Two years ago,
the Midwest experienced
an irruption of painted
ladies. I was seeing
dozens of them nearly
every day in late summer.
I was surprised to find
a few looking for nectar
from white snakeroot, a
plant I haven’t seen many
other pollinators visit.
Travis Bonovsky
BROOKLYN CENTER, MINNESOTAA lot of people
start their day with a cup
of coffee. Not me! I begin
each day outside watching
hummingbirds. There’s
nothing like the cool
morning air and the sound
of whirring wings among
the stillness and quiet
of my rural yard. This
particular morning I was
lucky enough to capture
this sweet ruby-throat
guarding her flower from
other hummers.
Julie Kirk
OBION, TENNESSEE
BACKYARD TALES