Windsor Bee Habitat and Hummingbird Garden

05/30/2026

Hummingbirds follow bloom timing more than anything else and these herbs hit their peak right when California hummingbirds are most active and looking for reliable food sources.

05/27/2026

California native bees face their hardest stretch in summer when food sources dry up fast. These plants bridge that gap and give them what they need right when most gardens stop providing it.

04/25/2026

https://www.facebook.com/gardeningknowledge/posts/pfbid036ddvUwLnUxtaA2UmKX83SwH7btBdPdSPEMrGfYfRbqGNF73tE2yun71J3zGTj34Bl

Not every caterpillar is a problem. Some will become the butterflies and moths your garden depends on for pollination later in the season.

The key is learning the difference. Once you can recognize which species are worth keeping, your approach shifts. You stop removing everything—and start making space for the right ones to grow.

That doesn’t mean letting all caterpillars stay. Some can quickly damage plants if their numbers get too high. A healthy garden is about balance. Tolerate some feeding, protect vulnerable plants when needed, and step in only when damage becomes excessive.

A thriving garden supports both stages. Caterpillars now. Pollinators later.

Work with that cycle—and your plants, and the ecosystem around them, will be stronger for it.

04/14/2026

Which edible flowers are your favorites? 🌸 Edible landscaping makes exploring your yard even more exciting! If you already have a garden, you can easily add some edible garden plants to your flower bed or home landscaping.

It’s important to choose edible plants that are ornamental, but not especially appealing to wildlife. If you have bright orange or yellow bulbs, mix in a few edible flowers to fill in the ground space.

Here are a few fun ideas to incorporate edible flowers and edible plants into your garden. Almanac.com/edible-garden-plants

04/09/2026

Discover powerful California groundcovers that suppress weeds naturally, improve soil health, reduce maintenance, and create dense, beautiful coverage.

03/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=970856249629085&set=a.371933324969411&type=3

The beautiful bee populations of the world have been dropping for about a decade. Scientists think there are a number of contributing factors to colony collapse, including the certain pesticides, parasites, and even stress. But a decline in natural habitat—along with the loss of bees' preferred wildflowers—is also a big factor.

If you have a garden, consider planting some of these flowers to support your local bees.

Or if you aren't able to plant, check out this awesome article about Bee-loving Seed Bombs: http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/save-bees-seed-bombs.html

(Thanks to Karma Chow)

03/02/2026

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0NQ2TBrm1pKqPsyP8kN3mgdJqcZrhGF11sKShtmNFedF6QihvRDP7mdxSTnZ2YfYdl&id=100095333385451

Deer don't browse randomly — they follow familiar paths and return to what tasted good last time.
The right plants break that cycle with texture, scent, and chemistry that deer learn to skip, without sacrificing fullness or beauty.

- Lamb's Ear — Zones 4–8
Thick, fuzzy foliage that deer avoid on contact — the soft silver mats spread wide and stay untouched all season.

- Catmint — Zones 3–8
Aromatic leaves that deer find repulsive, while the lavender-blue flowers billow from late spring through fall.

- Russian Sage — Zones 4–9
Intensely aromatic silver stems and airy blue spires — deer walk past it every time.

- Boxwood — Zones 5–9
Dense, bitter evergreen structure that holds its shape year-round and anchors a border with zero deer interest.

- Bleeding Heart — Zones 3–9
Toxic alkaloids make it completely unpalatable, yet it produces graceful arching stems of pink or white hearts each spring.

- Peony — Zones 3–8
Lush, full-bodied blooms on sturdy stems — deer leave them alone due to bitter foliage compounds, and clumps improve for decades.

- Foxglove — Zones 4–8
Tall spires of tubular blooms that deer avoid entirely because the whole plant contains cardiac glycosides.

- Hellebore — Zones 4–9
Leathery, toxic foliage that deer never touch — blooms arrive in late winter when nothing else is showing color.

- Ornamental Sage — Zones 4–8
Strong herbal scent and rough-textured leaves keep deer away while hummingbirds and bees stay close.

- Japanese Pieris — Zones 5–8
Evergreen shrub with cascading spring blooms and glossy leaves — toxic chemistry makes it permanently deer-proof.

- Ferns (Ostrich Fern) — Zones 3–7
Deer pass over ferns consistently — the tall, arching fronds fill shady borders with effortless green volume.

A deer-resistant garden doesn't have to look defensive. When the plants are chosen well, the lushness speaks for itself and the deer simply move on.

02/22/2026

Nature’s mosquito repellent 🌿🦟