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Castro Valley, CA; 8/17/2011:
I decided I should do a periodic record of the status of my yard since this is, after all, backyard science.
My grapes have some grapes in some clusters just beginning to change from green to the faintest purple. My pears are pretty much ready to pick. My orange tree has overripe, half to 2/3 ripe and baby green oranges, no flowers. The milkweed and dusty miller are blooming away, but nearly everything else is bloomed out. The ribes has plentiful purple fruit/berries. Still getting zucchini and one yellow tomato, but strawberries may be done.
Annas Hummingbirds, House Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, Chestnut Backed Chickadees, Oak Titmouse, California Towhees and Bushtits. Scrubbies, crows and morning doves nearby.
One neighbor has some white barked non-native trees that are starting to drop leaves, but my deciduous trees show no sign of such activity (Redbuds, Apricot).
Still bee action, many garden spiders but very few butterflies.
OK, so how about you. What are you seeing and where?