Conservation Resources

Where Do I Begin?

1/26/2024

December and January have been wild and crazy. Nothing's left of the homestead Bob and I shared for nearly 30 years, and my new home isn't ready yet. My life is in limbo, transitioning from an established, comfortable routine to a future of new beginnings.

Saying goodbye to a predictable former life could be viewed as a sad and scary experience. Yet, instead, I'd rather think of it as engaging in an exciting, new adventure that'll add new memories to ones already stored in my heart.

Tiger and I have enjoyed our 'vacation' in a fabulous Air BNB while waiting for the paperwork to be completed on our upcoming dwelling. I absolutely love our temporary lodging but can't wait to move into our new place.

It's going to be trial and error learning how to refurbish neglected furniture – giving the unloved wooden items a second chance to shine. But what I'm really looking forward to is creating a haven for the insects, birds, and other critters that'll be sharing the property with us.

The yard is a blank canvas to landscape as we like. Eventually, our acre of grass and woodland will be covered entirely with native beauty. But where do we begin?

My friend and housemate, Silke, and I are relatively new to this game. I've had a couple more years of experience identifying native plants. However, it will still be the blind leading the blind as we design a landscape that looks appealing yet, more importantly, is beneficial to wildlife.

Winter is the perfect time for planning. I want to map out where to put a diverse selection of flowers, trees, and shrubs to provide food and shelter for all the creatures visiting our little piece of paradise.

We both love the acres and acres of untouched woodland bordering the backyard. The scenery offers the peace and tranquility only Mother Nature can provide. A sizable portion of our yard is undeveloped, and a quick walk-through found some lovely indigenous plants. I can't wait to see what pops up this coming spring and summer.

On either side of us, though, are houses. I've lived in the boonies for the past thirty years and am not used to having close neighbors. Living in a neighborhood will be a challenge for me. Granted, there's at least ¾ acre separating the homes. However, that's still too close for my comfort. I'm a hermit and like my solitude.

A hedgerow made with fast-growing plants will make a perfect all-natural privacy fence. We can plant some dormant shrubs and trees during February. That'll give them time to adjust to their new home before spring. A hedge isn't a quick fix; the barrier will take a while to grow, but patience is a virtue, right? Meanwhile, a six-foot fence will keep our dogs in and neighbors' eyes out.

Let the Work Begin
We are very fortunate that only a small bit of the yard close to the house was sown with grass. The rest of the property is just plain dirt. Perfect! Not having to remove a lot of useless grass is a significant advantage. Plus, laying out garden beds in the autumn/winter gives us more time before the growing season. Another bonus is that it's cooler, with no gnats or mosquitoes.

Now comes the planning. How do we transform the bare compacted dirt into a home for native flora and fauna?

Common sense and my limited experience tell me that properly preparing the ground is crucial to a successful garden. I don't want to disturb the insect and fungal life underground, so there will be no tilling. We'll break up the surface layer and even everything up. A layer of leaves will make an excellent covering that will kill any grass or weeds trying to grow. The leaves will also break down and fertilize the garden beds. I don't have to tell you that pesticides will never poison our land!

An excellent piece of advice I picked up in Ohio State University's Pollinator 101 webinar is to work with nature in the existing landscape - not against it. During her session, Shana Byrd from the Dawes Arboretum said the first step is site evaluation. "Map out your lawn and determine what would work best in the area you want to convert to a garden. Before you start designing your new addition, determine the level of sunlight, soil type, soil texture, moisture, drainage, and size."

That'll take care of prepping the ground. Now, what are we going to put in the garden?

Winter Sowing
Step two in our master plan is to have some flowers ready to plant in our prepared garden beds. My favorite method of germinating flowers is winter sowing.

It's so simple:

Use transparent or translucent containers (Water or milk jugs, soda bottles, produce containers, etc.)
Place potting soil and seeds inside the containers.
Leave the containers in an area where rain and snow will keep them watered.
Then, forget them until spring. The seeds will germinate at the proper time, and the hardy seedlings will tolerate transplanting and changes in temperature and conditions.

That's the basics. For more detailed information on winter sowing, check out this post.

So, between prepping the soil, planting some shrubs and trees while they're dormant, and winter sowing, Silke and I should have a good start on our landscaping. Another critical factor we'll incorporate in our design is to connect the planted areas so insects can move from one patch of flowers to another without traveling a long distance.

There's a lot of work ahead of us. I know I can't transform the entire yard this first year. However, I want to lay out several garden beds as the groundwork for years to come.

Wish us luck!

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A December Not to Remember!!

1/12/2024

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Transitioning from one home to another.

I’m glad December is over with. It was mostly okay. However, there were a few days that were terrible. The nightmare bits revolved around losing my home.

Back in the late 1990s, my husband and I leased a hunk of farmland. We leveled and smoothed it out, hooked up our mobile home, and planted grass, trees, and a few bushes. Over time, we transformed the former cornfield into a lovely little homestead.

After Bob passed away in July 2020, it was no longer the same. Everywhere I looked reminded me of my loss. I wanted to move. I dreamed of buying a place to plant many native flowers, shrubs, and trees - my own pollinator paradise. Unfortunately, that was a fantasy my budget prohibited from ever coming true.

A girl can dream, though. I shared this dream with friends, and one of them decided to help me turn my wish into a reality. A few months ago, we joined forces to look for land where we could each set up a home. I was so excited! We searched for acreage with various types of habitat – wetland, wooded, and cleared – and planned how to create our own wildlife sanctuary. It would take time, but we were in no hurry.

Then came the bad news. The land where my little trailer has sat for over 20 years was being sold, and I had 30 days to vacate the premises. I couldn’t believe anyone could heartlessly throw a 65-year-old widow out of her home, especially over Christmas. Money and greed bring out the worst in people, I reckon.

Well, long story short, we found a place. It won’t be ready within 30 days, but I really don’t care. Like I told the landowner; I’m doing the best I can with what I got. What can they do, evict me?

Late December in my garden: the asters are still blooming and the swamp sunflowers and evening prmrose offer lots of seed for birds to munch on as well as foliage for insects to nest in.

The Creatures Who Live Around Me
During December, I wasn’t the only one looking for a home. Most of my time was spent sorting through 30 years’ worth of stuff, sorting out the keepers, things to give away, and the useless garbage nobody wants. However, I didn’t let the time constraint keep me from my daily walks.
It was easy to see I wasn’t the only one madly rushing around looking for a home.

Birds didn’t take very kindly to me disturbing them as they prepared their overwintering grounds in the woodlands surrounding the fallow fields. They were busy taking advantage of summer’s vegetation as it wilted away, cushioning the interior of their shelters and covering the ground, protecting all who retreated to those safe havens.

Goldenrod, asters, and other late-blooming plants provided pollen for the insects stocking up for the winter as they instinctively worked toward preparing a nice warm spot for themselves with plenty of food for their offspring.

Hopefully, the bees, butterflies, wasps, moths, fireflies, ladybugs, and ground beetles will take advantage of the leftover plant stems, fallen leaves, and bare ground in the garden beds for their nesting. I’ve also left plenty of leaf litter and brush piles to provide shelter from predators and the elements for any bird, possum, rabbit, pollinator, snail, worm, millipede, or other critter that needs it.

Mother Nature has taught me a valuable lesson. No creature, whether it has two, four, six, eight, or no legs, should ever be homeless. Every living being deserves the basics of food, water, and shelter.

Contributing to nature means so much to me. Little things that you and I can do make a big difference to the living beings with whom we share this planet. Just leaving a pile of leaves or brush, not removing dead flowers from the garden, and leaving snags and decaying trees where they are create homes for insects, birds, and animals. It doesn’t cost anything, and the rewards for them and us are priceless.

The Gift I Finally Uncovered
In closing, I realize this wasn’t a December not to remember. My life has turned a corner, and I will be safe and warm this winter. Plus, I have been able to provide shelter for the creatures with whom I have been sharing this precious piece of land before I leave.

Despite what often feels like chaos, if we hold onto the faith in our dreams, Life will shift circumstances until what felt imbalanced morphs into balance. This is what a miracle looks like. The Universe responded to the level of my belief and manifested more than I could ever have imagined! I’m fortunate to have everything I need and honored to be able to share it with creatures around me.

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All Creatures Have a Reason to Celebrate Thanksgiving

11/17/2023

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Mother Nature is very forgiving. No matter how much humanity abuses her, she still provides for us. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be very tasty if not for her pollinators supplying everything from the veggies that complement the turkey and dressing to the seasonings that make all the dishes delicious.

We’re not alone in being blessed by nature’s bounty. We share this planet with other creatures that instinctively appreciate the flowers, shrubs, and trees that supply the food and shelter they need to thrive. Of course, they don’t express their gratitude as we do. Instead, they show their thanks by playing their role in caring for and propagating the vegetation, thereby keeping the process in motion. Isn’t it amazing how plants and insects work harmoniously toward a common goal?

When the natural balance between native flora and fauna is allowed to continue as it has for many millennia, all living things benefit.

Winter could be a challenging time for wildlife if not for nature’s way of planning ahead. For hibernating insects, a diverse selection of plants blooms every autumn to provide a smorgasbord of rich, tasty, nutritious pollen and nectar. Native bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, and even ants work tirelessly, gathering pollen and seeds to fatten themselves up and/or store to feed their offspring during the cold months ahead.

I’m fascinated by all the activity around the yellow, white, and blue blossoms of goldenrods, asters, sunflowers, blue mistflowers, bearded beggarticks, and bitter sneezeweed. They all know what to do, and even though it’s rush-hour, there are no bottlenecks, arguments, or collisions.

For the birds and animals that stay active during the winter, braving the bitter temps and freezing precipitation, nature supports them as well. At first glance, the landscape may appear like all the vegetation has died off. But looking closely, you can see the berries, fruits, seeds, and nuts Mother Nature left behind to feed the hungry critters during the lean months.

Here are a few woodland goodies I’ve found while exploring the countryside:

Winged Sumac
Sumac serves primarily as a winter emergency food for wildlife. Ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and about 300 species of songbirds include sumac fruit in their diet. It is also known to be important in the winter diets of ruffed grouse and sharp-tailed grouse. Fox, squirrels, and cottontail rabbits eat the sumac bark. White-tail deer like the fruit and stems.

American Beautyberry
The fruit is high in moisture content and is an important food source for more than forty species of songbirds, including the American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Purple Finch, and Eastern Towhee. The drupes or clusters are eaten by armadillos, foxes, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels. White-tailed deer consume the fruit in the fall after leaf drop.

Dogwood
Chemical analyses of dogwood berries have revealed that the seeds are high in calcium and fat, making them a valuable food for both migrating birds and resident wildlife alike. Wildlife food habit studies have shown that at least 75 animal species consume dogwood berries.
Many birds, including songbirds, forest edge species, and upland game birds (wild turkey) consume the seeds. The eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, gray fox, gray squirrel, black bear, beaver, white-tailed deer, and skunk readily consume flowering dogwood seeds as well.

Pokeweed
Pokeweed berries are eaten by various songbirds that hang out in thickets and woodland areas, as well as mammals, including raccoons, opossums, and gray foxes. ⚠ Please note that the berries are poisonous to humans.

Carolina Horse nettle
⚠ Humans and most animals should not eat horse nettle, as the entire plant is poisonous. For wildlife, the mature yellow fruits may be eaten by quail, wild turkeys, and some small mammals.

Common Persimmon
Persimmon fruits are high in vitamin C and are eaten by more than 28 species of wildlife, including opossums, rodents, raccoons, foxes, black bears, and skunks. The birds that dine on the fruit include wild turkeys, yellow-rumped warblers, cedar waxwings, catbirds, robins, pileated woodpeckers, and mockingbirds.

Redbay Persea
Redbay is reported to be a significant food source for wildlife and is browsed heavily in fall and winter. In order of volumetric importance, redbay fruits were in 15th place in a list of 63 food items. (USDA fact sheet)

Many birds, including bluebirds, mockingbirds, brown thrashers, fish crows, robins, quail, and turkeys consume redbay fruit. Rodents also eat the fruit, while deer and black bears feed on the fruit and leaves. The redbay also provides a home for squirrels.

Dotted Smartweed
This wetland plant is essential to many kinds of native wildlife and is an excellent food for waterfowl. Twenty species of ducks, geese, bobwhites, mourning doves, ring-necked pheasants, and four species of rails eat the seeds. Dense stands supply cover for young waterfowl, marsh birds, and wintering pheasants. Thirty nongame birds, mice, muskrats, raccoons, fox squirrels, and dozens of other species of mammals also eat the seeds.

Sassafras
Many birds, including bobwhite, woodpeckers, mockingbirds and catbirds, flycatchers, and wild turkey relish sassafras berries. Deer and porcupines feed on the tree’s twigs and leaves, and rabbits nibble on the bark in winter. Black bears, beavers, rabbits, and squirrels eat the fruit, bark, and wood.

Muscadines
White-tailed deer browse the grapes and the vines themselves. Other mammals include black bears, raccoons, coyotes, red and gray foxes, opossums, cottontails, gray and fox squirrels, and striped skunks.

Wild turkeys, quail, wood ducks, and more than three dozen species of birds such as mourning dove, red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers, great crested flycatcher, tufted titmouse, northern mockingbird, brown thrasher, gray catbird, eastern bluebird, Baltimore and orchard orioles, wood, hermit and gray-cheeked thrushes, yellow-breasted chat, summer and scarlet tanagers, eastern towhees eat the fruit. Muscadine vines also provide birds with nesting sites and nesting material, as well as cover for animals trying to escape predators and severe weather.

All creatures, whether they have two, four, six, eight, or no legs, have much to be grateful for. Aren’t we lucky to have such a loving mother?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Fall Allergies? Don't Blame the Goldenrod

11/3/2023

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Autumn is a fantastic time of year. The temperature and humidity have eased off, inviting me to spend more time outside. My walks around the countryside no longer drain all my energy, and the scenery is priceless. The late summer/autumn blossoms from volunteer asters, sunflowers, and goldenrods brighten up the landscape and are absolutely lovely.

Unfortunately, my allergies have begun to spoil my fun. Constant sneezing not only bothers me but also scares the bejeebers out of all the creatures, ruining any chance of sneaking up and snapping a few photographs. Since I was a kid, I've always been told my hay fever is due to goldenrod. I was brought up to despise the yellow blossoms decorating the roadside and was often reminded to avoid them at all costs.

I'm not the only one who suffers from a chronic case of misinformation. Goldenrod has been blamed for autumn allergies for generations. When in reality, it's just an innocent bystander. The real culprit is ragweed (Ambrosia spp) hiding in plain sight amongst the goldenrod that causes congestion and headaches. Wind picks up the lightweight pollen grains from the weed's small green spikes and spreads them everywhere.

The Good Guy - Goldenrod

The Bad Guy - Ragweed

After all these years of avoiding the yellow blooms, I now know that my parents were wrong. Goldenrod's pollen has nothing to do with my hay fever.

Goldenrods, members of the genus Solidago, produce pollen that is too heavy for wind pollination and can only be manually transported by insects and animals. Some, like Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima), grow up to 6 feet tall, while others, like Bluestem Goldenrod (S. caesia) grow to only 2 feet. Some species like wet sites, while others prefer dry, well-drained soils. A few species prefer shady understory habitats, but most prefer mostly direct sunlight. While we usually associate goldenrod flowers with fall, a few species bloom in the spring. (Clemson University College of Agriculture)

Goldenrod Comes to the Rescue
National Geographic's book, Herbal: 100 Herbs From the World's Healing Traditions, states that this perennial's blossoms can help alleviate seasonal irritations.

According to their research, goldenrod helps clear up the runny, weepy, or watery symptoms associated with all kinds of allergic reactions. "Taken as a tonic over time, goldenrod can remarkably boost resistance to allergens by strengthening the integrity of leaky mucus membranes. The gentle astringency of a tea or tincture made from the flowering tops dries up the drippiness of colds and flu while also eliciting a gentle sweat that can cool down a fever."

Of course, Native Americans knew about the medicinal qualities of goldenrod long before the information was published in a book. These indigenous people cooked the leaves and flowers of their "Sun Medicine" and put the concoction directly on cuts and wounds to promote faster healing. They also made tea from the leaves to ease stomach cramps. The scientific name for goldenrod became solidago due to its long tradition as a healing plant. Solidago means "to make whole" in Latin.

A Resource for Insects, Birds, and Small Animals
Not only is this plant good for what ails humans, but other creatures benefit from it, too. It's one of nature's most valuable late summer/autumn plants. University of Delaware entomologist Doug Tallamy says, "It's one of the best herbaceous native perennials for attracting and feeding wildlife."

At least 100 species of this wildflower are native to North America. This keystone plant provides food and habitat for many pollinating insects, from butterflies and moths to honeybees and native bees to wasps, ants, flies, and beetles. Its long stems offer a nesting place for insects to lay their eggs. Birds take advantage of the flowers' seeds, and along with small animals, may nest in large stands of the goldenrod.

If goldenrod was removed from the ecosystem, it would be an environmental disaster. So, the next time someone complains about the yellow blooms making them sneeze, be sure to correct them.

Research the native species for your area and add solidago to your planting list for next year. There can never be too much of this super wildflower. Here are some of the species of goldenrod I've found around here in my local area of northeastern SC.

Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is found in open woodlands, thickets, sandy swamps, wet sand prairies, marsh banks, and sand dunes. It attracts many bees, butterflies, and beetles. Leaf beetles, stink bugs, and the larvae of several moths feed on the foliage. Many birds, including Indigo Bunting, Eastern Goldfinch, Ruffed Grouse, and Greater Prairie Chicken enjoy consuming the seeds.

Gray or Old Field Goldenrod (S. nemoralis) grows where little else will grow, which includes poor, rocky, clay slopes with little organic matter. It prefers full sun and dry soil. This species of solidago is one of the shortest goldenrods, reaching 2' at most. Features include small, winged leaflets on the main stem and fuzzy white texture on the leaves and stem. It tends to bloom later in the fall than other goldenrods. It's not usually planted in gardens because extensive root growth can interfere with other plants.

Tall Goldenrod (S. altissim) became South Carolina's state wildflower in 2003. It grows upright to a height of 4 to 8 feet. A single plant may have as many as 1,500 pyramid-shaped clusters of tiny flowers, 2 to 12 inches long. The flowers' ray-like petals are notched at the end. The weight of the flowerheads makes the stem lean, so the blooms curve downward.

Giant or Late Goldenrod (S. gigantea) grows in clumps. It can get up to 6 feet tall and is adapted to seasonally moist or wet, open ground such as open meadows, fields, woodland edges, roadsides, marshes, swamps, along streams and rivers. Occasionally, it is found on drier ground or in part shade. The stems of Late Goldenrod are smooth and hairless.

Canada Goldenrod (S. canadensis) is non-native to SC but is everywhere, more numerous than any of the other species I've found. It is native to northeastern and north-central North America. It is acclimated to areas receiving full sun or part shade. These aggressive plants typically grow in moist soil and are found in damp meadows, waterways, and ditches along roadsides and railroads.

Showy Goldenrod (S. speciosa) are typically around 3 feet high. The clump-forming plants have rigid stems and rich green foliage. They are not as aggressive as some goldenrods, as they do not spread by rhizome. Ideal planting sites are well-drained. Showy Goldenrod will tolerate a range of soils as long as the drainage is good. Full sun is best.

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Autumn – Where Are You?

10/6/2023

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I’m impatient. This summer has lasted far longer than necessary. I loved all the ‘new to me’ plants I discovered, as well as the experience I gained by growing different varieties of native flowers in my gardens. I’ve learned so much and enjoyed sharing my discoveries with you all, but I’m ready for a change. The heat and humidity have done me in.

Autumn – where are you?

Some folks associate autumn with death. Not me. Sure, plants and trees lose their leaves, and summer flowers no longer grace the landscape, but they don’t die. Instead, they’re taking a little time to rest and recuperate from a busy season of growing.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year. Mother Nature exchanges summer’s oppressive heat with cool, crisp, delightful, pleasant mornings. The crunching, crackling sounds of creatures scurrying through the leaves and the awe-inspiring magnificent colors dotting the rambling landscape revitalize me.

Plus, there is so much activity! Birds, animals, reptiles, bugs, and all the other life we share this planet with have a lot to do during autumn. I love to watch insects madly buzzing and flittering around the asters and goldenrods. Their time to prepare for the cold weather slips away along with the dwindling hours of daylight. Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, wasps, and all the other bugs scurry from blossom to blossom, feasting on the last dregs of nectar while collecting the vital grains of pollen and seeds needed to sustain their new generations until next spring. The same goes for frogs, reptiles, squirrels, possums, and other wildlife. Unless planning to stay awake all winter, creatures are preparing for their well-deserved restorative nap.

The first frost denotes that prep time has come to a close. Ready or not, it’s time to get into their hollow logs, plant stems, burrows, nests, or under the leaves. Winter is on its way
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For me, the first frost says to unpack the sweaters and turtlenecks. It’s time to layer up and stay toasty warm while enjoying the beauty of the season.

After all the fields are harvested and the surrounding underbrush cleared away, so many familiar avenues beckon my return. I can revisit areas I haven’t seen since early summer. I’ll photograph the unique loveliness of the deserted tobacco, corn, and cotton stubble left stranded in the fields. The winter wheat will wave a friendly greeting as I brush my hand over the stalks.

I’m looking forward to seeing the vibrant colors painting the countryside. The persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) and black cherry (Prunus serotina) trees, along with the winged sumac (Rhus copallina) and American beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana) bushes, will bear ripening fruit for the birds and wildlife to munch on during late summer, fall and over the winter. I can’t wait!

Unfortunately, warm weather sticks around where I live through September and into October. So I have a few more weeks until I can trade my t-shirt for a sweatshirt. Until then, I’ll continue observing the bugs prepping for winter, dreaming of the cooler days to come.

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Fabulous Way to Start the Day!

9/25/2023

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It's Autumn! The temps are actually cool enough to wear my sweatshirt. Well, in the morning anyway. I'm back in my T-shirt for the rest of the day.

I love my walks. It's a fabulous way to start my day, especially this time of year! It's incredible to witness the transition from summer wildflowers to the diverse selection of autumn plants that will nourish and shelter insects as they prepare for the winter. The berries and fruits on bushes, trees, and flowers will continue ripening as the vegetation around them withers away. Soon, the birds and wildlife will have a new feast to sustain them through the winter.

Berries and fruit from the American Beautyberry, Flowering Dogwood, Pokeweed, and Maypops (Passion Flowers).

A wonderful surprise greeted me yesterday. The farm roads have been bush-hogged, opening the way for the tractors to access "the back 40" and harvest the corn.

It also allows me to walk around the fields again. Most of the paths are still overgrown, but a few are walkable. Once the harvest is complete, I'll have full access to the fields and the surrounding woodlands.

Every day will be a new adventure. I'm looking forward to it!

Wild Turkeys enjoying breakfast.

Interesting. A couple of trees lived and died side-by-side. All the insides have rotted away and left the bark shell. This will make a great home for critters this winter.

The corn is ready to harvest. The deer will be sorry to see it go. They have been feasting on this easy to find free meal every night

An interesting mushroom.

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Making a Difference

8/25/2023

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Bumble bees are intriguing and a joy to watch. The friendly creatures are curious, very smart, and like to play too. Carefully controlled research shows they not only learn quickly, but instinctively make modifications and improvements upon their newly acquired skills. (Science.org)

I enjoy it when they interact with me and hover a few inches from my nose. I wonder what’s going through that small yet intelligent bee brain. How do they view the world? Do they realize their populations are dwindling and some Bombus species are threatened to disappear forever? Can they learn and adapt to the changing climate and avoid dangerous pesticides?

Last summer, my vegetable garden was a bust. I watered the plants, pulled up the biggest weeds, and planted pollinator-friendly flowers nearby. The leaves, stems, and the rest of the plants grew, and there were tons of blossoms but no tomatoes, squash, cukes, eggplants, or zucchini.

Why? Because no bumble bee or any other insect crawled, fluttered, or buzzed around the garden to pollinate the fruiting blooms. That scared me. Was I witnessing the demise of our pollinators? Luckily, my late summer and autumn flowers started attracting attention from the insect world, and the pollinators returned. However, the original problem still existed. What could I do to make a difference?

That got me investigating ways I could prevent the same situation from happening again. I’m determined to make a positive difference. My resolution encouraged me to take a closer look at the world around me from a bug’s perspective. That’s where my captivation with indigenous flowers, shrubs, and trees originated, and now I’m hooked on discovering all of nature’s hidden beauty.

Along with documenting and preserving native plants, another golden opportunity came my way from the Xerces Society. I purchased an insect net and some small vials, dusted off our Canon XS digital camera, and joined SEBBA, the Southeastern Bumble Bee Atlas. I was going to catch and photograph some bumble bees!

The Bumble Bee Atlas
Xerces’ Bumble Bee Atlas is a citizen science project that collects the data needed to track and conserve bumble bees. The information gathered through these surveys is necessary to understand bumble bees, assess species distribution, population shifts, habitat associations, and to develop and implement effective conservation measures.

At least 50 different bumble bee species live in North America. Many of them face an uncertain future. One-quarter of them are undergoing dramatic population declines due to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, low genetic diversity, and the introduction and distribution of pathogens through commercial pollinators.

The website sums up the purpose of the project: Regardless of the ultimate cause of bumble bee declines, protecting and managing existing habitat or creating new habitat are some of the most immediate and productive steps that can be taken to conserve these important pollinators. Understanding what habitats are most important, where to protect them, and where to restore them are where our Atlas projects will provide essential information.

To get valuable data at the scale Xerces needs demands widespread participation. That’s why Atlas projects are active in 15 states: Pacific Northwest, Great Plains, Nebraska, Minnesota, California, Missouri, Iowa, and most recently in the Southeast.

My First Survey
The Southeastern Bumble Bee Atlas (SEBBA) got off the ground in Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas earlier this year. After completing my training through an online workshop and gathering all the necessary supplies, I set out on my first survey on a hot summer morning.

I found my first bumble bee buzzing around a batch of Carolina Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense). Even though I’d practiced swinging the insect net, my antics that morning were not very graceful. My feet were balanced on a narrow ridge while trying to capture the bee. I got her but nearly fell face-first into the thorny horsenettle. Luckily, I was spared that painful experience.

Have you ever tried to corner an angry bumble bee inside a net and then coerce her into a small bottle? I finally figured it out after losing my first victim and attempted it again with a second one. At least ten bumble bees were buzzing around the horsenettle, so I didn’t totally lose out on my capture. Thank goodness.

After icing them in the cooler, doing the photography was another learning experience. At first, I didn’t have the bumble bee chilled enough, and she flew off before I finished taking her pictures. I had to go back to the horsenettles and get another bumble bee. Eventually, I got the hang of it and completed my task. The pictures weren’t the greatest, but I’ll improve with more practice.

It took a little longer than expected to complete the survey and do the paperwork, but it was worth it. The best part of my adventure was knowing I was accomplishing my goal and doing something that would make a difference. There’s no better way to spend a day!

If you’re interested in participating in the Xerces Society’s Bumble Bee Atlas, check out their webpage for more information. If the BBA is not active in your state, you can still photograph and submit your pictures of bumble bees to Bumble Bee Watch. That’s how I got started. Good luck!

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A Bee's Eye View of Nature

8/11/2023

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Debora Lombardi

A Bee's perception of a flower is much different than ours. Wouldn't it be cool to have ultraviolet vision!

I reckon you all have realized by now how much I love exploring the great outdoors. It's so fascinating to find a 'new to me' insect or plant as I wander around the countryside. Even while walking the same paths or along familiar roads, something different and intriguing tends to catch my eye.

One of the interesting wildflowers I've encountered has the interesting name of Handsome Harry (Rhexia virginica). It is a species of Meadow beauties native to eastern North America.

The first time I saw Handsome Harry, the gorgeous flower took my breath away. I mean that both literally and figuratively!

A ditch filled with lots of briars blocked the path between me and Harry, yet I was determined to get a closer look. It took quite a bit of effort to navigate the thorny obstacles, but it was worth the effort and exercise.

The contrast between the single flower and the rest of the greenery couldn't be captured in the photograph. The lavender blossoms added nature's unique artistic touch to the scene. And it was priceless!

Since then, I've come across many other meadow beauties, but that first one will always be the most beautiful of them all.

An interesting tidbit of information: not all insects can pollinate meadow beauties. It relies on native bees, including bumble bees for buzz pollination. This specialized skill uses rapid vibrations of the bee's wings to detach pollen from the flower's anthers.

Video of bumble bee buzz pollinating a meadow beauty. If you listen closely, you can hear the higher pitched buzz.

My new and exciting discovery led me to wonder how insects locate the latest floral additions to the landscape. How does a newly emerged blossom capture a bug's attention?

According to the-scientist.com, plants produce odors that are picked up through the sensilla on an insect's antennae. Most flower odors have evolved specifically to attract insects.

But that's not all. A pollinator's extraordinary vision plays a role as well, and that's what fascinates me.

Insects are sensitive to a broad spectrum of light ranging from ultraviolet to infrared. A study conducted by the University of Georgia in November 2001 found that bees are able to simultaneously receive information from the wavelength and e-vector (vector representing the electric field of an electromagnetic wave) of incoming light by using their eye's photoreceptors. However, not all bugs have the same sensitivity to light. For instance, bees can't see the longer red or orange wavelengths of light, yet their compound eyes readily pick up the shorter ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths.

Wouldn't it be cool to visualize nature through the eyes of a bee and see flowers in ultraviolet?

We can, with a bit of help from technology!

From Bee Culture Magazine

Unfortunately, humans are limited to the mid-range of the color spectrum, so we have to rely on a UV camera to give us a glimpse into the bees' world.

Thanks to photographic artist Craig Burrows, we now have an opportunity to go on a bee's-eye-tour of nature.

Over years of practice, Craig perfected the art of ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence photography. His awe-inspiring images illuminate the true colors of flowers as no one (except for insects) has ever seen them.

He started out searching for flowers in his neighborhood but switched to growing his own. He wanted more photogenic types of flowers, such as sunflowers and related flowers with bright, glowing pollen. The added effort was worth it; the results are spectacular!

Craig's photographs are copyrighted, so you must click the following links to view them. It's well worth the extra few minutes. His awesome images will blow you away.

HuffPost featured his photographs in David Moye's article dated April 18, 2017.

You can view more images in National Geographic's piece by Austa Somvichian-Clausen from February 23, 2018.

Also, be sure to watch David Attenborough's short video showing us the world through an insect's eyes, viewing plants and flowers in beautiful ultra-violet vision!

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Greta Burroughs

Through the Lens of a Nature-Lover

No creature, whether it has two, four, six, eight, or no legs, should ever be homeless. Every living being deserves the basics of food, water, and shelter. By planting native plants, trees, and shrubs, I can do something toward providing the food and shelter these creatures need.

It's amazing how plants and insects evolved to interact with each other, and how one could always instinctively rely upon the other for survival.

That's what Mother Nature intended.

Unfortunately, humanity's carelessness and greed disrupted her master plan.

I'm on a quest to help restore Nature's balance by collecting seeds from, transplanting, or propagating the indigenous plants I find along the roadsides and fields before they are mown down or poisoned with pesticides.

Then, if my gardening skills don't fail me, my yard will eventually provide a year-round oasis of native flowers, trees, and shrubs that'll provide the food and shelter insects need to thrive and never be homeless again.

Through the Lens of a Nature-Lover will share my journey as I discover, photograph, and rescue the plants and bugs no one else notices.

Please join me in my quest to end homelessness. Thank you for caring.

Where Do I Begin?

A December Not to Remember!!

All Creatures Have a Reason to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Fall Allergies? Don't Blame the Goldenrod

Autumn – Where Are You?

Fabulous Way to Start the Day!

Making a Difference

A Bee's Eye View of Nature

Greta Burroughs

Through the Lens of a Nature-Lover

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Greta BurroughsThrough the Lens of a Nature-Lover​

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Greta Burroughs

Through the Lens of a Nature-Lover