![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.webp)
![Leaf cutting bees handiwork](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_5d09de30e14145dd897095485795aaba~mv2.webp)
Leaf cutting bees handiwork
There must be some leaf cutting bee Megachilidae nests near by, judging from all of the circular cutouts in these leaves. You can see...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.webp)
![One of our first Monarch caterpillars this year](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_2cb14be059104cfca45385c9978bf898~mv2.webp)
One of our first Monarch caterpillars this year
Here is one of several Monarch caterpillars currently munching on our milkweed. This one is on the leaf of a native Showy milkweed. The...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.webp)
![Butterflies visiting the garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_bc7fef2f8060431f9d1e4939f45fc984~mv2.webp)
Butterflies visiting the garden
It's so wonderful to see the Navajo fleabane flourishing again in spite of insufficient winter and spring rains. It's even better when...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_dd4d1afe682f4f0f8940e43defa62345~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_dd4d1afe682f4f0f8940e43defa62345~mv2.webp)
![Most native bees nest in the ground](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_dd4d1afe682f4f0f8940e43defa62345~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_dd4d1afe682f4f0f8940e43defa62345~mv2.webp)
Most native bees nest in the ground
Whenever you have the opportunity, teach people about your native bees. https://blog.nature.org/science/2019/08/19/focus-on-native-bees-n...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_f93953ab976541d592437172ed11ef93~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_f93953ab976541d592437172ed11ef93~mv2.webp)
![Some plants that actually thrive in clay soil](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_f93953ab976541d592437172ed11ef93~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_f93953ab976541d592437172ed11ef93~mv2.webp)
Some plants that actually thrive in clay soil
As I mention in my posts, the soil in our yard is hard-pan clay. This makes it very challenging to have plants that actually flourish in...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_8d9d4c3f3eb842dc845e219e7ed97b88~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_8d9d4c3f3eb842dc845e219e7ed97b88~mv2.webp)
![Mona Caron's Joe Pye Weed Mural](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_8d9d4c3f3eb842dc845e219e7ed97b88~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_8d9d4c3f3eb842dc845e219e7ed97b88~mv2.webp)
Mona Caron's Joe Pye Weed Mural
Swiss-born artist Mona Caron creates beautiful, giant murals on buildings. This is her Joe Pye weed mural, titled Shauquethqueat's...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4c1fa79b460040ea8e55c134f705181c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4c1fa79b460040ea8e55c134f705181c~mv2.webp)
![It's World Bee Day!](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4c1fa79b460040ea8e55c134f705181c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4c1fa79b460040ea8e55c134f705181c~mv2.webp)
It's World Bee Day!
In honor of our hardworking bees, here are some that are busy in our garden all day long. In the photo above, one of our many...
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![Plant Natives in your Garden](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_4a76636490a54b728012f45078d0c763~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_4a76636490a54b728012f45078d0c763~mv2.webp)
Plant Natives in your Garden
Read more about key native plants that support shrinking number of insects, stabilize food webs here: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2020/de...
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![Honey Bees in the birdbath](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/1eb7ff_bc2b7d32fa394638b0e20050fbb67734~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_312,h_234,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/1eb7ff_bc2b7d32fa394638b0e20050fbb67734~mv2.webp)
Honey Bees in the birdbath
Yesterday around 5 pm I checked the birdbath to see if the water needed to be changed or replenished. This is the scene I came upon,...