“Say it with Flowers” has been a tag line used by florists since the early 1900s. But flowers have been used to express sentiments for centuries across multiple cultures. How did flowers come to form a “language” and who used it? Was it a universal language, or did different regions apply unique meanings specific to their culture? While[…]
Bird Lovers Flock to RLC this Valentine’s Day for Monthly Bird Walk
By Events, Gardens, Long Beach, Upcoming Events
Rancho Los Cerritos’ February Bird Walk is this Thursday, February 14th, from 8-9:30 a.m. (weather-permitting). Mating season is coming, and we already see pairs of birds spending time together. Bird walkers also might see migrant birds steal our fruit, fortifying themselves for their northward trek. Another bird visitors might see is the California Scrub Jay.[…]
Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa, is October’s plant of the moment. Our is located in a pot by the Visitor Center. An evergreen shrub native to the deserts, this member of the rose family displays lovely white flowers that look like a mini version of an old-fashioned single rose. Rather than developing a typical rose hip or even[…]
We were recently visited by a Sonoran Bumblebee (Bombus sonorus), a fuzzy insect native to the Sonoran desert and much of the western United States. Typical ground dwellers, the female workers forage for pollen and nectar to take back to the nest for storage as food for the young. Like many North American bees, the population[…]
Osage Orange, Maclura pomifera, is September’s plant of the moment. Native to Arkansas and eastern Texas, this unusual tree first came to Rancho Los Cerritos in the 1840s, when it was planted by John Temple. The Osage Orange was brought west by early pioneers, but what attracts visitors’ attention today is the peculiar-looking fruit that drops[…]
Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, is August’s plant of the moment. These two trees were added by the City of Long Beach, which owns Rancho Los Cerritos, circa 1960. Hot summer temperatures encourage the best floral display, and with this summer’s heat, we are experiencing a spectacular bloom. Other plants in bloom in our Long Beach garden[…]
Gladiolus are July’s plant of the moment. Breeding Gladiolus was popular in the early 1900s with old catalogs offering dozens of hybrids. Disease has eliminated most of them but these two old varieties have been found and added to the summer color scheme for the Inner Courtyard. ‘Dauntless’ is medium pink with a magenta throat[…]
Matilija Poppies are May’s plant of the moment. This stunning flower (Latin name: Romneya coulteri) is located in the California Native garden in three separate areas: by the stairs, below the lower retaining wall, and up slope toward the picnic area. Predominantly found in the Ojai area of Ventura County, this is an aggressive perennial that colonizes[…]
These two mallards have been visiting Rancho Los Cerritos for years. They love bathing in the pond’s inner courtyard. For many seasons, the RLC ducks have nested on site, but they have never been able to raise a brood, due to poor nest placement and predation. We’re hoping this is the year for a successful[…]
Tulips are March’s plant of the moment. They can be seen in their annual glory in the courtyard and will be coming soon to the backyard. Tulips get special treatment here at Rancho Los Cerritos: in order to get a proper chill on these bulbs in our temperate climate, they spend several weeks in our[…]
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