Diversity Matters

Diversity matters - at least to monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are the larval host plants for monarch butterfly. Pictured above along Oslo Road is a monarch butterfly nectaring on scarlet milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), a non-native, commercially available…

Peacock in White

Often seen along Oslo Road at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA) is the white peacock butterfly (Anartia jatrophae) shown above in a photo taken on an orchid stroll on June 27, 2020.  This low-flying tropical butterfly "uses" three common…

Earth Day at PINWR

An artful strangler fig (Ficus aurea) snakes around the trunk of a sabal palmetto (Sabal palmetto) at the entrance to the Centennial trail at the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR), the very first national wildlife refuge, on Earth Day…