Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary Garden

Spring 2020 Insectary flowers by Matthew Roberts

Located at ​431 Flora Vista Dr, Santa Barbara, CA, intersection of Flora Vista & Red Rose Way, across from Monroe Elementary School. 
A collaboration of three neighbors, this 120' x 4' garden, has been growing since January 2017, with over 100 native plants from California and Baja California.

Honey Bee visiting Albutilon palmeri

'Bee Friendly' Insectary 

Thank you to the Beekeeper's Guild of Santa Barbara for your recognition and our Bee Friendly award and sign!

Green Bee

Carpenter Bee

Woolly Blue Curls, Hummingbird Sage, Lupine

Planter 1 - Low Brick Wall

Peritoma arborea, Bladerpod 2019-12-17

Galvezia speciosa ‘Boca Rosa’, Island Snapdragon 2019-07-22

Grindelia stricta, Coastal Gum Plant 2019-07-04

Planter 2 - Stop Sign & Insectary Sign

Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman'

Isocoma menziesii, Coast Goldenbush 2019

Ribes speciosum, Fuchsia Flowering Gooseberry 2019-12-17

Hyptis emoryi ‘Silver Lining’ Desert Lavender - These tiny flowers are 1/8" across.

Mimulus 'Jelly Bean Orange', 'Jelly Bean Gold', 'Jelly Bean Lemon'

Abutilon palmeri 2019-07-22

Ablution palmeri

Bee visiting Salvia 'Bon Bon', (Salvia cleveladii 'Aromas' x leucophylla 'Point Sal') 2019-07-22

Salvia 'Dara's Choice', (Salvia mellifera x sonomensis) 2019-12-17

Erigeron glaucus 'Bountiful', Seaside Daisy 2019-12-17

Planter 3 - Parking Sign & First Stepping Stones

Eriogonum nudum, Naked Buckwheat

Verbesina hastata - Cedros Island Crownbeard 2019

Solanum xantii 'Mountain Pride', Chaparral Potato Flower

Lobelia laxiflora (Red Fuschia flowers) Mexican Lobelia, Hummingbirds 2018-06-11

Heuchera ‘Wendy’, Wendy Coral Bells

Planter 4 - Second Group of Stepping Stones

Eriogonum crocatum, Saffron Buckwheat

Eriogonum parvifolium, Sea Cliff Buckwheat

​Madia elegans, Spring Madia, Tarweed - flowers wilt mid-day to conserve moisture.

Encelia californica ‘Paleo Yellow’, Bush Sunflower

Sphaeralcea ambigua, Globe Mallow

Sphaeralcea angustifolia, Narrow-leaved bush Mallow

Layia platyglossa ‘Tidy Tips’ 2019-12-10

Mimulus Jelly Bean 'Fiesta Marigold', 'Red', 'Dark Pink'

Honeybee visiting Eriogonum Grande rubescens, San Miguel Island Red Buckwheat

​Planter 5 - Third Group of Stepping Stones

Epilobium canum var. latifolium ‘Everett's Choice' Summer 2019

Eriogonum arborescens, Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat 2019-06-01

Carpenteria californica, Bush Anemone

Eriogonum grande rubescens, San Miguel Island Buckwheat

Encelia californica ‘Paleo Yellow’, Bush Sunflower

Eriogonum giganteum, St. Catherine’s Lace 2019-07-23

Planter 6 - Forth Group of Stepping Stones

Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’, Blue Grama, Eyelash Grass 2018-08-15

Epilobium canum ‘Catalina’, California Fuschia

Planter 7 - Round Stepping Stones

Eriophyllum nevinii ‘Canyon Silver’, Woolly Sunflower 2018-07-13

Senecio palmeri ‘Silver and Gold’ Guadalupe Island Senecio

Heteroptera insect on Senecio palmeri

Aristolochia californica, California Dutchman's-pipe 2019-06-09

Stick Insect - Haplopus scabricollis
on Aristolochia californica  2019-06-11

Heuchera ‘Wendy’, Wendy Coral Bells 2019-06-09

Madia elegans with Caterpillar

Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary Garden Plant List

PDF of Insectary Plant List

​CLICK HERE

SB Mesa Insectary Garden Updated 09-28-2020
(Location and Nursery key at the end)
* = no summer water
 
Abutilon palmeri, Palmer's Indian Mallow - 4 - SMG (Gopher ate it Spring 2020-Replaced it 09-26-20)
Adenostoma fasciculatum ‘San Nicholas’, Prostrate Chamise - 3 - MC 10-14-20
Aistolochia californica, California Dutchman's-pipe - 2, 7 - ISF
Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray', Coastal Sagebrush - 5 (grew to 48” square x 12” high, removed because it got too big, 2020
Asclepias fascicularis, Narrow-leaved Milkweed - 1, 5 SMG
Asclepias speciosa​, Showy Milkweed - 1- SBBG/LPN 2019 (died)
Atriplex lentiformis ‘Naomi’, Quail Bush - 3 - SBBG/SCN 2019
Baccharis pilularis ‘Pigeon Point’, Dwarf Coyote Bush - 2 - SMG
Berberis aquifolium var. repens, Dwarf Mahonia - 1 - SMG
Bouteloua ‘Blonde Ambition’, Blue Grama, Eyelash Grass - 5 - SMG (AKA Bouteloua gracilis, Blue Grama Grass)
​Brodiaea Californica, California brodiaea, bulb - 5 - NS 2020
Calliandra californica, Baja Fairy Duster - 1 - NBN 09-26-20 (3’ tall, two stems)
Calliandra eriophylla, Pink Fairy Duster - 9 - SBBG 2019
Carpenteria californica, California Bush Anemone - 4 - SMG
Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’, Pt. Reyes Ceanothus - 2 - SMG
Ceanothus hearstiorum, Hearst Ranch Buckbrush - 2 - SMG
Ceanothus impressus ‘Vandenberg’, Santa Barbara Ceanothus - 2 - SMG  (replaced 09-26-20)
Ceanothus 'Centennial’, Centennial Ceanothus - 2 - SMG (replaced 09-26-20)
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus ‘Diamond Heights’ Diamond Heights Carmel Creeper - 5 - SMG
Ceanothus maritimus ‘Popcorn’ - SBBG/CPN 2019 (Died)
Dendromecon harfordii, Channel Islands Tree Poppy - 8 - SMG
​Dudleya cymosa, Canyon Live-forever - 2 - NS
Dudleya hassei, Catalina Island Live-Forever – 2, 7 - gift
Encelia californica ‘Paleo Yellow’, Bush Sunflower - 4 - SMG
Encelia farinosa, Brittle Bush - 3 - SBBG 2019
Epilobium canum ‘Catalina’, California Fuschia -  2, 5, 7 - SMG 
Epilobium canum ssp canum, ‘Hurricane Point’, California Fuchsia - 2 -MBN  (AKA Zauschneria canum ssp canum) (almost always under 4" tall) 
Epilobium canum var. latifolium, Everett's Choice' - 3 - SMG
Epilobium 'Sierra Salmon', Sierra Salmon California Fuchsia - 2 - SMG
Erigeron glaucus 'Bountiful', Seaside Daisy - 2 - SMG
Erigeron glaucus, 'Cape Sebastian' - 4 - SMG
Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’, Wayne Roderick Daisy - 7 ( Oct 2020, two plants)- SMG
Eriogonum arborescens, Santa Cruz Island Buckwheat - 4 - ISF
Eriogonum cinereum, Ashy Leaf Buckwheat - 4 - MCN
*Eriogonum compositum, Arrow Leaved Buckwheat - 2 - SBBG/LP 2019 (no summer water)
Eriogonum crocatum, Saffron Buckwheat - 2, 4 - SMG
Eriogonum fasciculatum, California Buckwheat - Naturalized throughout
Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Bruce Dickinson’, Bruce Dickinson Buckwheat - 2 - SBBG/ENG 2019
Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Dana Pt.’, Dana Pt. Buckwheat - 2 - SBBG/MG 2019 (not in calscape)
Eriogonum fasciculatum var. polifolium, Flattop Buckwheat - 2 - MSN
Eriogonum giganteum, St. Catherine’s Lace - 4, 9 - SMG
Eriogonum grande rubescens, San Miguel Island Buckwheat - 4 Naturalized
Eriogonum nudum, Naked Buckwheat - 3 - MC
Eriogonum ​parvifolium, Sea Cliff Buckwheat - 4 - NS
Eriogonum umbellatum, Sulphur Flowered Buckwheat -1 - SBBG/LP 2019
Eriophyllum nevinii ‘Canyon Silver’, Woolly Sunflower (AKA Constancea nevinii  ) - 7 - SMG
Erysimum concinnum, Coast Wallflower - SBBG/LPN 2019 (died)
Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy - 1 + Naturalized
Fallugia paradoxa, Apache Plume - 1 - SBBG/LP 2019
Festuca californica 'River House Blues', California Fescue - 2 - SMG
Galvezia speciosa ‘Boca Rosa’, Island Snapdragon - 1 - SMG
Galvezia speciosa ‘Pink Panther’, Island Snapdragon - (Calscape = Gambellia) - 1 - SMG (Died)
Garrya elliptica ‘Evie’, Silk Tassel - 2, 9 - SMG 
Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla 'Ray's Carpet', Coastal Gum Plant – 1, 9 - SMG 2019
Heuchera ‘Santa Ana Cardinal’, Santa Ana Cardinal Coral Bells - 1, 3, 8 - SMG
Heuchera ‘Wendy’, Wendy Coral Bells - 3, 8 - SMG
Hyptis emoryi ‘Silver Lining’, Desert Lavender (AKA Condea emoryi in Calscape) - 2
Iris douglasiana, Douglas Iris - 6 - SMG
Isocoma menziesii, Coast Goldenbush - 2 - SBBG/LP 2019
Juncus patens, California Gray Rush - 1 - SMG
Layia platyglossa, Tidy Tips - 4 - SBBG/AAN 
Lepechinia fragrans, Fragrant Pitcher Sage - 7 - SMG
Lessingia filaginifolia, ‘Silver Carpet’ California Aster (AKA Corethrogyne filaginifolia) - 2, 10 - SMG
Leymus triticoides 'Lagunita', Lagunita Wild Rye (AKA Elymus) – 2 - SMG
Lobelia laxiflora, Mexican Lobelia (Arizona / Mexico Native) - 2, 3, 7 - SMG (Not in Calscape)
Lotus (Hosackia) crassifolia var. otayensis, Otay Mtn. - 1 MCN (died two times, third try) SCN
Lupinus succulentus, Arroyo Lupine - 2 - Naturalized
Madia elegans, Tarweed (sticky) - 4 - AAN
Mimulus ‘Burst Berry’, Burst Berry Monkeyflower - 6 - SMG
Mimulus ‘Burst Lemon', Burst Lemon Monkeyflower - 6 - SMG
Mimulus Jelly Bean 'Dark Pink', Monkey Flower, Pink Monkeyflower - 4, 5 - SMG
Mimulus Jelly Bean 'Fiesta Marigold', Fiesta Marigold Monkeyflower - 3, 4 - SMG 09-26-20
Mimulus 'Jelly Bean Gold', Gold Monkeyflower - 2 - SMG
Mimulus 'Jelly Bean Lemon', Lemon Monkeyflower - 2 - SMG
Mimulus 'Jelly Bean Orange', Orange Monkeyflower - 2, 5 - SMG
Mimulus ‘Red’ Monkey Flower, Red Monkeyflower - 5 - SMG
Mirabilis laevis californica, Wishbone Bush - 5 - MC
Monardella antonina 'San Antonio Hills', Coyote Mint (Calscape = Monardella villosa ssp.villosa) - 2 - MG
Monardella macrantha 'Marian Sampson', Coyote Mint - 2 - MC
Monardella odoratissima, Mountain Pennyroyal -1- SCN 09-26-20
Monardella villosa, Coyote Mint - 2 - SBBG/LP 2019
Muhlenbergia dubia, Pine Muhly - 4 - SMG
Nemophila maculata, 'Baby Five Spot' - 2 - SBBG/AAN (died, annual?)
Nemophila menziesii, 'Penny Black' - 2 - SBBG/AAN  (died, annual?)
Penstemon eatonii, Firecracker Penstemon or Beardtongue - 2, 4, 7 - SMG
Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Margarita BOP’ (Bottom of Porch), Beardtongue - 4 - SBBG/NS 2019
Peritoma arborea, Bladderpod - 1 - MC
​Phacelia divaricata, Trailing Phacelia - 2
Ribes aureum var. aureum, Golden Currant - 2 SCN
Ribes speciosum, Fuchsia Flowering Gooseberry - 2 - ISF
Ribes viburnifolium, Catalina Currant - 1 - SMG
Salvia 'Allen Chickering', (Salvia clevelandii x leucophylla) - 2 - SMG
Salvia apiana, White Sage - 9 - SMG
Salvia ’Bee’s Bliss’ - 4,10 - SMG
Salvia ‘Bon Bon’, (Salvia clevelandii 'Aromas' x leucophylla 'Point Sal') - 2 - SBBG
Salvia brandegeei, Santa Rosa Island Sage - 9 - LP
Salvia 'Calamity Jane’ - 9 - MC
Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman' - 2 - SMG
Salvia 'Dara's Choice' (Salvia mellifera x sonomensis) - 2 - SBBG
Salvia ‘Desperado’ (Salvia apiana x leucophylla) - 5 - SMG
Salvia leucophylla ‘Point Sal Spreader’ - 7 - SMG
Salvia mellifera, planted 1990 – 10, 11
Salvia mellifera ‘Jade Carpet’, Dwarf Black Sage - 10 - SBBG/MCN 2019
Salvia mellifera ‘Little Sur’, Little Sur Black Sage - 10 - SBBG/LP 2019
Salvia mohavensis hybrid, Hybrid Desert Sage, (Salvia mohavensis x clevelandii x dorrii ) - 1- MSN
Salvia mohavensis, Mojave Sage - 1 - MSN (died)
Salvia munzii, Munz’s Sage - 9 - SBBG/MC
* Salvia pachyphylla, Rose Sage - 9 (no summer water) AAN
Salvia ‘Pozo Blue’, Pozo Blue Sage - SBBG/MCN 2019 (two died)
Salvia spathacea, Hummingbird Sage - 7, 9, 10 - Naturalized
Salvia ‘Rubin’s Baby’, Rubin’s Baby Sage  - 1- MC
Salvia ‘Starlight’, hybrid Salvia apiana x S. millerera, by Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, white flowers - 3- SCN 09-26-20
Satureja douglasii, Yerba Buena (AKA Clinopodium diygkasii) - 6, 9 - MC
Senecio palmeri ‘Silver and Gold’, Guadalupe Island Senecio - 7, 10 - SMG (not on Calscape list)
Sisyrinchium bellum, Blue-Eyed Grass - 2 - SMG
Solanum umbelliferum, ‘Mid Hill’ Bluewitch – 3, 4, 5 - SMG
Solanum xantii ‘Mountain Pride’, Chaparral Potato Flower - 2, 3, 4 - SMG
Sphaeralcea ambigua, Desert Globemallow or Apricot Mallow - 4
Sphaeralcea angustifolia, Narrow-leaved bush Mallow, pink - 4 - MSN
Sphaeralcea ‘Newleaze Coral’, Red Flower Bush Mallow - 4 - SCN 09-26-20 (Not on Calscape List)
Symphoricarpos albus ‘Tilden Park’, Tilden Park Snowberry - 4 - SBBC/SMG 2019 (leafless sticks 09-26-20)
Symphoricarpos mollis, Creeping Snowberry - 2​ - SMG (look for it)
Thalictrum occidentale, Western Meadow Rue - 1,2,5 from seed, 09-26-20 (Resembles MaidenHair Fern, grows to 36”)
Trichostema lanatum, Woolly Blue Curls - 2, 6 - SMG, replaced 09-26-20
Trichostema lanatum x purpusii, Hybrid Blue Curls - 1, 3 - NS & MBN 09-26-20
Triteleia laxa ‘Queen Fabiola’, Trumpet Lily - 6 - NS
Venegasia carpesioides, Canyon Sunflower - 5 - ISF 
Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ - Purple Cedros Island Crownbeard - 1, 4 - SMG
Verbesina hastata - Cedros Island Crownbeard - 3 - (parking sign) - SBBG 2019

KEY TO LOCATIONS
1 – Low Brick Wall
2 – Stop & Insectary Sign
3 – Parking Sign to Stepping Stones
4 – Second Group of Stepping Stones
5 – Third Group of Stepping Stones
6 – Fourth Group of Stepping Stones
7 – Round Stepping Stones Last Group
8, 9, 10 – Neighbor's Garden
​
KEY TO NURSERIES
AAN - Annie’s Annuals
CFN - Cal Flora Nursery
LP - Las Pilitas
ENG - El Nativo Growers
ISF - Island Seed & Feed - Arroyo Hondo
MG - Magic Growers
MBN - Monterey Bay Nursery
MC - Moosa Creek
MSN - Mountain States Nursery, AZ
NS - Native Sons
SBBG - Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens
SCN - Suncrest Nursery
SMG - San Marcos Growers

Calscape Native CA Plant List for Insectary - 
https://calscape.org/myplantlist/8562/ord-species/page-all?srchcr=sc5f8753ed49f07

​KEY TO LOCATIONS­­­
1 – Low Brick Wall
2 – Stop & Insectary Sign
3 – Parking Sign & First Group of Stepping Stones
4 – Second Group of Stepping Stones
5 – Third Group of Stepping Stones
6 – Fourth Group of Stepping Stones
7 – School Sign Last Group
8, 9, 10 Neighbor's Garden

Insectary Signposts

Insects visiting our Insectary Garden

Cucullia alfarata caterpillar, Champhorweed Owlet Moth

Tiny native Bee on Dendromecon harfordii, Island Bush Poppy

Chloridea virescens - Tobacco Budworm Moth on Salvia Spathacata

Caterpillar on Madia elegans, Tarweed

Ladybird Beetle larvae on Ascelepias fascicularus

Ladybird Beetle heading to dinner of Aphids on Verbesina hastata

Scientist photographing caterpillars at Santa Barbara Insectary Garden

Naturalized Wildflowers

1. Lupinus succulentus, Arroyo Lupine [many Butterflies, Common Blue] *
2. Eschscholzia californica, California Poppy [Papaveraceae] *
3. Salvia spathacea, Hummingbird Sage - Eventually naturalized after many years of trial and error.
4. Eriogonum, Buckwheat

Salvia spathacea - Hummingbird Sage

Gophers

 To reduce the impact of gophers - plant Salvias or other members of the mint family.
https://www.mostlynatives.com/plant-characteristics/gopher-resistant
https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/lists/?list=gopher-resistant​
Try dryer sheets - ​​Those #$%& Gophers!!!!!
www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/newsletters/october2012.htm#article2

California Native Plant Society - Calscape.org

​​Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary Garden - Calscape List -  this nicely illustrated list includes 109 of our plants, not including plants from Baja California.
Calscape Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary Garden Plant List Link   

Calscape list of plants in Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary Garden

The Beekeepers Guild of Santa Barbara 

The Santa Barbara Beekeeper’s Association is dedicated to the promotion and advancement of beekeeping through best management practices, the education and mentoring of people about honey bees and beekeeping, and increasing public awareness of environmental concerns affecting honey bees.  http://sbba.org/

Thank you to the Beekeeper's Guild for our Bee Friendly Award 
​for the Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary Garden, ​October 13, 2019!

Bee visiting Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman'

Bees

You don’t have to be a beekeeper to help the bees!   In fact, recent research suggests that planting flowers that bees like may be more important to bee livelihood than acquiring a hive.   On top of that, many of the native, drought tolerant plants are bee friendly; an important consideration here in Santa Barbara.
If you want to become a beekeeper with confidence, skill, and a compassionate heart - they offers classes including Backyard Beekeeping Class - teaching responsible beekeeping for an urban environment, adhering to Best Management Practices for the bees, beekeepers, and general public. All are welcome to their events! Visit their website for their bee friendly plant guide!
http://beeguildsb.org/

Eriogonum parvifolium with Bee

Butterflies

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
CITIZEN SCIENCE - Here you will find a number of projects that let you contribute directly to the science of invertebrate conservation. Below are links to Xerces Society projects tracking declining bumble bees, dragonfly migration in North America, and monarch butterfly populations in California. You will also find partner efforts to better understand the conservation status of bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and more. https://xerces.org/citizen-science/
Monarchs - https://xerces.org/california-monarch-campaign/
Monarch Plant Guide - https://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CA_Coast_Monarch_Plant_List_PRINT.pdf

Erigonum parvifolium with Butterfly

Amphibians and Reptiles of California

California Lizards - http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/lizards.html
• Taxonomic Lists, Photo Indexes, Range Maps, and Species Accounts of all native and non-native amphibians and reptiles established in California
• Lists of Species that Might Occur in California and of Established Non-native Species in California
• Tips on Identifying Amphibians and Reptiles found in the wild in California 
http://www.californiaherps.com

Island Fence Lizard - Sceloporus occidentalis becki - lizards feed on many kinds of insects and spiders.

Horticultural Links - Garden Resources

• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - www.sbbg.org/
• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Native Plants for Pollinators List 
• Theodore Payne Foundation - theodorepayne.org/
• Lotusland - www.lotusland.org
• Lotusland Attracting beneficial bugs birds and butterflies [Butterfly nectar or host]
• Calscape - California Native Plant Society - ​https://calscape.org/

Winter blooms in the Insectary Garden February 2019

From top left:
Encelia californica & Lobelia laxiflora
Penstemon eatonii & Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
​Eriogonum arborescens & Salvia Bee's Bliss

Insectary January 2018

Insectary January 2018

Native Plant Garden Maintenance

1. Low maintenance - does not equal no maintenance.
2. Dead heading, pruning to fit the space and encourage new growth, mulching to conserve water and deter weeds, weeding, and occasional watering are required.
3. New plants always require extra water until they are established and the reflected heat from sidewalk and street add stress to this garden. On the plants' second year, they tend to take off.  Notice the differences throughout the year in the changing shape and flowers of your favorite native plants in our garden.

Boiling Water Kills Weeds

Weeds can be a problem around pavement, for tough ones, pour boiling water on them, repeat a few days later if plant persists. Although boiling water harms soil health, it is not as toxic as herbicides. It will kill adjacent plants, so use with caution.

Three days after pouring boiling water on them - the weeds are dead.

Lupinus succulentus - Arroyo lupine

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Senecio palmeri, Santa Barbara Mesa Insectary 2019

Checkerspot Butterfly on Erigeron glaucus 'Bountiful', Seaside Daisy