by Sarah Witcher “The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway.” ~ Michael Pollan For gardeners with limited real estate, the decision between food gardening and using native plants can be tricky. Many of us got into gardening thanks to the immense satisfaction of planting and nurturing something we Read the Rest…
The subject of this native animal could come right out of a horror movie! It only comes out at night; it has barbed, dagger-like spikes all over its body; its huge, orangey-red front teeth are sharp enough to chisel into wood; and its courtship shrieks and groans are truly the stuff of nightmares. The North Read the Rest…
Many of us have put a lot of time and energy into gardening for pollinators – but have you considered gardening for bats? An often underappreciated and misunderstood group, bats in Maryland are important to the balance of our local ecosystems. Our 10 native species consume a vast quantity of insects, including many agricultural pests Read the Rest…
Guest Author: Joel Cockerham, Natural Resources Technician Hello Habichatters! File this under “notes from the field,” in which we give you a peek into the daily challenges and triumphs of managing a rare ecosystem. And we’ll share how you can help us manage the invasive species in our backyard with the choices you make for Read the Rest…
Gardening with native species is rife with challenges. One of the hurdles we hear about so often is that many of our neighbors just don’t like what we’ve done with our yards and gardens when we replace non-native plants with their native cousins. In this article we’ll examine why that is and how garden certifications Read the Rest…
This past winter, we came up with a Cozy Winter Reading List for quiet reading breaks in a busy holiday season. With summer heat rapidly bearing down on us, sprawling on a hammock, a lawn chair, or the beach with a book, soaking up those rays like a lizard, is top on many of our Read the Rest…
Perhaps one of the most common criticisms of the movement to fill our properties with native trees and gardens is that people miss lawns! There is something pleasing about the vista of a green lawn, or the smell of mowed grass in the summertime… Still, the benefits of replacing your lawn with more beneficial plantings Read the Rest…
“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.” ~ Rumi. The arrival of summer in Maryland means the full orchestra of songbirds is back from winter migrations and treating our ears to a symphony of calls. Many naturalists and birders agree that one of the most Read the Rest…
Spring rains bring a great deal of water to properties. Everyone has seen and struggled with puddles and flooding on roads and walkways, causing detours and splashes. However, most people don’t give much thought to water once it has left their property or what happens to our streams and rivers during rain events. The increase Read the Rest…
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” ~Lady Bird Johnson It’s that time of year, when winter’s darkness is gradually traded for spring’s warming light, and when drab grays and browns are suddenly punctuated by the first pops of color. Spring may be a bit earlier than usual this year, but that means we get to Read the Rest…
As the warmer spring months arrive, life blooms anew. Suddenly the outdoors are teeming with growing vegetation, cool bugs, and hatching amphibians. We will be discussing a few apps that can be used by teens and parents to make their outdoor experience more exciting. Using the tools provided in this digital age, we can make Read the Rest…
Every year around this time, reports start rolling in of early spring frog calls—usually, it’s the charismatic wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) or well-known spring peeper (Psuedacris crucifer). Spring peepers are members of the Pseudacris genus, a group commonly called chorus frogs, all known for singing their songs of spring loudly and proudly. Maryland is home Read the Rest…
Read any good books lately? The holiday season can sometimes feel like chaos, with our senses assaulted by crowds of people, electronic devices, and a roller coaster of changing weather conditions. Many of us may forget to enjoy the simple pleasure of reading in a quiet, cozy room, curled up under a blanket with our Read the Rest…
Out of the 18 species of owls found throughout North America, there are eight species of owls seen in Maryland. Some are very common, such as the eastern screech owl or barred owl, yet some can only be seen occasionally in the winter or during migration, like the majestic snowy owl and the short-eared owl.
Throughout a career in natural resources work, one of the questions I get most often is, “what do you do in the winter?” It is a common perception that there just isn’t much to do when it comes to field biology and conservation in the coldest season. It is true that the urgency caused by Read the Rest…
Winter is here, and for many animals that means either migrating or finding ways to hibernate and become less active in the winter months. For our plants and trees, the options are more limited. When temperatures start to dip and the days begin to shorten, deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves. What about plants Read the Rest…
It is winter in Maryland. The days are short. The weather is wacky; it could be snow, rain, wintry mix, 60 degrees and sunny. Just spin the wheel! In our former agrarian days, winter was a time to pause and take stock, to prepare for the coming spring. For Mother Nature and her wildlife, it’s Read the Rest…
During the autumn months the days begin to get shorter. Take advantage of our extra hours of darkness with these light-generating experiments. An outside place like your own backyard provides the perfect laboratory to learn about flammability, the piezoelectric effect, and triboluminescence.
At this time of year, leaf watchers are enthusiastically traveling the region to catch the best show of color on our deciduous trees (and you can too—follow our Fall Foliage Reports here)! Nature certainly puts on a show of a bedtime routine before the winter snooze, but fall beauty does not only lie in the Read the Rest…
As winter approaches, many of us dread the shortening hours of daylight and increasing darkness. In this spookiest of seasons, I like to focus on ways to appreciate the nighttime and the bits of unexpected light hidden in the natural world. Plenty of living things have unique ways to glow in the dark!
When people think of Halloween a few things may come to mind: pumpkins, ghosts, skeletons, candy, monsters, and of course, bats! As the only true flying mammals in existence, bats face a lot of misconceptions. You may have heard folks saying things like “blind as a bat” and mentioning that they could fly and get Read the Rest…
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” ~Dr. Wayne Dyer Have you ever looked at someone you’ve known your entire life and realized you never noticed something about their appearance? For many of us who have lived in Maryland a long time, it’s easy to leave our Read the Rest…
The art of leaf printing has been around for hundreds of years, with the first example discovered in the year 1,228 CE. From the 13th to the 19th century, botanists, herbalists, and doctors all over the world used herbal prints for medical research and identification. In this country, Benjamin Franklin began printing a leaf on Read the Rest…
As we move into the sultry dog days of summer, don’t forget our feathered friends. Birds don’t have sweat glands like people, so they’ve evolved other ways to cool off. Panting, like your dog, is one way, especially for our smaller songbirds. Their fluffy down feathers insulate from the heat, as they do from the Read the Rest…
Who needs flowers when you have fiddleheads? Ferns not only provide foraging space for ground-feeding birds, but they create vital shelter for numerous species of Maryland wildlife. Let’s explore a bit about why ferns are fascinating and look at some of the benefits of planting them in your home habitat.
Government land management titles are often a tangle of acronyms, with federal and state programs differing in their terminology, but remaining just similar enough to be confusing. Generally each defining term has meaning when it comes to things like how a land parcel was chosen, what it intends to conserve, and how it’s managed for Read the Rest…
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a stately tree with an oval to round crown that looks great in front yards. It is part of the walnut family (Juglandaceae) which also includes pecans and hickories. It has long been used for food, dye, and as a highly prized wood source.
Have you seen one of Maryland’s showiest moth species, the rosy maple moth? This colorful moth is one of the smaller silk moths in the family Saturniidae.
During this time of year, box turtles are on the move. Why? They are looking for love and are laying eggs. These mid-sized turtles often don’t travel far from their typical homes, but they will cross roads and other obstacles to get back to their breeding grounds.
They’re coming! Are you ready?! This year, an exciting phenomena is going to occur in the eastern United States: the emergence of Brood X periodical cicadas. Brood X is also known as the Great Eastern Brood and is one of 15 broods of periodical cicadas that appear regularly throughout the eastern United States. This brood Read the Rest…
Owls are captivating creatures, and it is no surprise that many people would love to have them visit their backyard landscapes! As predators, owls depend on having healthy food webs, so it is important to think about the big picture to properly support owls in your home habitats.
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) brings forth a burst of yellow color in spring gardens. It is part of the aster family (Asteraceae). This semi-evergreen wildflower can aggressively spread and can function as a natural groundcover for woodland gardens. It can also assist with some erosion control.
Did you know? Maryland is home to over 1,200 species of wasps! Not all of those species are aggressive like yellowjackets and hornets, and even the aggressive species have their place in our landscapes.
As spring continues, young wildlife are going to venture out from their dens and nests. It’s important to remember that wildlife don’t have the same parenting procedures as we do, and they often ‘free range’ their young. Check out our page on Think Twice Before Rescuing Young Wildlife to learn about normal behaviors of young Read the Rest…
Did you know? About 30% of Maryland’s native bees nest in tubes and tunnels. Very few of these species are able to excavate their own nests too. In a previous Habichat, we covered how to make nest blocks for bees. This article will cover how to create habitat for those that nest in stems of Read the Rest…
Warm season grasses are grasses that grow best during the summer (June-August) and often form large clumps. These grasses provide excellent wildlife habitat, in addition to erosion control. Warm season grasses typically are tall plants with large root systems that help keep soil in place.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native, warm season grass that is an excellent replacement for invasive Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis). This large, bunching grass grows 3-7 feet high and has a 2-3 foot spread. In addition, its extensive root system grows 5-6 feet deep, making it a great plant to assist with stabilizing banks. The Read the Rest…
More than 250 species of spiders can be found in Maryland and one of the largest and more visible species is the black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia). Also affectionately known as the writing spider, the black and yellow garden spider fashions an intricate zig-zag pattern in the center of its web. This extra Read the Rest…
There is no better time to connect with wildlife in your backyard than now. With spring underway, many bird species are increasing their activity. Winter birds like dark-eyed juncos are heading north while migrants like ruby-throated hummingbirds are returning to Maryland.
Maple-leaved viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is one of our native, short shrubs in the moschatel family (Adoxaceae). It has medium growth that maxes out at heights of 3-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. It often will form a short colony, making it a great plant to use as a low hedge or border. The leaves Read the Rest…
With spring underway, many species are emerging from their winter rest, including our local bees. By far, the most well known bee is the non-native European honey bee (Apis mellifera). However, Maryland is home to over 430 species of bees, many of which are native and all of which provide important roles in pollination.
Did you know? You probably have a lot of materials around the house and yard that can be repurposed to create backyard wildlife habitat. Don’t let quarantine hold you back from creating habitat! The following list contains some ideas on how to create habitat with limited supplies.
Often heard and not seen, the lovely Cedar Waxwing can be found year-round throughout Maryland. Cedar Waxwings sport a pale brown, crested head with a sleek black mask that runs from their bill and around their eyes. The mask has white outlines which help accentuate it. Waxwings have a brown chest that fades into a Read the Rest…
If you have seen the recent news, you may have heard that the number of birds in the United States and Canada has declined by three billion, or almost 29%, over the last 50 years. Unfortunately, Maryland is not exempt from this decline. With changes in habitat and climate over the years, it is crucial Read the Rest…
Inkberry (Ilex glabra) is one of our native, compact shrubs in the holly family (Aquifoliaceae) that keeps its leaves year-round. It is a relatively slow growing species that maxes out at heights of 5- 8 feet tall. It sometimes will form clumps with numerous sprouts, making it a great plant to use as a low Read the Rest…
Woody plants are essential for wildlife. In the winter, evergreen plants can provide much-needed shelter and food for local animals. Consider adding one or more of these native plants to your backyard landscape to provide for local wildlife.
Did you know? Maryland is home to eight species of owls, several of which are year-round residents while others visit during migration. The smallest resident owl in Maryland is the Eastern Screech-owl, which is often under 10 inches in length. Eastern Screech-owls are formidable hunters and are adapted to survive in both suburban and rural Read the Rest…
While searching for the best plants to include with a garden, you have likely come across cultivars for sale. The use of native cultivars (aka nativars) has been growing as the popularity of native plants surges.
Maryland is home to 437 species of bees, just over a quarter of which are members of the family Halictidae: sweat bees. Unlike other bee families, like the Andrenids (mining bees), sweat bees are often generalists, visiting whatever flowers pique their interest. While this may seem like an advantage, sweat bees have to navigate different Read the Rest…
With lilac purple rays and a bright yellow center, New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) brings a pop of color to fall gardens. This tall, branching aster can reach heights up to six feet if allowed to grow to its full potential. Each stalk can have over a dozen composite flowers at its tips that bloom Read the Rest…
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