Tag: Insects

  • Year in Review – Insects of 2019

    Although 2019 is not quite over yet, with the early snow and extreme temperature changes, the majority of insects have begun their hibernation periods and so we can discuss this year’s populations. With the advent of extremely wet weather ( over 70 inches of rain in Northeast Kansas) we have seen a population explosion in [...]

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  • Nurse Trees

    What are nurse trees?  Nurse trees are fallen trees and branches that support wildlife through their own degradation and breakdown. If left as is in the forest, nurse logs or trees continually support a large variety of wildlife for many years and eventually recycle all their nutrients back into the forest ecosystem. The breakdown process [...]

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  • Tall Sedum – A Pollinator’s Dream Plant

    Time to take an in-depth look at tall sedum. Many homeowners and professionals alike call it Autumn Joy Sedum after the popular variety. While this variety does tend to stand out, there are many more varieties of Sedum spectabile (Tall Sedum).  While it is now classified at Hylotelephium spectabile, many nurseries and people will likely [...]

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  • The Eastern Kingbird

    The Eastern Kingbird is a mighty songbird in the presence of American prairies. This migrating songbird can be seen in open fields, along streambanks, and on the edges of wooded areas, perched on fence posts and power lines. They are waiting for insects to pass by for their meals. These little birds are voracious eaters [...]

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  • Year In Review – Insects

    This year brought a new look at some insects I had seen little of in the past, and some outbreaks of major pests. I love insects almost as much as I love plants and I love photographing them-though it can be difficult with just smartphone! I will not show the over 1000 photos of insects [...]

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  • Wasps in the Landscape

    Wasps are one of the most under-appreciated insects in the garden. There is likely to be more species of wasps in the home landscape than that of beetles or other insects. What most people see are the paper wasps, which make large colonies in papery nests under eaves, in shrubs, or hanging from trees, or [...]

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  • Birds are for the Bugs!

    That first sweet bite of peach in the hot July sun, off of your own tree in your own yard, makes you wonder about the truly good things in life. For my family and I it was about a move 3 years ago to where we are now, bringing a plethora of landscape plants and [...]

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  • Good Garden Insects

    It is that time of year again when we start seeing all the insects popping up in the gardens. From bees to butterflies, caterpillars to beetles, I see a wide range of insects as I check landscapes and plants during the summer maintenance season. Many insects I prefer to leave alone, knowing full well that [...]

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  • Hackberry…A Tree Which Belongs

    The common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a commonly mistreated tree. When I was in younger I disliked this tree greatly,, partly due to its readiness to produce hundreds of seedlings in our garden. While at Kansas State University, a hackberry tree seemingly fell down on its own at one of the sororities. I am sure [...]

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