I have identified 658 species in the prairie. The most exciting new species is Eight-spotted Forester Moth (Alypia octomaculata).

The following are blooming at this time:
Clasping coneflower (Dracopis amplexicaulis)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

It has been a very wet month with 9.67" of rain.

I have identified 653 species in the prairie.

I have continued the process of mowing different sections of the prairie to decrease height.

Not a lot happening in the prairie insect wise. Gaillardia, showy primrose, and lance leaf coreopsis are the main bloomers right now.

Native plums have plums for the first time since planting them.

I have identified 635 species in the prairie.

The weather has been pretty warm. I have noticed more non-native plants this spring than I typically do O(Maybe),

I have started the process of mowing different sections of the prairie to decrease height. I will do 1/4 of the areas every time I mow, until at least late may.

I have seen a small black and white moth several times that I have not been able to get a picture of, yet. It is black with white dots.

Saw a monarch yesterday, but also could not get a picture of it.

have identified 623 species in the prairie. I mowed the entire prairie in February. We have had a decent amount of rain and very warm weather. Things are very green and ahead of normal years.

I have identified 617 species in the prairie. The new adds are birds caught on the game camera near bird feeders including a Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula) and another water snake (Plain-bellied Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster).

January weather has been interesting. We had a couple of inches of ice and snow in mid January with temps below freezing for 72 hours with a low of 11 degrees. The last week (1/21-1/26) we have had over 7"inches of rain. For the month we are close to 10" of precipitation.

The creek in the back is full and we are catching minnows, small bream and other fish with nets and poles.

I have identified 613 species in the prairie.

The game camera has documented a large population of rabbits. We have also seen possums, coyotes, and the bobcat we thought we had seen. I moved the camera closer to the wood line to see if we capture anything else.

Weather has been cold and rainy, but we still need more rain.

Also have planted another 20 trees along the wood line on the north side of the property and also along the east side . Shumard Oak, White Oak, Bur Oak, Chinquapin Oak, black cherry, Yellow Poplar, Post Oaks, Carolina Buckthorn.

Current thought is for Bald Cypress to replace dead Leyland Cypress in front yard with Wax Myrtle between the trees.

I have identified 609 species in the prairie.

Since I mowed a large portion for the pond construction (Still not done) there is less areas to walk and look.

Right now goldenrod is the biggest pollen attractor. Bidens and boneset are almost done flowering. The frostweed did not do well with the drought?

I plan on putting out a game camera this week to see what mammals I can get pictures of. Michael and I have seen what we think is a bobcat the last few weeks. Plus we know coyotes are around at night.

Still very dry and not hot but in upper 80's .

I am at 604 species identified in the prairie.

Yesterday I identified a Queen (Danaus gilippus) and also saw another Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus). A first time for the Queen and a second for the Great Purple Hairstreak. Both were found on Bidens.

The plants blooming right now are Bidens (lots of bees and flies) and boneset (Lots of wasp and bees). Goldenrods are starting to bloom also. Still very dry and hot mid 90's.

I am at 595 species identified in the prairie.

Had 22 days over 100 in August and only a little rain over the last month.

Goldfish pond in the back is very low, but still has water. I have not filled it since I built it in 2019.

I have mowed a large portion of the prairie in hope of building a 0.25 acre pond for fishing and new habitat. If and when this is done, I will add more trees on the northern half of the planting and replant the rest of the area in a more short prairie look. Plan on staying away from the larger species that I initially planted.

Currently blooming:
Cup plant (almost done)
Ironweed (almost done)
Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani starting to bloom

Late Boneset is about to start blooming

Today was a lot cooler than it has been in months. High of 91. So i decided to count butterflies today.
It was a very good day to count. The most activity was on Ironweed and then the few zinnias still alive.
Added a new species Dun skipper.
20 different species and a Total counted of 74!
Zebra swallowtail 1
Black Swallowtail 2
Pipevine Swallowtail 2
Eastern Giant Swallowtail 3
Gulf Fritillary 10+
Variegated Fritillary 5+
Common Buckeye 10+
Hackberry Emperor 3
Goatweed Leafwing 1
Sleepy Orange 1
Long-tailed Skipper 4
Fiery Skipper 3
Silver-spotted Skipper 3
Dun Skipper 1
Cloudless Sulphur 3
Phaon Crescent 10+
Pearl Crescent 5+
White-lined Sphinx 1
Viceroy 3
Gray Hairstreak 3