Leaving the seedheads of native plants is crucial to our native overwintering songbirds. Planting native plants only to cut them down in fall defeats the purpose.

Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers can look almost identical at a glance, but there are a few easy ways to tell them apart. Downies are smaller and have a short, delicate bill. Hairies are larger and have a long bill that matches the length of their head.

Some photos I took in my yard after dark last night. I saw a mouse up in a plant eating seeds. Kind of neat to see so many things happening. The crab spiders are black light reflective, like scorpions. They were everywhere.

Wavy-lined Emerald (Synchlora aerata) caterpillars hide by sticking flower petals to their backs. They mostly eat flowers, not leaves, which lets them use many natives like Rudbeckia, Helianthus, Solidago, Aster, and Verbena. They grow into small green moths with wavy-edged wings.

Inoculating your new vernal pool with material from established pools delivers immediate benefits. This simple transfer of sediment and water introduces a complete microscopic ecosystem—dormant eggs, seeds, bacteria, and fungi—that would otherwise take years to develop naturally.

When in America

Northern Flicker. Gorgeous native bird.

Plant native plants and let them do their thing. Leave the seeds for birds to eat in winter. This is the way.

Meet the Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana), an industrious insect that plays a vital role in our ecosystem. Its unique nesting behavior not only aids in its survival but also contributes to the health of our environment. 🐝🌾
#NatureLovers #InsectLife #Biodiversity #wasps