More than just a forest: Our surprisingly diverse eastern ecosystems
Summary The general impression that many people have is that prior to European settlement the whole eastern U.S. was one giant old growth forest. But that wasn't the case. Using an interdisciplinary a...
18 Feb 21min
How to Be Successful with Your Habitat Goals
Summary When it comes to creating habitat, having a written set of goals can be extremely helpful in moving a task from the "I'll get to it someday" category to the "I'm actually going to get this don...
8 Jan 10min
Short's aster: A beautiful late season extravaganza for pollinators
Summary Late blooming native plants are crucial sources of pollen and nectar for pollinators. One of my favorite species that blooms in October, and often into early November, is Short's aster (Symphy...
23 Okt 20257min
The Science Behind "Leave the Leaves"
Summary "Leave the leaves" has become an increasingly common mantra each fall. However, until recently little to no scientific research had been done to quantify impacts of leaving your leaves in a ty...
9 Okt 202547min
Black-eyed Susan: A must-have for the pollinator garden
Summary Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a beautiful native plant that can be found throughout most of the eastern U.S. and makes a great addition to pollinator and native plant gardens. It can g...
25 Sep 20259min
A Bad Naturalist's Journey to Restore a Mountaintop Meadow
Summary Paula Whyman shares her journey of trying to restore and manage a remnant prairie located on a Virginia mountaintop. Our conversation touches upon some of the challenges she faced, lessons she...
11 Sep 20251h 22min
Native Plants That Attract Hummingbirds to Eastern U.S. Gardens
Summary Hummingbirds are probably one of the most beloved groups of birds that people want to attract to their yards. In this episode, I share 10 of my favorite native plants for attracting hummingbir...
28 Aug 202513min
Gardening for Moths: Why It's Important for Backyard Conservation
Summary In this episode, we focus on the fascinating world of moths and why gardening for moths is so im-portant for any backyard ecologist. We also talk about specific native plants grow to attract m...
7 Aug 20251h 11min
