Katie Sivinski

Gray Woolly Skies of Winter wonderings and wanderings in nature

I posted my first newsletter on Substack. I really enjoyed taking the pictures of trees for it.

open.substack.com/pub/katiesiv...

I’m reading Frozen River now. I really like it too!

I love esoteric squirrel knowledge! :) so do you think this was probably a normal gray squirrel eating this acorn?

Acorn eaten with half remaining. Excavated in a round hole.

Looking around my yard for flying squirrel evidence. I know I have some. I don’t see a carrying notch but it’s a round hole to nibble the acorn and they ate pretty neatly. Any flying squirrel thoughts? #virginianativeplants #leavetheleaves #backyardhabitat

Red backed salamander hiding in shallow bucket under some leaves. Yes, he can get out.

Did some backyard relaxing and exploring today. Found this salamander resting in one of the kids toys under the fallen leaves. #leavetheleaves even if they cover your kids stuff. 😆 #backyardhabitat #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Love that, Tami! The shadows look awesome.

Thanks for the info! I’ve noticed ants always visiting my euonymous flowers. Good to know why.

I’m planning a place to dig up daffodil bulbs and get rid of lyriope (sp?). No planting yet but cover with cardboard and mulch to plant in the spring.

Yes I never stop being amazed by them! It was a surprise! 🤩

Thanks, I couldn’t believe my timing!

Four red berries bursting out of the shell with the dainty leaves of strawberry bush.

Light pink bumpy berry shells with red berries bursting out.

My hearts-a-busting is busting and it’s so cute. (Aka strawberry bush, yes I barely ever get deer.) #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardhabitat #berries

Monarch wiggling into chrysalis with shed skin on left.

Solidified chrysalis

I saw a monarch going into its chrysalis! It was wiggling a bit and the chrysalis looked so crazy, like a grub almost. I had to leave but when I came back, it looked normal and had hardened. #monarchs #backyardhabitat

I know, I’ve been so pumped!

Orange male monarch butterfly warming itself on tree branch.

Monarch love. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #monarchs

Monarch butterfly resting on flower right next to its chrysalis.

I came home from work at the perfect time the other day. A monarch had just emerged from its chrysalis and I got see it drying its wings. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #monarchs

Teensy tiny day old monarch caterpillar.

Caterpillar chomping on swamp milkweed.

Few day old caterpillar on swamp milkweed.

Last instar monarch caterpillar

Really good monarch season in our yard. Love that my milkweed is finally getting some attention. First year with caterpillars. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #caterpillars

White tubular flowers that bumblebees have to push open to get into.

Velvety turtlehead now in bloom. I saw a bumblebee visit today. 💚 #bloomscrolling #virginianativeplants #nativeplants

Thanks, great advice!!

Thanks for the tips! Maybe buying some plants is the easiest way to go.

Wow so just from one plant you got a dense grouping? That’s amazing! If you use seed can you just self sow over the area you want in the fall?

I am loving my cutleaf coneflower I planted last year. Does so well in part shade/almost full shade conditions. #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #bloomscrolling

Pretty orange flower that hummingbirds love.

Jewelweed up close. I really want some in my yard. Any tips on best way to grow? From seed or plant some in the spring? #nativeplants #backyardhabitat #bloomscrolling

Fat bright green caterpillar stretching along branch to eat leaf.

Tons of caterpillar poop from all their munching!

Looking at my dwarf fothergillas yesterday and was like where did all the leaves go? Then I found three Polyphemus moth caterpillars! Love imagining the adult flying around laying eggs on my plants. They’re in the witch Hazel family so it’s a host plant! #bugsky #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Rosa arkansana Check out the deal on Rosa arkansana at Prairie Moon Nursery

I love shrubby St. John’s wort. Mine is so beautiful blooming for about 3 weeks. What about some of that interspersed with a wild rose? www.prairiemoon.com/rosa-arkansa...

Hmm maybe! I looked it up and it likes part sun and dry. My yard is pretty wet so that might not work. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestion!!

Oh wow, it’s not native to Virginia. Maybe that’s why I never planted it! 😆 I have cardinal flower blooming right now and the hummingbirds love that too.

Cool, thanks! I might try it.

Beautiful! I’ve thought about getting that plant. Does it need a lot of sun?

Black, white and orange hairy caterpillars chomping away on milkweed.

Milkweed tiger moth caterpillars on butterfly milkweed. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #caterpillars

Oak tree leaves with lime green acorns

Sinuate style leaves I believe—leaves with wavy edges and pretty lime green acorns.

I thought from far away this was a Chinese Chestnut tree but then found out it was a Chestnut Oak up close. It really clicked why they call it a chestnut oak. 😆 The acorns were so pretty and there were so many. #trees #virginiatrees #oaktrees #treelover #nature