Month: September 2025

I wanted to share a new study that came out this week in the journal Science. We generally agree how important bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are, not only for our crops but for the health of ecosystems as a whole. Yet, despite decades of awareness, pollinator numbers continue to decline worldwide. Dr. Gabriella Bishop used a meta-data approach in this study to examine why pollinators are struggling. The study concluded that current conservation targets for habitat area are simply not large enough.… Continue reading this article “New study says that pollinators need more than a token corner of habitat”

In my household, the weather is a common subject of conversation. That is only partly because I am married to a meteorologist. In fact, I have noticed that I can talk to almost anyone about the weather, and I suspect you can too. Weather is most captivating when something interesting is occurring, like liquid falling from the sky. When I give talks to master gardener groups, they are almost always consumed with how the weather is affecting their gardens.… Continue reading this article “How different types of precipitation affect your garden”

I thought it would be fun to periodically highlight some insects that are understudied or lesser-known. Today’s insect spotlight is on the marigold fruit fly, Trupanea vicina. If you grow marigolds in your garden, you might find this fruit fly or it’s larvae in your flowers. One of its most striking features is the bold, patterned wings that is has, I think the venation  almost resembles shattered glass. This is a fly in the tephritid fruit fly family, a large group of flies that often specialize on flowers and seeds.… Continue reading this article “Insect spotlight: the marigold fruit fly, Trupanea vicina”