SoCal Minds

Melons, ladybugs, butterflies: signs of LA spring

From LACMA, the Getty & the Natural History Museum

Bitter and sweet melons. Ladybugs and aphids. Butterflies and other bugs. Sure, though that patch out behind a certain Foothills house has more weeds than anything else, the recent slacking rains and warming, sunny days affirm the presence of a Los Angeles spring and have produced a trio of seasonal activities worth taking in. Over near La Brea, they're continuing their fruitiness, going out of their gourds with some elaborate constructions for planting and supporting melons, bitter and sweet. While the supportive framing structures have their own aesthetic, there's an underlying artistic line taking root under those elaborate rising trellises. Meantime, over at the gorgeous gardens on that grand Westside slope, the caretakers are sowing the area with ladybugs (as shown above, right) to protect the jacarandas and azaleas from aphids. Look for the showy blossoms that will result. And if the kid or grandkid can't quite figure what critters are flitting about the family patch, well, take wing over to Exposition Park for either the 40-specie butterfly exhibit that is open now and stays up for a few months each year or plan now for the upcoming, two-day Bug Fair.

An artistic notion takes root under elaborate trellises 

Shooing those voracious aphids away from jacarandas, azaeleas

Seasonal, 40-specie butterfly exhibit takes wing

Go buggy at two-day, annual insect fair

Recall this -- a new website on aging, cognition

From USC

Quick, add the bookmark before that failing memory causes forgetfulness: there's a new website with information on age-related cognitive disorders -- that is older folks' problems with memory, understanding and other mental functions. The website is aimed at patients and families, health care professionals and academic researchers. It tackles, in particular, Alzheimer's disease as well as other age-related afflictions of memory and thinking.

Memory center launches new information web site

Click here for new site of Memory, Aging, Alzheimer's centers

Trojans seek new ties to prehistoric in China

From USC

They hold a giant share of America's international debt. They may decide the success of crucial U.S. foreign policy initiatives such as a potential embargo on Iran. And what else? Well, researchers say, the Chinese may have some of the planet's best and greatest range of fossils. That's why the university has established the Center for Chinese Fossil Discoveries. Though the school's across the street from a fine collection at the county's Natural History Museum, and, of course, the city has the legendary LaBrea Tar Pits, the depth and breadth of the finds coming out of China takes experts' collective breaths away, researchers say. They're trying to build greater ties to Chinese institutions, to assist in the research, preparation and presentation of precious lent items, which, with the adjoining museum's cooperation in this endeavor, will go on display in LA. And speaking of the museum, it's the time of year when lepidopetera yield and archnids rule; in other words, the butterflies are away and the spider pavilion is open for visitation for a small fee.

Quality, quanity, range of Chinese fossils called 'unprecedented'

It's spider time at Natural History Museum