“Bee on Orange Milkweed” by Patricia Dwyer-Hallquist

Plant(s): Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) with bee (possibly bumble bee)
Photo Story: Last summer, I planted a few native plants in a small front yard garden. This summer, we dugout lily of the valley from this garden to make room for more native plants, including the butterfly milkweed, New England asters, pale purple coneflower, great blue lobelia penstemon, and blazing star. The butterfly weed and great lobelia are blooming, and the New England asters have buds. I am hoping for more blooms next summer.
Equipment: PHONE: Galaxy S21 5G model SM-G991U
Photo ID: 33349

“Monarch Caterpillar on Butterfly Milkweed” by Patricia Dwyer-Hallquist

Plant(s): Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) with Monarch Caterpillar (Danaus Plexippus)
Photo Story: Last summer, I planted a few native plants in a small front yard garden. This summer, we dugout lily of the valley from this garden to make room for more native plants, including the butterfly milkweed, asters, pale purple coneflower, great blue lobelia penstemon, and blazing star. I was so happy to see this caterpillar and a second smaller one, since I had not seen the eggs yet this summer. I check often to see if both caterpillars are still there, and if a chrysalis has formed.
Equipment: PHONE: Galaxy S21 5G Model SM-G991U
Photo ID: 33352

“Resting Survivor” by Laura Weir

Plant(s): Monarch Butterfly on Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Photo Story: In the managed prairie of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, this tattered, but surviving Monarch can be seen rejuvenating on a Common Boneset.
Equipment: Sony Alpha6000
Photo ID: 33363

“Joe Pye Bee” by Melissa Wolfe

Plant(s): Dwarf Joe pye weed with visitor, in back cardinal flowers and black eyed Susan’s
Photo Story: Slowly working on removing grass in our yard in Asheville NC and replacing with native plants and habitat. We have struggled to find shade friendly native plants so this patch is still a work in progress but brings me a smile to see the bees don’t mind the work in progress.
Equipment: iPhone 11 ( which will not allow me to rename my photo below). Happy to email one if needed, let me know
Photo ID: 33367

“Iridenscent Green Damselfly” by Jake Cseke

Plant(s): Iridescent Green Damselfly
Photo Story: None
Equipment: Cannon SX720 HS
Photo ID: 33369

“”Table for Two”” by Mary Ellen Van Slembrouck

Plant(s): Monarch and a Bumble bee on Asclepias incarnata ‘Cinderella’
Photo Story: I was photographing a Monarch in my front courtyard and did not know the Bumble bee was still feeding beside her.
Equipment: Apple I phone
Photo ID: 33373

“Dropping In” by Laura Lemmon

Plant(s): Fauna: Papilio glaucus – Eastern Tiger Swallowtail; Flora: Phlox paniculata – Garden Phlox
Photo Story: We watched this youngster tumble out of a nearby Tulip Poplar and gain its wings. After swooping and practicing its new skills, the Tiger Swallowtail landed on a Garden Phlox in the cottage/pollinator garden and began to nectar.
Equipment: Minolta Dimage Z3 Digital Camera
4.0 Mega Pixels
Photo ID: 33381

“Monarch Birthday” by Christine McCluskey

Plant(s): Monarch butterfly on Common milkweed.
Photo Story: I had been checking my milkweed regularly for monarch caterpillar activity when this brand-new fresh monarch butterfly caught my eye, it was only upon closer inspection I determined it had just emerged from it’s chrysalis formed directly under the common milkweed leaf!
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
Photo ID: 33388

“A Bee in the Balm” by Louise DeCesare

Plant(s): Bumble bee and Bee Balm (Monarda)
Photo Story: I could not resist taking this photo of the bee on the bee balm. Photographed at the Tackapausha Museum Native Demonstration Garden in Seaford, New York.
Equipment: iPhone SE first genera
Photo ID: 33394

“There’s a ZEBRA in My Garden!” by Christine McCluskey

Plant(s): Zebra Swallowtail butterfly (Eurytides marcellus) on tickseed (coreopsis).
Photo Story: I could not believe my luck to spot a zebra swallowtail at all, let alone in the front garden right at home! This beauty spend the entire afternoon enjoying the native tickseed, while I clicked away with my camera.
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Photo ID: 33395

“Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Joe Pye Weed” by Leanne Phinney

Plant(s): Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) on Joe Pye Weed.
Photo Story: This photo was taken in our yard in Shoreview MN on a lovely July afternoon. That day I was out in my garden looking for photo opportunities when this beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly flew in and enjoyed my Joe Pye Weed for several minutes.
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix
Photo ID: 33405

“In the Sky / Cutleaf Coneflower Bumblebee” by Sheila Walters

Plant(s): Cut leaf Coneflower or Tall Coneflower (over five feet tall).
Photo Story: There are masses of these coneflowers taller than me that have been bee central of my yard. taken 8-30-2023
Equipment: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Photo ID: 33406

“Bee there or be Square” by Sheila Walters

Plant(s): Tall Coneflower or Cutleaf Coneflower aka Green-Head Coneflowers.
Photo Story: This is bee central to my yard. The most attracted area for pollinators. Wasps and Bees are buzzing here all the time! Taken 8/30/2023
Equipment: iPhone 15 Pro Max
Photo ID: 33409

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“Golden Beauty” by Leslie Jordan

Plant(s): Colias eurytheme (orange sulphur butterfly) on chrysothamnus (rabbitbrush) flower.
Photo Story: I was hiking in a local open space park near my house when I came around a corner and noticed this lovely scene. Fortunately for me, the butterfly wasn’t intimidated when I leaned forward to take my picture, and stayed perfectly still.
Equipment: Apple I phone 8
Photo ID: 33480

“Monarch on rubeckia” by Nancy Benkoske

Plant(s): Monarch butterfly on black eyed susans
Photo Story: Backyard prarie and pollinator
Equipment: Android phone camera
Photo ID: 33482