European Garden Spider
European garden spiders are among the most common outdoor spiders, casting their silky webs, as good as any fly-fishermen, over plants, decks, statuary or any other outdoor object they can reach. These clever spiders are not harmful to humans and benefit our gardens greatly by being an important predator of disease-carrying insects that can be harmful to us. They are often seen hanging upside down near the center of their intricate web, waiting for prey. Although their sticky webs can be a mild nuisance during summer months (their most active time of year), it is more beneficial to gently relocate these web builders than eradicate them from the garden.
— Judy Wigand
June Garden Guest
Red Admiral
One of the most unforgettable butterflies, the red admiral (Vanessa atlanta), is a frequent flyer to area gardens. It is most active from summer to early fall, although adults often fly all year in mild winter climates. Their most prominent markings are the striking reddish-orange bands on their upper and bottom wings, forming a circular pattern. They seek habitats with nectar-rich flowers such as butterfly bush, heliotrope, pentas and common milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Red admirals are friendly butterflies, so don’t be surprised if one lands on your shoulder.— Judy Wigand
May Garden Guest
Western Tanager
As reliable as clockwork, the colorful western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) arrives in San Diego County every April through May. Look up and you just might catch a glimpse of this migratory songbird foraging the treetops for flying insects, fruit and berries. Favored trees are Australian Grevillea robusta, conifers and oaks. Backyard orchards and shrubs hosting berries also attract them. The first sightings of this red-headed beauty date to the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-06. Adult males have a brilliant reddish-orange head, the result of a pigment acquired from a diet of insects that themselves acquire the pigment from plants. Both male and female have bright-yellow bodies, accented by black wings and tail.
— Judy Wigand
April Garden Guest
American Toad
With a short stout body covered in warts, the American toad isn’t the most attractive garden guest but it is a welcome addition to any garden because of its appetite for garden pests — snails, beetles, slugs and other invertebrates. Don’t let its dark piercing eyes and extended sticky prey-catching tongue fool you. It has a gentle nature and poses no threat to humans (although you should wash your hands after handling a toad because their skin contains secretions that can be irritating to mucous membranes). They are mainly nocturnal, usually brown in color and they measure two to four inches long. Only two elements are necessary to keep them around: a small pond or water feature, offering flat stones or hollows to hide under, and thick vegetation for hunting.
— Judy Wigand
March Garden Guest
Green-tailed Towhee
The migratory green-tailed towhee forages the ground in and around native chaparral in our winter and early spring months. Look for its distinct white throat and reddish cap, followed by bright-green stripes on the edge of its wings. These colorful birds are ground-centered, scratching like chickens in search of seeds and insects. Plantings of low native shrubs such as Cleveland sage and California buckwheat help supply the desired habitat for a safe haven.
— Judy Wigand
February Garden Guest
The Northern Flicker
The northern flicker, a common migratory bird to San Diego County, is the only ground-feeding species of the woodpecker family. Fruits, berries, seeds and nuts are important food sources, but 45 percent of its diet consists of ground insects such as beetles and ants. (In fact, the acid gained from ingesting ants assists flickers in preening, helping to keep them free of parasites.) Migration usually occurs from October through March, so be on the lookout. Adult birds are about 12 inches in length. Their brown plumage is richly patterned with black leopard-like spots and includes a necklace-like black patch on their upper breast.
— Judy Wigand
January Garden Guest
Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
The common yellowthroat is one of the most prolific year-round birds in San Diego County. The male has a bright-yellow breast and a white crown, and, much like Zorro, sports a distinctive black mask across his face. (The female is much less colorful and doesn’t wear a mask.) Common yellowthroats prefer nesting near the ground, in and around our coastal wetlands, creeks and freshwater marshes. They thrive on leaf-eating insects like aphids, spiders and caterpillars. Thick vegetation with ornamental shrubs, grasses and fennel will help lure them in.
— Judy Wigand
