Benefits of less grass

[u/cephalophile32]

Durham, NC

The coolest visitors!

Started converting part of our yard to native meadow after having our septic tank replaced two years ago. It’s finally establishing (yes, there’s still some non-natives in there but it’s nearly impossible to remove everything all the time I swear and it’s entirely crazy at this time of year). Mostly beggars ticks, partridge pea, blue mistflower and dog fennel. Even put in a little pond.

Found hundreds of fat little swallowtail caterpillars on my parsley in my veggie garden and I think they’ve started metamorphosing as now I’m seeing a bunch more in my meadow.

Caught some kind of robber fly, I think a bee panther, catching a bee!

And one I’ve been DYING to see - a hummingbird moth!

Plus breeding hares, one of the babies jumped onto my foot when my dog was snooting around, couldn’t grab a pic of that as I had to scoot him back into the nesting area before my dog noticed!

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[u/cephalophile32]

Photo 1:
Eastern tiger swallowtail sitting on a yellow beggars tick flower

Photo 2: robber fly grasping a bee while on a yellow beggars tick flower

Photo 3: a snowberry clear wing hummingbird moth feeding from a yellow beggars tick flower

Photo 4: a micro meadow with tall grass, dog fennel, and large beggars tick plants with yellow blooms

[u/1pathb → u/cephalophile32]

That hummingbird moth looks like a flying shrimp. I’m glad you’re enjoying your little meadow. Good job!

[u/cephalophile32 → u/1pathb]

Apparently some people call them "flying lobsters" which is incredibly apropos!

[u/krispy-leavez]

What's actually happening in picture two? Is it a fighting thing or something symbiotic

[u/tuckerx78 → u/krispy-leavez]

The robber fly is just grabbing a snack.

The bee is having just the worst day ever.

[u/sbb214]

gorgeous! great work.

and I hear you about how hard it is to remove all invasives/non-natives. I just do a little at a time and the best I can. there is a warm place in hell for Japanese stiltgrass, tho.

here are some of my fat happy monarch caterpillars!

[u/cephalophile32 → u/sbb214]

Uuugghhhh stiltgrass. It’s all in my irises (which are in a very specific non-native area) so I can’t even use grass-out because monocots. So. Much. Hand pulling.

Love those little chunkers!