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.

Why Spiders Are Crucial for Baby Birds and How Leaves Tie It All Together Spiders are crucial for baby bird diets. Learn how leaves, soil, and invertebrates connect to bird survival and what you can do in your yard.

Spiders are super food for baby birds.
They contain higher taurine than any other insects, fueling brain and eye development in chicks.

When we rake away leaves, we take away the spiders — and the birds feel it first.

nativeplantecosystems.com/blog/why-spi...

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.

Beechance the beebomb

Wavy-lined Emerald moth caterpillar on Brown-eyed Susan flower

Wavy-lined Emerald moth caterpillar on Brown-eyed Susan flower

Wavy-lined Emerald moth caterpillar on Brown-eyed Susan flower

Wavy-lined Emerald moth

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.

When to Clean Up Leaves? Never — With a Few Caveats Find out why experts say never to fully clean up leaves, how they support insects and birds year-round, and the best way to manage them responsibly.

Removing leaves led to 17% fewer insects, 40% fewer butterflies & moths, and 67% fewer spiders. Here’s how to keep your yard full of life.

#LeaveTheLeaves #HabitatInYourYard #NativePlants #NativePlantEcosystems #BiodiversityMatters #PollinatorGarden

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.

Native Plant Ranges: What We Know (and Don't Know) for Ecological Gardening Learn why native plant range records are incomplete and how Ecoregion Level 3 classifications can guide your ecological gardening choices despite these historical data gaps!

🌿 Ever wonder if that "native plant" is really native to your area? Historical plant records are incomplete, but Ecoregion Level 3 can be your guide! Our new blog explores how to make smart ecological gardening choices despite data gaps.

#NativePlants #EcologicalGardening #Ecoregions

Going Beyond Plant Lists: Gardening for wildlife YouTube video by mccoshsm

This is one of the best habitat creation videos out there. If you are into wildlife, this is full of great ideas to boost your ecosystem.

You might be able to help me with this. I've been searching for someone who can. I contacted several places, including one in Germany, about the right material.

Plant Native Plants flag for America. An oak branch behind the words plant American plants in the USA flag background

When in America

male northern flicker woodpecker in a tree

Northern Flicker. Gorgeous native bird.

goldfinch eating seeds on dormant native plant

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

Grass-carrying Wasp (Isodontia mexicana) on native goldenrod flower

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

Just finished it. Plan on reading it again soon. First I need to read the rest of his books. :)

chipmunk gathering moss in forest