Reference my earlier post dated December 5, 2016 entitled Fall Habitat Maintenance and the comment from Stephen Thomforde regarding heterogeneity as it relates to leaving the leaves. Specifically Stephen wanted to remind us that we should "manage our landscape in ways that mimic biomass harvest by … [Read more...]
Search Results for: overwintering
Flower Stalks for Bee Nests
One of the things I learned from Heather Holm's recent participation in the Fox Cities Book Festival was to leave the flower stems from my prairie plants standing for use by the solitary bees for their nests. What a novel idea! Heather suggested cutting the stems of the prairie plants at about 12 … [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...]
Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy – Comments due May 31st
Reprinted from Midwest Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA): Seeking Public Comments on Draft of Mid-America Monarch Conservation Strategy The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) welcomes public comments through May 31 on a draft conservation plan that provides … [Read more...]
More on Pollination – Honey
Bees need two kinds of food. One we've already read about -- pollen. The other is honey made from the nectar they gather from their visits to flowers. Nectar is the sugary juice that flowers offer to bees in return for the successful transportation of the pollen the flowers need to fulfill their … [Read more...]
Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count Declines Again
This year's Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count show the monarch population continues to decline. The challenging fall and winter seasons of unseasonably warm temperatures may have caused monarchs to arrive at overwintering sites later. California wildfires, smoke and mudslides may have affected late … [Read more...]