“Milkweed bug” by Cindy Adams-Kornmeyer

Plant(s): Butterfly weed and milkweed bug
Photo Story: These beautiful bugs showed up the second season that grew butterfly weed next to my pond.
Equipment: iPhone 8
Photo ID: 32835

“Great Blue Lobelia” by Steven Dominguez

Plant(s): Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
Photo Story: Grown from seed
Equipment: IPhone 11
Photo ID: 32836

“Fritillary and Friend on Coneflower” by Amanda Smith

Plant(s): Great Spangled Fritillar (Speyeria cybele), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Photo Story: This is the first year that we’ve seen a Fritillary butterfly in our yard. Our house already had native violets (Viola sororia) in the yard when we moved in – after a couple years I figured out what they were and we allowed them to spread in areas of our yard that are not mown. We also removed some invasive species and planted more natives in those areas to hopefully attract more pollinators (we now have lots of different bees, wasps, flies, moths, and several new butterflies). I plan on removing even more lawn in the coming years – I can’t wait to see what else will show up!
Equipment: Galaxy S22
Photo ID: 32837

“Bumblebee on Baby Blue Eyes” by Evelyn Sherr

Plant(s): A Black-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus melanopygus, a Western native bee, Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), a native wildflower of the Willamette Valley.
Photo Story: I noticed this bumblebee zooming around the patch of Baby Blue Eyes in my urban garden in Eugene Oregon this spring. The bee flew from flower to flower so fast I had a problem getting it in focus – lots of fuzzy shots. But finally the bee rooted into one of the open flowers, which curled around it, and I finally got a good photo. I have seen many other bee, flies and wasp species on flowers in my garden, but this was definitely the cutest.
Equipment: NIKON D810, 300 mm lens
ƒ/5.6 1/800 ISO1600
Photo ID: 32838

“Bumble Bee on Stiff Goldenrod” by Tom Scheidt

Plant(s): Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) on Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
Photo Story: Last fall while walking through a Lake County Forest Preserve I was photographing the Stiff Goldenrod in flower and was lucky enough to come across a bee doing what it does best.
Equipment: Nikon D7200, 90mm. F/13, 1/200 sec.
Photo ID: 32840

“Painted Lady on Aster” by Tom Scheidt

Plant(s): Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui
Photo Story: While visiting Port Washington we were walking the bluffs next to Lake Michigan. The fall asters first attracted our attention but then we noticed the butterfly. What a bonus!
Equipment: Nikon D7200, 600mm. F/16, 1/200 sec, ISO 500
Photo ID: 32841

“Prairie Blazing Star” by Tom Scheidt

Plant(s): Prairie Blazing Star, Liatris pycnostachya
Photo Story: This summer the Pine Dunes Forest Preserve had a great display of Prairie Blazing Star.
Equipment: Nikon D7200, 90mm. F/18, 1/500 sec, ISO 1250
Photo ID: 32843

“Bumblebee on Monarda” by Terri Hoehne

Plant(s): Bumblebee, Bee Balm (Monarda)
Photo Story: Taken in my front yard prairie on a beautiful summer’s day
Equipment: Moto G cellphone
Photo ID: 32846

“Monarch’s favorite” by Janet Beimborn

Plant(s): Meadow Blazing star (Liatris Ligulistylis), Sweet Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Subtometosa)
Photo Story: In mid to late August the Monarch butterflies like to get nectar from Liatris, especially Meadow Blazing Star. We often see two and sometimes three on a single plant. Here one if filling up for the journey to Mexico with Sweet Black Eyed Susan in the background
Equipment: Cannon SX40 camera
Photo ID: 32847

“On The Hunt” by Angelika Brinkmann-Busi

Plant(s): Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) and Crab spider
Photo Story: It took a double take to realize that the small yellow dot in the Hydrangea flower was a Crap spider waiting to catch some prey.
Equipment: Google Pixel 3 phone
Photo ID: 32848

“Busy Bumble Bee” by Ruth Oldenburg

Plant(s): Common Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) on Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum)
Photo Story: My large Shrubby St. John’s Wort was a buzz with pollinators in July. I like to watch them busy at their task.
Equipment: iPhone 11Pro
Photo ID: 32850

“Life on Common Milkweed” by Angelika Brinkmann-Busi

Plant(s): Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Monarch caterpillar, harvestman and moth
Photo Story: While taking pictures of a feeding monarch caterpillar, I realized, that next to it a harvestman was standing over a moth, demonstrating the circle of life. Sadly, the caterpillar was not able to complete its metamorphosis, but became a snack to another hungry creature in the process of transforming into a chrysalis.
Equipment: Google Pixel 3 Phone
Photo ID: 32854

“joanne-desjardins-coralberry-symphoricarpos-orbiculatus-by-deck-2023” by Joanne Desjardins

Plant(s): Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)
Photo Story: I planted this coralberry by the steps of my back deck about five years ago. Now it provides berries to red squirrels in the wintertime.
Equipment: Canon SX150IS camera
Photo ID: 32856

“Boneset in Shallow Lake Waters” by Joanne Desjardins

Plant(s): Boneset (eupatorium perfoliatum)
Photo Story: Boneset is growing well in the shallow waters by a pebbly beach of Swan Lake.
Equipment: LG Electronics LM-X210 cellphone
Photo ID: 32857

“Wild Bergamot and Slender Mountain Mint” by Joanne Desjardins

Plant(s): Wild Bergamot (monarda fistulosa) and Slender Mountain Mint (pycnanthemum tenufolium)
Photo Story: The bees love the wild bergamot and slender mountain mint I planted in my back yard. I started the garden in 2022 and these plants are growing like crazy!
Equipment: LG Electronics LM-X210 cell phone
Photo ID: 32858

“Monarch Eyes” by allen Clasen

Plant(s): Monarch Butterfly
Photo Story: Barb Cassidy
Equipment: Nikon d7500, 200-500mm Nikon lens
Photo ID: 32859

“White Ash Trees and a Red Pine Behind the Barn” by Joanne Desjardins

Plant(s): White Ash (fraximus americana) and Red Pine (pinus resinosa)
Photo Story: Nearly four decades ago I planted two sapling white ash trees and a red pine behind the barn at our home. They have given us shade and beauty for many years.
Equipment: Canon SX150IS camera
Photo ID: 32860

“Saguaro in the desert” by Scott Krahn

Plant(s): Saguaro
Photo Story: Saguaro top in the desert
Equipment: Fuji XT1
Photo ID: 32862

“acorns” by Scott Krahn

Plant(s): oak tree acorns
Photo Story: we encountered these acorns hanging from an oak tee in Menomonee Park
Equipment: Canon R5
Photo ID: 32863

“Stacked up saguaros” by Scott Krahn

Plant(s): saguaro cactus
Photo Story: While hiking in Arizona, I was able to use a long lens to stack up several saguaros.
Equipment: Fuji XT1
Photo ID: 32864

“Native Ecology” by Telle ter Horst

Plant(s): Rudbeckia laciniata (flowering sochan), with Scolia Dubia (blue-winged wasp)
Photo Story: Several springs ago, a kind farmer with whom I was apprenticing offered that I take home a section of the abundant sochan growing on his property. I transplanted it in my yard, and have been in awe every late summer since, as I count the multitude of insects that show up to feast on the nectars and pollens of this stunning native plant. It is a plant with a rich history, both for the indigenous people and for the native fauna of this region.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Photo ID: 32866

“Spore Galore” by Laurie Martin

Plant(s): Capillary thread moss (Bryum capillare) sporophytes
Photo Story: The tiny nodding sporophytes of Capillary Thread Moss (Bryum capillare) glow in a patch of sunlight in the forest.
Equipment: Google Pixel 3a XL
ƒ/1.8
1/460
4.44mm
ISO50
Photo ID: 32867

“Symphony In Green” by Angelika Brinkmann-Busi

Plant(s): Cup Plant ((Silphium perfoliatum) and tree frog
Photo Story: On a hot August day a tree frog looked for protection and possibly a little moisture on the joined, opposite leaves of a cup plant.
Equipment: Google Pixle 3
Photo ID: 32868

“Bumble on Hoary Vervain” by Illona Hadley

Plant(s): Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)
Photo Story: Hoary Vervain in my backyard are a favorite with Bumblebees.
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D
Photo ID: 32869

“Monarch on Liatris” by Illona Hadley

Plant(s): Meadow Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis)
Photo Story: A sunny afternoon at Noelridge Garden the Monarchs were enjoying the Meadow Blazing Star.
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D
Photo ID: 32870

“Butterfly Weed” by Illona Hadley

Plant(s): Butterfly Weed (Asclepius tuberosa)
Photo Story: Native Prairie plant at Noelridge Gardens
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D
Photo ID: 32871

“Gray-head Coneflower” by Illona Hadley

Plant(s): Gray-head Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Photo Story: Gray-head Coneflower on a breezy day at Noelridge Gardens.
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D
Photo ID: 32873

“Hairy Mountain Mint” by Illona Hadley

Plant(s): Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum verticillium)
Photo Story: Hairy Mountain Mint at Noelridge Gardens
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D
Photo ID: 32874

“Western Ironweed” by Illona Hadley

Plant(s): Western Ironweed (Vernonia Baldwinii)
Photo Story: Towering Western Ironweed at Noelridge Gardens
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D
Photo ID: 32875

“Ruby Throated Hummingbird at the Friends of North Prairie Native Gardens” by Dawn Marie Staccia

Plant(s): This is either an immature male or adult female ruby throated hummingbird feeding on cardinal flower.
Photo Story: The Friends of North Prairie Native Gardens is a new garden that was established in the spring of 2021.
The gardens are located in the Village of North Prairie’s park. I am one of the volunteers and the garden’s photographer. It took many hours of waiting for the right time to photograph this hummingbird. Patience pays off and I finally got a great shot of one of nature’s beautiful and fascinating pollinators.
Equipment: Canon EOS 80D telephoto 150-600 mm lens
Photo ID: 32876