Author | Lightnews

Katie Sivinski

@katiesivinski.com

140 followers 190 following 110 posts

🌳Helping parents and educators incorporate nature for kids. 🌻Children's Writer - Educator - Naturalist 🐛Sign up for my newsletter with free lesson plans, children's book recommendations and native plant news on katiesivinski.com

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Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Apr 9

One of my fave parts of gardening is waiting for buds to bloom. Whatever your #plantlife, any flower will do! Share your snaps of a bud waiting to bloom and then share a progress shot when those #flowers shine! Tag your posts with #BloomWatch
Let’s go in the garden and see what flowers bloom!

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Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 28d

Thanks for the info! I’ve noticed ants always visiting my euonymous flowers. Good to know why.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 28d

I’m planning a place to dig up daffodil bulbs and get rid of lyriope (sp?). No planting yet but cover with cardboard and mulch to plant in the spring.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 23

Yes I never stop being amazed by them! It was a surprise! 🤩

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 23

Thanks, I couldn’t believe my timing!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 22

My hearts-a-busting is busting and it’s so cute. (Aka strawberry bush, yes I barely ever get deer.) #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardhabitat #berries

Four red berries bursting out of the shell with the dainty leaves of strawberry bush.

Light pink bumpy berry shells with red berries bursting out.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 22

I saw a monarch going into its chrysalis! It was wiggling a bit and the chrysalis looked so crazy, like a grub almost. I had to leave but when I came back, it looked normal and had hardened. #monarchs #backyardhabitat

Monarch wiggling into chrysalis with shed skin on left.

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Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 18

I know, I’ve been so pumped!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 18

Monarch love. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #monarchs

Orange male monarch butterfly warming itself on tree branch.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 18

I came home from work at the perfect time the other day. A monarch had just emerged from its chrysalis and I got see it drying its wings. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #monarchs

Monarch butterfly resting on flower right next to its chrysalis.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 18

Really good monarch season in our yard. Love that my milkweed is finally getting some attention. First year with caterpillars. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #caterpillars

Teensy tiny day old monarch caterpillar.

Few day old caterpillar on swamp milkweed.

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Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Sep 6

Velvety turtlehead now in bloom. I saw a bumblebee visit today. 💚 #bloomscrolling #virginianativeplants #nativeplants

White tubular flowers that bumblebees have to push open to get into.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 27

Thanks, great advice!!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 27

Thanks for the tips! Maybe buying some plants is the easiest way to go.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 26

Wow so just from one plant you got a dense grouping? That’s amazing! If you use seed can you just self sow over the area you want in the fall?

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 26

I am loving my cutleaf coneflower I planted last year. Does so well in part shade/almost full shade conditions. #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #bloomscrolling

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 26

Jewelweed up close. I really want some in my yard. Any tips on best way to grow? From seed or plant some in the spring? #nativeplants #backyardhabitat #bloomscrolling

Pretty orange flower that hummingbirds love.

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Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 8

Looking at my dwarf fothergillas yesterday and was like where did all the leaves go? Then I found three Polyphemus moth caterpillars! Love imagining the adult flying around laying eggs on my plants. They’re in the witch Hazel family so it’s a host plant! #bugsky #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Fat bright green caterpillar stretching along branch to eat leaf.

Tons of caterpillar poop from all their munching!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · Aug 6

I love shrubby St. John’s wort. Mine is so beautiful blooming for about 3 weeks. What about some of that interspersed with a wild rose? www.prairiemoon.com/rosa-arkansa...