"Ebony Jewelwing on Tape Grass" by Daniel Cruikshanks
Plant(s): Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly on Tape Grass (Vallisneria americana)
Photo Story: There is a creak at the Kalamazoo Nature Center where there is a great deal of damselfly activity. I spent time on several occasions trying to capture a good shot of these little gems. Their color is so striking!
Equipment: Nikon D750 with Sigma 150 - 600mm lens
Title: Ebony Jewelwing on Tape Grass
Photographer: Daniel Cruikshanks
Location: Kalamazoo Nature Center (Kalamazoo, MI)
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
"Daddy Long Leg Party" by Kelle Frymire
Plant(s): Roughleaf Dogwood with Daddy Long Legs
Photo Story: I was walking around the yard and this Dogwood was COVERED in Daddy Long Legs and also COVERED in all types of insects! Must have been good eating for the spiders!
Equipment: Iphone
Title: Daddy Long Leg Party
Photographer: Kelle Frymire
Location: My yard
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
"Feeding time" by Jamie Palmer
Plant(s): Eastern Bluebird
Photo Story: We have followed the progress of this Bluebird family from mating calls to fledging their young. The parent birds have gotten to know us and us them. Frequently over the 3 months that we followed them, they would alert us to their needs, ie: the mealworm bowl was empty, the bird bath needed refilling, and finally...this is the day our babies will fledge. The parents would fly to us and sit on a perch just staring at us, then fly to whichever bowl needed filling, then fly back and stare until we "met their demands". On the day the babies were going to fledge, the mother came and sat on our railing, again staring at us, then flew to the nest. I got my camera. They have since comeback with their fledglings and soon, we hope, will set up housekeeping again.
Equipment: Canon SX with 65X optical zoom
Title: Feeding time
Photographer: Jamie Palmer
Location: Sturgeon Bay, WI.
Chapter: Door Peninsula
"Hanging Out with My Best Buds" by Geri Fox
Plant(s): Monarch butterfly on common milkweed blossom
Photo Story: I raise monarchs from eggs laid on the milkweed in my yard. I also love macro photography because it allows us to see exquisite details that we would otherwise miss.
Please note, the photo is captioned correctly, but I was unable to change the title when I uploaded it. It should be Geri-Fox-photo-Hanging Out with My Best Bud—2022.jpg
Equipment: iPhone 12 Pro
Title: Hanging Out with My Best Buds
Photographer: Geri Fox
Location: Oak Park, Illinois
Chapter: West Cook
"Peeper Chillin’ Amongst the Wild Bergamot" by Diane O’Connell
Plant(s): Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) and peeper (I think)
Photo Story: I was chillin’ on my deck one evening and noticed this little guy chillin’ on his deck- er -I mean “leaf”, as well. I thought he was portrait-worthy 😊
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Peeper Chillin’ Amongst the Wild Bergamot
Photographer: Diane O’Connell
Location: In my native flower garden in my backyard
Chapter: Gibson Woods
"Hummingbird Hang Time" by Anna Miller
Plant(s): Ruby-throated hummingbird on Lobelia cardinalis cardinal flower
Photo Story: I planted cardinal flowers for their striking red presence and because I love hummingbirds. When they started visiting, I staked myself out one day and got lots of female visitors but not until this male came by did I get the ruby throat and this shot has him resting on a leaf for just a second before resuming his drinking.
Equipment: Olympus OMD EM1-MK2
Title: Hummingbird Hang Time
Photographer: Anna Miller
Location: St. Louis City backyard
Chapter: St. Louis
"Lilies and dragonflies oh my!" by Barbara Zvirzdinis
Plant(s): Michigan Lily Lilium michiganense
Photo Story: Sitting outer side with my cat enjoying the sunset I noticed a dragonfly on one of my lilies. I love how the sitting sun lights up his wings.
Equipment: Canon do’s 60D Canon macro lens 100mm 1:2.8
I hope my file contains my info you need!
Title: Lilies and dragonflies oh my!
Photographer: Barbara Zvirzdinis
Location: My backyard
Chapter: River City-Grand Rapids Area
"Fawn in Flowers" by Mary Jo Adams
Plant(s): White-tail deer fawn in prairie with Grey-headed coneflowers
Photo Story: I was visiting this park with one of the Chicago Park District stewards, and certainly was surprised to see this fawn pop out right along the trail in the park. I don't know who was more surprised...the fawn or me! The people of Chicago should be pleased at the efforts of the Park District to move towards native plantings and removal of exotics in many of their urban parks.
Equipment: Canon EOS R-7
Title: Fawn in Flowers
Photographer: Mary Jo Adams
Location: Indian Boundary Park, Chicago
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
"Ptarmigans Eat Wildflowers" by Neal Bringe
Plant(s): White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) with Alpine Avens (Geum Rossii)
Photo Story: I was just below the peak of Mount Parnassus and I noticed a movement in the rocks. I sat down and watched for over 30 minutes to see seven Ptarmigan birds appear and feed on insects and wildflowers like the Alpine Avens shown in the photograph.
Equipment: Cannon PowerShot SX70 HS
Title: Ptarmigans Eat Wildflowers
Photographer: Neal Bringe
Location: Mount Parnassus, Colorado
Chapter: Front Range
"On the Hunt" by Jim Skolmoski
Plant(s): Common Milkweed
Photo Story: Found this small (1.25" length) on my common milkweed
Equipment: iPhone XS
Title: On the Hunt
Photographer: Jim Skolmoski
Location: my backyard - central Illinois
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
"Soldier On" by Stephanie Tsoris
Plant(s): cantharid (soldier) beetle and echinacea
Photo Story: I was sitting outside near my garden when this little fellow appeared. He reminded me of a soldier by the way he appeared to be scouting the area and also the “armor” look on his back. I asked an entomologist friend of mine and he told me it was a soldier beetle!
Equipment: iPhone camera
Title: Soldier On
Photographer: Stephanie Tsoris
Location: My yard
Chapter: Kettle Moraine
"Halloween Pennant" by Renee Benage
Plant(s): Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina).
(I put in this category because dragonflies are not pollinators).
Photo Story: Taken at Busch Wildlife Conservation Area.
Equipment: Canon Power Shot SX70 HS
Title: Halloween Pennant
Photographer: Renee Benage
Location: August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, Defiance, Missouri
Chapter: St. Louis
"Gold Finch and Cup Plant, Chicago Backyard" by Christopher Baran
Plant(s): Gold finch and cup plant
Photo Story: I was just hanging out in my backyard and happened to look up and see this gold finch hanging out in the cup plant. They usually are pretty skittish in our backyard, but for some reason this one stuck around long enough to snap a pic. Reminds me of Doug Tallamys Homegrown National Park.
Equipment: I phone.
Title: Gold Finch and Cup Plant, Chicago Backyard
Photographer: Christopher Baran
Location: My backyard
Chapter: West Cook
"Sedge Seat for a Spider" by Laurie Martin
Plant(s): Carex grayii (Gray's Sedge) with Daddy longlegs spider
Photo Story: Daddy longlegs spider lounging astride a spiky seed head of a Gray's sedge.
Equipment: Google Pixel 3a XL mobile phone
Title: Sedge Seat for a Spider
Photographer: Laurie Martin
Location: home yard, 11914 S. 93rd Avenue, Palos Park, IL
Chapter: West Cook
"Dickcissel" by Renee Benage
Plant(s): Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
Photo Story: Spotted several dickcissel during an early morning visit to the conservation area.
Equipment: Canon Power Shot SX70 HS
Title: Dickcissel
Photographer: Renee Benage
Location: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County, Missouri
Chapter: St. Louis
"Get your own sunflower seeds son" by KEN FAULKNER
Plant(s): Fledgling finch with parent on sunflower
Photo Story: Parent goldfinch overseeing fledglings first outing.
Equipment: Nikon D3400 with a Nikon DX 70-300mm lens
Title: Get your own sunflower seeds son
Photographer: KEN FAULKNER
Location: Our backyard
Chapter: Lake-To-Prairie
"Dragon" by Kathy Ryan
Plant(s): Dragonfly on rose bush
Photo Story: Admiring my native plants I've been growing in my front yard I noticed this beautiful dragonfly land on my rose bush. He posed beautifully for me.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy Flip3
Title: Dragon
Photographer: Kathy Ryan
Location: My front yard (address anove)
Chapter: Front Range
"Damselfly Perched" by Steven Schmidt
Plant(s): Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly. Unsure of the plant he's perched on.
Photo Story: Dixie Briggs in one of my favorite places that includes prairie, woods, savannah, and variety in the creek that runs through it. Tons of bird life, insects and flora!
Equipment: Nikon D7200 with Tamron 150-600
Title: Damselfly Perched
Photographer: Steven Schmidt
Location: Dixie Briggs Fromm Conservation Area, Algonquin, IL
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Buggy eyes in my backyard" by Ginny Halloran
Plant(s): Dog day cicada on aster
Photo Story: First year plantings of natives brings a variety of wildlife to my backyard
Equipment: iPhone camera
Title: Buggy eyes in my backyard
Photographer: Ginny Halloran
Location: Backyard
Chapter: Twin Cities
"DragonFly!" by Rosanne Plante
Plant(s): Dragonfly by Virginia Sweetspire
Photo Story: I caught this dragonfly on my dragonfly sculpture.
Equipment: Cell phone camera
Title: DragonFly!
Photographer: Rosanne Plante
Location: By my koi pond.
Chapter: Loess Hills
"Katydid Peering from Black Eyed Susan" by Diana M Kuklinski
Plant(s): Juvenile katydid on black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). I'm not sure of the katydid's genus and species!
Photo Story: Enjoying my backyard pocket prairie, I spied a flutter on a black eyed Susan flower! A green creature with long antennae peered at me - eye to eye - as if to say "hey, who are you, sneaking around in my garden?"?
Equipment: Olympus Pen F digital camera
Title: Katydid Peering from Black Eyed Susan
Photographer: Diana M Kuklinski
Location: Bemidji, MN (my back yard)
Chapter: Arrowhead
"Snatched" by Mandy Duffey
Plant(s): Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata americana) preying on an Orange-legged Furrow Bee (Halictus rubicundus) on a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
Photo Story: I was taking photos of this little halictid bee in my mother's garden when it disappeared. I looked around the flower and saw a jagged ambush bug snatched it up!
Equipment: iPhone XR
Title: Snatched
Photographer: Mandy Duffey
Location: Iowa City, IA-the prairie garden I planted for my mother
Chapter: Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Area (Seedling)
"Snatched" by Mandy Duffey
Plant(s): Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata americana) preying on Orange-legged Furrow Bee (Halictus rubicundus) on a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
I apologize for this second submission. My other one was not high-res and had converted to low-res without me realizing it. This is the high-res photo.
Photo Story: I was taking pictures of this little halictid bee when she disappeared suddenly. I moved around the flower and saw she was snatched by a jagged ambush bug!
Equipment: iPhone XR
Title: Snatched
Photographer: Mandy Duffey
Location: Iowa City, IA-the prairie garden I planted for my mother
Chapter: Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Area (Seedling)
"Mantid in Grass" by Molly Williams
Plant(s): Praying mantis. Grass is probably Canada Rye, but not sure. It's self seeded from an adjacent patch of Pollinator Palooza mix from Prairie Moon nursery.
Photo Story: An experimental plot (10 feet square) of mixed prairie seeds (Pollinator Palooza, Prairie Moon Nursery) was planted about three years ago. It has spread to adjacent unattended areas in the community garden at our retirement community (Friendship Village, Kalamazoo, Michigan). While pulling some invasive sweet peas out of this grassy patch (probably Canada Rye Grass), I found this mantis. If you plant the right kinds of seeds, the insects will appear.
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Mantid in Grass
Photographer: Molly Williams
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
"Curious Frog" by Diane Walczak
Plant(s): Bull Frog
Photo Story: This frog was a curious about me as I was about him, the closer I moved the more he craned his neck to get a better look at me.
Equipment: Iphone
Title: Curious Frog
Photographer: Diane Walczak
Location: Pond on my property
Chapter: Western Pennsylvania Area
"Banded Hairstreak on Butterfly weed" by Diane Walczak
Plant(s): Banded Hairstreak
S. Calanus
Photo Story: I enjoy walk-in my property each morning in search of birds, butterflies and native wildflowers.
Equipment: IPhone
Title: Banded Hairstreak on Butterfly weed
Photographer: Diane Walczak
Location: Field on my farm
Chapter: Western Pennsylvania Area
"Starship Tiger Swallowtail Docks at Space Station Buttonbush" by Ken Faulkner
Plant(s): Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (papilio glaucus) on a Buttonbush (cephalanthus occidentalis)
Photo Story: Walking in the yard, the butterfly posed for me so I took it’s picture with my iphone.
Equipment: iPhone 11 pro max
Title: Starship Tiger Swallowtail Docks at Space Station Buttonbush
Photographer: Ken Faulkner
Location: In our backyard
Chapter: Lake-To-Prairie
"D-Leaon-Goldfinch-2021.jpg" by Don Leaon
Plant(s): American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Photo Story: American Goldfinch (sometimes called Wild Canary) foraging for seeds (they are granivores) in my pollinator garden. Most will migrate south during the winter. A few Goldfinches will overwinter in Minnesota.
Equipment: Sony DSC-WX350
Title: D-Leaon-Goldfinch-2021.jpg
Photographer: Don Leaon
Location: My pollinator garden in St. Cloud, Minnesota
Chapter: St. Cloud
"Golden seal plant with fruit- Spring peeper hiding under the fruit" by Kathy Bildner
Plant(s): Golden seal and Spring peeper frog
Photo Story: I was walking with my Monday Botany group near the Shaw Nature Preserve wetlands area. I stopped in the woods to photo the Golden seal plant with the red fruit. The Spring peeper frog was a surprise.
Equipment: Nikon Coolpix P 900
Title: Golden seal plant with fruit- Spring peeper hiding under the fruit
Photographer: Kathy Bildner
Location: Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit Missouri
Chapter: St. Louis
"Common Whitetail Dragonfly on Leadplant at Home" by Ed Buchs
Plant(s): Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens)
Photo Story: Seeing this Common Whitetail Dragonfly on Lead Plant later in the afternoon made the light interesting. The Lead Plant is just starting to bloom. The dragonfly is a non-pollinator, but I believe that having dragonflies is an indicator that the insect population is sufficient to support the predators. This is a male of the species so it does not have the “whitetail” that is in the name.
Equipment: Canon 80D – Tamron 18-400 lens
Title: Common Whitetail Dragonfly on Leadplant at Home
Photographer: Ed Buchs
Location: My home in Genoa City, Wisconsin
Chapter: Kettle Moraine
"painted lady" by Sara Price
Plant(s): painted butterfly, butterfly weed
Photo Story: painted lady butterfly on butterfly milkweed in my pollinator garden,
Equipment: nikon zii camera
Title: painted lady
Photographer: Sara Price
Location: My pollinator garden with wild native plants
Chapter: Loess Hills
"red spotted admiral on echinacea" by sara price
Plant(s): red spotted admiral: echinacea
Photo Story: spotted on my pollinator garden plants today (august 17th) got a picture of it on echinacea.
Equipment: nikon zii camera
Title: red spotted admiral on echinacea
Photographer: sara price
Location: My pollinator garden with wild native plants
Chapter: Loess Hills
"Monarch caterpillar on A. syriaca" by Cecilia Devlin
Plant(s): flora is Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) and fauna is Danaus plexippus caterpillar life stage
Photo Story: A pretty large monarch caterpillar was crawling on a common milkweed plant in my backyard in July 2020. I submit most of my monarch photos to iNaturalist but this photo I prepared for the Wild Ones photo contest.
Equipment: iphone 5
Title: Monarch caterpillar on A. syriaca
Photographer: Cecilia Devlin
Location: 40 degree, 4 minutes, 17.26 seconds N longitude and 83 degree, 6 minutes, 50.15 seconds W latitude
Chapter: Columbus
"Widow Skimmer dragonfly" by Cecilia Devlin
Plant(s): Fauna is male widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa). Flora includes Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), sweet Joe-pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum), and Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Photo Story: I've noticed that dragonflies, usually widow skimmers or whitetails) perch on man-made materials in my backyard landscape. I've seen them perching on stones, tomato cages, tall wooden stakes, and small bamboo stakes such as the latter in this photo.
Equipment: iPhone 8
Title: Widow Skimmer dragonfly
Photographer: Cecilia Devlin
Location: my backyard which is within Columbus Ohio city boundaries near the Scioto river
Chapter: Columbus
"Whirlabout on Stokesia" by Wendy Rihner
Plant(s): Whirlabout Skipper, Polites vibex on Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis)
Photo Story: Stokesia growing wild in the Abita Creek Flatwood Preserve in Abita Springs, LA. Whirlabouts were whirling about everywhere!
Equipment: My Iphone SE 3rd Generation.
Title: Whirlabout on Stokesia
Photographer: Wendy Rihner
Location: Abita Creek Flatwoods Preserve
Chapter: Partner At Large
"Little Predator" by Courtney Denning
Plant(s): White Cheeked Jumping Spider (Pelegrina spp) on Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Photo Story: I happened upon this little jumping spider by accident. I was taking photos of my garden and noticed some lacewings hunting aphids. I had been taking pictures of the lacewings when I realized another small hunter was on a neighboring flower. I have always loved jumping spiders. They’re adorable and have such big personalities in tiny, fuzzy bodies. This jumping spider was sitting atop a Black Eyed Susan with a group of red aphids on the stem.
Equipment: iPhone 13 Pro
Title: Little Predator
Photographer: Courtney Denning
Location: Troy, Ohio
Chapter: Dayton Area
"Bloodshot on Bloodroot" by Courtney Denning
Plant(s): 17 Year Cicada (Magicicada cassinii) on Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Photo Story: I spotted this little 17 Year Cicada on a Bloodroot leaf during the emergence in the summer of 2021. I was surprised that our neighborhood did not have the large numbers of near-deafening cicadas that nearby cities had. So I was happy to spot this cicada and two of its friends in our small shade garden.
Equipment: iPhone 13 Pro
Title: Bloodshot on Bloodroot
Photographer: Courtney Denning
Location: Troy, Ohio
Chapter: Dayton Area
"Joann -Scheetz-lunch among the flowers-2022.jpeg" by Joann Scheetz
Plant(s): Nicotiana alata
Tobacco hornworm caterpillar(Manduca sexta Linnaeus) in the family Sphyngidae , which will become a Carolina sphinx or hawk moth.
Photo Story: N/A
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy 10 phone
Title: Joann -Scheetz-lunch among the flowers-2022.jpeg
Photographer: Joann Scheetz
Location: In my pollinator garden bed in South Bend
Chapter: South Bend
"Life Cycle" by Noelle Snow
Plant(s): Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) and cicada wing
Photo Story: I was looking at my garden for new growth and noticed my Canada Anemone had a new offshoot. I then noticed the cicada wing next to the new growth and thought it was an interesting juxaposition; new plant life with the wing from a cicada at end of life.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S20
Title: Life Cycle
Photographer: Noelle Snow
Location: My garden
Chapter: Lake-To-Prairie
"Strike a Pose" by Bette Kauffman
Plant(s): Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) (female) on winged sumac (Rhus copallinum).
Photo Story: I was paddling around the edge of Black Bayou Lake in my kayak and encountered a flock of blackbirds feeding on sumac berries and cypress seeds.
Equipment: Pentax K-3 digital 35mm camera with a 300mm Pentax lens.
Title: Strike a Pose
Photographer: Bette Kauffman
Location: Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Chapter: Western Gulf Plain
"Dawn on the Prairie" by Dan Deneen
Plant(s): Unsure about spider web. Behind it goldenrod, big bluestem, Indian Grass, hackberry, other native species
Photo Story: A lovely picture walking at the edge of the prairie at my home at dawn on May 28, 2022
Equipment: iphone
Title: Dawn on the Prairie
Photographer: Dan Deneen
Location: 2219 W Oakland Ave
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
"Laying in Wait" by Katherine Moore
Plant(s): "Common Milkweed" - Ascelpias syriaca, Assassin Bug - not sure of exact species
Photo Story: My kids and I check the milkweed in our yard everyday for monarch caterpillars that we can raise and keep safe from insects like the assassin bug, that will eat the caterpillars. I took its picture and then let it be, since predators are an important part of the ecosystem too. Hopefully it found something other than a monarch though!
Equipment: Sony A6000
Title: Laying in Wait
Photographer: Katherine Moore
Location: My yard - Madison, WI
Chapter: Madison
"Goldfinch on Thistle" by Karen Louis
Plant(s): I don't know the name of this purple thistle, but the goldfinches love it in the late summer!
Photo Story: I was riding on the Metro Link Bike trail, and several goldfinches were feeding on this thistle. I raced home to grab my camera, and couldn't believe they were still there when I returned! I parked my bike on the far side of the trail and took pictures for 30 minutes!
Equipment: Canon Eos 90D with USM II lens 100-400mm
Title: Goldfinch on Thistle
Photographer: Karen Louis
Location: On a bike trail in Belleville, IL
Chapter: St. Louis
"Hummingbird with Beebalm" by Kristi Shepler
Plant(s): Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma)
Sumac (volunteered in the garden bed)
Photo Story: Every year we have a family of hummingbirds grace our property. However, I am the worst at cleaning and maintaining bird feeds so now our native plants such as scarlet beebalm do all the work for me.
Equipment: Cannon EOS Rebel T6
Title: Hummingbird with Beebalm
Photographer: Kristi Shepler
Location: In the new garden we are establishing in our front yard in Pattersonville, NY.
Chapter: Capital Region
"ceil-grunert-finch-2022-jpg" by Cecile Grunert
Plant(s): Goldfinch, Cup Plant, Goldenrod
Photo Story: The Goldfinches have frequently visited these established plants in our backyard.
Equipment: Canon EOS
Title: ceil-grunert-finch-2022-jpg
Photographer: Cecile Grunert
Location: our backyard in Menomonee Falls
Chapter: Menomonee River Area
"Gray Treefrog on Swamp Milkweed" by Kari Carter
Plant(s): Gray treefrog, swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Photo Story: I went out to the garden one morning last summer and saw this tiny, vulnerable-looking visitor on my swamp milkweed plant. This year, one particular gray treefrog has been giving us a nightly serenade from the wall next to that garden.
Equipment: Motorola G7
Title: Gray Treefrog on Swamp Milkweed
Photographer: Kari Carter
Location: My backyard
Chapter: Dayton Area
"Spider on Golden Alexander" by Dale Gebhardt
Plant(s): Golden alexander (Zizia aurea)
Photo Story: Shot in my front yard.
Equipment: Lumix GX7 with Olympus 60mm macro lens
Title: Spider on Golden Alexander
Photographer: Dale Gebhardt
Location: Front yard in Ferguson, MO
Chapter: St. Louis
"Great Horned Owl in Hackberry" by Lizabeth Likins
Plant(s): Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), Common Hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis).
Photo Story: I enjoyed hearing this owl most nights since he moved to our neighborhood in the fall of 2021 but had been unable to get a clear view of him. He finally perched in the top of a common hackberry tree with a clear enough line of sight from the understory and allowed me the time to grab my camera and take his photograph. I still enjoy hearing him call from my garden.
Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 body with Canon EF-S 55-250 mm f/4-5.6 IS telephoto zoom lens.
Title: Great Horned Owl in Hackberry
Photographer: Lizabeth Likins
Location: Home garden, Bowling Green, KY
Chapter: SoKY
"Common Milkweed With Wasp Mantisfly" by Valerie Lindeman
Plant(s): Common milkweed leaves (Asclepias syriaca L.) with wasp mantisfly (Climaciella brunnea)
Photo Story: This wasp mantisfly was waiting for an unsuspecting pollinator to visit common milkweed!
Equipment: Canon SX
Title: Common Milkweed With Wasp Mantisfly
Photographer: Valerie Lindeman
Location: Near Lansing MI
Chapter: River City-Grand Rapids Area
"BiColored Striped Sweat Bee" by Steve Berry
Plant(s): BiColored Striped Sweat Bee/Agapostemon virescens on Lanceleaf Coreopsis/Coreopsis lanceolata
Photo Story: Tracking different kinds of bees and wasps on the backyard flowers
Equipment: Canon R5 with EF100mm macro
Title: BiColored Striped Sweat Bee
Photographer: Steve Berry
Location: My yard
Chapter: St. Charles Area
""Crab Spider Catch"" by Cheryl Lloyd
Plant(s): "Brown-eyed-Susan" (Rudbeckia triloba), Crab Spider with Bee.
Photo Story: While photographing the Crab Spider, I witnessed it capture an unfortunate bee that flew in to feast on the Brown-eyed Susan flowers.
Equipment: Nikon D750-500mm lens
Title: "Crab Spider Catch"
Photographer: Cheryl Lloyd
Location: In my native garden.
Chapter: Habitat Gardening in Central New York
"Purple Prairie Clover with Bee" by Patty Berry
Plant(s): Purple Prairie Clover/Dalea purpurea and tiny bee
Photo Story: Bees were crazy about the blooms on the Purple Prairie Clover. The rabbits like it as well.
Equipment: Canon 70D with EF100mm macro
Title: Purple Prairie Clover with Bee
Photographer: Patty Berry
Location: My yard
Chapter: St. Charles Area
"Jagged Ambush Bug waiting for breakfast in the Rudbeckia" by Cathy Streett
Plant(s): Jagged Ambush Bug Phymata americana
Photo Story: I have been seeing many of these awaiting prey on flowers all over my habitat. I guess it's a good sign; natural pest control native vs. native.
Equipment: Galaxy S22
Title: Jagged Ambush Bug waiting for breakfast in the Rudbeckia
Photographer: Cathy Streett
Location: In my backyard habitat
Chapter: West Cook
"Eastern Amberwing in the shoreline plantings at Birchwood Park Darien, IL" by Cathy Streett
Plant(s): Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera
Grey-headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata
Photo Story: Birchwood Park is a few blocks from home and I frequently pass through and watch for insects and other wildlife that are back since the Darien Park District put in native shoreline plantings in 2020. Every year the variety and number of native insects, birds, amphibians and other wildlife increases. It is wonderful to see the land healing and nature being nurtured in our parks.
Equipment: Galaxy S22
Title: Eastern Amberwing in the shoreline plantings at Birchwood Park Darien, IL
Photographer: Cathy Streett
Location: Birchwood Park - Darien, IL
Chapter: West Cook
"Beauty in a Foggy City" by Abigail Rexer
Plant(s): Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium sp.)
Photo Story: Abigail Rexer, age 15
I took this picture while visiting Chicago on a rainy day. I left my DSLR in the car, but was still able to snap this photo with a phone! It shows a garden of native plants in Millennium Park, with fog hiding the tips of the Chicago high-rises.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Beauty in a Foggy City
Photographer: Abigail Rexer
Location: Lurie Garden, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
"Wild Paradise in a Foggy City" by Abigail Rexer
Plant(s): Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium sp.)
Photo Story: Abigail Rexer, age 15
I took this picture while visiting Chicago on a rainy day. I left my DSLR in the car, but was still able to snap this photo with a phone! It shows a garden of native plants in Millennium Park, with fog hiding the tips of the Chicago high-rises.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Wild Paradise in a Foggy City
Photographer: Abigail Rexer
Location: Lurie Garden, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
"Balancing Act" by Pam Morgan
Plant(s): Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) on Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Photo Story: One of our Wild Ones Ozark Chapter projects is a native plant rain garden at Lake Springdale. This little critter was walking from flower to flower, and stopped to check me out.
Equipment: Pentax K10D digital camera
Title: Balancing Act
Photographer: Pam Morgan
Location: Springdale, Arkansas
Chapter: Ozark
"Standing guard" by Cheryl Sims
Plant(s): Praying Mantis on echinacea seed head
Photo Story: Cheryl Sims
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Standing guard
Photographer: Cheryl Sims
Location: My home garden in Columbus Ohio
Chapter: Columbus
"Butterfly and Blazing Star" by Peggy Pittenger
Plant(s): Peggy Pittenger Savanah Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa) with Monarch Butterfly.
Photo Story: Pittenger This is why I grow natives. This plant was purchased at a Wild Ones event at Shaw's Garden in Gray Summit 3 summers ago. It has done so well and rewards me with these beautiful flowers which attract stunning butterflies.
Equipment: Apple iPhone,
Title: Butterfly and Blazing Star
Photographer: Peggy Pittenger
Location: My front garden
Chapter: St. Louis
"Kat-Calhoun-photo-Praying-Mantis" by Kat Calhoun
Plant(s): Praying Mantis on Common Milkweed
Photo Story: While looking for Monarch eggs, suddenly this Praying Mantis was right in front of me!
Equipment: Samsung cell phone without any zoom – just very close
Title: Kat-Calhoun-photo-Praying-Mantis
Photographer: Kat Calhoun
Location: Community garden "Mariposas del Mundo" 8/30/22
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
"Monarch Caterpillar in the Meadow" by Mark Dilley
Plant(s): Monarch (Danaus plexxiplus) on Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) with Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima) and New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in background.
Photo Story: I spend an abundance of my free time exploring this wetland and prairie buffer at Highlands Park in Westerville, because it is loaded with blooms and insects during the growing season. I often find caterpillars on the common and swamp milkweed that grows here.
Equipment: iPhone camera
Title: Monarch Caterpillar in the Meadow
Photographer: Mark Dilley
Location: Highlands Park wetlands in Westerville, Ohio
Chapter: Columbus
"Mayfly on Halberd-leaved Rosemallow" by Mark Dilley
Plant(s): Mayfly (Order Ephemeroptera) on Halberd-leaved Rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis).
Photo Story: We were performing research on wetland assessment methods when I came upon this perfect mayfly specimen perched atop a beautiful native Hibiscus.
Equipment: iPhone camera
Title: Mayfly on Halberd-leaved Rosemallow
Photographer: Mark Dilley
Location: Mitigation wetland in west Columbus adjacent to Scioto River
Chapter: Columbus
"Prairie Dog Snacking on Grass in Rocky Mountain National Park" by Michelle Morris
Plant(s): Prairie Dog
Grass (there are over 100 species of grass in RMNP)
Mountain Lupine Lupinus argenteus
Photo Story: The Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park is an amazing place to experience wildlife. My husband spotted this prairie dog in the grassy meadow next to our camp when we were relaxing after a long day of hiking. Luckily I still had my camera out and was able to catch this cutie on camera before it disappeared into the grasses and wildflowers.
Equipment: Canon 5D camera
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens
Title: Prairie Dog Snacking on Grass in Rocky Mountain National Park
Photographer: Michelle Morris
Location: Moraine Park Campground in Rocky Mountain National Park
Chapter: Louisville
"Front and Back - Cedar Waxwings on Red Maple in Spring" by Benia Zouras
Plant(s): Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum); Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Photo Story: One April day, about 30 or so Cedar Waxwings came to our little, native oasis! They were too early for our coveted Allegheny Serviceberries, but decided to take a rest in many trees, including our budding Red Maple tree. There were so many birds I just had to run and get the camera and snap a few shots. These are some of my favorite native songbirds. Their gentle whistles are so soothing, and their coloring is so pretty.
Equipment: Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR Camera
Title: Front and Back - Cedar Waxwings on Red Maple in Spring
Photographer: Benia Zouras
Location: My native yard "Native Suburbia" in Bartlett, IL
Chapter: Greater DuPage
"Caterpillar on dill" by Shanda Behrens
Plant(s): Eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius) on dill
Photo Story: A favorite of the eastern swallowtails, dill readily reseeds itself in my central Ohio garden
Equipment: iPhone
Title: Caterpillar on dill
Photographer: Shanda Behrens
Location: Ashville, Ohio
Chapter: Columbus
"I love mulberries!" by Janie Braud
Plant(s): Summer tanager eating a mulberry in a mulberry tree, Morus rubus.
Photo Story: Great fun to travel to the Louisiana Coast during the spring bird migration as this area is part of the Mississippi River flyway. Find a mulberry tree, pull up a chair and watch the show!. The birds are tired and hungry after flying across the Gulf of Mexico from South America. A female summer tanager is enjoying a ripe mulberry.
Equipment: Nikon d7100 with telephoto lens (200mm - 500 mm)
Title: I love mulberries!
Photographer: Janie Braud
Location: Grand Isle, LA
Chapter: Greater Baton Rouge
"its alive" by Bill Wickers
Plant(s): Common Milkweed with Milkweed Beetles
Photo Story: Was walking in the woods at just the right time to catch beetles on Milkweed seed pod
Equipment: Sony E6000
Title: its alive
Photographer: Bill Wickers
Location: Coral Woods Conservation Area, McHenry Cnty
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"Just the Two of Us" by Geri Fox
Plant(s): Agastache a.k.a. hummingbird mint
Photo Story: I raise monarchs from eggs that I find on milkweed in my yard. When they emerge, they love to hang out and feed on the agastache that I purchased from the West Cook Wild Ones native plant sale.
Equipment: iPhone 12
Title: Just the Two of Us
Photographer: Geri Fox
Location: My front yard in Oak Park, IL
Chapter: West Cook
"Milkweed Matters" by Kerri Thauby
Plant(s): Common milkweed with monarch caterpillar
Photo Story: Found in my garden.
Equipment: Sony A6300 / 50mm lens
Title: Milkweed Matters
Photographer: Kerri Thauby
Location: Carlisle, PA
Chapter: South Central Pennsylvania
"Really Just a Fly" by David Silsbee
Plant(s): Eastern Hornet Fly (Spilomyia longicornis) on Rough-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
Photo Story: One of the more convincing wasp mimics I've ever seen, this fly sports coloring that makes me instinctively back off even when I know what it really is!
Equipment: Canon 5D Mk IV with 100 mm macro lens
Title: Really Just a Fly
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, CT
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
"Hidden in the grass" by Amaris Danak
Plant(s): White-tail deer and dried milkweed, goldenrod and native grasses
Photo Story: I was admiring the banded swaths of fall colors in the of the fen, when a little bit of movement caught my eye, and I saw a deer friend.
Equipment: Panasonic GX85
Title: Hidden in the grass
Photographer: Amaris Danak
Location: Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin Illinois
Chapter: Greater Kane County
"They're All Mine" by David Silsbee
Plant(s): Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) on Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Photo Story: Every fall the cedar tree outside the bathroom window provides endless hours of entertainment as the waxwings, bluebirds, sapsuckers, and other birds gorge themselves on the berries and squabble over the best branches.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 100-400 mm zoom.
Title: They're All Mine
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, CT
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
"Grasshopper eating" by Ann Mitchell
Plant(s): Grass hopper eating daisy leaves
Photo Story: Photo by: Ann Mitchell
It was a cloudy day in early August 2022. The grasshopper was perched in the thick of a daisy’s long leaves, munching away.
Equipment: iPhone 12
Title: Grasshopper eating
Photographer: Ann Mitchell
Location: The shore of Great Sand Bay,
Chapter: Keweenaw
"In the Spring" by Tyrin Avery
Plant(s): Red Maple Tree
Female Red-Wing Blackbird
Photo Story: Female Red-Wing Blackbirds are much quieter than their wheeling, fighting, raucus brothers. But they're bright of eye and quite fascinating with their own bright checked coats. I caught this one in a contemplative mood in my Swamp Maple (aka Red Maple) on a bright spring day.
Equipment: Canon camera
Title: In the Spring
Photographer: Tyrin Avery
Location: In my backyard
Chapter: North Shore Massachusetts (Seedling)
"Red-winged Blackbird on Sedge" by Chelsey Smith
Plant(s): Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Bulrush?
Photo Story: Captured while harvesting Manna grass for Northern Ecological Services.
Equipment: Google Pixel 2 cell phone
Title: Red-winged Blackbird on Sedge
Photographer: Chelsey Smith
Location: Superior, WI at a wetland mitigation site.
Chapter: Arrowhead
"Monarch sipping Prairie Blazing Star" by Linda Nett-Duesterhoeft
Plant(s): Monarch on Prarie Blazing Star
Photo Story: Walking through Washington Island’s Trueblood Performing Art Center’s Native Gardens, in August, 2022, I was able to capture this photo of the monarch.
Equipment: IPhone XR
Title: Monarch sipping Prairie Blazing Star
Photographer: Linda Nett-Duesterhoeft
Location: Washington Island’s Native Garden at the performing arts center.
Chapter: Fox Valley Area
"Rattlesnake master and insect" by Linda Nett-Duesterhoeft
Plant(s): Rattlesnake Master and insect
Photo Story: Susan Forbes, Wild Ones mentor provided a field trip to view the Carpenter Preserve.
Equipment: IPhone XR
Title: Rattlesnake master and insect
Photographer: Linda Nett-Duesterhoeft
Location: Carpenter Preserve, Neenah, Wi
Chapter: Fox Valley Area