“Late Summer Gold” by Michael Nofz

Plant(s): Yellow coneflower (solidago canadensis) and goldenrod (ratio piñata).
Photo Story: These were right in our backyard. It was a late summer evening, with a low sun. The way the light was illuminating them, they seemed to beg for a photo.
Equipment: Cannon Rebel TSi6 and Samyung wide angle 20mm lens
Photo ID: 33641

“Perplexing Bee” by Jenn Pipp

Plant(s): Perplexing Bumble Bee (Bombus perplexus) on Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Photo Story: The Perplexing Bumble bees really loved the Cluver’s root growing in my front yard garden.
Equipment: Canon EOS R5 C, 100 mm macro lens, and lightroom.
Photo ID: 33642

“Bumble-Bergamot” by Michael Nofz

Plant(s): Bumble Bee on Wild Bergamot (monada fistulosa)
Photo Story: Last year we planted a patch of native prairie plants. It was amazing how many blossoms came forth the next summer, as well as bees, bumblebees in particular.
Equipment: Canon Rebel TSi6 and Canon 18-55mm lens.
Photo ID: 33643

“Thistle Sun” by Jenn Pipp

Plant(s): Field Thistle, Cirsium discolor
Photo Story: This image is of a field thistle growing in the front garden. As the sun creeps low in the sky it illuminates the tips of plants creating a halo. This brings back memories of magical encounters with plants in my youth.
Equipment: Canon EOS R5 C, 100 mm macro lens, and lightroom.
Photo ID: 33644

“Bee on Milkweed” by Adrian Knowles

Plant(s): Bee on common milkweed
Photo Story: We’re in the process of converting our garden to native plants. Very excited this year to see so many bees enjoying all the work we’ve put in!
Equipment: Nikon z9 with 105mm MC lens
Photo ID: 33645

“Wee Wild Ones” by Debbie Rexer

Plant(s): Ebony Spleenwort, Woodland Stonecrop, (native sedge and moss in background).
Photo Story: Abigail Rexer (age 16)
As a young child, my favorite toys were garden gnomes. I enjoyed hiding them in magical spots in my native-landscaped yard. This picture was taken in a rock garden my siblings and I named “Fairy’s Garden.” Even now, gnomes can still be found peeking out of hiding places among the native plants!
Equipment: Canon EOS 2000D
Photo ID: 33646

“Tree Hugger” by Merrie Richardson

Plant(s): Raccoon (Procyon lotor) on a sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum)
Photo Story: I had heard this baby raccoon chittering in the yard throughout the day. Her calls were getting louder and more distressed sounding, and I was able to locate and photograph her in this sugar maple. I volunteer as a transporter for several local wildlife rehabilitators, and am very familiar with normal baby animal behaviors and signs to look for with orphans, so her behavior was worrisome. After a phone call with one of my rehabber friends, and seeing a big red-tailed hawk hunting nearby, I made the decision to capture this little one and bring her into care. Later I learned that a neighbor had a raccoon getting into his chicken coop, and I surmise her mama was killed as a result. I am thankful to have heard her, and am happy to report she did well in care with some other orphaned babies.
Equipment: Nikon D3400 w/70-300 mm lens
Photo ID: 33647

“Monarch on milkweed” by Adrian Knowles

Plant(s): Monarch butterfly on White milkweed (Geum triflorum)
Photo Story: We’re in the process of converting our garden to native plants. Very excited this year to see so many pollinators enjoying all the hard work we’ve put in!
Equipment: Nikon z9 with 105mm MC lens
Photo ID: 33648

“Going Crazy for Pollen Puffs” by Nicole Machuca

Plant(s): American Sand Wasp (Bembix americana), Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Photo Story: My work revolves around native plants and native pollinators. Since being in my position, this the first full summer I’ve had to really explore how big the world around me is in my urban setting. I grew up as a city kid, so that means I thought for the longest time there was one wasp species. Now that bubble has been burst and I’ve become obsessed with the under-appreciated pollinators, especially wasps, flies and moths. I hope to break that bubble for others and help them appreciate the complex ecosystems (including the beautiful wasps within them) that were here long before any of us.
Equipment: iPhone 12 with Xenvo Pro 15x zoom attachment
Photo ID: 33650

“Sneezeweed” by Jenn Pipp

Plant(s): Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Photo Story: Sneezeweed was the first native plant I added to the garden that was a showstopper. It was glorious in its first year. This lovely sneezeweed lives in the Wellfleet Mass Audobon pollinator garden.
Equipment: Canon RC5 camera, 100 mm macro lens, and lightroom.
Photo ID: 33652

“Enshrined in Glass” by Debbie Rexer

Plant(s): St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum)
Photo Story: Abigail Rexer (age 16)
Just as the first green leaves of spring were emerging, Nashville TN was hit with a rare ice storm. Last year’s seed pods and spring’s new leaves enshrined in icy glass caught my eye. This fragile beauty lasted only a brief time, as the ice melted before noon.
Equipment: Canon EOS 2000D
Photo ID: 33653

“Prairie Smoke” by Adrian Knowles

Plant(s): Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)
Photo Story: Planted 2 years ago, the Prairie smokes in the garden are firrst to show color and their unusual plumes make it one of my favorites!
Equipment: Nikon z9 with 105 MC lens
Photo ID: 33654

“Bold and Beautiful” by Merrie Richardson

Plant(s): I believe this is a a pale swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) but I am not sure what species of shrub it is on.
Photo Story: I was so enamored with all of the big beautiful swallowtails I saw around my hometown in Oregon while on vacation in June. This pale one gave me a great photo opportunity as the sunlight streamed through the foliage, highlighting its brilliant wing colors.
Equipment: Nikon D3400 w/70-300 mm lens
Photo ID: 33655

“Hand Caught in the Pollen Jar” by Nicole Machuca

Plant(s): Great Black Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus), Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
Photo Story: My work revolves around native plants and native pollinators. Since being in my position, this the first full summer I’ve had to really explore how big the world around me is in my urban setting. I grew up as a city kid, so that means I thought for the longest time there was one wasp species. Now that bubble has been burst and I’ve become obsessed with the under-appreciated pollinators, especially wasps, flies and moths. I hope to break that bubble for others and help them appreciate the complex ecosystems (including the beautiful wasps within them) that were here long before any of us. The Great Black Wasp is one of the most obvious pollinating wasps I see. Not only do I find them so cute when I capture them looking at the camera, but this one in particular had an underside absolutely covered in pollen. It looks like it’s pointing at itself like, “Who me? I didn’t do it!” But the evidence is all over.
Equipment: iPhone 12 with Xenvo Pro 15x macro lens attachment.
Photo ID: 33656

“Spotted Bee Balm” by Adrian Knowles

Plant(s): Spotted Bee balm (Monarda punctata)
Photo Story: We’re so happy that with our Wild ones membership we get the discounts from Johnson nurseries. This is one of the many Bee balms we purchased this year
Equipment: Nikon Z9 with 105mm MC lens
Photo ID: 33657

“Orange Gem” by Merrie Richardson

Plant(s): Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on common milkweed bloom (Asclepias syriaca); not sure what the interloping plant species is with the pointed leaves!
Photo Story: At Barren River Lake State Park I was pleasantly surprised to find a substantial milkweed patch along one of the paved walking trails. Bees, wasps, and butterflies were in abundance, and I was thrilled to see a few monarchs! This one let me get close enough for some good photos.
Equipment: Nikon D3400 w/70-300 mm lens
Photo ID: 33658

“Snacking Skipper” by Sarah Bradfield

Plant(s): Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and a skipper. I believe this is a Peck’s Skipper (Polites peckius).
Photo Story: I love butteflies and have planted native species with them in mind. On this particular day it was sachems and skippers galore in the garden.
Equipment: Canon Rebel T5i
Photo ID: 33659

“Double the Fun” by Stacie Sontag

Plant(s): Marsh Milkweed / Asclepias incarnata, monarch caterpillars, and aphids
Photo Story: This was my first year planting milkweed, and my daughter and I were very excited to find caterpillars! They’ve been so fun to watch.
Equipment: iPhone 8
Photo ID: 33661

“Purple coneflowers” by Adrian Knowles

Plant(s): Purple cone flower (Echinacea purpurea)
Photo Story: A favorite of the butterflies, we just wish the flowers could last longer!
Equipment: Nikon Z9 with 105mm MC lens
Photo ID: 33662

“Curve” by Jacquie LaCasse

Plant(s): Monarch caterpillar snacking on Common Milkweed.
Photo Story: Several years ago we had a single Common Milkweed growing on the edge of the gravel driveway. We had so much fun watching caterpillars on this one plant! In a short time (a few years) there were many (many) plants and we’ve expanded the assortment for pollinators in the form of native plant garden which takes up 1/3 of the front yard. Submitted picture taken July 2023.
Equipment: iPhone
Photo ID: 33663

“Bergamot” by Adrian Knowles

Plant(s): Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Photo Story: One of the first native plants we introduced two years ago it is a big attraction to the bees.
Equipment: Nikon z9 with 105mm MC lens
Photo ID: 33667

“Eastern Tiger Swallowtail” by Sarah Bradfield

Plant(s): Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).
Photo Story: I’m always glad when butterflies visit the garden and stay to nectar. I never get tired of watching them!
Equipment: Canon Rebel Ti5
Photo ID: 33669

“Yellow Legs for Days” by Nicole Machuca

Plant(s): Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumena vatia), False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Photo Story: When looking for pollinators I stumbled upon this beauty. I took my pictures and went on my way. I later saw a flower fly (likely a Complex Eupeodes americanus) and it didn’t fly away when I got close, which I thought was strange. It look like it had died in the flower petals of the goldenrod, so I tried to pull it out. Not only did it not come loose, but it sunk into the flower. I turned the flower over and saw another goldenrod crab spider, but this one had dinner. It makes you realize and appreciate how much more is around you than you know.
Equipment: iPhone 12 with Xenvo Pro 15x macro lens attachment.
Photo ID: 33674

“Passionflower” by Sarah Bradfield

Plant(s): Purple Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
Photo Story: I really enjoy finding new blooms each day.
Equipment: Canon Rebel Ti5
Photo ID: 33675

“Passionflower Bloom” by Sarah Bradfield

Plant(s): Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Photo Story: You can see the beginnings of a passion fruit forming.
Equipment: Canon Rebel Ti5
Photo ID: 33676

“Passionflower Climbing Black Eyed Susans” by Sarah Bradfield

Plant(s): Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) and Black-eyed Susan (Rudbekia hirta)
Photo Story: Black-eyed Susans are just one of may things being used as a trellis by this passion vine this year.
Equipment: Canon Rebel Ti5
Photo ID: 33677

“First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland” by Jessica Ausnehmer

Plant(s): Joe Pye Weed, Milkweed, Scarlet Beebalm, Blazing Star, and much more
Photo Story: First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights Native Garden Installation – Chapter member Ann Cicarella was the project lead for this effort. This effort was done also in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation through their Sacred Grounds program.
Equipment: Phone – Galaxy S22
Photo ID: 33678

“Rotary Park Native Garden Planting with Mother and Child” by Jessica Ausnehmer

Plant(s): Wild Ginger and Marginal Wood Fern
Photo Story: Rotary Park Native Garden Planting with community volunteers. This is a picture of a volunteer and her child. Chapter member Ray Stewart was the project lead for this effort.
Equipment: Phone Samsung S22
Photo ID: 33681

“Rotary Park Native Garden Installation with Community Volunteers” by Jessica Ausnehmer

Plant(s): Wild Ginger, Marginal Wood Fern, Solomon’s Seal, and much more.
Photo Story: Rotary Park Native Garden Planting with community volunteers. This is a picture of several of the volunteers. Chapter member Ray Stewart was the project lead for this effort.
Equipment: Phone Samsung S22
Photo ID: 33683

“Danielle Wild Ones Native Plant Class” by Jessica Ausnehmer

Plant(s): Joe Pye Weed, Butterfly Weed, and many others
Photo Story: Danielle Wild Ones Native Plant Class – This picture is of a class chapter member Danielle Squire led at a local native plant nursery (Meadow City Nursery). This was an interactive class that included native plants available at the nursery and taught about what plants go where depending on environment, light, and soil.
Equipment: Phone Samsung S22
Photo ID: 33685