Thanks, Jaynine. I do see a definite resemblance to some Rudbeckias, so you're probably right. I still can't figure out which one it is, though. And I think I've identified my "grass" now - I think it's actually a perennial rush, Juncus tenuis. Anyone have guesses about the others?

There are no native honeybees, they are all solitary bees which do not produce honey. Look under orchard bees, mason bees, leafcutters, carpenter bees. However honeybees have been here since the 1600's. Dan

That's Chrysanthemum coronarium, CROWN DAISY. It's not a native; it's a native to the Mediterranean Basin and it's become naturalized here (= weed). The good news is that it's edible (called GARLAND DAISY and CHRSYANTHEMUM GREENS in Japan). Joe

Hi Steve, Sorry I missed you but stop by some time and I will give you a tour of the tiny yard. It is amazing how many plants I have managed to squeeze into it. I have even crammed in a number of trees although I have to keep them cut back in the spring or I would have no room for any of the other guys. Speaking of echinacea, I have never had a whole lot of it but it is because I NEVER saw a butterfly on the ones that I had and I didn't want to waste space which I have so little of. But last weekend I went to visit family in Belmont and they had a next-door neighbor who had several hundred of the purple ones all planted together and there were lots of skippers and lady butterflies on them so I guess number counts. Anyway, at the moment what I see most of all is skippers, hairstreaks, ladies, painted and west coast and a monarch or two along with an occasional pipe vine swallowtail. I am a little concerned about not seeing more monarchs by now but I am hoping that will improve. I have a variety of milkweed plants which have tons of seeds you are welcome to and I have started some pipe vine seedlings you can have also though they are not the CA variety. I have not had success getting the native vine seeds to germinate. The ones I have are Aristolochia durior which are native to the east but they grow much more rapidly so I have planted them as well out there. Some of the butterfly species mentioned in other posts aren't native here which is sad because many of them are really beautiful but we do have some great ones that are very rewarding to see in the yard. Murray