Although honey bees are well known for theirbeneficial pollination and honey production, othernative bees found in Virginia sometimes impacthumans in various ways that range from beneficial toannoying. Even when their presence is undesirable,native … [Read more...]
About Butterflies
“Splendor awaits in minute proportions” – E.O. Wilson, Biologist The ephemeral beauty of the butterfly and the peculiarity of its life cycle symbolize transformation in nature and the passage of time. In some languages, the word for “butterfly” is … [Read more...]
Five Things You May Not Know About . . . Virginia’s official pollinator
You may have heard Virginia now has an official state pollinator – the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). How, you ask, did the EUROPEAN honey bee get the designation? What about our natives? CONTINUE SOURCE: Master Gardeners of Northern … [Read more...]
Continental Nomads: Monarch Butterflies
At the start of the spring breeding season, Eastern populations of monarchs leave their winter habitat in the oyamel fir forests of Mexico to begin a northward journey that may take up to a month and a half to complete. CONTINUE SOURCE: … [Read more...]
Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds
In 2019, scientists documented North America’s staggering loss of nearly 3 billion breeding birds since 1970. Helping birds can be as simple as making changes to everyday habits. Here’s our quick list of 7 Simple Actions you can take to help birds. … [Read more...]
TREES OF LIFE
American Beech - Fagus grandifolia The American Beech's symmetrical, stately bearing makes it a great native choice for a landscape that needs shade and beauty. It also features a muscular trunk with smooth gray bark said by some to look like … [Read more...]
Winter Bird Feeding: The Basics
Action, color, drama, song; it's all there at your backyard bird feeder. Feeding birds is a great way to brighten a dreary winter day. It's also a never-ending source of entertainment and enjoyment. Read on: Source: … [Read more...]
Winter’s impact on insects and plants
A common question after such a hard winter is how it will impact pest levels this summer. My answer is usually not as positive as some people want it to be. Contrary to common belief, a hard winter does not have much impact on most insect levels. … [Read more...]
~ TREES OF LIFE ~
A monthly exploration of native small trees, focusing on their beauty and benefits. FRINGE TREE (Chionanthus virginicus) kee-oh-NAN-thus ver-JIN-ih-kus My sister and I saw Fringe trees in full bloom while hiking the AT; so now there is one … [Read more...]
As temperatures fall, home-invading insects come knocking
Chilly mornings and shorter days signal to humans an impending winter. Bugs get the same message, and they head out to figure out where they are going to settle in for the winter. Continued: Source: … [Read more...]