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“Hello There, May I Come In?” by Gina Michels
Image ID: 6988
Plant(s): Bumblebee, Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
Photo Story: The bumblebees are busy nectaring on the sneezeweed, native sunflowers and tall coreopsis but one occasionally wonders over ‘barges’ in on a secluded turtlehead.
Equipment: Canon 7D, 100 mm lens
Title: Hello There, May I Come In?
Photographer: Gina Michels
Location: In my backyard native garden
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
“I Look Great in Blue…Lobelia” by Gina Michels
Image ID: 6989
Plant(s): Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
Photo Story: I just planted the Great Blue Lobelia in early summer and then was rude enough to relocate it later in the summer when we created a new native area. They are thriving despite me! The bumblebees were the most plentiful pollinator in sight the day I took this photo but there was this one wasp and blue looked really great on her!
Equipment: Canon 7D, 100 mm lens
Title: I Look Great in Blue…Lobelia
Photographer: Gina Michels
Location: In my backyard native garden
Chapter: Kalamazoo Area
“Wild Columbine & Golden Alexanders” by Elisa Zappacosta
Image ID: 6990
Plant(s): Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
Photo Story: Wild Columbine and Golden Alexanders in the front entrance garden at our home
NOTE: File was renamed as described below, but uploaded on the form with an earlier filename.
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Wild Columbine & Golden Alexanders
Photographer: Elisa Zappacosta
Location: Westfield, IA
Chapter: Loess Hills
“Aromatic Asters” by Elisa Zappacosta
Image ID: 6991
Plant(s): Aromatic Asters (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
Photo Story: Aromatic Asters in my backyard garden last October
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Aromatic Asters
Photographer: Elisa Zappacosta
Location: Westfield, IA
Chapter: Loess Hills
“Fall Prairie from the Front Yard” by Elisa Zappacosta
Image ID: 6992
Plant(s): Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Photo Story: Fall Prairie taken from the front yard in the morning
Equipment: iPhone SE
Title: Fall Prairie from the Front Yard
Photographer: Elisa Zappacosta
Location: Westfield, IA
Chapter: Loess Hills
“Ditch Fishing” by Tawnie Perkovich
Image ID: 6994
Plant(s): The yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum).
Photo Story: On a lunchtime hike along the Ice Age/Ahnapee State Trail, I spotted a yellow trout lily, finally in bloom with it’s dark red variation of anthers. I had to crawl into the ditch to get the perfect angle and was a few minutes late back to work, but it was worth it.
Equipment: Nikon 3400 with 18-140mm lens.
Title: Ditch Fishing
Photographer: Tawnie Perkovich
Location: Ice Age Trail/Ahnapee State Trail/Sturgeon Bay
Chapter: Door Peninsula
“Dairy Bugs” by Tawnie Perkovich
Image ID: 6996
Plant(s): Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).
Photo Story: A hike through the beautiful Bayshore Blufflands passed through a field of milkweed forming their seed pods and a great many of them were covered by every stage of the black and orange Large Milkweed Bug.
Equipment: Nikon 3400 with 70-300mm lens.
Title: Dairy Bugs
Photographer: Tawnie Perkovich
Location: Bayshore Blufflands/Door County Land Trust/Sturgeon Bay
Chapter: Door Peninsula
“Monarda didyma” by Cheryl Lloyd
Image ID: 6999
Plant(s): “Oswego Tea”/Red Beebalm…Monarda didyma
Photo Story: I purchased Monarda didyma at our Spring 2021, Habitat Gardening of CNY Native Plant Sale anxious to see who might visit. It did not disappoint, attracting hungry, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and long-tongued Bumble Bees. A close look at the lovely flowers reveals long tubes perfectly suited to such pollinators.
Equipment: Nikon D750 with 500mm lens.
Title: Monarda didyma
Photographer: Cheryl Lloyd
Location: My pollinator garden.
Chapter: Habitat Gardening in Central New York
“Blue Bird Bliss” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7000
Plant(s): Eastern Blue Bird on driftwood framed with Oval Sedge.
Photo Story: I planted an 18 ft x 34 ft raingarden with native plants. At the inlet to the raingarden I planted oval and fox sedges to dissipate water flow and to give shelter for the birds. A birdbath was placed on the ground in the the corner of the raingarden border and driftwood accessorized the bath. These 2-5 baby blue birds come to take a bath and preen and dry themselves on the drift wood. The blue birds are molting to get their adult feathers to migrate this September. Blue birds fly into the raingarden for insects. It is such a joy to watch.
Equipment: Iphone 7 attached to a Vortex 85 mm spotting scope.
Title: Blue Bird Bliss
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Foxglove Beardtongue with Bumble Bee Landing” by Karen Eckman
Image ID: 7001
Plant(s): Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) Bumble Bee
Photo Story: I took this shot in June, 2020 in my backyard. I loved seeing the landing stripes in the blossom with the bee making a “bee-line” right to them.
Equipment: Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II with a Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 Asph. Mega OIS lens
Title: Foxglove Beardtongue with Bumble Bee Landing
Photographer: Karen Eckman
Location: Shoreview, MN
Chapter: Big River Big Woods
“Sweet Joe Pye Weed with Skipper Butterfly” by Karen Eckman
Image ID: 7002
Plant(s): Sweet Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
Skipper Butterfly
Photo Story: The Joe Pye in my backyard was starting to bloom when I saw this Skipper Butterfly I had not seen before. I believe it is a Peck’s Skipper, but I know butterflies can be tricky to identify!
Equipment: Olympus E-M5 Mark II
Lens Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45 mm F2.8 Asph.M
Title: Sweet Joe Pye Weed with Skipper Butterfly
Photographer: Karen Eckman
Location: Shoreview, MN
Chapter: Big River Big Woods
“Beautiful Blue Gentian” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7003
Plant(s): Blue Bottle Gentian, Gentiana andrewsii.
Photo Story: The Blue Bottle Gentian started to (Gentiana andrewsii) bloom in late August the second year after planting in my 18 ft x 34 ft raingarden. Bumble bees are the main pollinators of this native flower as they pry open the closed flowers. It’s amazing iridescent color and balloon like flowers make it a fun flower to gaze at.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Beautiful Blue Gentian
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Dance of the Culver’s Root” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7004
Plant(s): Focus: Culver’s Root, Veronicastrum virginicum; Background: Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata; Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum
Photo Story: The graceful spikes of the Culver’s root with its tiny wide flowers created a wonderful accent in my 10 ft x 28 ft raingarden. It is part of a mini-ecosystem I created in my front yard. I made an effort to have a diversity of plant heights in the raingarden for bees, butterflies, and song birds.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Dance of the Culver’s Root
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Almost a Monarch on Swamp Milkweed” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7006
Plant(s): Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
Photo Story: I planted 6 swamp milkweed in my 10 ft x 28 ft raingarden and each one had two Monarch larvae on them. Subsequently 8-10 Monarchs made my raingardens their summer home feeding on the nectar of of my Ironweed, Butterfly milkweed and Swamp milkweed, and Liatris ligulistylis.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Almost a Monarch on Swamp Milkweed
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Snail/Sucker Lakes Regional Park” by Karen Eckman
Image ID: 7008
Plant(s): Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), Meadow (or Northern Plains) Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis), Narrow leaf Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), and more!
Photo Story: Our chapter of Wild Ones assisted the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and Island Lake Elementary students in planting this amazing native shoreline garden along a public walking trail. This was the first season for this planting. I was amazed at how robust the plants were in their new home. The conditions were apparently perfect for these species. I had never seen Cardinal flower that “happy”!
Equipment: iPhone XR back camera 4.25 mm f 1.8
Title: Snail/Sucker Lakes Regional Park
Photographer: Karen Eckman
Location: Snail/Sucker Lakes Regional Park, Shoreview, MN wetland
Chapter: Big River Big Woods
“Working Native Raingarden” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7009
Plant(s): 30 species of native flowers, sedges, and prairie grasses.
Photo Story: I designed my new home on 1.75 acres as an eco-landscape with almost all native trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and flowers, including a .75 acre native prairie. Two large raingardens take most of the rain from my roofs with solar panels and turn my front yard into a colorful, biodiverse landscape that in just 2 years has an abundance of Monarchs, blue birds, and hundreds of native bees.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Working Native Raingarden
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Helenium autumnale” by Cheryl Lloyd
Image ID: 7010
Plant(s): “Dogtooth Daisy”/”Sneezeweed”… Helenium autumnale
Photo Story: This towering beauty attracts many native bee species in my garden as well as an occasional butterfly. Its bright yellow flowers are always buzzing.
Equipment: Nikon D750 with 500mm lens.
Title: Helenium autumnale
Photographer: Cheryl Lloyd
Location: My pollinator garden.
Chapter: Habitat Gardening in Central New York
“Green Sweat Bee on Pale Purple Coneflower” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7011
Plant(s): Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon) and Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Photo Story: The stylish metallic green sweat bee is short-tongued so it needs shallow flowers like the graceful pale purple coneflower. I have studied the habitat needs of native bees so I can create the best home for them on my all Organic native landscape on 1.75 acres. Too many people don’t understand that native bees are much more effective pollinators than European honey bees and butterflies. I planted the pale purple coneflower on the slope of my 18 ft x 34 ft raingarden where it bloomed in late June, a blooming gap that only a few native flowers fill.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Green Sweat Bee on Pale Purple Coneflower
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Island Lake School Pollinator Garden” by Karen Eckman
Image ID: 7012
Plant(s): Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Spiderwort, Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida), Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), and Blue Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) and Homo sapien volunteer! There are at least 36 species of native wildflowers, 5 species of grasses, and 2 species of shrubs.
Photo Story: This school garden was created as an Eagle Scout project in 2012. Like several of those projects here, the Scout goes on to college and the garden isn’t maintained.
In August, 2016, our chapter of Wild Ones, made this native pollinator garden rescue a Shoreview Service Project.
The first two seasons required a total of over 250 volunteer hours, but the average hours has now declined to about 55 per year. It is 36′ x 36′ and enjoys a corner of the school playground in full sun.
Equipment: iPhone XR back camera 4.25 mm f/1.8 Asph.M
Title: Island Lake School Pollinator Garden
Photographer: Karen Eckman
Location: Island Lake Elementary School, Shoreview, MN
Chapter: Big River Big Woods
“Going For The Gold” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7013
Plant(s): Stiff Goldenrod, Oligoneuron rigidum and Two-spotted bumble bee, Bombus bimaculatus; Golden Soldier Beetle, Chauliognathus Pennsylvanicus
Photo Story: The corbiculae or pollen baskets are easily seen on this bumble bee foraging on this stiff golden rod that gets an extremely high density of native bees and golden soldier beetles. The buzzing of happy native bees is loud within 3 ft of the stiff goldenrod. I planted the stiff goldenrod on the top of the slope of the outlet of my 18 ft x 34 ft raingarden.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Going For The Gold
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Bur Oak Savanna, Save this Keystone Species and Ecosystem” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7017
Plant(s): Bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa
Photo Story: This stunning 140 year old bur oak stands on the banks of the Willow River. It has mothered numerous small oaks in the pure sandy slope below its embracing branches. The conservation area easement around it was an oak savanna but is beginning to be invaded by box elder, buckthorn, ash, and Chinese elm. It is difficult to convince others that aggressive species have to be controlled to save the oaks. The dream is to restore the oak savanna and to plant to pollinator flowers and grasses. My experience is that oaks are an integral part of the prairie ecosystem, a keystone species. I have observed flocks of blue birds and Monarchs and hummingbirds resting under and in bur oaks. Eagles roost in the top branches. So many seem be in a hurry to get fast weeding tree species growing, but only if they would take time to appreciate and plant bur oaks. I planted 2, 10 year old, 10 foot bur oaks in my all native landscape and honor their presence…so do the birds.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Bur Oak Savanna, Save this Keystone Species and Ecosystem
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: Sub-division Conservation Easement Area – Glens of the Willow, west of New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Endangered Elegance” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7018
Plant(s): Dotted Blazing Star, Liatris punctata and Monarch butterfly
Photo Story: The Dotted Blazing Star is a Wisconsin Endangered plant. This particular plant was rescued from the construction site of the new Stillwater bridge and is a unique local genotype. The Monarch has a preference for nectar from this species and Liatrus ligulistylis.
Equipment: iphone 7
Title: Endangered Elegance
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My raingarden, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Invasion of the Milkweed Bugs” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7019
Plant(s): Milkweed bugs on Milkweed
Photo Story: It was my first year to have Milkweed in my native gardens and I immediately researched to discover what was invading the milkweed.
Equipment: iPhone 7
Title: Invasion of the Milkweed Bugs
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: My front lawn in Nashville, TN
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“The Story of the Blue Bird and the Bur Oak” by Ruth Hilfiker
Image ID: 7020
Plant(s): Bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa and Eastern Blue Bird Sialia sialis and Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum
Photo Story: Two years ago, I planted this native bur oak when it was 10 years old and 10 ft tall. 25 ft from the oak I planted a raingarden with the compass plant and 50 ft away I put up a Gilwood blue bird house, and 75 ft away a bird feeder with meal worms and sunflower pieces. The blue birds rest on the tie straps and fence posts used to secure the oak and on branches of the oak; sometimes 5 blue birds at a time for a couple hours. The blue birds fly from the canopy of the oak to the feeder, swoop for insects into the eco-mow fescue lawn and raingarden, observe on from on top of the compass plant, and fly back to the oak in a dance mixed with the 10 monarchs flying around my native landscape. In the afternoons the blue birds take a bird bath in the 2 inch deep bird bath that is 75 ft from the oak. Over the past 2 years we have fledged 2-3 batches of blue birds a season in Wisconsin. They are magnificent to watch. The blue birds arrive from Southeastern states in mid-March and migrate back the end of October in Northern Wisconsin.
Equipment: iphone 7 mounted on a Vortex spotting scope 85 mm.
Title: The Story of the Blue Bird and the Bur Oak
Photographer: Ruth Hilfiker
Location: My Organic native landscape, New Richmond, WI
Chapter: St. Croix Oak Savanna
“Mr. Bumble Likes Swamp Thistle” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7021
Plant(s): Bumble Bee on Native Swamp Thistle
Photo Story: I purchased swamp thistle seed to add to my rain garden and the blooms have been frequented by numerous pollinators, including bumble bees.
Equipment: iPhone7
Title: Mr. Bumble Likes Swamp Thistle
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: My property in Nashville, Tennessee
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“Great Spangled Fritillary Enjoying Pasture Thistle” by Wendy Vernon
Image ID: 7023
Plant(s): Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)
Pasture Thistle (Cirsium discolor)
Photo Story: I was walking along the overgrown path at West Chicago Prairie in Illinois on 8/26/21 and this wonderful butterfly appeared right in front of me sitting on a pasture thistle.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus
Title: Great Spangled Fritillary Enjoying Pasture Thistle
Photographer: Wendy Vernon
Location: West Chicago Prairie
Chapter: Greater DuPage
“Bad Hair Day” by Janice Bain
Image ID: 7024
Plant(s): The flower is a Western Sunflower: Helianthus occidentalis
The caterpillar is a: Camouflaged Looper
The moth it will become is a: Wavy lined emerald moth
Photo Story: I noticed a “mess” in the middle of my western sunflower. Curiosity got the best of me so I gave it a nudge. It moved just a bit so I knew it was something! I took some pictures of the “blob” and of it “stretched out” like an inchworm. What a find!!! In this case, the caterpillar creates a costume by adhering little pieces of flower petals to its back. This helps it blend in with the flower. If it is on liatris, it will wear purple petals, on a sunflower? it will wear yellow petals. What a great way to hide from predators. I had found a “Camouflaged Looper”. These wonderful creatures become “Wavy Lined Emerald Moths”. Thanks to Doug Tallamy for teaching me about these insects in his book. I knew right where to look to find it.
Equipment: Nikon 1, J1 mirrorless camera – very OLD
70-300mm Nikkor Lens
Title: Bad Hair Day
Photographer: Janice Bain
Location: My backyard. Elkhorn WI 53121
Chapter: Kettle Moraine
“Monarch Caterpillar Feasting On Butterfly Weed” by Wendy Vernon
Image ID: 7027
Plant(s): Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar (Danaus plexippus)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Photo Story: I spotted this Monarch caterpillar on Butterfly Weed at Bluff Spring Fen in Elgin, Illinois on June 24, 2020.
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy s8 Plus
Title: Monarch Caterpillar Feasting On Butterfly Weed
Photographer: Wendy Vernon
Location: Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin, IL
Chapter: Greater DuPage
“Sandusky on Bushy Brown-eyed Susan” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7028
Plant(s): Sandusky butterfly on native Bushy Brown-eyed Susan
Photo Story: I was enjoying an afternoon on my deck when I saw this beauty moving from plant to plant. I grabbed my phone and shot the photo.
Equipment: iPhone 7
Title: Sandusky on Bushy Brown-eyed Susan
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: On my property in Nashville, Tennessee
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“Happy Distraction” by Jessica Schrishuhn
Image ID: 7029
Plant(s): Pictured in bottom photo: Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), Dotted Mint (Monarda punctata), Missouri Ironweed (Vernonia missurica), ZigZag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis), Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina), and Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Photo Story: My husband and I closed on our first house in April 2020 as the world was shutting down. Most days it felt scary and isolating, but we kept retreating to the backyard for peace and fresh air. I later read Doug Tallamy’s book, Nature’s Best Hope, and was inspired to start channeling the fear and unknown into a new native garden. We spent countless hours planning, designing, tilling, weeding, planting, mulching, watering, waiting, and watching. Together, we found the happiest distraction in this transformation.
Equipment: Google Pixel
Title: Happy Distraction
Photographer: Jessica Schrishuhn
Location: My backyard in Chicago
Chapter: West Cook
“Passionately Sleeping” by Rita Tomassetti
Image ID: 7032
Plant(s): Eastern Carpenter bees sleeping on Passiflora Incarnata bloom.
Photo Story: I love stepping into my garden and watching the pollinators and other insects enjoy it. I was delighted to find these carpenter bees sleeping on the flower while the other foraged around them.
Equipment: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
Title: Passionately Sleeping
Photographer: Rita Tomassetti
Location: Leola, PA in my back garden
Chapter: Southeastern Pennsylvania
“Great Coneflower” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7034
Plant(s): Great Coneflower – Rudbeckia maxima
Photo Story: I especially enjoyed the beautiful organic shape of this coneflower played against the woodland background.
Equipment: iPhone 7
Title: Great Coneflower
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: On my property in Nashville, Tennessee
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“Hidden Bunny” by Jessica Schrishuhn
Image ID: 7033
Plant(s): Dotted Mint (Monarda punctata)
Photo Story: In Chicago, it can be rare to see animal diversity beyond the all-too-frequent rodent visitors. This Dotted Mint sprawled over one patch of our garden and created a nice hiding spot for our very first bunny. We were thrilled (and so was our dog!)
Equipment: Google Pixel
Title: Hidden Bunny
Photographer: Jessica Schrishuhn
Location: My backyard in Chicago
Chapter: West Cook
“First Pink” by Jessica Schrishuhn
Image ID: 7035
Plant(s): Rock Pink (Phemeranthus calycinus)
Photo Story: Rock Pink was one of the earliest native plants to bloom in our new garden. Certainly the showiest. It’s a surprising little succulent groundcover that looks like it belongs in the desert but somehow flourishes in Midwestern clay soil.
Equipment: Google Pixel
Title: First Pink
Photographer: Jessica Schrishuhn
Location: My backyard in Chicago
Chapter: West Cook
“New Life” by Jessica Schrishuhn
Image ID: 7036
Plant(s): Monarch Caterpillar and Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Photo Story: It’s hard not to do a double take when first setting eyes on the Monarch Caterpillar. Its striking pattern against the green of the Milkweed is magical but very fleeting. Felt lucky to have spotted a couple this summer!
Equipment: Google Pixel
Title: New Life
Photographer: Jessica Schrishuhn
Location: My backyard in Chicago
Chapter: West Cook
“Over and Under” by David Silsbee
Image ID: 7037
Plant(s): Treehopper nymphs (Publilia concava) on a Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) leaf, tended by an unidentified ant.
Photo Story: I followed the lives of these treehopper nymphs for several weeks as they matured. The ants were always there to collect their honeydew excretions and protect them from predators. I took many many photos, but getting the important parts all in focus at the same time was nearly impossible. I like this one because it is divided in half by the leaf and all three of the main subjects are fairly sharp.
Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 100 mm Macro lens, Twin-Lite Flash
Title: Over and Under
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, Connecticut
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
“Big Change” by Jessica Schrishuhn
Image ID: 7038
Plant(s): Black Swallowtail, Missouri Ironweed (Vernonia missurica), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), and Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Photo Story: I read that encountering a black butterfly may symbolize “a big change” coming in your life. The Black Swallowtail is a good metaphor for all of us this past year!
Equipment: Google Pixel
Title: Big Change
Photographer: Jessica Schrishuhn
Location: My backyard in Chicago
Chapter: West Cook
“Wasp Mantidfly” by David Silsbee
Image ID: 7039
Plant(s): Wasp Mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea) on Hay-scented Fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)
Photo Story: In my many years of searching for interesting insects in my yard, I had only once seen a mantidfly. It stuck in my mind, though, because it is such a bizarre-looking creature with its mantis-like head and arms, wasp-like body, and multicolored eyes. Finally, last summer, I found several more and was able to spend quit a bit of time photographing them.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 100 mm Macro Lens, Twin-Lite Flash
Title: Wasp Mantidfly
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, Connecticut
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
“Rusty Patched Bumble Bee” by Troy Waldschmidt
Image ID: 7041
Plant(s): Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Photo Story: I spotted my first Rusty Patched Bumble bee in my Peoria backyard back in July,they favored the Cup Plants,but the one in picture was nectaring on swamp milkweed,which allowed a closer picture.
Equipment: Canon PowerShot pocket camera
Title: Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
Photographer: Troy Waldschmidt
Location: Backyard Peoria Heights Illinois
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
“Liverwort” by David Silsbee
Image ID: 7042
Plant(s): Liverwort (Marchantia Polymorpha)
Photo Story: I love the mini-landscapes that appear through a macro lens. The liverwort provides a disorienting combination of flowing glaciers and palm trees, all within the confines of about one square inch.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 65 mm Macro Lens, Twin-Lite Flash
Title: Liverwort
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, Connecticut
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
“Early Autumn Woods” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7044
Plant(s): Native trees including sassafras, persimmon, hickory, oak, maple, and others
Photo Story: I love the early autumn just as the leaves are getting their autumn colors. I loved the worms-eye view.
Equipment: iPhone 7
Title: Early Autumn Woods
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: On my property in Nashville, Tennessee
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“Mountain Laurel Blossom” by David Silsbee
Image ID: 7046
Plant(s): Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Photo Story: The shape of mountain laurel flowers is enchanting, but difficult to capture in detail because they are so 3-dimensional. The focus-stacking I used in this picture gives the depth-of-field needed to capture the arching stamens and shape of the corolla.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 65 mm Macro Lens, Twin-Lite Flash. Focus-Stack Composite of Multiple Images.
Title: Mountain Laurel Blossom
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, Connecticut
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
“Green Darner Dragonfly” by Troy Waldschmidt
Image ID: 7048
Plant(s): Green Darner Dragonfly (Anax junius) resting on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Photo Story: Walking around the backyard and spotted this female Green Darner resting on a Swamp milkweed. I was amazed on how close she allowed me to approach/
Equipment: Cannon PowerShot pocket camera
Title: Green Darner Dragonfly
Photographer: Troy Waldschmidt
Location: Backyard Peoria Heights Illinois
Chapter: Illinois Prairie
“The Beautiful May Prairie” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7049
Plant(s): Blazing Star, Sedge, and other prairie grasses, plants, and a background of trees
Photo Story: I revisited the May Prairie and found the vast display of blazing star beautiful.
Equipment: iPhone 7
Title: The Beautiful May Prairie
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: May Prairie in Manchester, Tennessee
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“Orange and Gold” by David Silsbee
Image ID: 7050
Plant(s): Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Photo Story: The Great Golden Digger Wasp is one of my favorite wasps, and not just because of its name. It buzzes in like a jet airplane, flashing its shining golden face and drawing my attention from anywhere in the meadow with its noise. It moves around hyperactively, rarely giving a chance to focus on its beautiful face. When it does stop and pose for a second, though, it’s a beautiful sight.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 100 mm Macro Lens, Twin-Lite Flash.
Title: Orange and Gold
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, Connecticut
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
“Sipping Through a Straw” by David Silsbee
Image ID: 7051
Plant(s): Yellow-collared Scape Moth (Cisseps Fulvicollis) on Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Photo Story: The Yellow-collared Scape moth (so-called even though its collar is clearly orange), is a very cooperative subject, sitting at each flower sucking contentedly for several seconds before moving on the the next. It’s a pleasure to work with while all the bees and wasps are buzzing from one place to another so quickly that it’s hard to follow them.
Equipment: Canon 5D Mark IV, 100 mm Macro Lens, Twin-Lite Flash
Title: Sipping Through a Straw
Photographer: David Silsbee
Location: Mansfield, Connecticut
Chapter: Mountain Laurel
“Monarch Caterpillar in Music City Nashville” by Donnie Bryan
Image ID: 7052
Plant(s): Native Monarch Caterpillar on common milkweed
Photo Story: I was enjoying a native plant pocket in downtown Nashville, when I spied this perfect native monarch caterpillar.
Equipment: iPhone 7
Title: Monarch Caterpillar in Music City Nashville
Photographer: Donnie Bryan
Location: In a Downtown Nashville, Tennessee Neighborhood
Chapter: Middle Tennessee
“Indian Grass” by Karen Eckman
Image ID: 7053
Plant(s): Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Photo Story: This grass appears in many places in the Crow-hassan Park Reserve – a restored native prairie in the Three Rivers Park system in Hennepin County, Minnesota. My friends and I enjoy this beautiful place, walking the trails.
It’s fun to take close-ups of the flowers you normally miss on grass.
Equipment: Olympus E-M5 Mark II
Lens: Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45 mm F 2.8 Asph.M
Title: Indian Grass
Photographer: Karen Eckman
Location: Crow-hassan Park Reserve, Three Rivers Parks, MN
Chapter: Big River Big Woods
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