“Night Shift” by Kelly Konieczki

Plant(s): Garden Orbweaver on Northern Blazing Star, Liatris novae-angliae
Photo Story: By day, this Liatris is buzzing with pollinators. Then the night shift takes over! Walking around our garden with a flashlight, we discover many orbweavers and webs on Summer nights. The work of ecosystem services in a pollinator garden is never over –even after dark!
Equipment: iPhone 12 Pro Max, Flashlight
Photo ID: 33345

“”… Just Right “” by Cheryl Lloyd

Plant(s): Cornus alternifolia (Alternate-leaf or Pagoda Dogwood) / Tyrannus tyrannus (Eastern Kingbird)
Photo Story: I’d been watching as our Pagoda berries gradually ripened to see who might visit. It’s always a challenging capture as the berries go fast once they mature. Seems they appeal to several Flycatchers as well as berry lovers.
Equipment: Nikon D750 with 500mm lens.
Photo ID: 33347

“mirror image” by Robert Andrini

Plant(s): Prothonotary Warbler
Photo Story: Walking the edge of a swamp, this Prothonotary Warbler posed for its picture to be taken. These birds are sometimes hard to get photo of.
Equipment: Canon camera with 100 – 400 MM lens.
Photo ID: 33380

“Eastern Amberwing on Hyssop” by Leanne Phinney

Plant(s): Female Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly on Blue Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum).
Photo Story: This photo was taken at the Island Lake Elementary School, which has a native plant garden that our Wild Ones chapter tends as one of our service projects. One lovely day in July, while I was working in the garden, several of this beautiful dragonfly were enjoying posing on the Blue Giant Hyssops at the garden.
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix
Photo ID: 33389

“Cardinal Nestlings” by Mary Ellen Van Slembrouck

Plant(s): Cardinal nestlings in a nest of ferns.
Photo Story: The Meadow Brook Garden Captain, Becky Ely, found 3 nestlings on the ground under a Red cedar in the Gatsby Garden at Meadow Brook. She called me over to ask what to do & we decided to protect them. Rose Gardener, Kim Scholtz & Becky decided to build a nest out of a wire basket, some ferns, some red cedar foliage, and to attach it up on a trellis against a brick wall. Mama cardinal instantly began feeding these 3 nestlings that were almost fledglings. We did not want the riding lawn mower near them so the nest was built. The funny thing is that the Woodland gardeners decided to check on them every day and a “Tiki Roof” was built using more foliage so they would be dry and safe from predators.
Equipment: Apple i Phone
Photo ID: 33401

“Thanks for the Leftovers!” by Christine McCluskey

Plant(s): American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) on Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).
Photo Story: I am an avid birdwatcher so often skip deadheading in favor of leaving the drying seeds for the local backyard birds to eat. The goldfinch tend to be a bit skittish, so catching them in the act can be difficult, but when I noticed my indoor cat staring so intently out the front door I was able to quietly sneak up from inside the house and snap off a few shots through the glass.
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV
Photo ID: 33407

“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

“Sipping Sunshine” by Tyler Dennis

Plant(s): American Goldfinch on a Cup Plant (Silphium Perfoliatum)
Photo Story: I was lucky enough to be in my backyard while our Cup Plants were all blooming. It’s the best time of year; they’re suddenly 8 feet tall and smiling towards the sun! I caught a Goldfinch just as it landed, and I waited and saw it scoot down to drink out of the cup on a beautiful morning.
Equipment: Nikon D3300
Nikon AF-S Nikon 200-500mm Lens
Photo ID: 33478

“Lacewing Eggs on Nuttall’s Sunflower” by Cynthia Hutchinson

Plant(s): Nuttall’s Sunflower
Helianthus Natalii
Lacewing (species unknown)
Photo Story: This year, the aphids were intense on the annual sunflowers. I let them be. The ladybugs arrived and laid eggs. I had never seen so many ladybugs, pupa, and larva. It was glorious. As I was examining them today, I noticed this cluster of eggs I had never seen before on the neighboring perennial Nuttall’s sunflower. I snapped this photo, looked it up, and found it to be lacewing. The green lacewing is very common in Colorado, but I can’t be sure until I spot the larva and or/adult. The adults are nocturnal so that could be tricky.
Equipment: Apple i-phone
Photo ID: 33484

“Vicki Mcgovern Opilionis who look like cardinal vine seeds 0384 jpeg” by Vicki Mcgovern

Plant(s): Opiliones harvest men who look like cardinal flower seeds.
Photo Story: I was collecting seeds in my yard when I almost picked a harvest man opilionis by accident
Equipment: I phone 14
Photo ID: 33490

“Will She Like It?” by Janine kharey

Plant(s): Sambucus nigra and Protonotaria citera. Elderberry and Prothonotary Warbler couple
Photo Story: Prothonotary warbler males choose several locations for nests and begin bringing nesting materials. When he attracts a female, she comes to check it out and decides if she will move in. If she likes the location she finishes the nest.
Equipment: Nikon D3500 70.0-300 mm
Photo ID: 33499

“Native Plants with Domestic and Wild Animals” by Crystal Gadson

Plant(s): Native Flower Mix
Photo Story: Our dog, Russell, enjoys hopping the fence to.lay within the flowers. After the photo was taken, we also noticed a Goldfinch that loves to find treats within the flowers!
Equipment: Phone
Photo ID: 33534

“I was taking a nap” by Krista Rakovan

Plant(s): White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), river birch (Betula infra), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Photo Story: I was walking my dog in ML Red Trabue preserve in Dublin, Ohio and this young buck was laying down in the tall grasses. He got up and just stared at us, giving me time to snap a picture.
Equipment: iPhone 11
Photo ID: 33560

“Bobolinks” by Edward Beimborn

Plant(s): Yellow coneflower – Echinacea paradoxa
Photo Story: Bobolinks depend on native prairie and are in serious decline because of habitat loss. Some years they have successfully nested in our 10 acre prairie planting. Here a pair sits on last years yellow coneflower stems.
Equipment: Cannon SX40
Photo ID: 33572

“Tree Frog on Purple Coneflower” by Nancy Shevel

Plant(s): Purple Coneflower- Echinacea purpurea.
Photo Story: Visitor in the Native Garden.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Photo ID: 33592

“Bluet Damselfly love while serenaded by flutist at Birchwood Park habitat” by Cathy Streett

Plant(s): Bluet Damselfly, grey headed coneflower, mixed natives.
Photo Story: Birchwood Park shoreline was planted with native habitat a few years back. It has seen a resurgence of native birds, insects, and other wildlife return. Humans have also returned. We stop at this spot to observe wildlife and record on iNaturalist after our bike rides. This Sunday a flutist walked up and started playing under a shady tree nearby. I spied many damselflies but then noticed these two. I have video of them creating their love wheel and finally silently and still they perched and I was able to get this shot. It was magical with the music in the background!
Equipment: Samsung S22
Photo ID: 33605

“Frog and Wasp” by Karen Eckman

Plant(s): Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia)
Cope’s Grey treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)
Wasp species unknown
Photo Story: I was taking photos of the treefrog sunning itself on the Hyssop leaf in my garden, when a wasp landed on the frog’s backside. Apparently the wasp did not sting the frog because the frog did not move while the wasp was there.
Equipment: iPhone 13 Pro
Photo ID: 33633

“Easy Pickins” by Bette Kauffman

Plant(s): Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) eating poison ivy berries(Toxicodendron radicans)
Photo Story: The stout horizontal branches of poison ivy make the berries easy pickins for a red-headed woodpecker on a sunny winter day. (Please note that although birds can be pollinators, this bird is definitely not functioning as a pollinator in this photo.)
Equipment: Pentax k-3 with telephoto lens
Photo ID: 33634

“Baltimore Oriole’s Sweet Treat” by Lana Pedersen

Plant(s): Male Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Ohio Buckeye tree (Aesculus glabra)
Photo Story: The Ohio Buckeye tree is a magnet for songbirds, warblers, hummingbirds, and bees in the spring; its flowers are rich in nectar. I’m always thrilled to see a flash of bright orange in the tree, which signals the return of the Baltimore Orioles. The female builds an amazing hanging pouch nest, and the birds stop by frequently to probe the buckeye flowers for nectar. Wonderful entertainment in the spring!
Equipment: Nikon D800E with 80-400 mm lens
Photo ID: 33638

“Cedar Treat” by Michael Nofz

Plant(s): Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Red Cedar Tree
Photo Story: A group of cedar waxwings arrived at our property, and promptly began feasting on the berries of some cedar trees. This one was caught with a berry in its beak.
Equipment: Canon Rebel TSi6 and Sigma 100-600mm lens.
Photo ID: 33640

“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

“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

“Boneset Anole” by Daniel Patterson

Plant(s): Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis), Late Bonset (Eupatorium serotinum)
Photo Story: A lovely female Green Anole rests in the umbels of Late Boneset flowers in the Fall of 2022
Equipment: Nikon D7100, Nikkor 18-200mm lens
Photo ID: 33702

“Hungry, Hungry, Caterpillar” by Patty Berry

Plant(s): Spicebush/Lindera benzoin and Spicebush swallowtail caterpillar/Papilia trolius
Photo Story: We planted a couple Spicebush(es) a couple years ago, and since then I have searched for signs of caterpillars. My patience was rewarded this year! While these guys normally hide in a “leaf taco” during the day, I found this one munching away recently. After I got some video with my IPhone I ran and got my mirrorless camera and macro lens, and was able to capture the beauty of this (not yet a pollinator) eating machine. I hope I get to see it in it’s adult form sometime soon.
Equipment: Canon EOS R7 with EF 100mm Macro lens.
Photo ID: 33768