Fireflies: Nature’s Night Lights
by Christy Kohlhaas Many of us have childhood memories of watching fireflies in the backyard, carefully catching them between our cupped hands, and releasing them back into the night sky.…
Busy Bees in Kentucky
by Christy Rybka As winter comes to an end and spring is on its way, it is almost time for the bees to return! Worldwide, there are over 20,000 species…
Saving the Migrating Monarchs
Saving the Migrating Monarchs: How to Protect the Endangered Monarch Species From Your Own Home by Christy Rybka Earlier this summer, the migratory monarch butterfly was officially declared an endangered…
Take a Walk with Tavia #48 – Tagging Monarch Butterflies
In Take a Walk with Tavia #48, Tavia tags two monarch butterflies. Tagging the butterflies and recording information during their release helps organizations collect important data about monarchs. Enjoy! …
Take a Walk with Tavia #42 – Sweet Coneflower
Take a Walk with Tavia #42 highlights Sweet Coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). This plant loves the warmth and humidity of summer. Sweet Coneflower is also beloved by bees and small butterflies.…
Take a Walk with Tavia #41 – Monarch Butterflies
Take a Walk with Tavia #41 takes a deeper look at monarch butterflies. Tavia releases two butterflies she has raised and shows you how to identify male and female monarchs.…
Take a Walk with Tavia #38 – Monarch caterpillars and milkweed
Take a Walk with Tavia #38 highlights Monarch caterpillars and their host plant milkweed. Being the host plant, milkweeds are the only type of plant Monarchs will lay their eggs…
Take a Walk with Tavia #30 – Royal Catchfly
Take a Walk with Tavia #30 highlights Royal Catchfly (Silene regia). This native plant can adapt to several different soil conditions. The stunning flowers attract Black Swallowtails making it great…
Monarch Mania
As if Executive Director Tavia Cathcart Brown weren't busy enough to begin with at the Nature Preserve, she has now become a Monarch butterfly Mama! Her interest in flowers extends…
Praying Mantids
Praying mantids are distinctive insects, with elongated bodies, triangular heads, and spiny, prey-grabbing "raptorial" front legs (from the Greek word "raptor," meaning "thief"). Mantids are usually a combination of gray,…