They’re turning the Freshkills landfill in Staten Island into a haven for pollinators!
The Freshkills Park Alliance launched its 50,000 Violets Project, which aims to attract bees, monarch butterflies, and other pollinators to the purple fields, this week!
#environment #landfill #pollinators #wildlife #nyc #newyork
Really nice infographic of parasites of ground-nesting bees. #bees #soil #insects #parasites #entomology #hymenoptera #pollinators #beetles #flies #wasps https://www.instagram.com/p/DJKKYrmBUrS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Earlier this week I noticed that one of the Georgia mason bees (Osmia georgica) at the front-yard insect hotel had capped off her nest. They use masticated leaves and nectar. Not sure what the white things are. She's since moved on to another paper straw. So busy! #InsectHotel #BeeHotel #bees #insects #pollinators #osmia
Bumble bees are important pollinators:
"Like honey bees, bumble bees live socially in hives which provide shelter and a place to raise their young. Usually located underground [..] bumble bee hives usually include between 50-500 individuals.
Managed bumble bee hives have become big business during the past two decades as agricultural demand for bumble bee-pollinated berries, peppers and, especially, hothouse tomatoes has skyrocketed."
https://blog.nwf.org/2021/05/5-facts-about-bumble-bees-and-how-to-help-them/
Learning To Love Dandelions
“As we’ve become unmoored from nature, we’ve forgotten the importance and many uses of a variety of plants, especially the much-maligned dandelion”
by @GrrlScientist via #Substack
#dandelions #bumblebees #insects #pollinators #SciComm https://grrlscientist.substack.com/p/learning-to-love-dandelions
When I was young my father gave up on controlling dandelions in our lawn and I am happy to report so have I in my lawn. Yes they are a non-native plant but the bees don't care.
Hobblebush is now in full flower. The flowers are being enjoyed by two #pollinators.
Please consider No Mow May!
https://pollinators.ie/no-mow-may
#NoMowMay #Bees 
#Birds #Buttercups #Butterflies 
#Clover #Daises #Dandelions #Gardens
#Lawn #Pollinators #Wildflowers 
OH MY ... where to even start with today's #moth box?
I'll start with FUZZY FACES. More beauties to come later...
1) and 2) The giant POPLAR HAWK MOTH - as if torn from the pages of a magazine but with the cutest fuzzy face
3) and 4) The BUFF TIP - an impressive birch twig mimic.
Another Syrphus ribesii hoverfly. This one seemed a little smaller but I think it's the same. Could be female vs male differences.
@colinpurrington Good luck with the perpetual planting and caring in the rock garden. Can you find seeds? #pollinators.
The joys of having a wild garden. I've lived here for more than 12 years, and in that time, the garden went from trimmed hedges, mowed down grass, and no flowers to an absolute abundance of life.
By my last count, I have observed over 800 species. I do not count most of the plants as they wouldn't be here if I hadn't planted or sown them.
The biggest breakthrough was when I put in a small pond.
Every year, I make small tweaks and improvements, such as adding rotting wood, piles of twigs and branches, stone dikes, clay cobs, and nesting boxes. This year, I think I'll try to clear a small area and mix in some sand to attract more ground-nesting bees.
Is there an English equivalent to the Danish VildMedVilje (WildOnPurpose)?
April 29, 2025 in the rock garden. The ground plums have blooms! Also known as buffalo plum. These are in a rock garden microclimate. The blooms become seed pods of round plum shapes. That will be fun. #nativeplants, #minnesota, #zone4b, #gardening, #pollinators, #growyourown.
I went out to the Crocus Prairie here in Saskatoon, right after work, and was awarded with some wonderful prairie pasqueflower. And then I spotted this Frigid Mining Bee (Andrena frigida), the first one I have ever seen. These little wonders are put very early, even while there is some snow left on the ground.
monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) perches on a Lantana camera 'Fireworks' in the garden #lantana #flowers #garden #pollinators #butterfly #monarch #monarchbutterfly #insect #insects #photography
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 105
Research indicates that #weather influences whether #bees forage for #pollen or #nectar.
#bumblebees seem to have a preference for pollen collection when it is warm/windy and importantly when humidity is low.
#nature
#pollinators
#wildflowers
#thistle 
Nothing inside the #moth box last night but this lurker was on the sheet underneath.
1) A rather fresh and mint PEBBLE HOOK-TIP (first sighting in 2025). Common across the UK, one of the 'flatties' rather than 'fatties'. Flatties tend to be highly strung and don't pose well on fingers!
@Rihilism The Pussytoes plant is blooming right now. The plant spreads by ground hugging inch by inch. A well established colony may keep the rogue seeds from contacting the soil. New plants will need help keeping tall things at bay. It’s an important plant for the American Painted lady butterflies. We had a lot of caterpillars feeding off little plants last season. #pollinators, #nativeplants.
@mizblueprint The habitat protection provider on the lawn is a top of the line system. It’s also great to see blue orchid bees in action. Our nest boxes aren’t active yet. #pollinators.
@marsiposa Being in a lingonberry growing zone is a pretty good thing. Thank you for adding plants for the pollinators. #pollinators.
