Nature Dads is creating a movement to Normalize Environmentally Sustainable activities like Vermicomposting, Rainwater Collection, & Creating Pollinator Habitats with Native Plants at EVERY Corporate Facility as well as in EVERY Home.
Don't worry folks, the dragonfly handling this human is a professional.
Let us introduce you to one of the biggest species of dragonfly in North America. The swamp darner is large and in charge and lives throughout the eastern United States, as well as a few states west of the Mississippi River. You can spot these magnificent dragons taking flight throughout June and July and this one was spotted at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Maine.
Photo by BBenvenuti/USFWS
💡 Dragonflies are often confused with damselflies. One way you can tell them apart is to look at their wings while they are resting. Dragonfly wings stay open while damselfly wings are closed on their back.
It's the season for fireflies in central Ohio! If you want to encourage and protect fireflies living in your yards, here are some simple steps to follow:
- Leave the leaves! Fireflies spend most of their lives as larvae which reside in the soil, leaf litter, and decaying wood in our gardens.
- Provide a water source or damp spot in your yard. Water both sustains fireflies as well as attracts their prey species, such as slugs.
- Turn off outdoor lights. Artificial light disrupts the courtship behavior of fireflies, which prevents them from finding each other to reproduce.
- Avoid the use of pesticides. Both fireflies and their prey may be harmed by pesticides.
- Mow less frequently, or provide other shelter. Adult fireflies shelter in taller grass throughout the day, so mowing less or converting lawn to garden in general will help protect the adults.
- Plant native plants! Fireflies are predators as adults and larvae, and native plants help attract prey species. Some fireflies also eat pollen and other plant matter too, so you’re feeding all levels of the ecosystem with native plants!
By encouraging fireflies to live on your property, you are helping to fill another level of a healthy ecosystem. You also get to enjoy the benefits of beautiful light displays in the evenings, and free pest control against snails, slugs, and other herbivorous invertebrates!
#sciotogardens#nativeplantsnaturalbenefits#nativegardening#ecologicalgardening#ohiogardening#fireflies#firefly#lightningbug#lightningbugs#LeaveTheLeaves#plantnative#PlantNativePlants
It's gardening season. And we're sharing the importance of knowing what you grow. Despite the beauty they bring to our backyards, some of our most popular ornamental plants have gone rogue, wreaking havoc on Ohio’s ecosystems. Here are some common invasive plants you might be harboring in your home landscape:
1. Barberry is known for its small red berries and thorny branches. While it has long been used in ornamental landscape plantings, it can spread to neighboring natural areas where it forms dense thickets that outcompete native plants and alter habitat structure.
2. Burning bush, popular for its vibrant red fall foliage, spreads aggressively in forests, displacing native flora and reducing biodiversity. It’s readily spread by birds that consume—and subsequently drop—berries.
3. A popular street tree, Bradford pear trees easily break under stress due to weak wood and poor branching structure. What’s more, they spread aggressively and are now one of the leading invasive plant threats in many states.
4. Dame’s rocket features attractive purple flowers resembling phlox. But it invades woodlands and meadows, crowding out native plant species. Be careful, because you might find it in wildflower seed mixes!
If you have an invasive plant growing in your landscape, make a plan for its removal. Consider replacing it with a native plant that will provide benefits to wildlife. Need a little inspiration? Learn more about the many benefits of native plants in Ohio: https://nature.ly/3VMk3nr.
If You're Reading This It's (Not) Too Late 🌲🐦
The great outdoors are vital in keeping not only animals healthy but people as well. Science shows that people benefit greatly from spending time outdoors. 💚
So, this is your sign to put the phone down and go outside! 📴
#outdoors#wildlife#science#conservation#nature
🌍 100 Million Tree Seeds Released in the Amazon! 🌍
Luigi Cani, a world-renowned Brazilian skydiver, recently took a daring leap to address the critical issue of deforestation in the Amazon. Cani jumped from a plane over a deforested area of the rainforest, releasing 100 million seeds from 27 different tree species.
This incredible feat was the result of five years of meticulous planning, securing permits, designing a special biodegradable box for the seeds, and transporting tons of equipment and a film crew to the Amazon. Each seed was hand-collected from nearby rainforests two months prior to the jump to ensure their viability.
Despite numerous challenges, including failed test boxes and personal injuries, Cani successfully released the seeds from approximately 6,000 feet above the ground. With an impressive germination rate of over 95%, these seeds are expected to grow into trees that can reach up to 50 meters in height. The full impact of this initiative will be monitored via satellite over the next two years.
Cani faced significant difficulties during the jump. "I struggled to hold onto the box and nearly broke my wrist and fingers. I managed to stabilize myself at around 6,000 feet, and the seeds were released exactly where we wanted them. It was pure ecstasy."
Cani continues to use his daring stunts for greater causes. Looking ahead, he plans a future jump focusing on ocean plastic. "I've been jumping for 25 years and always pushed the limits with risky jumps. Now, at 51, I no longer seek danger for its own sake. I want to do something meaningful. Just like the seed drop, this next project will have real significance."
It's inspiring to see people like Cani holding onto hope for ecological restoration! 🌱
#EnvironmentalAction#AmazonRainforest#deforestation#sustainability#LuigiCani#TreePlanting