Visit your nature park

Published on by weedingwildsuburbia
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It was a beautiful day at the nature park. There were lots of butterflies, plants are greening up, and the weeds are making a big come back. In fact, there were more castor bean seedlings than we have seen in years and years. Check out the following pictures for butterfly, plant and weed id.

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Let’s get the weeds over with first. The seedling on the left is castor bean (Ricinus communis). Search these out and show them with no mercy. On the right is horehound (Marrubium vulgare). Ditto for this.
Ricinus communis
A field of castor bean. These are easy and very satisfying to pull. If work or school have you feeling frustrated, this is the job for you. Go at ’em!
Isocoma menziesii
Common buckeye on goldenbush (Isocoma menziesii). I planted these to get some late summer/fall flowers and seeds for gold finches (thanks to Bee and Ed). Haven’t seen the birds but the butterflies are delighted!
Isocoma menziesii
Nicholas Hummingbird of Hahamongna Nursery taking a shot at the common buckeye.
Isocoma menziesii
Gulf fritillary on goldenbush.
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California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) still blooming. Amazing how these plants can flower with almost no water (there is no irrigation in the park). Butterflies were pollinating these flowers too.
Quercus agrifolia
Nicholas collecting acorns from the coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia).
Quercus agrifolia
He collected quite a few. I covet his seed collecting basket… tried to sneak it away but he was too watchful!
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Nicholas with the York Blvd Bridge behind him.