garden life

We Are the Gardeners | Botany Book Review

 We Are the Gardeners | Botany Book Review

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines and kids, Illustrated by Julianna Swaney is written for children aged 4-8, or first to second grade reading level and designated as children’s non-fiction.

The story details the beginnings of a garden from the perspective of the author’s children, starting with a humble fern and growing from there.

Garden Spinners

Garden Spinners

I made a new garden spider friend at the arboretum, yesterday! As such, this is as much a PSA as an environmental observation: Be careful walking the paths today. The spiders are busy at work.

Flies as Pollinators

Flies as Pollinators

Today, as you may have deduced, we will be talking about flies and their role as pollinators. 

The Praying Mantis Egg Case and the Shrubbery

The Praying Mantis Egg Case and the Shrubbery

Today, we’ll be talking about the praying mantis, species diversity, and ecological niches.  All photographs and video were taken by me at the local arboretum and are indicative of a sort of capsule environment you might find in such a locale.

Garden Helpers: Awesome Arachnids

Garden Helpers: Awesome Arachnids

There are many people who have some level of arachnophobia, or a fear of spiders.  While most keep to themselves, there are some that are highly aggressive when disturbed.  Generally these species rely heavily on web cues and have rather poor eyesight. 

NOTE: There are images of spiders in this post.  If that is something that disturbs you, you’ve been forewarned.