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
Nature Discovery Center
Nature Center to host fall festival weekend of pumpkin plucking, outdoor fun
Bellaire’s Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle Dr., will host its annual Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 15-16. The grounds of Russ Pitman Park will be filled with a photo opp-friendly selection of pumpkins along with educational festival fun, including carnival games and inflatables, nature activities, animal encounters, and vendors offering … [Read more...] about Nature Center to host fall festival weekend of pumpkin plucking, outdoor fun
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: 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
Wired to Nature: Native edible plants perform double duty in local home gardens
By Eric Duran Here at the Nature Discovery Center, we always like to encourage local residents to landscape with native plants — but especially so during these colder months of the year as we prepare for spring. Native plants provide a better source of food for native Texas wildlife when it’s hardest to find. And year-round, native plants are less likely to … [Read more...] about Wired to Nature: Native edible plants perform double duty in local home gardens