Monarch Butterflies There were afternoons in late September and early October when five or six Monarch butterflies would be in my small front yard plus about the same number of them in the back yard, also a small lot. The Monarchs appeared only for a week or two. They were migrating south ahead of the… Continue reading Wildflower Meadow, Fall 2024
Tag: biodiversity
Native Pollinator Species Density and Diversity
I made a video of the flying insects that are drawn to the native wildflowers in my tiny back yard. The pink flower heads are joe pye weed, and the white flower clusters are white boneset (late boneset).
Male Rhinoceros Beetle
This is a male specimen of the eastern Hercules beetle (Dynastes tityus), a species of rhinoceros beetle native to the eastern US. I saw one of these only a handful of times growing up, and I was amazed each time. I associate them with years when June is rainy, and the plants are fat and… Continue reading Male Rhinoceros Beetle
Biodiversity and Ecological Value
At least half of my time tending the pollinator meadow is spent removing invasive evergreen seedlings: monkey grass (liriope), Japanese privet, wintercreeper, English ivy. These plants might not feed most insects and other animals, but birds love the seeds and poop them all over creation. The problem is that these plants displace native species that… Continue reading Biodiversity and Ecological Value