Mid-summer treasures: orioles and true jasmine

Orioles, the bright-yellow or yellow-orange-and-black birds seen flitting among the palm trees, are summer residents of San Diego County’s coastal areas. A century ago the orioles preferred to nest in sycamore trees, which were then more common in our area’s river bottoms. Today these birds are most likely to take up residence in the planted palm trees, where they obtain fiber to build their nests from the easily shredded fronds.

Jasmine’s Thick, Sweet Odor wafts on the night breezes this time of year, especially throughout the older, well-landscaped neighborhoods of San Diego.

The exotic odor is produced by the flowers of true jasmines (genus Jasminum), as opposed to the so-called “star jasmine” (genus Trachelospermum) which blooms in the late spring and early summer.