Rangelands

Primary Image
Pollinator garden planting plan

Build Your Own Bee Haven -- Planting and Maintenance

May 6, 2024
A previous blog covered the steps to take before starting a bee garden. Now it's time to talk about the plants and how to take care of them. Plant selection depends on many factors, including personal preference, climate, soil type, irrigation frequency, and plant availability.
View Article
Primary Image
List of options for turf removal

Build Your Own Bee Haven -- Preparation

May 6, 2024
I've spoken with countless gardeners over the years who wish to start their own bee haven. That's great -- the bees need all the help we can give them. But the most misunderstood part of the process is how much preparation needs to take place before a single plant goes in the ground.
View Article
Primary Image
The California Honey Festival will include bee observation hives. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Forecast of Heavy Rain, Wind Changes Location of California Honey Festival

May 3, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Despite the weather forecast of heavy rain and wind, honey bees will still be "attending" the California Honey Festival. They'll be safe and dry in the bee observation hives. The free and family friendly event, co-sponsored by the University of California, Davis, takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
View Article
Primary Image
Craig Vodnik on unsplash.com
UC ANR Climate Corner: Article

Benefits of Trees for Climate Change Mitigation

May 3, 2024
By Jill Santos
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now. Chinese Proverb What is your happiest memory that involves trees? Hopefully, most of those memories are positive. Trees provide a multitude of benefits that are hard to overlook.
View Article
Primary Image
Bohart Museum graduate student and researcher Socrates Letana tosses paper butterflies to the net holders, as Professor Fran Keller (background) of Folsom Lake College staffs the California butterfly table. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

California Dogface Butterfly Steals the Show

May 1, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The California dogface butterfly stole the show at the Bohart Museum of Entomology pop-up tent at Briggs Hall during the 110th annual UC Davis Picnic Day.
View Article
Primary Image
View of the UC Davis Bee Haven in June
The Bee Gardener: Article

Thoughts on the Haven at Fifteen

May 1, 2024
The Haven was created in 2009: we celebrate our 15th anniversary this year. I joined the garden in 2012 and was tasked with creating an outreach and education program. Tours, social media pages, classes, and this blog soon followed.
View Article
Primary Image
Research plot to evaluate bee attractiveness
The Bee Gardener: Article

Haven Research Summary 2024

April 30, 2024
I've written previously about the Haven's research on bees and gardens. This work included a look at bee preferences for common California landscape plants and work to help growers and landscapers provide the healthiest plants for bees.
View Article
Primary Image
Bee observation hives attract attention at the annual California Honey Festival. Visitors delight in pointing out the queen bee and checking out the workers and drones. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

California Honey Festival Is the Place to 'Bee'

April 26, 2024
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Show me the honey? Show me the California Honey Festival. The annual event, which emphasizes the importance of bees, and promotes honey and honey bees and their products, will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 4 at the Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1250 E. Gum St.
View Article