Among our new designs there are two contributions by nature artist, Nora Steele. They are selling prints and stickers of their wonderful work if you would like to check it out.
With the males’ bright yellow heads and rackety calls, these birds easily make themselves known. They live in emergent vegetation, such as bulrush, found in the wetlands of prairies and the open country of the West.
These long-range migration superstars may be seen as they cross North America between Argentina and their winter homes in the Arctic. In the spring, birders look for them as they forage in sod and plowed fields.
This widespread songbird sometimes uses a thorny branch to store food items. Don’t be surprised to find a toxic Monarch butterfly in their pantries, because these birds have learned that the toxins dissipate after a few days.
Design created by Nora Steele
This beautiful and showy butterfly lives in a tall grass prairie habitat. For a host plant, their caterpillars depend on the less conspicuous and overlooked Prairie Violets.
Termites are known for their unique ability to eat wood. It is the Trichonympha, a tiny protozoan living inside the termite’s gut, that break down the wood fragments into a digestible soup. A common biology class lab activity is to squash a termite and look for the microbes living in its gut.
This flamboyant spring orchid can be seen in northeastern forests. The design features an ephemeral bouquet that has sprung from the ground. On one side, a bumblebee, the necessary pollinator, is emerging from the flower.
Design created by Nora Steele