pleistocen3's Journal

Lots going on in the backyard that I haven't had the time to document. Still trying to keep track of birds (ebird spot here) as they fly by while I'm working at my desk. Just last week I heard some parrots go by. That's always a great sound to hear, alien as it is.

This morning I came back, after being gone for a few days, to a really cute leaf-roller moth on my Chaparral Mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus). I hadn't noticed the rolled leaf and did look pretty closely since the mallow has been having somewhat of an aphid problem. So far the aphids are being treated with a mixture of dish soap, cooking oil, and water. Limited success! I just really don't want to use anything harsh and disturb something like this moth.

Recently added plants are fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum, flourishing!), cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) in a planter, laurel sumac (Malosma laurina, also flourishing from a large root cutting), and dwarf nettle (Urtica urens, the source of aphids I suspect). I also added a hummingbird feeder to attract the local Anna's but no luck so far. I can hear them around the neighborhood constantly of course. Oh and city life wouldn't be complete with the ubiquitous and adorable Mus musculus (don't worry, he was freed up the street).

Moving into a new place and thought it'd be interesting to start documenting what, if any, living things are around. I'm pretty close to the city now but pretty far from what feels like the more open spaces in North County so already missing the chaparral plants and pollinators.

What's cool is that my room opens up to a pretty large patio area that I basically have to myself, so I'm hoping to bring some native plants into the fold. Perhaps even a raised bed with flowers / garden vegetables if I'm feeling really ambitious. Not very pretty as-is, as you can tell from the photos. I'm starting with two potted plants: Chaparral Mallow (Malacothamnus fasciculatus) and Chocolate Mint (a cultivar of Mentha piperita).

Between last night and this morning I managed to see/hear:

• the typical grasses associated with urban areas (uploaded to iNat)
• a species of spider that was hiding under the recycling bin (not photographed)
• Audubon's Warbler
• Anna's Hummingbird
• maybe a Black Phoebe but not entirely certain I didn't hear it in a dream.

So there are some things around. That gives me something to work with!