From the UC Blogosphere...

What's in the Sunflowers?

So you're walking through a sunflower field and you're seeing lots of honey bees foraging on the flowers. But wait, look...

Melyrid beetle on a sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Melyrid beetle on a sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle on a sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Spotted cucumber beetle on a sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Forget five-star hotels, book a farm

Sunset Magazine ran an article this month encouraging readers to consider a farm stay for their next vacation. Beside a tranquil and scenic break from the office, farm visits help small-scale farmers sustain their operations, the article said.

“Farmers are recognizing that people are willing to pay for this experience,” said Penny Leff, agritourism coordinator for the University of California small farm program, whose researchers have seen a boost in the number of farms catering to visitors in recent years.

The small farm program maintains an online list of farms at http://calagtour.org that offer a wide range of agritourism opportunities to the public, from farm stays to U-pick operations, petting zoos, corn mazes, hay rides and farm stores.

The Sunset article details what it calls the "Top 8 Agritourism Experiences," including cattle herding, chicken butchery, wine making and goat cheese making.

Opening a ranch for hiking and birdwatching is another form of agritourism.

Ode to the Meadowhawk

If you're around creeks, ponds and irrigation ditches, watch for the dragonflies. We spotted scores of variegated...

Variegated meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, glows in the early morning. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Variegated meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum, glows in the early morning. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A camouflaged variegated meadowhawk. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A camouflaged variegated meadowhawk. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dragonfly mating ritual. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dragonfly mating ritual. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

How to Flush Out a Praying Mantis

So you want to capture an image of a praying mantis. You have to find one first. Sometimes it's a case of hide 'n seek--it...

Praying mantis on a watered tomato plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis on a watered tomato plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis licks water from its forelegs, specialized to seize prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis licks water from its forelegs, specialized to seize prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis rests on a tomato vine prior to flying to a nearby tree. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Praying mantis rests on a tomato vine prior to flying to a nearby tree. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

August Chores

I’ll be spending my vacation at home this August. What chores could I do in the garden while I have time?...

Read more