Summer in the SF Bay Area....
"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco..." while this is often mis quoted and mistakenly associated with Mark Twain - it has never been more true - especially this summer. Here in the East Bay - Oakland foothills - it has been downright chilly. As we await the "sunflowers" to bloom ( I can see the buds forming - very,very slowly ) the tomatoe plants are just beginning to offer up a ripe tomatoe now and then. Everything seems to be taking forever - no "gushing of fruits this year."Still - despte the drought - everything is green and thriving . Early in the spring the garden was humming with many bumbles and carpenters....enjoying the blooming honeysuckle. Very few honeys in the spring. WOW! That has suddenly changed! The coreopsis I planted last year to attract pollinators is really put out this year. I allowed the parsley, thyme and oregano to flower this year. Just these last two weeks in particular - I have noted that the oregano in particular is simply buzzing all day - with honeys! In a small plant - 20 inches in diameter - at any one time - there are as many as 7 - 10 honeys and other small wasps! When not visiting the oregano - they sample the thyme - the coreopsis and vegetables - but they always return to the oregano. This is non stop - all day long. So while I'm waiting to count the honeys on the sunflowers - I'm delighted by how many of them are gorging on the oregano. Who would have known!