Visiting Ohio in the middle of April, the white trees blooming prolifically caught my eye. Living in Montana for a longer time than my youth in the Midwest, I wasn't quite sure what it was from a distance. It didn't take long to realize it is the infamous Bradford pear. For years I’ve heard cries ...
Read More | Pest PatrolThis time of year, I frequently notice orange caterpillars on my passion flower vines. Do you have them, too, and wonder what they are? About those caterpillars There are several butterflies that use passion flowers as host plants: Gulf fritillaries, red-banded hairstreaks, zebra longwings, crimson-patched longwings, and Julia butterflies. Also, I've seen pictures of variegated ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalEvery spring, a friend posts a meme saying something to the effect of: If your gardens aren't being eaten, they aren't part of the ecosystem. I think there's truth to that. Chances are good that if your gardens are pest free, you're either applying pesticides, many of which aren't very good for the environment, or ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalI know I write a lot about native plants on this blog, but they are the heart of a wildlife-friendly landscape. It's hard to have one without the other. So, with spring on the horizon, I want to encourage you to plant natives this year. Then: Ugh! My plants are being eaten! I like to ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalSomething is eating my Swiss chard. I can’t quite put my finger on what it might be. But, I suspect one of the multitude of caterpillars that are prevalent this time of the season. My go-to remedy for most pest issues in the garden is diatomaceous earth. However, since we are watering more frequently due ...
Read More | Pest Patrol
