We were making our daily lycoris data collection rounds last week, when Zac noticed a Dusk Singing Cicada (Megatibicen auletes) had landed on a surprise lily stalk. While we regularly hear these loud (up to 100 decibels) annual cicadas during the summer, we rarely see them since they usually confine themselves to tree tops, where
Longing to be Seen and Heard Read More »
This lovely male, Ebony Jewel-wing Damsel fly (Calopteryx maculata), posed for a photo last week in the garden. These stunning creatures can be found throughout the Eastern US, usually near streams. Not only are they beautiful, but their diet includes mosquitos, aphids, fungus gnats, dogwood borers, and a long list of other insects. Once they are
Damsel in a Black Dress Read More »
We love any plants that attract our native blue-winged wasps, Scolia dubia, to the garden, and few plants do that better in fall than the beautiful Sedum ‘Frosted Fire’. These amazing beneficial pollinators attack pesky insects like Japanese beetle grubs, so this is an insect you want to attract to your garden. In our area,
Blue wings and Pink flowers Read More »
We were fortunate to catch this beautiful colony of our native Florida predatory stink bugs (Euthyrhynchus floridanus), just hatching on a damaged maple in the garden. While most folks hate the idea of stink bugs, these natives (NC to Florida) are actually beneficial in the garden. They assist by consuming a variety of damaging beetles,
We don’t need no stinking bugs…or do we? Read More »
Walking through the nursery this week, we spotted a fascinating triangle orbweaver spider (Verrucosa arenata). These cuties are usually seen in late summer and fall in open woodlands. Their diet focuses on small insects such as mosquitoes, but cause no harm to humans, except arachnophobes. We love the color echo with the ground fabric and
Itsy Bitsy Orb Spider Read More »
We were harvesting our abundant fig crop last week, and were astounded by the number of green June Beetles also enjoying the ripe figs. This indulging makes the beetles into a sweet and tasty snack for the likes of crows, grackles, blue jays, and mockingbirds. After gorging themselves through the summer, the beetles burrow 6-8″
