As my garden moves into midsummer, certain plants naturally begin to stand out. This year, one of those plants has been Culver’s root. I planted it last year, knowing it would likely spend its first season establishing roots before putting on much of a show. This summer, that patience has been rewarded. Growing in full […]
Field observations recorded June 20, 2026. Habitats Explored: Oak Savanna • Oak Woodland • Seasonal Wetlands • Sand Dunes • Prairie • Pond Some places don’t reveal themselves all at once Some parks greet you with sweeping overlooks, rushing water, or an abundance of wildlife. Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve takes a different approach. It
Exploring Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve: Patience Among the Oaks Read Post »
Field observations recorded June 18, 2026. Habitats Explored: Floodplain Forest • Oak Woodland • Oak Savanna • Riparian Creek Corridor • Seasonal Wetlands • Successional Thickets • Lowland Oxbow Depressions First Impressions There are places that feel preserved, as if time has slowed down long enough for nature to remain untouched. Swan Creek Metropark feels
Exploring Swan Creek: A Landscape Still Being Carved Read Post »
Field observations recorded June 17, 2026. Habitats Explored: River Gorge • Limestone Riparian Bluff • Floodplain Forest • Upland Hardwood Forest • River Edge Flats • Wet Meadow Patches • Historic Canal Corridor Habitat The First Thing I Noticed Was the Smell The first thing I noticed wasn’t a bird or a wildflower. It was
Exploring the Hidden Habitats of Side Cut Metropark Along the Maumee River Read Post »
My backyard is about an eighth of an acre. Technically, I don’t even own it. I rent it from someone who purchased the property years ago. There are property lines, legal documents, and county records that determine exactly where one person’s land ends and another begins. Maddie, the resident fox squirrel, doesn’t care about any
The Fox Squirrel Doesn’t Care About Property Lines Read Post »
If you’ve noticed small, bright yellow birds showing up in your yard late summer into fall, chances are you’re seeing American Goldfinches. They’re one of the most recognizable backyard birds in North America, and one of the most rewarding to attract. But what many people don’t realize is that goldfinches don’t just show up randomly.
Why Are Goldfinches in My Yard? (And How to Attract Them) Read Post »
One of the most common questions gardeners ask is: “What plants repel pests?” And while some herbs can influence insect behavior, the reality is usually more complicated than the internet makes it sound. There’s no magical plant that completely stops pests from showing up in your garden. But certain herbs can help reduce pest pressure
🌿3 Herbs That Help Reduce Pest Problems Naturally (And What Actually Works) Read Post »
A medicinal herb garden doesn’t need to be large or complicated to be meaningful. In fact, some of the best herb gardens start small — a few plants in containers, tucked into a vegetable garden, or mixed into an existing flower bed. And while medicinal herbs have been used for generations in teas, salves, and
How to Start a Simple Medicinal Herb Garden at Home Read Post »
A lot of people grow herbs for cooking, teas, or fragrance. But one of the most overlooked things about herbs is how valuable many of them are for pollinators and other beneficial insects. In fact, some of the busiest plants in my garden every summer aren’t vegetables or ornamental flowers at all. They’re herbs. Bees,
The Best Herbs for a Backyard Garden (That Also Support Pollinators) Read Post »
Convergent lady beetle, USFWS.jpg, USFWS, Public Domain, https://www.fws.gov/media/convergent-lady-beetle-usfwsjpg For a long time, I thought every insect in my garden was a problem. If I saw aphids, beetles, or caterpillars showing up on my plants, my first instinct was to figure out how to stop them. And honestly, that’s how a lot of us are taught
How to Attract Beneficial Insects to Your Garden (Without Chemicals) Read Post »
