@rewildfossilguy.bsky.social
Restoring nature one native plant at a time. Rewild with Native Plants to restore ecosystems.
https://www.fossilguy.com/rewild
https://www.fossilguy.com/rewild
Bittersweet milestone — As the 10 Million Trees in PA Project winds down, we picked up our last load of native tree saplings. 25 more are now in the ground, part of a growing habitat that will shelter wildlife for years to come. #Rewilding #NativeTrees #10MillionTrees #PAWildlife #plantnatives
October 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Bittersweet milestone — As the 10 Million Trees in PA Project winds down, we picked up our last load of native tree saplings. 25 more are now in the ground, part of a growing habitat that will shelter wildlife for years to come. #Rewilding #NativeTrees #10MillionTrees #PAWildlife #plantnatives
From lawn to wildlife paradise! This 6×30 ft perimeter use to be lawn, now its full of native plants. Started this spring it already hosts caterpillars of tiger, spicebush & monarchs, plus birds & mammals. Converting a lawn edge is a simple step to boost wildlife! #BackyardWildlife #PlantNatives
September 20, 2025 at 12:55 PM
From lawn to wildlife paradise! This 6×30 ft perimeter use to be lawn, now its full of native plants. Started this spring it already hosts caterpillars of tiger, spicebush & monarchs, plus birds & mammals. Converting a lawn edge is a simple step to boost wildlife! #BackyardWildlife #PlantNatives
I’ve seen more Monarch caterpillars and butterflies this year than in the past few seasons—my milkweed is full of them!These will become the migratory generation that overwinters in Mexico. Plant milkweed: every yard matters for Monarchs!
#plantnatives #rewilding #monarchbutterflies #milkweed
#plantnatives #rewilding #monarchbutterflies #milkweed
August 28, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I’ve seen more Monarch caterpillars and butterflies this year than in the past few seasons—my milkweed is full of them!These will become the migratory generation that overwinters in Mexico. Plant milkweed: every yard matters for Monarchs!
#plantnatives #rewilding #monarchbutterflies #milkweed
#plantnatives #rewilding #monarchbutterflies #milkweed
This 10×6 ft, 2 ft deep pond is alive with frogs, damselflies & dragonflies. Birds drink & butterflies puddle on the edges. No pumps—just plants! Don’t dig in existing wetlands—they’re already vital habitat. Small ponds = big biodiversity! #rewild #wildlifepond #plantnatives #nativegardening
August 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This 10×6 ft, 2 ft deep pond is alive with frogs, damselflies & dragonflies. Birds drink & butterflies puddle on the edges. No pumps—just plants! Don’t dig in existing wetlands—they’re already vital habitat. Small ponds = big biodiversity! #rewild #wildlifepond #plantnatives #nativegardening
Monarch caterpillars don’t just munch leaves—they love the flowers too! If you’re searching for them, check the blooms. Plant native milkweed. Rewild your yard. #MonarchButterfly #PlantMilkweed #Rewild #NativePlants #PollinatorGarden
July 30, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Monarch caterpillars don’t just munch leaves—they love the flowers too! If you’re searching for them, check the blooms. Plant native milkweed. Rewild your yard. #MonarchButterfly #PlantMilkweed #Rewild #NativePlants #PollinatorGarden
These Monarch caterpillars are about to pupate! 🐛Want to help Monarchs? Plant native milkweed. Swamp Milkweed is my favorite—it’s native, beautiful, and won’t take over your garden like Common Milkweed.
#PlantMilkweed #Monarchs #NativePlants #rewilding #plantnatives #savethemonarchs
#PlantMilkweed #Monarchs #NativePlants #rewilding #plantnatives #savethemonarchs
July 25, 2025 at 3:03 PM
These Monarch caterpillars are about to pupate! 🐛Want to help Monarchs? Plant native milkweed. Swamp Milkweed is my favorite—it’s native, beautiful, and won’t take over your garden like Common Milkweed.
#PlantMilkweed #Monarchs #NativePlants #rewilding #plantnatives #savethemonarchs
#PlantMilkweed #Monarchs #NativePlants #rewilding #plantnatives #savethemonarchs
Every time I work in the woods I’m restoring… I feel like I’m being watched!
#nativeplants #rewild #rewilding #plantnatives #woodlandrestoration
#nativeplants #rewild #rewilding #plantnatives #woodlandrestoration
July 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Every time I work in the woods I’m restoring… I feel like I’m being watched!
#nativeplants #rewild #rewilding #plantnatives #woodlandrestoration
#nativeplants #rewild #rewilding #plantnatives #woodlandrestoration
Monarchs have just started laying eggs in my milkweed parches. Plant native milkweed to help—Swamp Milkweed is perfect for gardens and small spaces. Every backyard counts! Lets save the minarchs. #MonarchConservation #PlantMilkweed #monarchbutterfly #plantnatives
July 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Monarchs have just started laying eggs in my milkweed parches. Plant native milkweed to help—Swamp Milkweed is perfect for gardens and small spaces. Every backyard counts! Lets save the minarchs. #MonarchConservation #PlantMilkweed #monarchbutterfly #plantnatives
The Buttonbush: A Pollinator Powerhouse
Even as the blooms fade, my native Buttonbush is still swarming with pollinators—2 monarchs, 3 tiger swallowtails, a black swallowtail, silver-spotted skippers & more! Got a moist spot? Plant one. It’s also a host plant for several moths! #plantnatives
Even as the blooms fade, my native Buttonbush is still swarming with pollinators—2 monarchs, 3 tiger swallowtails, a black swallowtail, silver-spotted skippers & more! Got a moist spot? Plant one. It’s also a host plant for several moths! #plantnatives
July 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The Buttonbush: A Pollinator Powerhouse
Even as the blooms fade, my native Buttonbush is still swarming with pollinators—2 monarchs, 3 tiger swallowtails, a black swallowtail, silver-spotted skippers & more! Got a moist spot? Plant one. It’s also a host plant for several moths! #plantnatives
Even as the blooms fade, my native Buttonbush is still swarming with pollinators—2 monarchs, 3 tiger swallowtails, a black swallowtail, silver-spotted skippers & more! Got a moist spot? Plant one. It’s also a host plant for several moths! #plantnatives
Native Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a pollinator powerhouse —host to 100+ butterfly & moth species! In summer, it feeds birds with berries, grows in sun or part shade, maxes out at ~12 ft, and forms thickets perfect for wildlife restoration #NativePlants #Pollinators #RewildYourYard
July 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Native Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is a pollinator powerhouse —host to 100+ butterfly & moth species! In summer, it feeds birds with berries, grows in sun or part shade, maxes out at ~12 ft, and forms thickets perfect for wildlife restoration #NativePlants #Pollinators #RewildYourYard
Just released this freshly eclosed Black Swallowtail!They’ve declined by over 30% in recent decades. Native host plants like golden alexanders support their life cycle—but they’ll also use herbs like parsley and fennel. Plant host plants!
#rewilding #butterflygarden #blackswallowtail #plantnatives
#rewilding #butterflygarden #blackswallowtail #plantnatives
June 22, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Just released this freshly eclosed Black Swallowtail!They’ve declined by over 30% in recent decades. Native host plants like golden alexanders support their life cycle—but they’ll also use herbs like parsley and fennel. Plant host plants!
#rewilding #butterflygarden #blackswallowtail #plantnatives
#rewilding #butterflygarden #blackswallowtail #plantnatives
I happened to see a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar feeding after a rain—normally they only come out at night! Once it had its fill, it crawled back into its leaf shelter. A reminder of how native host plants like Spicebush support the life cycle. If you plant it, they will come. #nativeplants
June 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I happened to see a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar feeding after a rain—normally they only come out at night! Once it had its fill, it crawled back into its leaf shelter. A reminder of how native host plants like Spicebush support the life cycle. If you plant it, they will come. #nativeplants
Not just for monarchs—milkweed is a nectar magnet!
Here’s a Great Spangled Fritillary on Common Milkweed. For small gardens, try Swamp or Showy Milkweed—less aggressive, just as vital.
Milkweed - A host plant for monarchs and a powerhouse for other pollinators!
#Pollinators #NativePlants
#rewild
Here’s a Great Spangled Fritillary on Common Milkweed. For small gardens, try Swamp or Showy Milkweed—less aggressive, just as vital.
Milkweed - A host plant for monarchs and a powerhouse for other pollinators!
#Pollinators #NativePlants
#rewild
June 17, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Not just for monarchs—milkweed is a nectar magnet!
Here’s a Great Spangled Fritillary on Common Milkweed. For small gardens, try Swamp or Showy Milkweed—less aggressive, just as vital.
Milkweed - A host plant for monarchs and a powerhouse for other pollinators!
#Pollinators #NativePlants
#rewild
Here’s a Great Spangled Fritillary on Common Milkweed. For small gardens, try Swamp or Showy Milkweed—less aggressive, just as vital.
Milkweed - A host plant for monarchs and a powerhouse for other pollinators!
#Pollinators #NativePlants
#rewild
We’ve lost 1 in 5 butterflies in the U.S. since 2000.
More than 40% of species studied declined by 50% or more.
But there’s hope.
The Xerces State of the Butterflies report outlines how we can turn this around—starting in our own yards and communities.
Read the report:
xerces.org/press/as-us-...
More than 40% of species studied declined by 50% or more.
But there’s hope.
The Xerces State of the Butterflies report outlines how we can turn this around—starting in our own yards and communities.
Read the report:
xerces.org/press/as-us-...
June 17, 2025 at 10:54 AM
We’ve lost 1 in 5 butterflies in the U.S. since 2000.
More than 40% of species studied declined by 50% or more.
But there’s hope.
The Xerces State of the Butterflies report outlines how we can turn this around—starting in our own yards and communities.
Read the report:
xerces.org/press/as-us-...
More than 40% of species studied declined by 50% or more.
But there’s hope.
The Xerces State of the Butterflies report outlines how we can turn this around—starting in our own yards and communities.
Read the report:
xerces.org/press/as-us-...
It all starts here! At just 2mm long, I spotted this freshly hatched Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar. It is already on its journey to becoming a beautiful butterfly. Its host plant? Spicebush. Want these butterflies in your yard? Plant natives.
#SpicebushSwallowtail #PlantNatives #BackyardWildlife
#SpicebushSwallowtail #PlantNatives #BackyardWildlife
June 3, 2025 at 2:25 PM
It all starts here! At just 2mm long, I spotted this freshly hatched Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar. It is already on its journey to becoming a beautiful butterfly. Its host plant? Spicebush. Want these butterflies in your yard? Plant natives.
#SpicebushSwallowtail #PlantNatives #BackyardWildlife
#SpicebushSwallowtail #PlantNatives #BackyardWildlife
Found tiny Spicebush and Black Swallowtail caterpillars this morning—already hatching and feeding!
The Spicebush cats are right at home on our native spicebush.
Plant host plants. Butterflies can’t raise young without them.
#Rewild #NativePlants #Butterflies #SpicebushSwallowtail #swallowtail
The Spicebush cats are right at home on our native spicebush.
Plant host plants. Butterflies can’t raise young without them.
#Rewild #NativePlants #Butterflies #SpicebushSwallowtail #swallowtail
May 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Found tiny Spicebush and Black Swallowtail caterpillars this morning—already hatching and feeding!
The Spicebush cats are right at home on our native spicebush.
Plant host plants. Butterflies can’t raise young without them.
#Rewild #NativePlants #Butterflies #SpicebushSwallowtail #swallowtail
The Spicebush cats are right at home on our native spicebush.
Plant host plants. Butterflies can’t raise young without them.
#Rewild #NativePlants #Butterflies #SpicebushSwallowtail #swallowtail
Found this Curve-toothed Geometer caterpillar (Eutrapela clemataria) on my Dwarf Chinkapin Oak! It’s likely looking for a spot to chrysalis. It’ll become a big, beautiful geometer moth. A generalist, but favors cherry family trees.
Plant natives and they will come.
#NativePlants #WildlifeGarden
Plant natives and they will come.
#NativePlants #WildlifeGarden
May 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Found this Curve-toothed Geometer caterpillar (Eutrapela clemataria) on my Dwarf Chinkapin Oak! It’s likely looking for a spot to chrysalis. It’ll become a big, beautiful geometer moth. A generalist, but favors cherry family trees.
Plant natives and they will come.
#NativePlants #WildlifeGarden
Plant natives and they will come.
#NativePlants #WildlifeGarden
This Spicebush Swallowtail just emerged—one that overwintered from last fall in my outdoor butterfly tent! I’ve planted Spicebush-Lindera benzoin-their host plant around the area to increase their numbers. it’s working. Native plants bring wildlife back. #Rewild #SpicebushSwallowtail #NativePlants
May 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This Spicebush Swallowtail just emerged—one that overwintered from last fall in my outdoor butterfly tent! I’ve planted Spicebush-Lindera benzoin-their host plant around the area to increase their numbers. it’s working. Native plants bring wildlife back. #Rewild #SpicebushSwallowtail #NativePlants
Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart) blooming now in my woodland! Native to the Appalachians, it supports bees, hummingbirds, and more. A true conservation plant — far better than the non-native kind. Plant these instead of Chinese Bleeding Heart. #NativePlants #Rewild #DicentraEximia #rewilding
May 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding Heart) blooming now in my woodland! Native to the Appalachians, it supports bees, hummingbirds, and more. A true conservation plant — far better than the non-native kind. Plant these instead of Chinese Bleeding Heart. #NativePlants #Rewild #DicentraEximia #rewilding
Fleabane’s Time to Shine
The early spring flowers are done, and the elderberries and viburnums are still waiting in the wings—
But native fleabane is blooming strong.
Often called a weed, but right now it’s feeding bees, flies, and beetles when little else is.
#NativePlants #Fleabane #Rewild
The early spring flowers are done, and the elderberries and viburnums are still waiting in the wings—
But native fleabane is blooming strong.
Often called a weed, but right now it’s feeding bees, flies, and beetles when little else is.
#NativePlants #Fleabane #Rewild
May 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Fleabane’s Time to Shine
The early spring flowers are done, and the elderberries and viburnums are still waiting in the wings—
But native fleabane is blooming strong.
Often called a weed, but right now it’s feeding bees, flies, and beetles when little else is.
#NativePlants #Fleabane #Rewild
The early spring flowers are done, and the elderberries and viburnums are still waiting in the wings—
But native fleabane is blooming strong.
Often called a weed, but right now it’s feeding bees, flies, and beetles when little else is.
#NativePlants #Fleabane #Rewild
Got free native trees from PA’s Invasive Replace-ive Program! They’ll go into our rewilding sites to replace invasives with habitat-supporting natives. Love seeing local ecosystems get a boost.
#Rewilding #NativePlants #HabitatRestoration
#Rewilding #NativePlants #HabitatRestoration
May 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Got free native trees from PA’s Invasive Replace-ive Program! They’ll go into our rewilding sites to replace invasives with habitat-supporting natives. Love seeing local ecosystems get a boost.
#Rewilding #NativePlants #HabitatRestoration
#Rewilding #NativePlants #HabitatRestoration
Just spotted the first little blooms on my Woolly Dutchman’s Pipevine!
It’s the host plant for the beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail — no pipevine, no butterflies.
Got a trellis? Plant pipevine. Got a woodland? Try Virginia Snakeroot.
Support native pollinators!
#nativeplants #rewild #butterflygarden
It’s the host plant for the beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail — no pipevine, no butterflies.
Got a trellis? Plant pipevine. Got a woodland? Try Virginia Snakeroot.
Support native pollinators!
#nativeplants #rewild #butterflygarden
April 29, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Just spotted the first little blooms on my Woolly Dutchman’s Pipevine!
It’s the host plant for the beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail — no pipevine, no butterflies.
Got a trellis? Plant pipevine. Got a woodland? Try Virginia Snakeroot.
Support native pollinators!
#nativeplants #rewild #butterflygarden
It’s the host plant for the beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail — no pipevine, no butterflies.
Got a trellis? Plant pipevine. Got a woodland? Try Virginia Snakeroot.
Support native pollinators!
#nativeplants #rewild #butterflygarden
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is my favorite spring ephemeral — it’s always a little elusive, hidden in the shade until you stumble across it.
Native plants like this are vital for wildlife, feeding pollinators in spring and birds later with their berries.
Protect wild places.
Native plants like this are vital for wildlife, feeding pollinators in spring and birds later with their berries.
Protect wild places.
April 27, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) is my favorite spring ephemeral — it’s always a little elusive, hidden in the shade until you stumble across it.
Native plants like this are vital for wildlife, feeding pollinators in spring and birds later with their berries.
Protect wild places.
Native plants like this are vital for wildlife, feeding pollinators in spring and birds later with their berries.
Protect wild places.
It’s not time to remove the leaves yet if you live in the Northeast US. These are chrysalises of a Pipevine Swallowtails. Most insects overwinter in leaf litter or debris. My rule: wait until you see Swallowtails flying. That’s nature’s signal the insect world is waking up. #LeaveTheLeaves #rewild
April 18, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It’s not time to remove the leaves yet if you live in the Northeast US. These are chrysalises of a Pipevine Swallowtails. Most insects overwinter in leaf litter or debris. My rule: wait until you see Swallowtails flying. That’s nature’s signal the insect world is waking up. #LeaveTheLeaves #rewild
Mayapples are popping up! A spring woodland native with umbrella-like leaves, perfect for shade. Ephemeral, unique, and a favorite of box turtles when fruit ripens. Great for natural ground cover, early-season biodiversity for shaded restoration spaces. #Mayapple #NativePlants #TurtleHabitat #rewild
April 16, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Mayapples are popping up! A spring woodland native with umbrella-like leaves, perfect for shade. Ephemeral, unique, and a favorite of box turtles when fruit ripens. Great for natural ground cover, early-season biodiversity for shaded restoration spaces. #Mayapple #NativePlants #TurtleHabitat #rewild