Are you looking for a different way to decorate with pumpkins this year? I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of cutting the same old triangle eyes and toothy smile. Why not try something new and turn your pumpkins into fall planters? Pumpkins make awesome flower pots. Follow these simple steps to […]
Summer is upon us in Southeast Texas and this is the time of year when animals of all kinds are most active. Animals are mating, giving birth to and raising young, searching for food, and generally in greater numbers, so we are more likely to cross paths. This can be a busy and dangerous time […]
May 20 is World Bee Day. It is a world-wide celebration of what has been declared the single most important animal on earth. It’s staggering to think of what they do for us and the planet. Around 70% of the world’s agriculture depends exclusively on bees for pollination and this doesn’t even cover what they […]
As Mother’s Day approaches, we’re reminded of all of the hard-working, loving, and caring moms out there. I have three little boys of my own and I know what I’ll be doing, soaking up quality time with them and enjoying the sweet hand-written notes and beautiful pictures. While we’re all making plans and deciding what […]
It’s that time of year. Insects of all kinds are emerging from their winter slumber to seek food, shelter, and a safe place to have their babies, and secure the next generation of their species. These are the basic needs of insects. You may be wondering, why should I care? They are just bugs. Well, […]
In mere weeks, one of the most spectacular natural phenomena will begin to take place in the Eastern part of the US – the synchronized emergence of trillions of periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.). These unusual insects have spent the past 17 years feeding underground, and once the soil temperature reaches about 64 degrees, they will […]
From now through January 5th, you can step into the Cockrell Butterfly Center for a truly unique Holiday event. You will be surrounded by beautiful white flowers and twinkling lights, while delicate white butterflies dance around you and festive music gets you into the holiday spirit. This time of year, Houston’s mild climate can leave […]
A couple of years ago, on a beautiful October day, I picked up my son Ethan from school and decided it was a great time to go to the zoo. We had a blast and the weather was perfect; things could not have been any better, until they took a surprising turn for the worst. […]
In a year full of bad headlines involving insects (insects populations declining globally, National Butterfly Center, one of America’s richest butterfly habitats threatened by Trump’s wall, Western migratory monarch population drops by 87%), one ray of light stands out, giving us a shimmer of hope: The Mexican migratory monarch population is seeing it’s highest numbers […]
With National Pollinator Week behind us, it may be easy to focus on other issues and forget that pollinators need our help to bounce back. While many people only envision little honeybees when they think about pollinators, they couldn’t be a more diverse group of animals, including mammals, birds, insects, and even reptiles! Here […]
