Garden Experiments
For the love of gardening and wildlife habitat
Gardening with wildlife and creating wildlife habitat in your backyard or garden can bring you a lot of joy. I love to watch the birds, butterflies, frogs, lizards, bees, and small mammals visit my garden, even if it means I sometimes lose a few plants. These articles talk about how to create backyard habitat, what plants can help wildlife in your garden, and even talks about some of the critters you might see in your garden.
The pink-hued blooms of native eastern redbud trees (Cercis canadensis) are one of the first signs of color that I see in March. It’s a sure sign that spring is on its way and that more color will begin to pop up in the lawns and gardens in our neighborhood. After months of cold weather and the barren landscapes of winter, the hint of mauve and …
Continue Reading about Eastern Redbud Trees Provide Early Spring Food for Bees
National Pollinator Week occurs in mid- to late-June each year. The goal of this Week is to celebrate the beneficial insects, birds, and mammals that pollinate the flowers of plants that produce much of our food, maintain our ecosystems, stabilize soils, and provide wildlife habitat. It also serves to educate people about what they can do to help …
Continue Reading about Celebrating Pollinators – Bees, Butterflies, Birds and More
This is the frangipani hornworm moth also known as the giant gray sphinx moth (Pseudosphinx tetrio). It is the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen. We were walking along the streets of old San Juan in Puerto Rico when we came across a small park. I noticed the Plumeria were looking rather ragged, so I took a closer look only to find not …
Continue Reading about You Won’t Believe Your Eyes When You See This Giant Caterpillar
On our vacation to Puerto Rico this past February, we had the pleasure of hiking up to the cloud forest in the El Yunque National Forest. We came across this cute little guy about halfway through our climb. I love seeing new critters and looking them up when I get home. Especially when they are as cool as this one. While it isn't found in the …
If you drive down a country road or through neighborhood street in the spring, you’re likely to see at least one turtle trying to cross the road and maybe even some that didn’t make it across the road. Sometimes you’ll even see them on big four-lane roads. It’s hard to see a turtle with his head and tail pulled back into his shell while cars speed …
Continue Reading about How to Safely Help a Turtle Cross the Road
When February arrives, I am tired of winter. Tired of the cold, dreary, gray days and tired of being stuck indoors (mostly because I can't stand to be cold, not because of any severe weather). This is when I need an escape. Enter a trip to warmer climates. Yay! Here I sit in my office chair with the remnants of a fading tan and memories of …
