Bird-watchers saw a gorgeous “Harlan’s” subspecies of red-tailed hawk on our November count at Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach, California. Originally thought to be a Zone-tailed hawk, the bird was later identified by Kimball Garrett, Ornithology Collections Manager at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (and the final word on bird ID)[…]
Rare Bird Seen at Rancho Los Cerritos
By Rancho Staff Long Beach, Photos Nov 29, 2017
Plant of the Moment: December
By Rancho Staff Gardens Dec 07, 2016
Our recently replanted Pink Florist Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum), which is located in Rancho Los Cerritos’ backyard near our shade garden, is already in full color and brightening up the shady bed behind the Morton Bay Fig. We also have red and white varieties of Cyclamen, which will brighten up the shorter days of winter. Other[…]
Parlor Games for a Victorian Thanksgiving
By Rancho Staff Uncategorized Nov 17, 2016
Thanksgiving is almost here, and we thought it would be fun to look at some of the parlor games popular at the turn of the last century. We especially enjoyed this one, from “Games for All Occasions” by Mary E. Blain, published in 1909. NUTS TO CRACK Pass pencils and paper to each guest with the[…]
Plant of the Moment: November
By Rancho Staff Gardens Oct 31, 2016
Arbutus unedo, commonly known as the Strawberry tree, is November’s plant of the moment. These trees are great for residential gardens, with evergreen foliage and dainty white urn-shaped pendulous flowers. Once pollinated, the strawberry tree bears ¾” fruit. The fruit is green when it first appears, then changes to yellow, orange and, eventually, red (hence the name).[…]