The solitary bees started hatching out of our bee-obelisk this past weekend, as daytime temperatures reached the low 90's. Recent cool weather since then has slowed them down a bit, but that will be changing soon.
Two days ago we found three new Queen Butterfly caterpillars on the Desert Milkweed in our courtyard. Looks like we will have another round of butterflies in a couple of weeks.
There was a flock of about 20 Cedar Waxwings perched in our tallest mesquite tree yesterday morning.
Off by itself in a lower branch of the same tree was a single Western Kingbird, the first one we have seen this season.
What we originally hoped were orange butterfly eggs on the milkweed plant are actually orange aphids.
Rather than using pesticides, we'll clip and remove the affected stems if it looks like the aphids are getting out of control.
There are at least 2 verdin nests in our mesquite trees. Mockingbirds likely have a nest in one of the other mesquites. They have been extremely temperamental, territorial, and vocal - even more so than usual.
The palo verde tree is starting to produce buds and will soon be covered in yellow flowers.
"Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain."
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