By Eric Duran When winter weather started, the natural coping mechanisms of the animals in our midst kicked into gear. There are three most common strategies that wild animals can use to get through the winter. Some animals leave for the winter, migrating south. Some animals just go to sleep all winter — they hibernate. Some animals just try to fatten up and hoard resources, … [Read more...] about Brrrrrrr: How local critters endure colder weather
Wired to Nature
Falling for autumn butterflies
By Eric Duran Last month we took a look at the Monarch butterflies, their biology and the problems they face. But Monarchs aren’t the only butterflies that visit our yards in West University and Bellaire. This month, we’re going to take a look at some common fall butterflies found in area gardens. And for those of you who would like more of these colorful visitors, we’ll also … [Read more...] about Falling for autumn butterflies
Eric’s extras: The best native garden plants for Monarch butterflies in West U, Bellaire gardens
Caterpillar Host Plants Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis) Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis) Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Nectar Plants for Adult Butterflies Texas Lantana (Lanatana urticoides x horrida) Blue Sage (Salvia azurea) Prairie Verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida) Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Painted Coreopsis (Coreopsis … [Read more...] about Eric’s extras: The best native garden plants for Monarch butterflies in West U, Bellaire gardens
Wired to Nature: Mysteries and marvels of Monarchs — a timely look
By Eric Duran When I think of a butterfly, it is the Monarch that I imagine. I suspect that for many of us who grew up in the U.S., it may be the first butterfly we remember seeing as children or the first butterfly whose name we learned. My earliest memory of butterflies is watching Monarchs flutter around my mother’s garden, feeding on honeysuckle. Texans have such a strong … [Read more...] about Wired to Nature: Mysteries and marvels of Monarchs — a timely look
Wired to Nature: Meet the beetles
By Eric Duran When people think of flying insects into their gardens, butterflies are often the first to come to mind. There is, however, a plethora of various other insects that flutter by. This month, we're going to have a look at common beetles that appear in Bellaire- and West University-area gardens. Beetles are the most diverse group of animals on earth, and they live in … [Read more...] about Wired to Nature: Meet the beetles