straybird
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attenuata.bsky.social
straybird
@attenuata.bsky.social
North SF Bay Area
zone 9b, test-driven gardener
Scott / husband / father / grandfather
Nikon d100, d700, d750, z6ii / iPhone
Reposted by straybird
I did my PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, which has more Chinese students than any other US university. I had the privilege of teaching and collaborating with Chinese students there.

This makes me indescribably angry for them and for all of us who benefit from our work together
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Coastal Geology - Sea Ranch, California (10-2012) #seascape #nature #landscape #Sonoma
October 28, 2025 at 3:08 AM
After a morning shower … Agave bovicornuta “Cow Horn Agave” (~4’ wide and tall) , flanked by Agave americana var. medio-picta 'Alba' “White-Striped Century Plant” (2.5’). All were planted from 5 gallon containers in the spring of 2022. 🌱 #succulents
October 26, 2025 at 11:07 PM
A small (2”-3”) Haworthia along a garden path in early October. Unfortunately, it’s not labeled but from the size and leaf characteristics it appears to be a herbacea or reticulata. The distinctive bright yellow bloom makes an outsized statement in the garden. 🌱 #succulents
October 17, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Found this striking, 2-3” solitary volunteer growing in a lightly irrigated area partially shaded by a Toyon and tucked amidst Mangave, Agave and Euphorbia. Has coloring similar to Haworthia or Gastor-Aloe but the stem is not stout more like a flower stem, perhaps some NorCal native? 🌱 #succulents
September 15, 2025 at 12:10 AM
South facing succulent gardens refreshed as part of a hillside erosion diversion creek project. Notable foreground plantings are Yucca Bright Stars pressed against an Agave Ocahu, and a San Pedro Cactus. In the background are Lomandra, Phormium and Opuntia, Acer palmatum... 🌱 #succulents
August 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
This Crassula ovata 'Gollum' was part of an assorted succulent pack planted in an inconspicuous partly sunny location 6 years ago. It’s thrived through the extremes of unusually heavy winter rains and last summer’s persistent heat waves. Today it’s about 2.5 ft tall and wide. 🌱 #succulents
July 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Trichocereus 'Sun Goddess' flowering (~5" diameter) between boulders, euphorbia, cactus and Equisetum hyemale (horsetail) 🌱 #succulents
May 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Abundant diversity bordering this path - succulents to tree ferns / Japanese maples / Palms and Live Oaks. After 25 years of experimenting finally settled on a selection of plants that offer seasonal interest and minimal regular maintenance. (5/5/2025)
🌱 #succulents
May 7, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The ‘pump shed garden’ conceived and planted winter-spring ’25 and designed around 3 yucca rostradas, a Bismarckia palm, an Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin’ , an Agave vilmoriniana and a Mangave "Kaleidoscope". To be renamed the ‘garden of relief’ when we are rid of the shambolic regime.
🌱 #succulents
May 4, 2025 at 2:47 AM
A volunteer Aeonium arboreum - 3” tall and wide growing on a moss covered (1/2-3/4” thick) boulder. Thought maybe I'd stuck it in there last summer but then discovered another smaller Aeonium sprouting elsewhere in the same moss. 🌱 #succulents
March 30, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi (lavender leaf plant, floriferous, bryophyllum) - A robust and easily grown succulent in zone 9-11 gardens, nice blooms and the leaves turn lavender when the plant is stressed. It’s proliferated throughout our garden but it’s not a pest, easily controlled. 🌱 #succulents
March 23, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Morning light, temp in the 40s, woke.
Left to right Agave vilmoriniana (Octopus Agave), Bismarckia nobilis palm, Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin’ 🌱 #succulents
March 10, 2025 at 1:15 AM
March 2025. I’ve been removing the Woodsorrel (Oxalis) and doing light cleanup in this garden. The multi-stalked, magnificent (almost full) bloomer is Aloe Taurus. Also noteworthy are the Agaves Blue Glow and Blue Flame which are great companions. Other plants mentioned in the Alt Txt 🌱 #succulents
March 5, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Aloe glauca (Blue Aloe), mid summer 2023. It prefers full sun (part-sun in warmer valley locations). This aloe is somewhat stressed beneath a Live Oak which is periodically messy with leaf drops (early spring) and sap (late summer). It receives dappled summer sun. Very hardy. 🌱 #succulents
February 15, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Our backyard succulent gardens are planted on a gentle incline while in the front yard the slope is more pronounced. This view is from a front deck last Dec. The large palm is a Canary Island Date Palm. This area remains unfenced. a wildlife corridor. 🌱 #succulents
February 3, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Aloe brevifolia growing amidst our regular winter clover. The brevifolia is zone 8 hardy. This plant with it's clumping offsets is about 8” wide and 6” tall. The garden location is part sun so the Aloe’s green-blue color is year round. In sunny locations it will take on a reddish tint. 🌱 #succulents
January 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
This camellia is ~15’ tall X 10’ wide, planted in full sun, clay soil and only receives water from winter rains. It's always a vigorous bloomer Dec-Jan. This year a little late but with even more flowers than usual. 🌱
January 21, 2025 at 10:51 PM
An Aloe striata situated along the top of a rock wall. Hardy into the mid 20s. This striata receives a dash of late afternoon so the plant’s appearance is slightly less robust than others in sunnier garden spots. Even so, it has nice color and is staying put. 🌱 #succulents
January 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
This morning … a bowl of Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg’. Above. To the right, embedded along the rock wall, are Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' and an Oscularia (ice plant) splayed along the top most boulder. Behind are several varieties of Mangave and Aloe. 🌱 #succulents
January 7, 2025 at 7:41 PM
May of 2016 Oscularia deltoides flanked by a Aeonium arboreum(?) both potted. Regarding the name 'Oscularia' … my high school Latin was of no help. I was less than attentive as a student (apologies to Mrs Augustitus, my Latin teacher). A lesson on the naming in the Alt Image text. 🌱 #succulents
January 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
This Agave geminiflora has won the day. Years ago it was 'temporarily' placed along a walkway, never removed from its 3 gallon growers pot. Kept thinking it needed to be properly planted … somewhere. Meanwhile, it made some friends and took root. 🌱 #succulents
January 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' brightening up a patch of green Senecio. In our location it's been a vigorous grower generating many offsets. After a few years in-ground it's ~18” tall X 24” wide . At our zone 9b location it looks best with AM sun, PM shade. 🌱 #succulents
January 3, 2025 at 8:21 PM
A bud emerging from a rain-soaked Aloe ferox rosette. The photo was taken in late Nov '24 during a brief sunny break in the storms. Pretty sure this was a hand held shot (VR was on), kept it for the symmetrical appearance of the red spikes. 🌱 #succulents
January 1, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Up close, Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ - Grows well in our Zone 9b wet winter garden, really brightens things up. In spring mature plants produce a long lasting, impressive bloom (monocarpic). Dormant in the summer when I'm light on the irrigation, might benefit from consistent weekly water. 🌱 #succulents
December 29, 2024 at 6:50 PM