Bats.  Their mere mention evokes visions of silent, blood-sucking creatures that haunt the night skies or so the scary movies would have us believe.  Centuries of superstition and misinformation have landed the furry, winged mammals with the undeserved reputation of nighttime villain.  T’aint so.  Overall, bats provide positive benefits to the environment – consuming huge …

Shy and misunderstood, bats are a benefit to the gardener Read More »

Easily recognized for their rather ethereal beauty, the “dragon” portion of their name comes from their fierce jaws that they use to catch their flying prey. The “fly” portion of their name is apt – they are the world’s fastest insects, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 mph. Dragonflies and their smaller counterparts, …

These ancient, elegant insects are a bane to mosquitos Read More »

With the bounty of flowers blooming this time of year, you’re likely to spot one of the most helpful little critters in the garden, though you may not recognize her as such. What appears to be a small bee hovering like a tiny helicopter over Queen Anne’s Lace, but looks and may even sound like …

Syrphid flies – the honeybee look-alike Read More »