Adult Icelandic sheep. Iceland, August, 2019.
Young Icelandic sheep. Iceland, August, 2019.
Icelandic sheep are descendants of, and genetically nearly identical to, sheep brought to Iceland by vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. During warm months they roam through the countryside. They are not docile despite their fuzzy appearance. They don't herd and roam independently. #365species
Pipevine swallowtail on a leaf. Massachusetts, August, 2018.
Pipevine swallowtail butterfly larvae feed on pipevines among other plants and can be found in eastern and southern US. Caterpillars are brown or black with red bumps. Male butterflies are primarily black with bright blue on the tops of their wings, females are not as bright #365species #caterpillar
Pink rosa rugosa flower surrounded by leaves. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. August, 2019.
Rosa rugosa is a hardy perennial that will tolerate poor soil, wind and salt, thriving in coastal areas. It's native to Asia, introduced and naturalized in north America and northern Europe. Growing in dense thickets and driving out native plants makes it invasive in many areas. #365species #flowers
Two dogwood sawfly caterpillars on a dogwood branch. Massachusetts, June, 2022.
Resembling caterpillars, dogwood sawfly larvae feed on dogwood trees while adults are more wasp-like. They are native pests commonly throughout the US and Canada. While they do cause damage, they generally won't kill an established, healthy dogwood tree. #365species #insect
Cooper's hawk perched on a sign post. Massachusetts, January, 2025.
Cooper's hawks are commonly found throughout the US, year round in most areas. They prefer forest habitats and often are seen flying at forest edges or above open fields. They are known to hunt smaller birds at feeders, but will move on if the feeders are removed for a few days. #365species #birds
Silverrod in bloom. New Hampshire, September, 2025.
Silverrod is the only species of goldenrod in eastern North America with white to yellow-white flowers. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerating poor soil. It blooms from late summer to early fall, even October, providing an important food source to late season pollinators. #365species
Closeup of fan clubmoss. Massachusetts, October, 2024.
Fan clubmoss is a low growing evergreen native to eastern North America. It thrives in disturbed conifer forests. It grows about ten inches tall in dense monocultures on forest floors. #365species #forestplants
Virginia spiderwort in bloom. Massachusetts, June, 2020.
Virginia spiderwort are perennial plants native to east-central and eastern North America. They thrive in damp, rich soil. Its common name comes from sap which forms web-like strands when cut. Virginia spiderwort are better at attracting pollinators than cultivated species. #365species #plantnative
Eastern hemlock branch laden with small pine cones. Massachusetts, November, 2009.
The eastern hemlock, also known as Canadian hemlock or hemlock spruce, are native to eastern North America. Resembling a Christmas tree, they can live for over 500 years. They are currently threatened by invasive insects called hemlock woolly adelgids. #365species #trees #nativeplants #nature
Broad-necked root borer beetle on two rotting logs without bark. New Hampshire, July, 2023.
Broad-necked root borer beetles are common throughout eastern North America. Larvae damage trees and other plants by eating their roots. They are distinguishable from other species of longhorn beetles by their textured antennae. #365species #insects #nature
Crow taking off from seaweed covered rocks along the tidal zone with what appears to be a smooth pebble in its beak. Eastport, Maine, July, 2020.
Crows are found throughout the world in every region except the Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine tundra. Similar to ravens they are intelligent and members of the corvid family. They are smaller than ravens and have more fan shaped tails. Ravens also have heavier beaks than crows. #365species #birds
Pink Japanese anemone in bloom in front of yellow coreopsis. Vermont, August, 2024.
Japanese anemone have been cultivated in Japan for centuries, lending to their common name, but, they are native to central an southwestern China. They are deer and rabbit resistant (toxic to humans) and bloom in late summer and early fall when other plants have one by. #365species #plants #flowers
Creeping bellflower in bloom. Maine, July, 2020
Creeping bellflower are native to Europe and western Asia. While attractive, they readily escape cultivation and establish themselves in disturbed areas and are considered invasive in many locations in the US. #365species #invasive
Yellow Japanese rose in bloom close up. Massachusetts, May, 2021.
Small thicket of yellow Japanese roses in bloom. Masschusetts, May, 2021.
Kerria japonica, commonly known as Japanese rose, are native to China and Asia where they grow in thickets on mountainsides. Cultivated for their hardiness and graceful flowers. #365species #plants
Yellow Coreopsis flower in bloom. Massachusetts, June, 2024.
The Coreopsis genus includes close to 40 different species of long-blooming flowering perennial plants native to North, Central and South America. They are usually bright yellow and enjoyed by bees and butterflies. #365species #flowers #plantnative #nature
Yellow, or golden, birch is native to southeastern Canada and northeastern US, and is the largest birch species in North America. The name comes from the color of its bark. They live for 150 - 300 years, much longer than many other birch species. #365species #tree #plants
Amaryllis flowers are native to South Africa and naturalized in Australia and the West coast of the US. They have large bulbs and produce large flowers on top of a thick stalk. Through hybridization variations in color and stripes have been cultivated for ornamental use. #365species #flowers
Schlumbergera is a group of several cactus species native to southeast Brazil. Cultivated for their fall and winter blooming, two species were deliberately crossed in 1852 to create what we know as the Christmas cactus. #365species #cactus
Hairy bittercress plant growing between gray bricks. Massachusetts, March, 2024
Hairy bittercress is a member of the mustard family. Thriving in low quality, disturbed soils and producing hundreds of seeds per plant, it is nearly impossible to eradicate once established. It overwinters as a rosette, flowering in spring and dying off in summer heat. #365species #invasive #plants
Small, first year garlic mustard plants. identifiable by purple stems and the smell of garlic when disturbed. Massachusetts, March, 2024
Garlic mustard is a biannual native to Europe, parts of Asia and Africa. It was brought to North America for cooking. It is highly invasive and particularly detrimental to forests, aggressively dominating understories. It releases chemicals from its roots killing native plants. #365species #invasive
A white catfish swimming near the bottom of a river. Florida, January, 2022
White catfish are native to rivers that drain into the Atlantic from New York to Florida. They're found in rivers, ponds and brackish coastal waters. They grow 12-18 inches and have darker top sides that fade to white on their stomachs. They eat fish, crustaceans, plants. #365species #fish #wildlife
Small needlefish swimming near a sea wall. Florida, December, 2024
Needlefish live in shallow marine waters or near the surface in the open ocean. They hunt smaller fish, swimming in schools. They will jump over a small boat rather than go around it leading to people thinking they're being "attacked". Their sharp noses lined with teeth can hurt! #365species #fish
Four blue tilipia fish near a rock at the edge of Blue Spring State Park. Florida, February, 2024.
Blue tilipia are native to Northern and Western Africa and the Middle East. They've been introduced throughout the world. They've become an invasive species since their introduction to fresh waters in Florida in 1961, disrupting the composition of existing native species. #365species #fish #invasive
Banded killfish swimming near a rock near lake's edge. New Hampshire, October, 2024
Found in freshwater in eastern North America from New Foundland to South Carolina, banded killfish are a schooling fish, traveling in small groups. They live 2-3 years and are often found in the shallow areas at the edges of lakes. #365species #fish #nature
Thick mat of dune sunflower in bloom on a beach. Florida, December, 2024
Native to the US along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, the dune sunflower will grow virtually anywhere, including sandy beaches and dunes. It will grow in a dense mat and is often planted for erosion control. #365species #plantnative #flowers
Calliandra haematocephala, Floriday, December, 2024
The red puff, or Calliandra haematocephala, is known for its dark-crimson puff-ball blooms. It is native to humid and subhumid tropics of Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to central Panama. The trees provide erosion control and pollen to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. #365species
Palm tree laden with coconuts. Hawaii, March, 2005
Coconuts are a member of the palm family. They originated in the central Indo-Pacific and were introduced throughout the world to suitable climates by sailors. Their fruits served as a portable source of food and water. They can grow up to 100 feet tall with 75 fruits per year #365species #palm
Zabulon skipper butterfly perched on a hydrangea leaf. Massachusetts, August, 2024
The Zabulon skipper is native to the eastern US. It is a small butterfly. Males have mostly orange wings while females have mostly brown. Caterpillars feed on grasses. #365species #butterfly #nature #insects
Late blooming coneflower. Massachusetts, October, 2025
Coneflower, or Echinacea, are native to eastern and central north America. They can be found in prairies, meadows, and open wooded areas. Leaves are dark, coarse, petals range from pink, purple, white and yellow. They are excellent at attracting pollinators like butterflies! #365species #plantnative
Bird of paradise bloom. Hawaii, March, 2005
Bird of paradise blooms. Hawaii, March, 2005
Bird-of-paradise plants are native to sub-tropical coastal areas of southern Africa but have become naturalized in other tropical and sub-tropical areas. Elaborate flowers grow on 5 foot stalks attracting birds to pollinate them. #365species #flowers #nature
