Butterflies nectaring on alfalfa growing in the flood plain of an urban water diversion ditch. Better planning could bring similar abundance to our concrete laden neighborhoods across the globe. #UrbanEcology #pollinators.#butterflies #urbanplanning #greeninfrastructure

If you are on Facebook, please join this group, Habitats and Homes. The goal is to share ideas on how to improve our gardens and land management practices to support wildlife. #nature #pollinatorGardens #UrbanEcology #gardening #landmanagement #conservation www.facebook.com/groups/19633...

If you are on Facebook, please join this group, Habitats and Homes. The goal is to share ideas on how to improve our gardens and land management practices to support wildlife. www.facebook.com/groups/19633...

On September 13, I'll be presenting on creating healthy pollinator habitat that goes far beyond planting native plants. Come join if you can. #gardening #pollinatorGarden #Gardencology

When I'm #gardening, I try to understand how plants grow in the wild. It helps me create better habitats that include similar companion.species, soil types, and other habitat resources. Yarrow grows in a variety of habitats including compact soils along roads and this mountain meadow. #gardencology

One of my favorite native plants, upright prairie coneflower, is also a favorite for Halictus and Lasioglossum bees.

Ever get so busy you decide another task will help you focus?...just me? Here is a video I made explaining habitats and why we need more than only Native Plants. Now I can proof some book pages. #gardening #nature #lessLawns #nativePlants youtu.be/R_i4jDbtBSg

Creating pocket prairie gardens? It is important to consider the natural processes that are absent. Bison once roamed most of the USA, fertilizing habitats, breaking old stems, & grazing grasses. We can recreate these processes to make more robust #pollinator habitats. #gardening #gardencology

#Nativebees don't need messy yards. They need intentional actions that provide #habitat in our gardens. The intentional resources our #bees need are soil diversity (with species preferring Sandy, to sandy clay soil with different levels of compaction, slope, and vegetation cover).

Here is a short video explaining a simple way to improve bees nesting sites in your garden. #NativeBees #gardening #pollinators youtu.be/hqnY38THxSw?...

Native garden is being utilized by native wildlife! So exciting! #gardening #nature

Do any of these capture the idea of working a garden to build habitat? Suggestions? #books #art #nature #gardens #wildlife #pollinatorgardens

One of the fastest ways to support pollinators is to plant a native sunflower. #gardening #nature #wildlife

Wildlife garden is coming in nicely.

Planning your #Garden consider adding in habitat resources above and below ground to help support #insects #amphibians and #reptiles all year long! #science

Here's why you should be cleaning up your yard. This is a small bison herd, doing bison things. Imagine this across a landscape throughout the year. Dead vegetation is broken, trampled, & pressed to the ground. Our gardens don't have this happening so we have to cut back plants. #gardening #nature

Screech owl box made with an apple crate from Michael's and some extra paneling (about 30bucks) #nature #wildlife #natureneedshelp #gardening

Dakota skippers are federally threatened butterflies that have a short flight season and are dependent on intact grasslands. Surprisingly there were no life cycle diagrams made for them so I went ahead and drafted one. #conservation #entomology #DakotaSkipper #esa #nature

Can a raccoon fit? A concern for #gardeners creating shelters for #wildlife are the species they consider nuisances. Modifications for foxes & opossums should have openings less than 6" diameter if raccoons aren't wanted, but larger than 5" for possums & a vertical crawl space. youtu.be/LxlHs_Z9kFo

wapo.st/41qhPNv "The findings likely underestimate the true scale of loss, said Wagner, since the researchers did not have enough data to make assessments of some of the rarest species also likely in decline." 😢🦋 Are you planting or expanding your pollinator gardens this year? I am! ✋🌱🌼🐛🐝

You can help reverse #butterfly decline! 1. Stop spraying your entire yard with pesticides. 2. Convert parts of your yard to native plant landscaping. 3. Get involved locally to have your city do the same Here's my book showing how to make garden habitat. #gardening www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y9G1RY2

Excited to see this gorgeous spider! Habitat improvements include adding organic mulch piles, large stones with space below, and not using pesticides around the yard. Wolf #spiders are important in #garden #ecosystems & facilitate nutrient cycles besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

If you're a gardener who's switched to landscaping with native plants, now is a great time to consider where animals will shelter. Consider adding these resources and more. #gardening #nature #conservation #pollinators #herping #insects #toads #landscapeDesign #wildlife

Sometimes you have to check out and stare at an aquarium. #distraction

#wildlifeGardening is an amazing way to increase local biodiversity and fight population declines. Adding native plants is important, but most animals need spaces to shelter, nest, rest, and overwinter. Mimic natural areas by adding missing resources like an underground refugia. #nature #gardening

Leaving plants to grow wild is actually unnatural and chokes out species that need open flyways, exposed soils, and access to cut stem openings. So yes we need to clean our yards, but also keepaterial on site. #gardening #nature #wildlife #bees #pollinators

#wildlifeGardening is an amazing way to increase local biodiversity and fight population declines. Adding native plants is important, but most animals need spaces to shelter, nest, rest, and overwinter. Mimic natural areas by adding missing resources like an underground refugia. #nature #gardening

It is sad to see the trash and pollution that washes into our wetlands. The resiliency of so many animals to hold on is reason enough to do cleanups. Just because some species can live with it, doesn't mean they should.

As well-meaning people post false information about yard cleanup, it is important to remember our yards are not natural. They are disconnected from regulatory processes that naturally lay stems down and trim back shrubs (large herbivores). They key is to keep trimmings on site. #gardening #bees

Small changes can have large impacts. Adding a peach tree to reduce our lawn, shade the driveway, and provide delicious food. #gardening

Want to hear crickets? Making intentional shelters within a native plant landscape will attract crickets and provide shelter for other wildlife. Adding a few of these every 500 sq ft will greatly improve yard biodiversity. #gardening #pollinators #wildlife #NaturalHabitata #nature

Adding pockets of sandy clay soils throughout a garden will help bees! Most native bees nest in the ground but there is not a lot of data on their preferred soils. The data we do have shows most nests in sandy to sandy clay soils. #nativeBees #gardening #wildlife #pollinators

A nice side by side comparison of a Great Egrets (right) and Snowy Egret (left)

The more habitat work I do the sadder these spaces are to me. Heavily invaded, near monoculture field around a ditch that people think is "wild". Anything living here is in poor quality habitat. #conservation #wild #nature

Toads are wonderful garden inhabitants but often they don't have great shelters. Here is how to build shelters for them to make them safe and content. #toads #herps #gardening #conservation #nature

Micro topography plays a crucial, but often unnoticed role in habitats. In arid regions the sunken soils where roots have decayed create pocket prairies. Contrast this with "restored" areas that usually have smooth soils. Try adding small hills in your garden. #gardening #wildlife #conservation

What to do when you want toads to live in your garden. #gardening #wildlife #nature #DIY

Add shelters for wildlife to landscapes to improve habitat beyond native plants. #gardening #wildlife #nature #nativePlants #herps

"Please no more fireworks!" Bella ponders as I take the best photo of her....ever! #dogs #doggos #scaredpups #newYears #fireworks #amazing #pets

Considering how little we know about bee communities and the resources each species needs for their life cycle, it is important that areas are diversified with native plants, soils, and other resources. Plan your gardens with life cycles in mind. #pollinators #bees #nativeBees #conservation #wild

#fieldwork find of the day a trail of leaf cutter ants! #nature #wild #science

As winter approaches and gardeners start planning their next projects, consider adding resources for wildlife. Many #pollinators need refuge, nest sites, and places to overwinter. Check out my book which explains how to incorporate habitat resources #gardening #bees #nature a.co/d/76NlFof

Here's a page from my book "Inviting Pollinators and Other Wildlife Into Your Garden" that has profiles on 20 bee species. Each profile explains nesting resources and floral associations to help readers create habitat. #bees #pollinators #gardens #wildlife #restoration. Check out my talks on YouTube

Lichens have a great diversity which is often not present in #gardens with native plants. However, more folks should bring lichen into their yards they manage for wildlife. Hummingbirds use it for nests, insects use it for camouflage, and some arthropods even use it to shelter. #diversify #nature

Some fun turkeyday birding! Happy Thanksgiving all. #birding #nature #getoutside

Urban natural areas are full of imbalances. Invasive vegetation took over this waterway so the land managers decided to strip the banks. Hopefully the next step is native vegetation to support local pollinators.

Weird weather patterns are messing with the flora. Spring blooming annuals are producing flowers. #climatechange #drought #recordhigh

Follow me for posts on #NativePlants #Landscapes #LandscapeDesign #Nature #Conservation #Wildlife #Restoration #insects #urbanEcology #pollinators #bees #monarchs #NativeBees #science #research #lgbtqia and random things.