Native ground nesting bee, sometimes called miner bees, make up 70 percent of Illinois 500 native bee species. Although they are important pollinators, most people know very little about them and still treat them as pests.
Join the US and 37 other countries celebrating National Moth Week in July! Here are some interesting facts about moths and some links about Moths in Illinois:
I love the sound of Cicadas and other singing insects in the summer. To me, the height of summer is when the male Cicadas, Crickets or Katydids are singing for a mate. But did you know noise pollution can harm wildlife and the lack of wildlife sounds is another indicator of habitat destruction?
Here are some quick environmentally friendly suggestions for leaving the leaves instead of bagging, blowing or raking them. This will reduce noise and air pollution, but most importantly, benefit wildlife and plants.
Indigo Bush or False Indigo (Amorpha fruiticosa) is one of my favorite late spring blooming shrubs/small trees. Its deep purple blooms, bright orange stamens and fine textured leaves are a welcoming contrast to the many white blooming, larger leaved native shrubs that bloom about the same time.