In the News: Daylight Savings Inventor Was an Entomologist

Did you know the man who invented Daylight Savings was Entomologist? He was frustrated when dusk came and "interfered with his evening bug-collecting rounds." He wanted to have more daylight in the summer afternoons to catch bugs! He didn't care about winter because he didn't catch bugs then anyway! 

(Excerpt from Joe Satran, Huffington Post) There's now broad agreement among historians that the true mastermind of daylight saving time was George Vernon Hudson (1867-1946), a specialist in insect biology (entomology) who left England for New Zealand in 1881. In 1895, when he first presented the idea to the Royal Society of New Zealand, he was mocked. Other members of the society deemed the proposal confusing and unnecessary. But attitudes changed, and he lived to see his brainchild adopted by many nations -- including, in 1927, his own. Read more... 

Milkweed for the Love of Monarchs

                   Narrow Leafed Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis, 
                      Visited by American Lady Butterfly
                     photo courtesy of LasPilitas Nursery

If you are growing Milkweed, you are doing it for the Love of Monarchs. When purchasing Milkweed plants through a mail order catalog, it is important to check which species of Milkweed you are purchasing, making sure it is native to your area.

The West Coast Monarchs, while the same species of butterfly as the East Coast Monarchs, require a different species of Milkweed for their host plant. The plant must produce a toxin the Monarchs evolved with, otherwise they will be left defenseless against predators.

The availability of milkweed is very important for the Monarchs return journey north in the spring. The female will seek it out to lay her eggs where her caterpillars will be safe. On the West Coast this return migration takes place as early as February.

The native Milkweed we have in Santa Monica Mountains is Narrow Leafed Milkweed Asclepias fascicularis. In fact, this species is found from Southeast Washington and adjacent Idaho through California, Oregon, Baja California and west into Nevada, throughout the ‘Pacific Flyway’.

For those of you who are wondering, I live in Topanga Canyon, California.  It is one of a number of canyons in the Santa Monica Mountains which run up and down the Pacific Coast.  We have many overwintering sites nearby for the Western Monarchs, as well as a Monarch Waystation.

Excerpt from "Monarchs of the West." at BeautifulWildlifeGardens.com~ where you can read more of my posts every other Thursday.