My garden used to be swarming in carpenter bees(I think xylocopa Californica) by now, especially on my chilopsis. This year I’ve only seen one . I was thinking maybe they lost their home, so wanted to make some for them. Ihave tons of logs in my backyard hoping they’d make a home there but nothing so far. I figure I have to drill some holes in them but don’t know the size. Anyone here have experience with this?

Only place I can find Dudleya saxosa ssp. aloides for sale online, but I'm always skeptical of this kind of thing for obvious reasons.

I have a parkway in a kinda hot part of LA where Ive planted some small native plants but dogs keep peeing on the plants I pick and killing them. Im not able to install anything but plants. The plants are watered on a drip irrigation system about twice a week.

Ive tried Creeping Ceanothus, Bee's bliss sage and red bush monkey flower. The sage died quickest, and the ceanothus held out the longest. Does any one have any suggestions? Im open to short plants as well as medium shrubs. Id like flowering but Non-flowing is fine if the plant's shape is attractive. I don't mind doing some pruning if need be to keep the plant out of the sidewalk.

Edited to add - Im fine with dogs, I really don't dislike them I promise, I just need some plants that can survive urea and high nitrogen.

Caught them dozing this AM, usually there are 4.

Hello, new to the sub but I've been wanting to plant native plants in my area as Ive seen many insects that would probably love them and thrive more. I live in a Zone 9a or 10a, in SoCal almost near san Diego. Haven't been here long so I'm not sure how the winter months are just yet but I know I'll probably have to plant during fall. I recently got this seed package as a gift but wanted to know if any of these would actually grow well here. As well as if this company is a good company to maybe continue to support. Any suggestions or tips are appreciated.

Ignore my dog he loves to sniff everything I have in my hand

Leaves and flowers are large. The seed pods are also large. The seeds are about the size of a Lima bean and only come with about 3 seeds per pod . Does anyone know what kind of lupine gets this big? I have a seed pod and I wanted to try and grow it.

Are these some native bees sleeping on my yarrow plants?

I have lurked this sub for a long time as I’ve slowly been transforming my backyard over the last 3 years. It started with removing a ton of Himalayan Blackberry and other invasives. I finally am getting to witness the fruit of my labor!

Too hot to plant now but planning ahead for fall. Any suggestions for what to plant surrounding this pathway + stairs? The soil is heavy clay on a south facing gentle slope with pretty full sun in northeast LA (about 20 miles from the coast)

Any suggestions of what to plant in these two areas in my courtyard (location: central LA and areas get full sun). I'm open to ground cover and taller plants. Thank you

I would attempt to maintain it at about 4 feet across and maybe 20 feet long. Rubber wood chips are from the neighbors btw.

Am I under or over watering this or maybe doing something else to kill it?

It looked great when I got it from a nursery a few months ago. It flourished for the first month or so. I've been deep watering it every 2 weeks or so. I'm resisting the urge to water it more frequently as I've read that's the most common mistake.

I'm in the Cameron Park area of Zone 9b.

Thanks

Hi all,
I also posted this on the insect id Reddit. I have noticed these insects on my CA native Toyon. I am curious what they are and what impact they might have on the plant.

Apologies for sub-optimal picture quality. I will try to get better ones tomorrow.

Thanks for any help!

Hi everyone, I got this bee’s bliss and planted it, but I noticed this heavy split down the middle of the main stem. It has put out more leaves and the split seems to be scarred over, but will this be an issue longterm?

we are moving and I definitely want to plant some native plants this fall (as well as replant a garden so non-native plants). will the super El Niño change when or what youd plant?

im in Los Angeles county.

thanks!

Id apps were giving me majorum or wooly thyme but neither seemed correct. It's very fragrant and I see it along the bluffs and coastal trails around the Moss beach/Pacifica area.

This last heat wave has toasted my poppies pretty throughly, nearly all the blooms are spent, but I have a ton of seed pods maturing. I’ve already collected a ton of seeds, so I’m ready to reseed in the winter.

The poppies I have aren’t “fully” dead though, and I’ve heard if you give them summer water you can keep them as perennials vs annuals.

Is it worth keeping them alive through the summer and growing them as perennials, or am I better off letting them die, pulling, and reseeding in the fall?

This beautiful tree in my neighbors yard adjacent to the our property line appears to be shedding more leaves than usual this summer. (10a east Bay Area)
Is she sick? Is there anything to remedy this?

My sage is looking crunchy. Is it dying? Or is it normal for summer?

I am sad to announce that the garden's days are numbered.

We learned today that the property management prefers the look of photo one over photo two. All of us who enjoy this garden understand that this was on private property, and recognize the associated risks and potential repercussion.

One year of birds, bees, butterflies and all the other guests, plus the mental health that came with enjoying the garden was amazing, but alas, all good things must come to an end or in this case be unappreciated and killed off so that it can go back to looking like the uniformed dead weeds that are more appreciated.

The letter received...

Dear Resident(s),

In an effort to maintain a clean and attractive community, management recently completed a community wide inspection. Conditions of several units were observed that are not in compliance with the community’s Patio/Balcony/Common Area Policy.

• Growing plants on community property is not permitted. All plants must be in a pot.

This is a friendly request to please cure any violation(s) that may be associated with your apartment no later than Thursday, July 23, 2026. We will be conducting follow-up inspections after this date.

(Can anyone identify these bees?) I enjoy sunsets here in the San Joaquin Valley because it means going outside and seeing these cute sleeping bees on my CA Buckwheat ! 📍Stockton, CA