As the Gottlieb Native Garden’s naturalist, Scott Logan documents the ever-changing array of wildlife species as they vary with the garden’s blooms, seasons and migratory patterns. While bringing these observations to life for all to experience, he also coordinates scientific research projects, and monitors the overall health and biodiversity of the garden. The Naturalist’s Journal also highlights the work the Gottliebs and Scott are doing to educate and inspire people to start gardening for wildlife with native plants.
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bees come in many shapes and sizes, and bumble bees are always a welcome sight in the GNG. This Yellow-faced bumble bee spent an entire morning collecting from only california poppy flowers. I would take about 15 minutes for it to fully load-up its scopa […]
UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
UCLA graduate students busily collect last night’s catch from both pitfall and tray traps, part of a study being conducted by the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. The GNG was chosen as one of the Los Angeles gardens to be surveyed for bio-diversity. […]
Non-native Can Attract Native
Some non-native flowers, like this rock purslane, are taken advantage of by our native pollinators. This small male sweat bee is waiting for a female to show-up at this striking purple flower for pollen and nectar. His plan eventually paid-off. Halictus tripartitus ♂ on Calandrinia grandiflora.
Wrens can be Prolific Breeders…
Here we are, now in June and these house wrens are getting ready to raise another family – in a different home! This nesting box was a new addition to the GNG, just added in 2016. It had been passed-over up to this point and we […]
Native Bees are Busy in the Garden
As this sweat bee collects California Poppy pollen to provision her nest, she is pollinating each poppy flower she visits. The plant is insured fertilization and the bee’s larvae a food source. She will create a mass of pollen and nectar inside a waterproof underground […]
Parrots in Beverly Hills?
Yellow-chevroned parakeets are native to the tropical forests of South America, not neighborhoods in Southern California! But over time caged birds have been released or escaped forming self-sustaining populations in the Los Angeles basin. Like many other feral parrot species thriving in L.A., Yellow-chevroned parakeets […]
Very, Very Cute, but…
California ground squirrels are definitely adorable, especially during their youth. Ground squirrels can also be incredibly destructive, destabilizing hillsides with their extensive underground condominiums. Because of this destructive behavior, homeowners are sometimes forced to keep this animal under control. If extreme measures are necessary, […]
Slow Days at the Hummingbird Feeders
We have to wonder why hummingbirds are not drinking at feeders with their usual ferocity. Once reason might be that they are taking advantage of the recent wildflower bonanza and getting the majority of their nectar from another source. Hopefully this is true and they’ll […]
Yummy Worms
At this time of year, the GNG is full of native insects and birds really take advantage of them. Nesting season for many species coincide with this bounty, assuring plenty of food for their young. In addition to those insects, mealworms are offered as a […]
Acorn Woodpecker in the Silk Oaks
It’s always fun getting a new yard bird and today’s was good one – the clown of the woodpecker family, an Acorn Woodpecker. This woodpecker can be found throughout California, but is a little out of place in the GNG. Being Oak Woodland dependent and […]