Monarch Butterflies Migration Google Earth Tour

Pollinators In The Garden In March

What is this with the way too warm temperatures? Not just air temperatures but soil temperatures and night temperatures have caused the garden to go into hyperdrive. Everything is greening up...fast. Flower buds formed and bloomed within days. The insects are responding as well. Bees and butterflies are sipping at blossoms. Going to keep a camera at hand and a close eye on the garden to try and record this fairly odd spring.

Another non-native species small cabbage white

You can not see from this picture but I think this was a Bombus bimaculatus. None of the other pictures were clear enough to show ID.

The daffodills are nice and early.

Virginia bluebells / Mertensia virginica. this garden needs more early spring blooming native plants. A few native shrubs or tree that blooms very early.

Nanking cherry.

This Osmia cornifrons is not a native bee.

But this bumble bee is native. Maybe Bombus impatiens.

Winter in a our back garden

This first picture is of the Hobbit garden, the south facing side garden. An almost secret garden.

Can you see the wildlife friendliness?

At the back of the garden our little woodland edge. Can you see the wood mulch paths lined with logs? The "real" christmas tree will remain until spring when the branches will be removed and used for mulch on the path and the trunk added to line paths.

More mulched paths through the gardens.Brick like pavers line the edges of the beds.

Close to the house there is usually more sun so, more native perennial forbs and grasses.While not every plant is native that is the goal for any future planting.

Looking out the back window during recent snow.

A well tended water spot for birds and other creatures. Every morning and some days again in the afternoon frest water is added through winter. Sun often shines enough to heat the metal pan and keep it free of ice for a few hours.

One must step to the rear of the garden to see the area behind the garage. Compost, brush piles,vines and other undisturbed native plantings grow here. Many birds love this area.

A small pond sits here in summer. Now a planter with evergreens and redtwig dogwood stems.A common theme for winter planters in Chicago.

A mulched path on the right leads one through to the back of the garden and the area behind the garage.