Backyard Ecology Podcast
1) Native Plants That Attract Hummingbirds to Eastern U.S. Gardens
Summary Hummingbirds are probably one of the most beloved groups of birds that people want to attract to their yards. In this episode, I share 10 of my favorite native plants for attracting hummingbir...Show More
2) Gardening for Moths: Why It’s Important for Backyard Conservation
Summary In this episode, we focus on the fascinating world of moths and why gardening for moths is so im-portant for any backyard ecologist. We also talk about specific native plants grow to attract m...Show More
3) 9 Native Blueberries You Can Grow in the Home Landscape
Summary Our native Vacciniums, what we commonly call the blueberries, are keystone plants which support tons of pollinators and wildlife. They also produce yummy berries which we can eat. In this epis...Show More
4) Choose the Best Native Milkweed for Your Eastern U.S. Garden
Summary Milkweeds are a common component of butterfly and pollinator gardens. Not only are they important for monarch caterpillars, but they are also used by a wide variety of pollinators. There are l...Show More
5) Laurel Wilt: How Tiny Beetles Can Kill Huge Trees
Summary In this episode, we dive deep into Laurel Wilt Disease which is a vascular wilt disease affecting trees in the Lauraceae family, such as sassafras, spicebush, and redbay. We discuss its histor...Show More
6) Virginia strawberry: A Beautiful, Tasty, and Underutilized Native Groundcover
Summary The Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) is our most widespread native wild strawberry in the eastern U.S. It supports a wide range of pollinators and wildlife. It can also make an amazin...Show More
7) Ironweed’s Beauty and Ecological Value in Your Garden: Mt. Cuba’s Vernonia Trial
Summary Each fall, the beautiful, rich, purple blooms of ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) grace fields and open areas throughout much of the eastern U.S. They are an ecological powerhouse for pollinators and...Show More
8) Eastern Carpenter Bees: How to Peacefully Co-exist and Why They Are Important
Summary While carpenter bees get a bad rap, they are also important pollinators and play a vital role in the ecosystem. Their bad reputation can also sometimes be overblown. So, let’s talk a little bi...Show More
9) Doug Tallamy’s Habitat Restoration Story and How You Can Help Save Nature
Summary Dr. Doug Tallamy shares the story of how he and his wife transformed their newly built home located on a former hayfield into a thriving forest ecosystem. We talk about how they got started, t...Show More
10) Darkness Matters: Light Pollution’s Threats and Simple Ways to Help
Summary Darkness is a vital, and often overlooked, component of our ecosystems. Unfortunately, we’re losing it to light pollution. Decreasing the light pollution around your home will not only benefit...Show More