As gardeners, we tend to think of squirrels as pests. They dig up freshly planted seeds, dig holes in lawns, drop the scales of pine cones everywhere, and often get to the pecans and green tomatoes before I do! Despite their sometimes frustrating activities, tree squirrels play an important role in the ecosystem. As Seed & Spore …
Backyard Wildlife
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.
My favorite feathered visitors
I have an awesome bird feeder pole that holds multiple feeders (and is thus far impermeable to squirrels). The feeders are visible from my couch in my sitting room. I can sit and watch all the birds come and go and even photograph some of them from this vantage point. I do my best to create good habitat for wildlife including birds in my …
December Garden Visitors
Our December weather has been unusual this year. It took a long time before our first freeze and then we've had a couple of days here and there that were in the 70's. But, as always, after warm winter weather, a bad storm follows. Because of the bouts of warmer temperatures, I've had some fun visitors to my garden that we wouldn't normally see …
How The Assassin Bug Is Good for Your Garden
Have you seen an assassin bug in your garden? I don’t know how I never noticed these little insects during the years I have been gardening, but they just never registered on my radar. A friend recently posted about being stung by one of these, and that very same day, I realized that I had taken a photograph of a juvenile assassin bug. Are …
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Don’t Let the Bad Bugs Spoil Your Outdoor Fun
It is just the worst part of gardening. I mean it, the worst. The bugs. My former biology teachers would scold me for saying “bugs” and not insects, but that’s what we call them. I appreciate beneficial insects in the garden - the praying mantises, ladybugs, spiders, and even bees and wasps that can sting. But here in the Deep South, we are just …
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How to Attract Gulf Fritillary Butterflies to Your Garden
You can attract Gulf fritillary butterflies to your yard and garden by providing food plants (flowers), caterpillar host plants, water, and shelter for the butterflies. Here are some tips for the plants to include in your garden for Gulf fritillaries. Gulf fritillary butterflies (Dione vanillae -- formerly Agraulis vanillae) are orange, black, …
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