On these cool fall mornings, you might find a bee sleeping on a flower. Colder temperatures make it harder for bees to move around. In fact, the temperature has to be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for carpenter bees to be active. They find shelter and protection in the flowers until the temperature warms up. I… Continue reading Sleeping Bees
Category: Animals
Sometimes Nature Comes to You
Sometimes nature comes to you! We sat down to eat lunch yesterday and heard a tap on the window. The bugs bump the window all the time, it was nothing unusual. As I passed by the window though, something caught my attention. Look at this bug! Have you ever seen anything like it? It’s an… Continue reading Sometimes Nature Comes to You
Spotted Salamanders at the North Carolina Botanical Garden
This week, we visited the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill. Our intention was to find some spring ephemerals, and we were not disappointed. However, we were not expecting to get a lesson in the life cycle of spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum). As we crossed the bridge into the Coastal Plain Habitat, we were… Continue reading Spotted Salamanders at the North Carolina Botanical Garden
Sunflowers at Dix Park- July 2026
Dix Park in Raleigh announced that their sunflowers have started to bloom as of July 9th. Plan on going during the next two weeks if you want to see the beautiful field of golden blooms. If you are a bird watcher, there is an unusual bird at the park right now- a male painted bunting.… Continue reading Sunflowers at Dix Park- July 2026
Surprise on the Trail
I came around a bend in the Shiloh Greenway yesterday and was surprised to see a group (a gaggle) of six geese walking up the trail toward me. Of course, the geese are very common around here, and I often see them on the Indian Creek Greenway at the trailhead by the water. When I… Continue reading Surprise on the Trail
Wait and See
There’s always something to see in nature if you take the time to look. Today, I heard something crunching in the dry grass. It sounded like someone walking very slowly, but no one was around. I stopped for a minute to see if I could spot what was making the noise. I didn’t see anything… Continue reading Wait and See
Welcome Little Ones
Do you seen anything? Look carefully. The mallard duck family welcomed TWELVE new ducklings to the family last week!
What’s That? April 15, 2025
What’s that? This black bug with orange patches, a line of white spots, and white spikes on its back is the larva of an Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis). Asian lady beetles look similar to our native lady bugs (Coccinella septempunctata). Asian lady beetles usually have larger patches of white on their head, the number… Continue reading What’s That? April 15, 2025
What’s That? April 21, 2026
What is that swarm of bugs on that log? Termites. Have you ever seen them up close? This group was on the American Tobacco Trail. If you see something like this near your home, you might want to have it checked for damage.
What’s That? August 17, 2026
Why are so many leaves on this redbud tree folded in half? Take a closer look. This is the work of a redbud leaffolder (Fascista cercerisella) caterpillar. The redbud leaffolder moth lays eggs on the redbud leaves. As the caterpillars begin to emerge, they need protection from predators. They use silk to make stitches across… Continue reading What’s That? August 17, 2026