Sam
@notcatlady.bsky.social
👩🏼💻Software engineer
🌈Nature enthusiast
🌻California Native Plants gardener
🌿Volunteer software dev for Calscape.org
Instagram @sams_native_garden
🌈Nature enthusiast
🌻California Native Plants gardener
🌿Volunteer software dev for Calscape.org
Instagram @sams_native_garden
What a difference a day makes! Last year my narrowleaf milkweed got eaten before it went to seed. This year I doubled my plants, and they are thriving. Happy to do my part to support the #MonarchButterfly #Monarchs. It has been so cool to see my #CaliforniaNativePlants garden evolve over the year.
August 9, 2025 at 3:02 AM
What a difference a day makes! Last year my narrowleaf milkweed got eaten before it went to seed. This year I doubled my plants, and they are thriving. Happy to do my part to support the #MonarchButterfly #Monarchs. It has been so cool to see my #CaliforniaNativePlants garden evolve over the year.
Just some #ants keeping very busy building their home. I think they are #HarvesterAnts, specifically Andre's harvester ant. I had fun watching them on my hike in #CoyoteValleyOpenSpacePreserve
May 21, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Just some #ants keeping very busy building their home. I think they are #HarvesterAnts, specifically Andre's harvester ant. I had fun watching them on my hike in #CoyoteValleyOpenSpacePreserve
Who's under there? It's a busy little sweat bee in my #CaliforniaNativePlants #CaliforniaPoppy completely covered in pollen.
May 16, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Who's under there? It's a busy little sweat bee in my #CaliforniaNativePlants #CaliforniaPoppy completely covered in pollen.
Pretty in pink. My clarkias showing off and making my #CaliforniaNarivePlants focused garden look great.
May 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Pretty in pink. My clarkias showing off and making my #CaliforniaNarivePlants focused garden look great.
Dandelions? Nope! Stop and take a closer look. These are called #BlowWives and they are made up of small individual while flowers that combine to look like a little puff.
I saw a ton of #CaliforniaNativePlants during my hike at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto.
I saw a ton of #CaliforniaNativePlants during my hike at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto.
May 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Dandelions? Nope! Stop and take a closer look. These are called #BlowWives and they are made up of small individual while flowers that combine to look like a little puff.
I saw a ton of #CaliforniaNativePlants during my hike at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto.
I saw a ton of #CaliforniaNativePlants during my hike at Foothills Nature Preserve in Palo Alto.
Saw several of these violets while hiking the small nature trail at Sanborn County Park. They're called western heart's ease, or Viola ocellata. #CaliforniaNativePlants #violets
May 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Saw several of these violets while hiking the small nature trail at Sanborn County Park. They're called western heart's ease, or Viola ocellata. #CaliforniaNativePlants #violets
My first time ever seeing this native butterfly, and it's in my yard! My first year of planting #CaliforniaNativePlants has brought me so much joy. I think it is an Acmon Blue but I'm open for correction. #CaliforniaNativeButterflies
May 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
My first time ever seeing this native butterfly, and it's in my yard! My first year of planting #CaliforniaNativePlants has brought me so much joy. I think it is an Acmon Blue but I'm open for correction. #CaliforniaNativeButterflies
My first big feature for Calscape.org just went live! I made a mobile tap bar for a better mobile experience.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #Calscape
#CaliforniaNativePlants #Calscape
April 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
My first big feature for Calscape.org just went live! I made a mobile tap bar for a better mobile experience.
#CaliforniaNativePlants #Calscape
#CaliforniaNativePlants #Calscape
Check out who took residence in my BEE plant! This is my first spring with my #CaliforniaNativePlants and I am already considering it a great success. The bee plant stalk may die back, but the whole point is to create a habitat, and I can confidently say I have done that!
#LeafCutterBee #BeePlant
#LeafCutterBee #BeePlant
April 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Check out who took residence in my BEE plant! This is my first spring with my #CaliforniaNativePlants and I am already considering it a great success. The bee plant stalk may die back, but the whole point is to create a habitat, and I can confidently say I have done that!
#LeafCutterBee #BeePlant
#LeafCutterBee #BeePlant
Just me feeling awkward but these Lady beetles clearly do not care in the slightest. They love my #CaliforniaNativePlants and particularly enjoy my pozo blue sage.
April 18, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Just me feeling awkward but these Lady beetles clearly do not care in the slightest. They love my #CaliforniaNativePlants and particularly enjoy my pozo blue sage.
Is there anything better than sitting watching bumblebees doing their busy work? They are obsessed with my #CaliforniaNativePlants especially the Lacy Phacelia!
April 14, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Is there anything better than sitting watching bumblebees doing their busy work? They are obsessed with my #CaliforniaNativePlants especially the Lacy Phacelia!
Another weekend, another hike!
1. Fremont's death camas
2. Warrior's plume
3. Pacific hound's tongue
4. California manroot
The warrior's plume was definitely my favorite of the #CaliforniaNativePlants I saw this weekend.
1. Fremont's death camas
2. Warrior's plume
3. Pacific hound's tongue
4. California manroot
The warrior's plume was definitely my favorite of the #CaliforniaNativePlants I saw this weekend.
March 23, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Another weekend, another hike!
1. Fremont's death camas
2. Warrior's plume
3. Pacific hound's tongue
4. California manroot
The warrior's plume was definitely my favorite of the #CaliforniaNativePlants I saw this weekend.
1. Fremont's death camas
2. Warrior's plume
3. Pacific hound's tongue
4. California manroot
The warrior's plume was definitely my favorite of the #CaliforniaNativePlants I saw this weekend.
Had a lovely hike yesterday in Santa Teresa County Park. The wildflowers are just starting to bloom. It was especially nice seeing the dotseed plantain (4th pic), a very important host plant for the endangered Bay Checkerspot butterfly. #CaliforniaNativePlants
March 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Had a lovely hike yesterday in Santa Teresa County Park. The wildflowers are just starting to bloom. It was especially nice seeing the dotseed plantain (4th pic), a very important host plant for the endangered Bay Checkerspot butterfly. #CaliforniaNativePlants
Spotted a western lynx spider hunting in one of my poppy flowers. I love watching my #CaliforniaNativePlants support the native fauna.
March 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Spotted a western lynx spider hunting in one of my poppy flowers. I love watching my #CaliforniaNativePlants support the native fauna.
Here is the cutest little California lady beetle tucked in between the petals of a tidy tips in the early evening. I love my #CaliforniaNativePlants and the ecosystem I've reestablished in my yard.
March 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Here is the cutest little California lady beetle tucked in between the petals of a tidy tips in the early evening. I love my #CaliforniaNativePlants and the ecosystem I've reestablished in my yard.
I just got my first five spot bloom yesterday!
February 28, 2025 at 5:30 AM
I just got my first five spot bloom yesterday!
When my tidy tips were starting to grow in, earlier this season, my husband asked if they were a weed. 😭
Well, they look pretty now!
#CaliforniaNativePlants
Well, they look pretty now!
#CaliforniaNativePlants
February 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
When my tidy tips were starting to grow in, earlier this season, my husband asked if they were a weed. 😭
Well, they look pretty now!
#CaliforniaNativePlants
Well, they look pretty now!
#CaliforniaNativePlants
Wow I was so excited to see my first Baby Blue Eyes bloom today! It is such a delicate looking flower. Big fan. #CaliforniaNativePlants
February 22, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Wow I was so excited to see my first Baby Blue Eyes bloom today! It is such a delicate looking flower. Big fan. #CaliforniaNativePlants
I spy an early season California bumblebee! I am so happy they are already finding the plants I just put in last November!
#CaliforniaNativePlants
#CaliforniaNativePlants
February 18, 2025 at 10:32 PM
I spy an early season California bumblebee! I am so happy they are already finding the plants I just put in last November!
#CaliforniaNativePlants
#CaliforniaNativePlants
My Cleveland sage just started blooming and the bees are already taking notice. 🐝
Can't wait for the rest of my #CaliforniaNativePlants to join in on the bloom.
Can't wait for the rest of my #CaliforniaNativePlants to join in on the bloom.
February 1, 2025 at 2:45 AM
My Cleveland sage just started blooming and the bees are already taking notice. 🐝
Can't wait for the rest of my #CaliforniaNativePlants to join in on the bloom.
Can't wait for the rest of my #CaliforniaNativePlants to join in on the bloom.
She's a stunner! Somehow this #BeltedKingfisher held still for long enough for me to snap a photo. They're always on the move! #BayAreaBirds
January 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
She's a stunner! Somehow this #BeltedKingfisher held still for long enough for me to snap a photo. They're always on the move! #BayAreaBirds
Check out my big pile of invasive weeds I pulled out this weekend. Can't let them outcompete my lovely #CaliforniaNativePlants
Shoe for scale 😂
Shoe for scale 😂
January 27, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Check out my big pile of invasive weeds I pulled out this weekend. Can't let them outcompete my lovely #CaliforniaNativePlants
Shoe for scale 😂
Shoe for scale 😂
Appreciation post for this lovely shrub,Verbena lilacina, aka Verbena de la Mina. Lantana could never.
It looks good all year and it is one of the many #CaliforniaNativePlants that is widely available. Highly recommend!
It looks good all year and it is one of the many #CaliforniaNativePlants that is widely available. Highly recommend!
January 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Appreciation post for this lovely shrub,Verbena lilacina, aka Verbena de la Mina. Lantana could never.
It looks good all year and it is one of the many #CaliforniaNativePlants that is widely available. Highly recommend!
It looks good all year and it is one of the many #CaliforniaNativePlants that is widely available. Highly recommend!
How the hike started...
January 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
How the hike started...
Nothing like hiking in the Bay Area, where you start a hike in the sun, with incredible views, and head back in cold fog. I hustled out since I didn't bring a jacket.
January 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Nothing like hiking in the Bay Area, where you start a hike in the sun, with incredible views, and head back in cold fog. I hustled out since I didn't bring a jacket.