Flora and Fauna | Curbstone Valley

Finding Fall on the Farm

by Clare | Nov 18, 2011 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna

Spectacular displays of fall foliage that are so common throughout much of North America, are relatively rare in central coastal California. Unlike the deciduous forests in the northeastern United States that provide an abundance of fall foliage, here on the west...

The Blood-Foot Mushroom (Mycena haematopus)

by Clare | Nov 14, 2011 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Fungi

While the gardens appreciate the return of our rainy season, the rains during the fall and winter months also encourage the return of a myriad of species of fungi to our woodlands. With the rains returning early this season, we’re already finding a wide variety...

The Writing Spider (Argiope aurantia)

by Clare | Oct 11, 2011 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Native Wildlife

The Writing Spider (Argiope aurantia) is a spider of many names. Known as the Yellow and Black Garden Spider, Golden Orb Weaver, Yellow Argiope, Corn Spider, Scribbler Spider, Golden Garden Spider, and Black and Yellow Argiope, just to name a few. Despite its many...

Interior Live Oak, or Shreve Oak?

by Clare | Sep 28, 2011 | Farm Blog, Flora and Fauna, Native Plants, Natives

The woodland on the property is mixed evergreen forest, composed of a variety of native California tree species, including Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica), Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Douglas Fir...

Long-Horn Bees

by Clare | Sep 16, 2011 | Beneficial Insects, Farm Blog, Garden, Native Wildlife

This may be remembered as the year of the bee at Curbstone Valley. It started when we installed a few hives of honey bees on the farm this spring, but we also greatly understand the importance of the native bees that frequent our crops and flowers. Research has...

French Oak, and Fall Flowers

by Clare | Sep 13, 2011 | Farm Blog, Garden, Non-Natives

California produces approximately 90% of all wine produced in the United States[1]. Many wines are aged in oak barrels, as the oak imparts desirable buttery, or vanilla, flavors to the wine. New barrels impart more flavor to wines than old barrels, and depending on...