Category Archives: biodiversity

Burning Butterfly Questions

Posted on January 7, 2020 by

Burning prairies is good for native prairie plants and bad for butterflies. That’s what just about all of the guidance for rare butterflies says. It’s the conventional wisdom. Those that question it are reluctant to do so. Allow me. I … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, Conservation, Conservation own-goals, Prairie, restoration, Stewardship | 3 Comments

Alternatives to Boring Midwestern Bluegrass and Fescue Lawns

Posted on December 8, 2018 by

For most of us, home ownership carries with it the management of at least a small parcel of land, and usually this means maintaining a lawn. For the ambitious, this might also include perennial borders, shrubs, and trees. We all … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lawns, biodiversity, gardening, native plants, Prairie | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Conserve Plant Diversity First

Posted on January 6, 2017 by

At least that’s the message I take from a recent study published in Nature Communications entitled Ecological networks are more sensitive to plant than to animal extinction under climate change. In particular they found a higher risk of animal co-extinction with … Continue reading →

Posted in biodiversity, Conservation, native plants, Weather and Climate | Tagged | 2 Comments