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You are here: Home / Archives for wildlife

January 21, 2020

Give Birds Water Not Ice in Winter: Unfreeze Your Bird Bath

Frozen bird bath with bird sitting on the edge

Winter is here and the birds in your backyard are thirsty. Sure, they can get liquid from snow, but in order to process it, they have to warm it up. Birds have to expend precious calories and use the warmth of their bodies to melt the snow. When the temperature drops below freezing, how do you keep your bird bath from freezing over? Birds need fresh water even in the winter. Use these tips to keep your bird bath filled with water in liquid … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / backyard habitat, birds, wildlife, winter

May 8, 2019

How to Help a Turtle Cross the Road

Box turtle on concrete

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 go speeding past him. Several years back, I saw one such tiny turtle making slow progress across a … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / wildlife

January 12, 2018

How Do Frogs Survive the Winter?

Southern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

It was dark, warm, and humid last night when I opened my door to take my dog, Charlie, for a walk. We had to be careful not to slip on the wet cement as he went racing out to sniff the ground. We walked the block to the sound of insects and frogs singing their little hearts out. I love when we get a few warm 60-degree days in the middle of winter. It brings out a chorus of frogs singing – like a promise of spring to come. As we headed back … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / frogs, wildlife, winter

November 10, 2017

October 2017 – Favorite Photos from My Garden

Blues and purples are the colors of fall in my garden with an occasional splash of red. Mostly, it's the salvias putting on a show. I do have a few mums that bloom each year, but I like to focus on those plants that bloom in fall that are a little less common. This October, we have seen temperatures fluctuate from the mid-80's in the day to one night that flirted with freezing temperatures. Fall is always a mix of weather here in Mississippi - … [Read more...]

/ Flowers & Plants / fall, flowers, wildlife

September 27, 2017

Cute Green Porch Visitors

Green tree frog

After a week of fall temperatures (one week BEFORE fall), we are back in the heat and humidity of a typical summer day even though we are now officially in the fall season. On a particularly humid night, I opened the back door of my house to see these two little cuties hanging out. They were sitting on a chair directly underneath the porch light, taking advantage of the light attracting a bunch of moths and other flying insects. I am sure they … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / frogs and toads, wildlife

October 26, 2016

Be Careful What You Bring Indoors

My little hitchhiker - the spring peeper

The air is getting crisper and the temperatures are dropping. It's getting close to the time to bring your plants indoors for the winter. I have a lot of potted plants, so each year, I have to pick and choose the ones that I am going to try to save and those that I will leave outside. Otherwise, it gets to be a jungle in my house! Hitchhikers on my plants I am rooting some cuttings of a snake plant and for the last few months they have been … [Read more...]

/ Indoor Plants, Wildlife / indoor plants, wildlife

August 2, 2016

The Butterflies are Back!

Eastern tiger swallowtail feeding on Tithonia

This summer, the butterflies have been noticeably absent. While I have seen some smaller butterflies, like these pearl crescents that were mating among the four o'clocks in my front garden, the larger beauties were just missing. It's been a strange summer. The temperatures got high very early in spring and they really haven't gone down. As I sit here and type this, the forecast for the next three days range from 97 to 99 with heat indices … [Read more...]

/ Butterflies / butterflies, Summer, wildlife

July 23, 2016

The Dramatic Baby Bird Rescue

Jenny wren baby bird

Generally I have a policy of leaving nature to take its course. I am unable to care for baby critters - so if I see one that is by itself or looks a little in need, I may provide it some food or water, but I refuse to bring them indoors or try to 'save' them. This may sound a bit harsh, but you would be surprised how many wildlife babies are actually doing just fine and are separated from their parents by well-intentioned humans. Read the … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / backyard habitat, birds, wildlife

July 22, 2016

Backyard Wildlife Summer 2016

Eastern box turtle

This summer has been full of weird and wonderful backyard wildlife. From a nest of barred owls to frogs to snakes and turtles, I've seen a lot in my garden and backyard. Watching wildlife is one of the things I enjoy so much about my garden and yard. It's why I work hard to create suitable habitat for wildlife. This spring started out unseasonably warm and this summer has only gotten hotter. This week in particular, my state of Mississippi has … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / amphibians, backyard habitat, bees, birds, butterflies, frogs, reptiles, turtles, wildlife

May 5, 2016

The Stunning Beauty of a Moth – Moths from My Backyard

Xanthotype genus moth

Have you ever heard of mothing? Really, it's a thing. If you are familiar with birding, mothing is quite similar, though apparently a lot easier. With birding, you have to go out and seek the birds but with mothing, well, you turn on a light at night and wait for the moths to come to you. There are some absolutely stunning moths out there. I've had a few show up in my house and garden over the years. National Moth Week is in July each … [Read more...]

/ Wildlife / backyard habitat, moths, wildlife

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About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With more than 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

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