The Art of Ecology
Building visual connections between people and nature.
Tag: pollinators
Flower Morphology: Why does it look like that?
Flowers are such incredible organisms! I love the diversity of shape, color, and scents that can be found not just globally, but even regionally. But what is the point of a flower? Why care about flower morphology? Is it just something pretty that feeds pollinators nectar? Pollination Purpose Well, yes. Pollinators do love nectar – …
Sustainable Crafts: Part IV
Celebrate National Pollinator Month with some all-natural and sustainable crafts, designed specifically for native pollinators! Below are some ideas that can support butterfly populations, protect declining bee populations, and increase the amount of pollinator-friendly native plants found in your community. This is part 4 of my “Eco-friendly” & sustainable art projects. Find more projects and …
A World Without Pollinators
Could you imagine a world with no berries or melons? No pumpkins during the fall or chocolate to indulge in? Or what about a world with no coffee in the morning and no flowers to water? Unfortunately, this is most likely the path we are headed on due to the declining population of pollinators. According …
Transformation: WILD ART 2021
As part of the Wild Art 2021 December Challenge, put on by Zoe Keller, I illustrated two pieces focusing on the theme, “Transformation”. Each month, I will focus on two pieces – one highlighting flora, the other highlighting fauna. This month, the first is an animal that has the unique ability to swap out the …
Leave The Weeds – Love the Pollinators!
Did you know that this week is Pollinator Week? This is a week (although it’s a Pollinator Month as well!) where Pollinator Protections are passed, local municipalities put out Pollinator Proclamations, and Pollinator-Themed activities and events happen. This is a fantastic time to learn more about local pollinators and about their importance, BUT…. pollinators need …
Adapt: Wild Art 2021 – March
As part of the Wild Art 2021 March Challenge, put on by Zoe Keller, I illustrated two pieces focusing on the theme, “Adapt”. While some artists focused on nocturnal animals and their unique adaptations, others focused on marine species that live in the depths! Each month, I am going to focus on two pieces – …
Colors of the Rainbow as Seen in the Garden
Flowers have so many beautiful colors, but other than just to make us humans happy, why are flower colors so diverse? Pollinators have the important job of transferring genetics from one flower to another to allow for fertilization and ultimately growth of future generations of flowers and plants. In order to attract the most effective …
Pollination – Amazing Plant & Animal Relationships
Last month, I had a wonderful opportunity to learn more about pollinators, like the honeybee, at the nationally recognized botanical garden – Longwood Gardens! This professional development opportunity allowed me to not only learn about these amazing plant & animal relationships, but to witness first hand active pollination in the outdoor gardens and photograph some …
Orchids – the Mischievous Flower
Flowers rely on pollinators like bees, beetles, birds, moths, butterflies, bats, and other creatures to spread pollen from one flower to the next in order to create seeds. Flowers have adapted their color, shape, or aroma to attract the type of pollinator that would best suit them – for example, hummingbirds like red tube flowers. …
Tyler State Park Pollinator Habitat Restoration Project – A Reflection
For the past two years, I have been photographing two meadows at Tyler State Park, in Newtown PA, as part of a long-term project run by Bucks County Community College (BCCC). These select meadows are in the process of becoming ideal pollinator habitat! Native plant and wildflower seeds were sown, invasive species were removed, and …
