Moth numbers have been in long-term decline due in large part to habitat loss and climate change but also because of artificial night lighting. Artificial lights are believed to be a factor in the decline of fireflies too, and may disrupt the migration of birds that navigate by starlight such as the indigo bunting. As… Read more Protect the Night Sky, Protect Nocturnal Pollinators
Happy National Moth Week! Mmm, didn’t know it existed? Well, walk around at night in your yard with a flashlight and what will you likely see? Moths taking over the night shift of pollinating flowers. Like butterflies, moths don’t actively gather pollen. While they are foraging for nectar, pollen grains stick to the moth’s body… Read more Happy National Moth Week!
As the United States becomes increasingly urbanized, the landscaping around our homes is the final frontier for many species. All of us are now on the forefront of managing the nation’s birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. We need to choose plants that can provide food and good nutrition for the entire food web. We need… Read more Become Snow White (singing birds, great friends…)
When people see my common monarch flower (Asclepias syriaca) plants and seeds, many say “I already have this. I have a butterfly bush.” Monarch flowers (Asclepias species) are different than the butterfly bush (Buddleia species). While butterfly bushes will provide attractive nectar for adult butterflies (including monarchs), no species of butterfly in North America can… Read more Butterfly Bushes are not Monarch Flowers
Witch hazel! On Sunday I zoomed over to one of my Southold bee yards to secure the hives before Hurricane Sandy came to town. Securing beehives….sounds more technical than the work itself. I heaved cinder blocks and heavy rocks onto the top of each hive in hopes that the covers would not blow off or… Read more Witch Hazel, A Respite from Sandy Preparations
B2B you ask? What is she talking about? Well, this past Friday October 5th, I was out in my Soundview Avenue bee yard. I was going through the hives to make sure that all three supers had built out frames in which to store that last drops of nectar from the goldenrod blooming nearby and… Read more B2B
Congratulations and a huge thank you to the students of I. L. Peretz Jewish School for helping the monarch butterflies! On July 14th, ten monarch flower plants (Asclepias syriaca) were planted in the school’s front planting bed on East Meadow Avenue in East Meadow, NY. Amazing experience! While taking the plants out of the car, one of the… Read more A Wonderful Day in East Meadow
With my little honeybees as the master of ceremonies… With the witch hazel, crocus, and saucer magnolias already blooming… With the upcoming spring equinox putting one’s imagination into overdrive… Its..time..to..officially..debut..Blossom Meadow Beeswax Crayons! Blossom Meadow beeswax crayons are large, hard to break, and easy to grasp. We have combined pure beeswax and high-quality, non-toxic artist… Read more Ta Da! Beeswax Crayons!
Honey is a beautiful gift from my bees. Straight from the honeycomb to the jar, honey is concentrated nectar from thousands of wildflower blossoms – it is a delicate balance of sugars, aromas, enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins. Used to sweeten tea, baked in cereals, and mixed in cough drops, honey has become a staple… Read more Know Your Beekeeper
In third grade, we went on a school trip to meet a beekeeper and tour his apiary. Amazing day – jumping off the last stair of the bus to join my class standing in a small field, I was greeted by a sweet-tempered, cragged-faced, thin man with a warm smile – a beekeeper! With white… Read more Third Grade
