08/23/2026
We have had some pretty neat visitors in the gardens today!
The first little visitor is a juvenile Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), easily recognized by the five pale stripes and that incredible electric-blue tail. They are native to Maryland and are actually the most widespread of our state’s native lizards. Incredible colors!
Our second visitor is a Black & Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia), sometimes called a writing spider because of the distinctive zigzag of silk she weaves into the center of her web. We have three in the garden that I have found so far. They are quite larger this year. This is another native Maryland species and one we are always happy to find tucked among the plants. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources)
Both little garden friends are an important part of the little ecosystem developing here. Skinks feed on insects and other small invertebrates, while garden spiders are natural predators of many insects, including garden pests such as stink bugs. They help provide some of the natural checks and balances that a healthy garden needs.
This year especially, we have noticed an incredible variety of pollinators, insects and wildlife showing up in our gardens. Some rare ones that we shared like the Northern Metalmark butterfly that we rarely see here, and a few that have been particularly unusual finds.
It has taken a couple of years, but we’re finally starting to see all of that hard work pay off. Every native plant added, patch allowed to grow a little wilder, place to hide, source of food and area left undisturbed adds another piece to the habitat. Native plantings in particular support greater insect biodiversity, which in turn provides food and habitat for many other animals.
And that may be part of why we’re beginning to notice so much more life. As the gardens have matured, there is simply more here for wildlife: flowers and insects for food, vegetation for shelter, places to hunt, places to build webs and protected little spaces to call home.
Sometimes the success of a garden isn’t measured by what we harvest from it, but by what decides to make a home in it.
We can’t wait to see who finds us next. 🌿
