Wild Niche

08/13/2026

Primrose Moth on Common Evening Primrose. 08/03/26
Primrose Moths were new to me just a couple weeks ago, when I found one on a clients' property. Since then I found one during a walk-through other clients. As fun as this was for me and them, I was a little disappointed that none of the Evening Primrose at my place had them. I kept checking though and a few days later three showed up. One is pictured here. Evening Primrose is the larval host plant for these pink moths, and sixteen other species of moths and butterflies in Vermont. Evening Primrose is famously pollinated from dusk through dawn by moths too. Primrose Moths are one of their pollinators, as are the awesome Sphinx Moths and Hawk Moths are.

08/04/2026

Fostering a diverse community of native plants on your property is powerful way to attract and sustain diverse species of pollinators, birds and other wildlife. Healthy ecosystems run on biological diversity, with diverse plant communities begetting diverse communities of animals. Aesthetically all of these plant species mean more shapes, textures and colors to please the eye. Ecologically they create more unique interactions between more species of plants and animals. Some flowers cater to generalist pollinators, while others serve and depend on specialists. Some birds nest in trees while others nest in shrubs, and other still nest on the ground beneath or behind herbaceous plants. Land management that promotes this natural diversity supports our imperiled wildlife while creating beautiful spaces for you to savor. The trick is putting, or leaving, the right plants in the right places. As a plant ecologist I help you make informed decisions. Let's work with nature to create a vibrant beautiful space for you and the wildlife you love.

Photo: Turtlehead, Sensitive Fern, Meadow Rue, Goldenrod and Joe Pye W**d.

08/03/2026

Native plants are wild plants, and wild plants are wildlife. One of the main reasons native plant advocates site for our cause is the greater benefits that they provide for wildlife, meaning wild animals. This is true, and very important, but native plants themselves are wildlife that deserve our protection.

Photo: Greater Fritillary feeding on Spotted Joe Pye W**d nectar.

07/31/2026

Just a bit of sibling horseplay between these juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. This was the one shot I managed to get of both of them together, but there are shots of the individuals foraging and stretching in my new blog post. Lots of hummingbird natural history too, including the morphology of hummingbird-pollinated flowers. Damselflies, Dragonflies and native plants too! M*ta doesn't want you to leave, which is another good reason to go check it out.

07/27/2026

“W**d” is a subjective word that refers to a plant growing where someone doesn’t want it. “Invasive” is short for “invasive species.” It’s a technical term for an organism outside of its natural range that causes significant ecological and/or economic harm where it has been introduced. All invasive plants are weeds in the eyes of ecologists and land managers, but most of the plants that many people consider weeds are not invasive species. It is technically impossible for a plant to be invasive in its native range, but many are considered weeds by people when they come up in their yards and gardens. I notice a lot of people using “invasive” as a synonym for “weedy.” Of course, people can and will use words however they want to. My purpose here is not to be the word police, but to clarify what ecologists, botanists, foresters and other land managers mean when we say “invasive.” It’s also very important to recognize that not all non-native plants that establish wild populations are invasive. In fact, most of them are not. These are “naturalized non-native plants,” and there are hundreds of them in central Vermont alone. When I perform a botanical survey for a client each species is identified as native, naturalized non-native, or invasive. People are often surprised by how many species of wild plants they have, and they’re happy to find out that most of them are good to have around. Getting to know our local flora is a great way to cultivate a deeper connection to nature, and embracing wild plants on our properties is a beautiful way to give back to the Earth that sustains us.

Photo: New England native plants growing in a wet meadow, including Spotted Joe Pye W**d, White American Aster, Goldenrod and Turtleheads.

07/22/2026

Great Rhododendron is one of several species in the Rhododendron genus that is native to New England, but the only one that's clearly a part of the group that includes garden Rhododendrons, or rhodies. While it's common further down the Appalachian Mountain chain Great Rhododendron is rare in New England, especially here in the north. Where it is found it can be abundant though. I came across a nice population (already well known to others) in the summer of '24, but it was past flowering time. Last year I didn't get back there on time, so I'm glad to say that I got there on time, barely, this month. Have you seen this species in the wild? Or maybe it was planted in your yard? You can get Rhododendron maximum (best scientific name in the genus) at some nurseries, although not so many here in Vermont as I would like to see. This species has several common names that I don't like, since they're taxonomic misnomers, such as great laurel and rosebay.

07/21/2026

White-fringed bog-orchid is an elegant showstopper that flowers in July. Beyond its beauty, it is also a strong indicator of the health and integrity of the open peatlands it inhabits.

🌸 Learn more in this week’s Outside Story: https://conta.cc/4w4s8Vu

🎨 Illustration by Adelaide Tyrol

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07/21/2026

Moths do more than just flitter around your porch light. Moths have important roles in our ecosystem as nocturnal pollinators and food sources for many species of wildlife. Vermont is home to over 2,000 species of moth and new species are still being documented. Enjoy national moth week by seeing who you can find in your woods! Pictured here is the caterpillar of a Pandora sphinx moth.

07/20/2026

Bluets (bottom photo) are a host plant of the Spotted Thyris Moth caterpillar in Vermont. I was already a big fan of these little wildflowers that start blooming in spring and can keep going into fall, but this little moth is a new favorite. I saw my first this spring drinking the nectar of Daisy Fleabane, which is shown in the top photo. While these flowers may remind you of Daisies they are much smaller, no more than 3/4 of an inch. So that gives you an idea of how small the Spotted Thyris is!

07/19/2026

Have you ever seen a Nessus Sphinx Moth? I was delighted to have this one in my yard this spring. These diurnal moths are quite a sight, somewhere between a giant bumblebee and an extra small hummingbird. Their larval host plants are Wild Grapes and Virginia Creepers, so stop hating on the native vines and enjoy more of these spring fairies in your yard.

Nessus Sphinx Moth at Apple blossom, 05/29/26.

My latest blog post features photographic highlights from late spring and the beginning of summer, including this delightful creature.