Icelandic sheep are descendants of, and genetically nearly identical to, sheep brought to Iceland by vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. During warm months they roam through the countryside. They are not docile despite their fuzzy appearance. They don't herd and roam independently. #365species

Pipevine swallowtail butterfly larvae feed on pipevines among other plants and can be found in eastern and southern US. Caterpillars are brown or black with red bumps. Male butterflies are primarily black with bright blue on the tops of their wings, females are not as bright #365species #caterpillar

Rosa rugosa is a hardy perennial that will tolerate poor soil, wind and salt, thriving in coastal areas. It's native to Asia, introduced and naturalized in north America and northern Europe. Growing in dense thickets and driving out native plants makes it invasive in many areas. #365species #flowers

Resembling caterpillars, dogwood sawfly larvae feed on dogwood trees while adults are more wasp-like. They are native pests commonly throughout the US and Canada. While they do cause damage, they generally won't kill an established, healthy dogwood tree. #365species #insect

Cooper's hawks are commonly found throughout the US, year round in most areas. They prefer forest habitats and often are seen flying at forest edges or above open fields. They are known to hunt smaller birds at feeders, but will move on if the feeders are removed for a few days. #365species #birds

Silverrod is the only species of goldenrod in eastern North America with white to yellow-white flowers. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerating poor soil. It blooms from late summer to early fall, even October, providing an important food source to late season pollinators. #365species

Fan clubmoss is a low growing evergreen native to eastern North America. It thrives in disturbed conifer forests. It grows about ten inches tall in dense monocultures on forest floors. #365species #forestplants

Virginia spiderwort are perennial plants native to east-central and eastern North America. They thrive in damp, rich soil. Its common name comes from sap which forms web-like strands when cut. Virginia spiderwort are better at attracting pollinators than cultivated species. #365species #plantnative

The eastern hemlock, also known as Canadian hemlock or hemlock spruce, are native to eastern North America. Resembling a Christmas tree, they can live for over 500 years. They are currently threatened by invasive insects called hemlock woolly adelgids. #365species #trees #nativeplants #nature

Broad-necked root borer beetles are common throughout eastern North America. Larvae damage trees and other plants by eating their roots. They are distinguishable from other species of longhorn beetles by their textured antennae. #365species #insects #nature

Crows are found throughout the world in every region except the Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine tundra. Similar to ravens they are intelligent and members of the corvid family. They are smaller than ravens and have more fan shaped tails. Ravens also have heavier beaks than crows. #365species #birds

Japanese anemone have been cultivated in Japan for centuries, lending to their common name, but, they are native to central an southwestern China. They are deer and rabbit resistant (toxic to humans) and bloom in late summer and early fall when other plants have one by. #365species #plants #flowers

Creeping bellflower are native to Europe and western Asia. While attractive, they readily escape cultivation and establish themselves in disturbed areas and are considered invasive in many locations in the US. #365species #invasive

Kerria japonica, commonly known as Japanese rose, are native to China and Asia where they grow in thickets on mountainsides. Cultivated for their hardiness and graceful flowers. #365species #plants

The Coreopsis genus includes close to 40 different species of long-blooming flowering perennial plants native to North, Central and South America. They are usually bright yellow and enjoyed by bees and butterflies. #365species #flowers #plantnative #nature

White birch, also called paper birch, have distinctive white bark. It's often the first species to colonize burned areas in higher latitudes. It can't tolerate shade, and will be overtaken by other species as the forest recovers. #364species #trees

Yellow, or golden, birch is native to southeastern Canada and northeastern US, and is the largest birch species in North America. The name comes from the color of its bark. They live for 150 - 300 years, much longer than many other birch species. #365species #tree #plants

Amaryllis flowers are native to South Africa and naturalized in Australia and the West coast of the US. They have large bulbs and produce large flowers on top of a thick stalk. Through hybridization variations in color and stripes have been cultivated for ornamental use. #365species #flowers

Schlumbergera is a group of several cactus species native to southeast Brazil. Cultivated for their fall and winter blooming, two species were deliberately crossed in 1852 to create what we know as the Christmas cactus. #365species #cactus

Hairy bittercress is a member of the mustard family. Thriving in low quality, disturbed soils and producing hundreds of seeds per plant, it is nearly impossible to eradicate once established. It overwinters as a rosette, flowering in spring and dying off in summer heat. #365species #invasive #plants

Garlic mustard is a biannual native to Europe, parts of Asia and Africa. It was brought to North America for cooking. It is highly invasive and particularly detrimental to forests, aggressively dominating understories. It releases chemicals from its roots killing native plants. #365species #invasive

White catfish are native to rivers that drain into the Atlantic from New York to Florida. They're found in rivers, ponds and brackish coastal waters. They grow 12-18 inches and have darker top sides that fade to white on their stomachs. They eat fish, crustaceans, plants. #365species #fish #wildlife

Needlefish live in shallow marine waters or near the surface in the open ocean. They hunt smaller fish, swimming in schools. They will jump over a small boat rather than go around it leading to people thinking they're being "attacked". Their sharp noses lined with teeth can hurt! #365species #fish

Blue tilipia are native to Northern and Western Africa and the Middle East. They've been introduced throughout the world. They've become an invasive species since their introduction to fresh waters in Florida in 1961, disrupting the composition of existing native species. #365species #fish #invasive

Found in freshwater in eastern North America from New Foundland to South Carolina, banded killfish are a schooling fish, traveling in small groups. They live 2-3 years and are often found in the shallow areas at the edges of lakes. #365species #fish #nature

Native to the US along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, the dune sunflower will grow virtually anywhere, including sandy beaches and dunes. It will grow in a dense mat and is often planted for erosion control. #365species #plantnative #flowers

The red puff, or Calliandra haematocephala, is known for its dark-crimson puff-ball blooms. It is native to humid and subhumid tropics of Central America, ranging from southern Mexico to central Panama. The trees provide erosion control and pollen to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. #365species

Coconuts are a member of the palm family. They originated in the central Indo-Pacific and were introduced throughout the world to suitable climates by sailors. Their fruits served as a portable source of food and water. They can grow up to 100 feet tall with 75 fruits per year #365species #palm

The Zabulon skipper is native to the eastern US. It is a small butterfly. Males have mostly orange wings while females have mostly brown. Caterpillars feed on grasses. #365species #butterfly #nature #insects

Coneflower, or Echinacea, are native to eastern and central north America. They can be found in prairies, meadows, and open wooded areas. Leaves are dark, coarse, petals range from pink, purple, white and yellow. They are excellent at attracting pollinators like butterflies! #365species #plantnative

Bird-of-paradise plants are native to sub-tropical coastal areas of southern Africa but have become naturalized in other tropical and sub-tropical areas. Elaborate flowers grow on 5 foot stalks attracting birds to pollinate them. #365species #flowers #nature

Random caterpillar awakened by the rainy forty degree night apparently, sandwiched between two spells of Arctic air from the collapsing polar vortex. Hopefully he or she will find a suitable spot to resume diapause (dormancy) before tomorrow's return of single digit wind chills. #weatherandwildlife

New England aster are tall, showy perennials native to eastern and central North America. It can grow 6 - 8 ft tall with hundreds of daisy-like deep purple to lavender or pink flowers. Blooming in September to October, it feeds late season pollinators like monarchs #365species #plantnative #flowers

Great blue lobelia is native to eastern and central North America. It grows 2-4 feet tall and thrives in moist to wet soils. It's deep blueish-purple blooms appear in late summer/early fall providing food to late season pollinators like bumblebees, ruby-throated hummingbirds #365species #plantnative

Nine-banded armadillos originated in South America and migrated to Central and North America. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored ones". The species has expanded further north in the US in recent decades, currently well established in the Gulf states. #365species #armadillo #nature

Hollies are found in sub tropical and temperate zones throughout the world. The bright red berries of most species are toxic to humans but provide food for birds. Many species are evergreen, such as this one. #365species #plants #nature

Sweetbay magnolia is native to the southeastern US from Long Island through Florida. They prefer lower elevations and moist, poor draining soils. The wood is used for veneers, boxes and containers. #365species #nativeplant

Puncturevine is a broad leaf annual native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. Thriving in hot, dry environments it's aggressive, fast developing, and considered invasive in multiple states in US. It's common name comes from its small woody fruit with sharp thorns. #365species #plants #invasivespecies

Cardinal flowers are native to the Americas. Due to its color and shape of the blossoms, it is primarily pollinated by ruby-throated hummingbirds. It is attracted to damp or semi-flooded areas such as along rivers and other wetlands where roots stay hydrated #365species #plantnative #flowers #nature

Bleeding hearts are native to northeast China and the Korean peninsula and grown in other regions for their distinctive heart-shaped blooms. It's a perennial that can tolerate the climate within most of the continental US, though goes dormant during late summer. #365species #plants #flowers

Paper flower, or Lesser Bougainvillea, are native to Brazil. They've been introduced to, and became naturalized in, many other tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. Named for the clusters of white flowers are surrounded by colorful leaves that look like paper. #365species #flowers

Common milkweed is native to southern Canada and the US east of the Rockies. They used to be abundant throughout the plains. Due to wide scale use of herbicides in agriculture, they've declined, leaving monarch caterpillars without a vital food source. #365species #plantnative #nature #plants

Prickly pear cactus are perennial, native to the Americas and thrive in very dry climates. The oval shaped pads you see are technically their stems, and they don't have leaves. The Florida prickly pear has large spines and can be found scrub, sand dunes and near the coast #365species #cactus #nature

Banana yucca get their common name from the fleshy fruit they produce. They produce large white flowers that are pollinated by nocturnal yucca moths. They are native to the southwestern US and northern Mexico. #365species #nature #cactus

The hedgehog or claret cup cactus is known for its vibrant funnel shaped flowers that range from red to orange with a white or yellow base. They are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. They are native to southwestern US and northern Mexico. #365species #nature #cactus

Crocuses are native to the Mediterranean, North Africa, central and southern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Introduced for their ornamental value, they've become naturalized in many other places. As the first blooms of the year they provide valuable pollen to insects. #365species #plants

Yellow clintonia or blue-bead lily are woodland perennials native to eastern US. With orchid-like leaves and yellow flowers followed by shiny blue berries in late summer. The berries are mildly toxic to humans. They are often found in low growing large clusters. #365species #nativeplants #plants

Northern flatid planthoppers are members of the flatinae sub-family with flattened bodies and tent-like leathery forewings. Adults can be seen June through October in the eastern US and Canada. They feed on sap from a variety of plants but generally don't harm the plants. #365species #insect #nature

Sweet woodruff is native to much of Europe and parts of Asia, it has become naturalized in some parts of the US. It thrives in partial to full shade. Preferring moist, to well-drained soil, it can be found growing in woodland areas. #365species #woodlandplants #nature

Green cone-headed planthoppers are native to North America and introduced to Europe, first in Italy. Adults are bright green while nymphs are brownish and covered in white filaments. They produce only one generation per year and overwinter as eggs laid inside woody plant stems. #365species #insect