Wikidgarden

@wikidgarden

Destroying invasive plants, giving natives a chance to thrive. Enjoying 🦋 and plant chemistry. Wandering in hardwood hammocks in South Florida. ❤️ Art, lit, travel. Amateur in all.

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Bluesky

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Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 21d

A vividly colored Ornate Bella Moth (aka Rattlebox Moth)—day flying and toxic. Photo @rmj827.bsky.social #BigCypress #SouthFlorida #NativePlants #Invertebrates #MothWeek

At rest with folded wings is a red-orange, white, and black patterned moth. Its thin antennae project forward as it sits on deep green leaves of its host plant, Low Rattle-box.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 22d

In the killer heat of July and August, an old-growth forest offers a safe, cool view to the brilliant sky. 3 or 4 human generations have protected these island hardwoods as they’ve grown into their superpowers. Let’s think longterm. 🚫🚜🏗️ 🌱🌿 #NativePlants #ThickTrunkTuesday #SouthFlorida

View through deep green foliage, then lighter green treetops to an intense blue island sky.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 23d

Here in Miami, it’s Sunday evening. #ButterflyWeek continues. A gorgeous bird strike survivor, a Palamedes Swallowtail fuels up on Buttonbush nectar today in #BigCypressNationalPreserve It hosts on trees in the Laurel family, Red Bay and Swamp Bay. Thanks @rmj827.bsky.social for photography.

Large and fancy black swallowtail butterfly hanging from a round, Sputnik-like flower. It appears to be decorated with scalloped lacy bands of white shading to yellow. Deep blue scallops appear above yellow decorations and small tails that trail from its hindwings. Its body is black with yellow stripes.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 24d

Gorgeous in flight, showing their distinctive outline and yellow, blue, maroon ventral markings.

Courtship flight of two endangered Schaus’ Swallowtails.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 24d

Protect each butterfly: protect 🌎, + our future. #Habitat 🌿 From the most common Dainty Sulfer cycling through many generations/year, to this US Endangered Schaus’ Swallowtail, that stays in pupa for up to 3 years—until rains bring nectar for adults + new growth for caterpillars. #ButterflyWeek

With wings spread to bask in morning sun, a large black swallowtail shows a wide yellow V with shoulder straps and scalloped trailing edge decorations. Its sword-like tails outlined in yellow distinguish it from two similar species flying in costal hardwood forest preserves—the Giant Swallowtail and Bahamian Swallowtail. The black antennae tips show that this is a female.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 24d

More Butterfly Week, please. 🦋🌿🌱 #BigCypress #MiamiSky #Invertebrates #Bugsky

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· 29d

Tourist Tree, Gumbo Limbo, red and peeling. Leaves and bark capable of photosynthesis. So resilient that a broken branch on the ground can grow into a new tree. Host for the Dingy Purplewing butterfly. Food source, shelter for birds. #ThickTrunkTuesday #NativePlants www.fnps.org/plant/burser...

A diagonally leaning tree trunk with patches of greenish-brown bark peeling away to reveal bright red. Behind is the glowing green of a Keys tropical forest.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 12

EL Jefe supervises/encourages our Miami-area habitat restoration project in Fall and Winter. He is very chill and brings the best energy.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 11

Soldiers and Queens were all over at Shark Valley this morning—nectaring, having dog fights, as if they’d eclosed all at once. Queens were loading up on toxins from Conoclinium coelestinum that contribute to reproductive success—similar to C. greggii in TX: www.npsot.org/posts/gregg-...

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 11

Relaxed 🌿 #SharkValley #EvergladesNationalPark #Habitat

A turtle on an outcropping of limestone, striped head and rear legs extended, toes splayed.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 11

Fresh Soldier butterfly enjoying morning nectar. #EvergladesNationalPark #SharkValley #Habitat #NativePlants 🌿 🦋 #Invertebrates

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 7

Please enjoy a green and refreshing #ThickTrunkTuesday in the cool shade of Strangler Fig, Ficus aurea. With age, it becomes a giant in the hammock, offering abundant fruit, insects, and shelter for birds. 🌿🌱🦋🐛🦉🪶 #Habitat #invertebrates #Trees #SouthFlorida #NativePlants

Many roped, supporting trunks reach down to brace 3 huge main trunks reaching out widely in different directions, and then up into clouds of green leaves.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 5

Most beautiful fireworks.🇺🇸🌱 goorchids.northamericanorchidcenter.org/species/ency... 🌿🦋 #NativePlants #Habitat #rewild #bloomscrolling

Against a dark Oak branch green, white, and pink butterfly orchid flowers float and sway.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jul 5

Proud to be an American defender of ecosystems, habitats in magnificent South Florida, land of flowers. 🌿🇺🇸🦋 ✊Let’s stand up, push our sleeves up, put our heads down, and do the work.

Sky and water are intoxicating blues and greens. Puffy white clouds march across the horizon.
Happiness is the boat ride from a gorgeous buggy island, home to endangered butterflies.
Real Americans protect our living treasures. 🇺🇸🌿
#Conservation #NativePlants #Habitat #Restore #Butterflies 🦋 #Bugsky

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 28

The glorious instant you almost transform into a bee: 🌿 #NativePlants #Bees #Invertebrates #Summer #LignumVitae

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 26

Fluttering, floating into #Flyday. #ECK #NativePlants #Habitat #FloridaKeys 🦋🌿

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 23

Inspecting a high-rise condominium, or . . . house hunting for #ThickTrunkTuesday 🌿 #Birds🦉🪶 #ExoticBirds #OrangeWingedAmazon #Habitat #RoyalPalm #Miami

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 21

For Summer Solstice, let’s have more butterflies. ☀️ Dina Yellows are sometimes called Bush Sulfers. Barely larger than a nickel, they float like fairies through hammock edges and pinelands. 🐛need Bitterbush or Mexican Alveradoa. #Solstice 🦋 🌱 #NativePlants 🌿 #Miami #SouthFlorida

Mating yellow butterflies on pine straw, facing away from each other. On the left, the larger female has pink-brownish blotches. On the right, clear yellow wings of the male are partly visible. The eyes of both are bright yellow-green, and tiny legs and under bodies almost white.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 17

Chasing butterflies on a hot June morning in South Florida.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 17

Should probably get a life. 🤷‍♀️ 🦋 But no. I’m just chasing butterflies.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 14

👀 It’s staring back at me! 🌿🌱🐛🦋

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 14

Happy Sunday, Bluesky ✌️☮️✨ Sharing plants with a hungry caterpillar: pure magic. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Xylo... 🌱🌿 #invertebrates 🦋 #foodweb #pesticides🚫 #moths

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 12

Ok @grays.art. Look into this tiny god’s eyes and feel transformation, transcendence, peace. Wildness works its art. #FlyDay #EastCoastKin 🦅🌿

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 11

At 8:34 this morning, a Wild God gives a penetrating stare, a two-eyed blink, one-eyed blinks, and finally, sleepy closed eyes. 💚 I’ve been examined, seen, and my heart has floated outside my body. 🌿 #Rewild #NativePlants #Habitat #Miami #Birds 🦉🪶 #FairchildTropicalBotanicGarden

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 9

Survivor of time and hurricanes, a large Mastic, Sideroxylon foetidissimum, is part of a protected island hardwood hammock in the Florida Keys. The thin, vinelike roots clinging to it are Strangler Fig, Ficus aurea, someday to become a giant itself.🌿 #Hammock #ThickTrunkTuesday #FLKeys

A thick trunk curves above foliage of smaller trees below. One large branch has been broken by wind. In a sun-lit area of the rough trunk, a young Strangler Fig is growing, its vine-like roots extending down, trunk reaching up. In time the Strangler Fig will become as large as the huge Mastic on which it is growing. Both trees were planted here by birds, likely White Crowned Pigeons who fly from island to island in the Caribbean.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 5

This must be the individual Carolina anole often seen chilling outside a second-story bedroom window. But its appearance has changed radically. The bright crest has just appeared along with the all-over mottling. Mating season costume?

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 2

First, you see ears. #Cottontail 🌿 #Nature #Mammals #Houston,TX #MuseumDistrict

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· Jun 2

Hey! 👋 From Houston this weekend.

Hey
Sculpted hand, open with spread fingers—open eyes, mouth on the palm.

Hotel reception area: Zebra upholstered chairs, lacquered drum tables, large-patterned brocade rug, glowing Venetian chandelier, neon pink heart art, bar stools and table, tufted velvet sofa and ottoman. On the rear wall, blue light plays over a monumental artwork between mirrored columns.

Poolside, a bamboo steamer and drinks sit on a side table. Behind on a chaise, a barefoot man in a pink polo and ball cap raises the lid of his steamer, revealing a dish garnished with micro greens. In the distance are others
lounging around the blue pool.

Beneath back-lit clouds, an equestrian monument to Sam Houston stands atop an arch. Under the arch and on steps approaching, stand two young women in white dresses surrounded by family members commemorating their graduation with photos.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· May 30

Randia aculeata, White indigo berry, in full flower at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Keys Coastal Habitat display. Honeybees were buzzing all over, a Tantalus Sphinx appeared, humans stopped in their tracks to breathe in the fragrance.

Wikidgarden@wikidgarden· May 24

Every time I see this, I’m present at a miracle. 🦋 🌿🌱 #Wildlife #invertebrates #Biodiversity #GiantSwallowtail #UrbanButterflies #Nectar #Miami #Arachnothryxleucophylla