Butterfly Walk at Prairie Garden Trust
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus Butterfly & Dragonfly Discovery Walk Saturday, July 12 | 10 AM – Noon Led by Dr. Gabe McNett, Entomologist, Westminster College Join us for a … Continued
Compass Plant in Early Bloom
Compass Plant, Silphium laciniatum The Compass Plants are just beginning to flower this week. This bloom hasn’t fully opened yet, but soon it will rise high above the prairie on … Continued
Big Bluestem After the Rain
Big Bluestem, Andropogon gerardii Warm weather and recent rains have jump-started the prairie grasses at the Prairie Garden Trust. This close-up captures Big Bluestem, one of Missouri’s signature native grasses, … Continued
Orchard Oriole at PGT
Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius We’re seeing Orchard Orioles daily now at the Prairie Garden Trust. Yesterday, we even spotted a nest near the dock at Potter’s Lake. Their song resembles … Continued
Deer-Resistant Wildflower
Yellow Ironweed, Verbesina alternifolia If you’re looking for a native wildflower that can thrive in your garden—even where deer are a problem—Yellow Ironweed (Verbesina alternifolia), is an excellent choice. It’s … Continued
Lotus Leaves Unfurling
American Lotus, Nelumbo lutea The lotus leaves are rising and opening, catching the morning light in waves of green and blue. I was struck by the rhythm and elegance of … Continued
Wild Rose at Prairie Garden Trust
Wild Rose, Rosa sp. Pasture roses are blooming now at the Prairie Garden Trust. Unlike the layered petals of cultivated varieties, wild roses display a single, simple ring of petals. … Continued
Butterfly Walk at Prairie Garden Trust
Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus Butterfly Walk at Prairie Garden Trust Saturday, July 12 from 10 AM – Noon Led by Dr. Gabe McNett, Entomologist, Westminster College Join us for a … Continued
Common Milkweed
Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca Milkweed is now in full bloom, drawing in a variety of butterflies with its nectar. But its most vital role is as a host plant for … Continued
How Feeders Are Reshaping Hummingbirds—Literally
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris We have so many hummingbirds at our feeder that we’re frequently going through 10-pound bags of sugar. Science magazine recently reported that feeders are driving rapid … Continued