Thomas R. Webb, PhD
@thomasrwebb.bsky.social
I’m a scientist with a background in drug discovery, medicinal chemistry and an interest in botany, gardening and ecology. Based in Southern California.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas-Webb-3
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas-Webb-3
I really enjoy seeing the personality of this guy. This Audubon’s warbler and 2 others are now residents on my property. This one is dominating the jelly feeder and hogging my dog’s water bowl. They tussle over territory every day but it all seems pro forma.
January 24, 2026 at 8:22 PM
I really enjoy seeing the personality of this guy. This Audubon’s warbler and 2 others are now residents on my property. This one is dominating the jelly feeder and hogging my dog’s water bowl. They tussle over territory every day but it all seems pro forma.
🌱 Clematis pauciflora (aka virgin’s bower) our Southern California native Clematis is exploding in bloom right now. The fragrance is beautiful and so subtle that I’ve never noticed it till now. The seed heads that come in summer are silvery and very striking. It’s really a wonderful vine!
January 18, 2026 at 11:44 PM
🌱 Clematis pauciflora (aka virgin’s bower) our Southern California native Clematis is exploding in bloom right now. The fragrance is beautiful and so subtle that I’ve never noticed it till now. The seed heads that come in summer are silvery and very striking. It’s really a wonderful vine!
It’s taking almost 5 years but I’ve harvested some very large cherimoyas from the tree I started from seed.
January 11, 2026 at 3:10 AM
It’s taking almost 5 years but I’ve harvested some very large cherimoyas from the tree I started from seed.
🌱 The Anza Borrego State Park in San Diego County is known for its fantastic wildflower superblooms. This week we’re starting to see some hints that this could be a good year after unusually heavy rainfall. 🤞
January 9, 2026 at 1:43 PM
🌱 The Anza Borrego State Park in San Diego County is known for its fantastic wildflower superblooms. This week we’re starting to see some hints that this could be a good year after unusually heavy rainfall. 🤞
🌱 Audubon’s warbler in one of my apple trees yesterday. I allow insects to live in my organic gardens and that is one of the draws for wildlife!
December 30, 2025 at 8:14 PM
🌱 Audubon’s warbler in one of my apple trees yesterday. I allow insects to live in my organic gardens and that is one of the draws for wildlife!
A Ponderosa pine acorn larder in the Cuyamaca region.
December 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
A Ponderosa pine acorn larder in the Cuyamaca region.
Thanking the very kind people in the Center for AgroEcology at UC Santa Cruz for the great surprise farm to home gifts! Wow!
agroecology.ucsc.edu
agroecology.ucsc.edu
December 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Thanking the very kind people in the Center for AgroEcology at UC Santa Cruz for the great surprise farm to home gifts! Wow!
agroecology.ucsc.edu
agroecology.ucsc.edu
🌱 Ponderosa pine tree as a larder for acorn woodpeckers in the Cuyamaca wilderness, San Diego county.
December 6, 2025 at 9:52 PM
🌱 Ponderosa pine tree as a larder for acorn woodpeckers in the Cuyamaca wilderness, San Diego county.
An eight-point mule deer buck showed up during golden hour yesterday. His antlers are camouflaged to match the tules. Taken from my back fence.
November 27, 2025 at 6:47 PM
An eight-point mule deer buck showed up during golden hour yesterday. His antlers are camouflaged to match the tules. Taken from my back fence.
🌱 My Giant Fuyu tree is 34 years old and has been continuously productive for over 30 years. This year the fall color is especially bright! In the background are Shishi Gashura Camellias that were also planted about 34 years ago.
November 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
🌱 My Giant Fuyu tree is 34 years old and has been continuously productive for over 30 years. This year the fall color is especially bright! In the background are Shishi Gashura Camellias that were also planted about 34 years ago.
First Bacon avocado harvest in 3 years but it’s looking like a new crop record so far. These totaled just under a kilogram for the four. The giant Fuyu persimmon tree has great fruit and fall colors this year.
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 AM
First Bacon avocado harvest in 3 years but it’s looking like a new crop record so far. These totaled just under a kilogram for the four. The giant Fuyu persimmon tree has great fruit and fall colors this year.
November 3, 2025 at 8:27 PM
🌱
180 plugs of native California plants from my mostly homegrown native seed collection. Menzies’ goldenbush, white sage (Salvia apiana), Epilobium canum, Astragalus trichopodus, Tritelia laxa, and some black sage rootings. The goldenbush has already germinated. I’m hoping to get enough to share!
180 plugs of native California plants from my mostly homegrown native seed collection. Menzies’ goldenbush, white sage (Salvia apiana), Epilobium canum, Astragalus trichopodus, Tritelia laxa, and some black sage rootings. The goldenbush has already germinated. I’m hoping to get enough to share!
October 27, 2025 at 9:09 PM
🌱
180 plugs of native California plants from my mostly homegrown native seed collection. Menzies’ goldenbush, white sage (Salvia apiana), Epilobium canum, Astragalus trichopodus, Tritelia laxa, and some black sage rootings. The goldenbush has already germinated. I’m hoping to get enough to share!
180 plugs of native California plants from my mostly homegrown native seed collection. Menzies’ goldenbush, white sage (Salvia apiana), Epilobium canum, Astragalus trichopodus, Tritelia laxa, and some black sage rootings. The goldenbush has already germinated. I’m hoping to get enough to share!
Beautiful! I think this one is a bougainvillea looper aka somber carpet moth (Disclisioprocta stellata).
October 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Beautiful! I think this one is a bougainvillea looper aka somber carpet moth (Disclisioprocta stellata).
Taken in Glacier National Park about 40 years ago. I usually photograph plants but I feel like I really got lucky with this one! The male mountain goat is giving me a look to move on (or else) the female was behind me while he stayed close to protect the kid.
October 2, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Taken in Glacier National Park about 40 years ago. I usually photograph plants but I feel like I really got lucky with this one! The male mountain goat is giving me a look to move on (or else) the female was behind me while he stayed close to protect the kid.
Good morning Avalon!
August 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Good morning Avalon!
Saw a belted kingfisher in distress at a restaurant in Avalon on Catalina Island. I googled wildlife rescue and was referred to John. In 15 min he was there with his truck. He said that he didn’t think there were any on Catalina, so this was an unusual situation. I hope everything will be ok!
August 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Saw a belted kingfisher in distress at a restaurant in Avalon on Catalina Island. I googled wildlife rescue and was referred to John. In 15 min he was there with his truck. He said that he didn’t think there were any on Catalina, so this was an unusual situation. I hope everything will be ok!
Spiders can be ornately beautiful! This is a banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata)
August 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Spiders can be ornately beautiful! This is a banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata)
Taken this AM: Coyotes have gotten brave in our area. I think that they’re moving into more suburban areas because the drought has limited food for their wild prey and so they are hunting near irrigated areas for rodents and small pets. Even my pal Zeus at 120 lbs gets intimidated when there’s 3!
August 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Taken this AM: Coyotes have gotten brave in our area. I think that they’re moving into more suburban areas because the drought has limited food for their wild prey and so they are hunting near irrigated areas for rodents and small pets. Even my pal Zeus at 120 lbs gets intimidated when there’s 3!
If Lex Luthor = the Felon, then I’m with Superman on this.
August 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
If Lex Luthor = the Felon, then I’m with Superman on this.
Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' aka Painted Bamboo growing in my bamboo collection today.
August 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' aka Painted Bamboo growing in my bamboo collection today.
Your dog is gorgeous. Mutts and rescues are the best. I always have people asking me about the pedigree of my rescue (Zeus). I only have theories. Breeders normally cull off-standard pups. Breeding is an inhumane practice when so many dogs are being killed in kill shelters:(
July 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Your dog is gorgeous. Mutts and rescues are the best. I always have people asking me about the pedigree of my rescue (Zeus). I only have theories. Breeders normally cull off-standard pups. Breeding is an inhumane practice when so many dogs are being killed in kill shelters:(
Pointleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) on the Hidden Bluff Trail yesterday in Encinitas. This is one of the most impressive mature specimens I’ve ever found.
July 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Pointleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) on the Hidden Bluff Trail yesterday in Encinitas. This is one of the most impressive mature specimens I’ve ever found.
Lon melane, aka the umber skipper, seen today in my garden on native seaside daisy. The great thing about native plants is that they bring in and nourish native insect species that aren’t often seen! The larvae of this native butterfly feed on many different native plants and some non-native plants!
July 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Lon melane, aka the umber skipper, seen today in my garden on native seaside daisy. The great thing about native plants is that they bring in and nourish native insect species that aren’t often seen! The larvae of this native butterfly feed on many different native plants and some non-native plants!