08 de março de 2024

February 2024

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.

Posted on 08 de março de 2024, 03:19 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

26 de janeiro de 2024

January 2024

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.

Posted on 26 de janeiro de 2024, 01:13 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

08 de janeiro de 2024

January 2024

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.

Posted on 08 de janeiro de 2024, 07:07 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

23 de outubro de 2023

End of October 2023

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 .

Posted on 23 de outubro de 2023, 01:16 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

30 de setembro de 2023

End of September

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.

Posted on 30 de setembro de 2023, 02:34 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

01 de setembro de 2023

End of August

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

Posted on 01 de setembro de 2023, 02:23 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

15 de agosto de 2023

2023 Butterfly count

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

Posted on 15 de agosto de 2023, 09:27 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

07 de agosto de 2023

August 2023

Have identified 574 species in the prairie.

It has been very hot and dry. Had 8 days over 100 and more in the forecast. The creek in the back is almost completely dry, but the prairie is still green and looking good.

Butterfly numbers are increasing with more swallowtails (pipevine, black and eastern giant), Gulf fritillary and viceroys being seen. I have also seen several zebra swallowtails the last few days. Have numerous black swallowtail caterpillars on fennel. Have not seen any Gulf fritillary caterpillars yet, but did see several laying eggs.

The main plant blooming in the prairie is cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), a few ironweeds (Veronia spp.) and the mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) is still blooming but fading. We are back at the point where there is a gap in plants blooming before the fall blooms start.

Posted on 07 de agosto de 2023, 01:12 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

13 de julho de 2023

July 2023

I am up to 563 species documented.

The best and newest two for this month are indigo bunting, observed several times and a Great Purple Hairstreak observed for the first time on July 12th on clustered mountain mint.

Weather has been rainy, but hot and dry is forecasted for the next week.

Clustered mountain mint is the prime pollinator attractor right now.

Posted on 13 de julho de 2023, 02:27 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário

22 de junho de 2023

June 2023

I have documented 539 species in the 175 Lafitte prairie.

The following are blooming:
Mountain mint
beebalm
clasping coneflower
Rudbeckia Hirta
Liastris

Found the first swallowtail caterpillars on fennel for the year. Also have brown belted bumble bees nesting in a bird house.

Have gotten rain throughout the summer so far, but is predicted to start getting hot next week (99-100).

Posted on 22 de junho de 2023, 01:25 PM by fstins1 fstins1 | 0 comentários | Deixar um comentário