Last night, something magical happened in our yard! For many years, I raised monarch butterflies. This year, I have yet to see any eggs or larva on our milkweed plants. We have three patches of milkweed in our yard, each a different kind native to our area of the country. For almost two decades, I’ve…
Today, my son and I walked the trails at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge on Brice Prairie. It is a designated site of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It’s pollinator week and I’m participating in Miles for Monarchs, through Monarch Joint Venture, trying to get in 25 miles of walking…
One of my favorite Garden Club lessons was on Carnivorous Plants. Usually, I covered this group of plants in a unit on plant adaptations for that is exactly what these plants have done – adapted to survive! The most famous Carnivorous Plant is the Venus Fly Trap. It is a snap trap. But, did you…
Late yesterday, I posed several questions about a plant that is special to me. Today, the answers will be provided! The first question was: Do you know the common name for this plant? The answer is this plant Wild Blue Lupine. The scientific name is Lupinus perennis. This photo shows an example of a mature…
Do you know the common name for this plant? Where does it grow? Does it have any significance for conservation? Why or why not? When might you find it blooming? What insect relies on this plant to sustain its entire life cycle? Stop back Monday, June 1st, for the answers!
Cave Tours Last year at this time I was starting to organize two days of summer tours at the Kickapoo Caverns in Crawford County, Wisconsin. I had no knowledge of caves, let alone those that serve as a hibernaculum for bats. But, I was very interested in learning. My job was to organize the registrants…
Last week, Journey North, an organization that monitors migrational species and phenological changes posted that several citizen scientists had reported Monarch Butterflies in Wisconsin! Already?! Really?! My milkweed is not even up! This is the very reason I am suspicious of these reports. None of the observers made the report with a photo, but some…
As I explained last week, my usual Sunday posts only contain photographs with or without captions. But, since this month I am writing as part of a writing challenge, I have been prefacing my photos with some text. Last year from late January until early October, I served as the Outreach and Education Program Manager…
As some of you know, on Sundays I post a “silent” blog with photos only. But, since the Slice of Life Challenge is about writing, I feel I must write at least a little bit to go with my photos. So, today and next Sunday, I will post a Somewhat Silent Sunday blog that will…
One of the activities that have kept me busy for a few minutes each day over the last month as been learning the Italian language. I genuinely like learning a foreign language and find it challenging but not frustrating. And, when it is not for a formal class but only for self-enrichment, one can walk…