San Diego Botanic Garden

A wonderful closeup of a bee feeding on a wildflower in 92131.

Photo submitted by S. Newton

Senna didymobotyra, or popcorn Cassia is a fun addition to any garden because the crushed flowers and buds have a strong scent of buttered popcorn.  It is a robust plant that enjoys sun and heat. Note the large bumble bee closing in for a pollen snack. It is also a favorite of caterpillars of the large yellow sulphur butterflies so watch for eaten leaves in late summer. B. Bennett garden

It appears to be a favorable winter for the fruiting of red Toyon berries as patches of red have appeared on our chaparral hills. The berries while technically edible are very unpleasant if eaten raw.   Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, or California Holly is native to coastal ranges of California and southern Oregon.   Although it grows on the hills around Hollywood that is apparently not the reason for the name.

California Holly: How Hollywood Didn’t Get its Name | Natural History Museum (nhm.org)