theplantbitch

[theplantbitch]

#lovely!!

[theplantbitch]

Original

[theplantbitch]

so many areas have been un-wetlanded and we need to re-wet them. if there is an area that makes a big puddle for days every time it rains everyone wants to make a channel to make the water go away faster. but actually that solution creates muddy polluted water flowing rapidly into the streams. the real solution is to dig a wide shallow pit to become a pond and make the water hang out for longer so it can become the cattails' and rushes' home. make sure to make the edges a gradual slope so the frogs can get in easily btw

#such important info #protect wetlands!

[theplantbitch]

We need more trees in suburban and urban areas. They create shade for people and habitat for wild life. In overdeveloped areas which are just flat Concrete and asphalt temperatures can get really high.

Also if ur going to have a lawn, please native grasses and plants because these give habitat to bees and native wildlife.

Plastic or fake grass can get hot enough to give third degree burns and is a danger to pets and children.

[theplantbitch]

Wistman's Wood, Dartmoor by Dr Stanislav Edward

[theplantbitch]

In the forest. Värmland, Sweden (January 29, 2023).

[theplantbitch]

Little vision for a more beautiful, sustainable, tactile future.

[theplantbitch]

Connecting with nature

Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen an unprecedented number of people wanting to connect with nature. This is a bit of a double-edged sword! It’s got a lot of biologists very worried, to be honest, because we’ve seen an explosion in people feeding wildlife, buying exotic pets, collecting specimens and decorative knick-knacks made of wild animals and plants (sellers always say these are ethical - but people lie on the internet!),  getting too close to wild animals for pictures, trampling the ground around ancient trees, walking off-trail and over-harvesting plants while foraging, and buying illegally-harvested houseplants. 

If you know people doing things like that, we’d suggest encouraging them to connect with nature in some more positive ways. We’re going to focus on botany-related topics, both because that’s our area of expertise, and honestly, also because animal-related topics can get a bit distressing, since people’s attempts to connect with nature via animals can often cost the animals their lives. 

 A lot of the connection with nature we see happening right now involves taking. Here are some ideas that we’ve discussed that involve giving back, or simply leaving the environment untouched. 

Keep reading

#so so so important #and excellent blog btw so much great info!!

[theplantbitch]

I think one of the absolute most frustrating things for me personally about the current climate crisis / late stage capitalism hell is that ontop of people just outright denying it and acting like the rising temperatures are normal- there’s been like. A VERY noticeable decline in the amount of insects yearly. As someone who goes out of my way to see bugs, every single year for the past decade there has been a sharp decline in bugs. What used to be fun filled summer months running around, catching grasshoppers and petting caterpillars… there’s nothing. I’ve seen one grasshopper this year. I’ve not seen a single caterpillar! It’s currently the ant nuptial flight season in my area and I’ve seen 0 winged ants. They used to all but infest my home during flight season

I remember as a kid, I used to excitedly find ladybug larvae, and I’d relocate them to plants covered in aphids. But I’ve seen one ladybug in the past 5 years, and 0 larvae. I’ve not even seen any aphids. It’s so tangible, it’s so noticeable to me as someone who considered this my absolute favourite season to do my favourite activity in. And I know if the bugs are dying off, other things that eat those bugs are to.

And the absolute worst part? When I tell people about this, the average reaction is ‘good!’. A lot of people will express joy over there being less bugs in the world. Most will express how they’re glad they’ve been experiencing less mosquitos and I want to just grab by the shoulders and shake them and yell TONS OF BUGS JUST DISAPPEARING SHARPLY OVER THE YEARS IS NOT A GOOD THING !!

Anyways. Fellow entomology nerds, have any of you also noticed a drastic decrease in bugs you’re finding yearly or is my area just in a bug deficit.

#long post #so so so important!!

[theplantbitch]

Mossy stones and wood thrush song this morning.

[theplantbitch]

tagetes linnaeus, I used to dislike all tagetes, they were ugly and smelled bad but then I saw this one and I loved it. Grew it everything since. I used to plant it next to something blue. I sowed some new seeds and old to see if they work. (Tree days later and one little seedling is peeking up)

Knautia macedonica, some old collected seed. Who knows if they will grown. Placed them outside. Usually it would self-seed in my garden so hopefully that means they are easy. Often very popular with bees.

Globe thistle echinops ritro, If they grow I will plant them at the guerrilla patch. They are always full of bees.

Rudbeckia “Sahara” Never grown this one before, I sell it so I want to know how to grow it. They have sold pretty well, a popular one. (Something green is peeking out 16/3)

#lovely!!

[theplantbitch]

I love you overgrown gardens, i love you graffiti, i love you weeds growing through the cracks of the cement, i love you roof gardens, i love you vines climbing up walls, i love you nature and creativity overpowering governmental structures, i love you nature reclaiming abandoned buildings

[theplantbitch]

Barbican Conservatory Pt. 1 Taken 31st May 2023, Barbican Conservatory, London

[theplantbitch]

Mom sent me a facebook link to a PBS news hour post about how the anti-lawn movement is growing. The vast majority of the comments on it were stuff like this:

Most people are on our side here, even the so-called "boomers." We just have to be spreading ecological knowledge and practical means of creating useful habitat in back yards! Educate! Protect! Resist!

#i love this #support your local pollinators!

[theplantbitch]

#and now im crying #moths #not a plant

[theplantbitch]

Flowers! 💐

[theplantbitch]

Kew Gardens, London