On August 9, 2018, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ordered the EPA to remove a widely used pesticide on food crops from sale in the United States within 60 days. The Court ruled EPA endangered public health by keeping chlorpyrifos on the market despite scientific evidence … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2018
Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense)
Last week I wrote about the non-native Tiger Lily (Lilium tigrinum or Lilium lancifolium) from Asia. I wanted to follow-up that post with one on the native Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense). I'm fortunate to have the Michigan Lily in my rain garden area, but I don't always get to see all of them … [Read more...]
August is National Water Quality Month
August is National Water Quality Month. The end of the summer is a good time to reflect upon this valuable resource and how important it is to our daily lives. Indeed, there are some who are concerned World War III will be fought over water. Our bodies are 60% water, so we need … [Read more...]
How Well Do You Know Pollinators?
I think we all know Monarch butterflies and milkweed go together. Do you know what other pollinators and plants are evolved together? Or which flower shapes, fragrances, colors and bloom times attract certain pollinators? The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recently sent a quiz that answers … [Read more...]
Non-Native Tiger Lily
I just had to share this photo with you. It's of the non-native Tiger Lily and it's growing under one of our Shagbark Hickory trees -- planted there by some critter. It had such awesome flowers this summer, I couldn't resist taking this photo. The Tiger Lily (Lilium tigrinum or Lilium … [Read more...]
Monarch Butterflies have lost a Champion
If you're into native plants and the insects that co-exist with them, you've probably heard the name Lincoln Brower. Lincoln was a world renowned Monarch biologist and a conservation leader. He passed away on July 17, 2018. The Monarch butterflies have lost a champion. Although entomologist Fred … [Read more...]