“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[…]
“Say It with Flowers” Victorian Style on May 18th
By Rancho Staff Events, Gardens, history, Upcoming Events May 06, 2019
Bird Lovers Flock to RLC this Valentine’s Day for Monthly Bird Walk
By Rancho Staff Events, Gardens, Long Beach, Upcoming Events Feb 12, 2019
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.[…]
Plant of the Moment: October
By Rancho Staff Gardens, Long Beach Oct 03, 2017
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[…]
A Sonoran Bumblebee Buzzes Through our Long Beach Gardens
By Rancho Staff Gardens, Photos Sep 15, 2017
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[…]
Plant of the Moment: September
By Rancho Staff Gardens Sep 03, 2017
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[…]
Plant of the Moment: August
By Rancho Staff Gardens Aug 07, 2017
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[…]
Plant of the Moment: July
By Rancho Staff Gardens Jul 12, 2017
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[…]
Plant of the Moment: June
By Rancho Staff Gardens Jun 05, 2017
Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) is our plant of the moment. These sages form undulating mounds of fragrant silver leaves and are currently covered with the periwinkle blue flowers. The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, so not only do you get to enjoy the showy flowers, but the aerial demonstrations as the “hummers” vie for territory[…]
Plant of the Moment: May
By Rancho Staff Gardens May 10, 2017
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[…]
Make Way for…
By Rancho Staff Gardens Mar 22, 2017
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[…]