, until they went through the transformation to a pupa to a butterfly. I did this because the caterpillars were disappearing and possibly eaten by predators. I then released them in the backyard. I love the colors and patterns on butterflies. My wife even surprised me at our wedding banquet wearing a Chinese dress with butterflies. It was my dream as a young adult to create a garden to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees.

Whenever it is sunny and clear, I go to the backyard when the sunlight is at its peak to shoot photographs. Today I was getting discouraged about not seeing any hummingbirds. My wife snuck into the yard to clip a few branches of rosemary for dinner. She knows to keep quiet so not to scare any creatures. Just as my wife came to the yard, I spotted this special butterfly. I’m so glad I was quick to capture this butterfly’s pictures.

This butterfly is a good reminder that life is filled with surprises. I’ve always expected to see butterflies which are normally seen in San Francisco. It was exciting to see a different species of butterfly.

This pandemic has taught also a lot about surprises. We never expected to be home for over a year due to this pandemic. Never did we dream how this pandemic would effect businesses and our economy. Those who caught COVID-19 often have no idea how they got sick especially when they tried to be careful.

Surprises can be good and bad. I’m glad today I was blessed with a good surprise to see this special butterfly. It may have weathered difficult flights to get to San Francisco, but I’m glad it found my backyard. Perhaps if I did not attempt to grow my garden environment to shoot photographs, this butterfly would never have found the Meyers lemon blossom to take a sip of nectar.

Striving for goals do give surprise blessings. 

Photos capture surprise moments!

 

 

 

Flight of the Bumblebee

15 Monday Mar 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bumblebee, Canon, Garden, Home Garden, Sloat Garden Center, Spanish Lavender

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Here are a series of shots of a bumblebee’s sucking nectar and traveling around the flowers. I enjoy examining the bee’s positions in each shot. If this was a video, it would be harder to distinguish the different positions. So it is nice to take a pause to examine how they move.

This musical composition was written to depict the chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of the Bumblebee.

Wikipedia’s reference to The Flight of the Bumblebee

YouTube track of The Flight of the Bumblebee

It is pretty amazing how the wings flex in different angles and spread in interesting shapes. I would never have noticed the wing patterns of the bumblebee without these photographs. I used 1/8000 of a second shutter speed to try to freeze the action. The still frames display their remarkable wing span which is unexpected. Seeing the wings span larger for a small creature shows how they can fly in interesting patterns.

The chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of the Bumblebee is an analogy of our current times. We live in chaotic times with this pandemic. The rules keep changing of what we should do to keep safe. We are wondering when we qualify to get a vaccine. We were searching to see how as home caregivers to my mother-in-law, it would be possible to get vaccinated. Every vaccine site has different requirements or no requirements. Some of my aunties waited hours on the phone attempting to get an appointment. It is a little maddening trying to figure out how to get a vaccine.

We live in rapid change. It’s been one year since my wife was told in her office to pack up her laptop and work from home. She was concerned about focusing on work from home. But she learned to adapt and enjoy working from home. There is a lot of multi-tasking. But it helps to keep her sharp. Now the surroundings around her office are filled with tents and more homeless people. She’s afraid to return to the office due to the recent Asian assaults. She does not want to walk to the office from the bus. It has not been determined what management will decide about returning to the office. So much has changed during this one pandemic year. It boggles our minds thinking about all the events from the past year.

Crime is on the increase. In our neighborhood at the local grocery, someone tried to carjack a 75 year old woman in the parking lot. On Nextdoor.com, many neighbors regularly report about garage break-ins. It is alarming the number of racial attacks occurring. It is unnerving how we need to keep watching our backs when we go outside.

How do we deal with chaos and the constant change in our world? Do we look a little like this bee?

Maybe the clue is to go after the sweetness. The bee is flying crazy going after her sweet nectar.

In the midst of chaos, can we create sweetness in life?

Recently my aunt passed away unexpectedly. My wife and I went thru my old digital picture files and created a video for my aunt’s family and my relatives. Due to COVID-19, we did not gather for a funeral. So we thought this was a good way to grieve and also give sweetness to the family.

Give and create sweetness for others and yourself!

Photos teach us to change chaos into sweetness!