“Sharing” by Kevin Smith

Plant(s): Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus) and Bumble bee on Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) flowers.
Photo Story: Photographed at home in our all-natives garden. The Virginia Mountain Mint is a huge draw for bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps.
Equipment: Nikon Z50 camera w/50-250mm lens
Photo ID: 33413

“Flowers Brighten Every Home!” by Christine McCluskey

Plant(s): Carolina green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) on black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia hirta)
Photo Story: The juvenile carolina anole lizards seem to have a strong preference for living and hunting in the patches of beautiful black-eyed-susans in various gardens around my home, and always seem ready to strike a pose!
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Photo ID: 33414

“My-Native-Plant-Garden” by Leanne Phinney

Plant(s): Woodland Sunflowers (Helianthus strumosus), Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum), Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), and Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
Photo Story: This photo was taken in our yard in Shoreview MN on an early August afternoon.
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix
Photo ID: 33415

“Purple Haze” by Kevin Smith

Plant(s): Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus) on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) flower.
Photo Story: Photographed at home in our all-natives garden.
Equipment: Nikon Z50 camera w/50-250mm lens
Photo ID: 33416

“Pine and friends” by Theresa Smith

Plant(s): Bristle cone pine and friends.
Photo Story: Mount Evans.
Equipment: iPhone
Photo ID: 33417

“Monarch on thistle” by Richard Champeau

Plant(s): Monarch on native pasture/field thistle (Cirsium discolor).
Photo Story: Photo taken in our backyard, into the morning sun-highlighting both plant and butterfly detail
Equipment: Iphone 13 Pro
Photo ID: 33418

“July Fireworks” by Lynn Kirkpatrick

Plant(s): Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum).
Photo Story: Spectacular July blooms remind me of fireworks rocketing skyward.
Equipment: Canon 60D, 100 mm lens
Photo ID: 33419

“monarch on blazing star” by Richard Champeau

Plant(s): Monarch butterfly on meadow blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis).
Photo Story: This was taken this late summer in our backyard. Photo shows early morning sun highlighting detailing of monarch wings and native plant.
Equipment: Iphone 13 Pro
Photo ID: 33421

“Spotted Fawn” by Sheila Walters

Plant(s): Spotted fawn, Wild Garlic, Eastern Redbud, Calico Aster, Garlic Chives, Red Raspberry.
Photo Story: A fawn appeared out my back window when I first moved in this June. I think it wanted my raspberries.
Equipment: Iphone 15 Pro Max
Photo ID: 33422

“Fringed Orchid in the Bog” by Quyen Edwards

Plant(s): Orange Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris).
Photo Story: I observed this native orchid at Bishop’s Bog which is located in Portage, Michigan.
Equipment: Nikon D23300
Photo ID: 33425

“Pollen-Covered Monarch” by Quyen Edwards

Plant(s): Purple coneflower and monarch butterfly
Photo Story: I observed this monarch flying in my backyard. It wasn’t until I had the zoom of my camera lens focused on it that I realized it was covered in pollen!
Equipment: Nikon D3300
Photo ID: 33430

“Perfect Timing” by Quyen Edwards

Plant(s): Common checkered skipper and nodding wild onion.
Photo Story: This little skipper is quite small (approximately a 1 inch wingspan) and therefore quite difficult to photograph. I happened to be in the exact right place with my camera held up to my eye to catch this photo. By the time I had lowered the camera to look at it directly, it was gone.
Equipment: Nikon D3300
Photo ID: 33434

“Bellflower and Bee Balm” by Quyen Edwards

Plant(s): American Bellflower, bee balm, joe pye weed
Photo Story: The American Bellflower reseeded well in the corner of my yard. It was particularly lovely this year with the lighter pink-purple of the bee balm in the background.
Equipment: Nikon D3300
Photo ID: 33435

“late summer natives” by Richard Champeau

Plant(s): Cardinal flower (Lobelia Cardinalis), Hoary vervain (Verbena Stricta), Western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium, scoparium).
Photo Story: Photo taken this late summer along the edge of a sidewalk in our mostly full sun backyard. The lobelia at the very edge of the sidewalk in the picture is a volunteer. The others are longstanding residents of that sunny location.
Equipment: Iphone 13 Pro
Photo ID: 33436

“Pussytoes” by Quyen Edwards

Plant(s): Pussytoes
Photo Story: I love how this plant looks like tiny cat paws!
Equipment: Nikon D3300
Photo ID: 33438

“Bounty” by Amber King

Plant(s): Carolina Horsenettle, Solanum carolinense
Photo Story: A wild turkey will surely enjoy this beautiful fruit.
Equipment: Nikon Z7II and macro lens.
Photo ID: 33440

“Designer camo” by Amber King

Plant(s): Emerald moth caterpillar on Winged Loosestrife, Lythrum alatum.
Photo Story: I thought the arrangement of the flower pieces was fascinating and so artfully arranged.
Equipment: Nikon Z7II and macro lens.
Photo ID: 33442

“Golden Moments” by Kristina Main

Plant(s): Rusty colored Tamarack trees glisten in the sunlight.
Photo Story: This photo was taken in November.
Equipment: Canon G7X
Photo ID: 33443

“Charming Coreopsis” by Amber King

Plant(s): Plains Coreopsis, Coreopsis tinctoria.
Photo Story: The shocks of yellow pollen and petals with the contrasting maroon is such a feast for the eyes, both up close and afar.
Equipment: Nikon Z7II and macro lens
Photo ID: 33444

“Karner on Lupine” by Kristina Main

Plant(s): A Karner Blue butterfly is perched on Lupine plants.
Photo Story: This photo was taken by Kristina Main, Wild Ones member from the Fox Valley Chapter, membership # 102199.
Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel T6 with Lens: 55-250mm
Photo ID: 33445

“Minty” by Amber King

Plant(s): Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) on Clustered Mountainmint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
Photo Story: This summer was unusually dry and extremely hot, yet the Mountainmint was unscathed.
Equipment: Nikon Z7II and macro lens
Photo ID: 33446

“Royal Catchfly in the Sunshine” by Quyen Edwards

Plant(s): Royal Catchfly
Photo Story: I was struck by the beautiful red of this royal catchfly when visiting my friend, Ann’s yard.
Equipment: Nikon D3300
Photo ID: 33447

“Lazy Yellow Coneflower” by Kristina Main

Plant(s): This photo was taken of a yellow cone flower
Photo Story: This photo was taken by Kristina Main, member of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Wild Ones, member #102199
Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel T6, lens 55-250mm
Photo ID: 33448

“Gold-Marked Thread-waisted Wasp” by Steve Berry

Plant(s): PYCNANTHEMUM TENUIFOLIUM/SLENDER MOUNTAIN MINT
Gold-Marked Thread-waisted Wasp
Photo Story: Spotted in Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri in a native plants demonstration area.
Equipment: Samsung S20 FE
Photo ID: 33450

“Patty Berry in Home Pollinator Garden” by Steve Berry

Plant(s): Wild Hydrangea, Butterfly Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Aromatic Aster, New England Aster, Rigid Goldenrod, Ox-Eye Sunflower, Coral Honeysuckle, Indigo Bush, Oakleaf Hydrangea
Photo Story: My wife Patty in the pollinator bed started in 2016.
Equipment: Samsung S20 FE
Photo ID: 33452

“Swallowtail on Coneflower” by Julie Ross

Plant(s): Swallowtail on coneflower
Photo Story: The 2020 derecho (freak inland hurricane) took down many trees, turning our yard from 95% shady to 95% sunny. Rather than replant trees, we decided to plant native prairie plants. We have been delighted by the visitors to our yard.
Equipment: iPhone 13
Photo ID: 33454

“Taking Turns” by Emily Beckett

Plant(s): Two sweat bees from the Family Halictidae nectaring on a Missouri native late figwort Scrophularia marilandica.
Photo Story: I’ve been studying the Missouri native late figwort (Scrophularia marilandica) in my yard and all the wildlife it brings. These plants are sculptural in nature with 4-6′ stalks of tiny & insignificant yellow and red blooms. When the buds open, they are dripping with nectar, attracting an assortment of native bees, flies, wasps, and the occasional crab spider hanging out for a protein meal. I have noticed the tiny sweat bees jockeying for position to feed on the nectar and happened to capture this shot of the 2 bees taking turns for a drink.
Equipment: camera body: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
lens: 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
flash: Canon Speedlite 580EX II
Photo ID: 33459

“Bi-Colored Striped Sweat Bee” by Patty Berry

Plant(s): Bi-Colored Striped Sweat Bee on Purple Prairie Clover/Dalea pupurea
Photo Story: I enjoy the insects on my native plants
Equipment: Canon EOS R7 with EF100mm macro
Photo ID: 33464

“Brown-belted Bumblebee” by Patty Berry

Plant(s): Brown-belted Bumblebee on Shrubby St Johns Wort/Hypericum prolificum
Photo Story: I enjoy the insects on my native plants
Equipment: Canon EOS R7 with EF100mm macro
Photo ID: 33467

“Breakfast before the flight” by Mark Barthel

Plant(s): Monarchs sitting on Blazing Star.
Photo Story: These monarchs are eating a little breakfast before continuing on their migratory journey.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Photo ID: 33475