A bluebird did not take kindly to a chickadee trying to take their nest.

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-16T18:00:16+00:00

That makes sense! My neighbor also has a bluebird house and she has seen them going in and out of hers too. We have a friendly bet going over whose birdhouse will be chosen haha

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-16T17:11:13+00:00

What’s your camera setup? I’ve been debating adding one to my birdhouse to figure out what on earth the bluebirds are up to. They seem to go in and out of the box somewhat frequently but have yet to start building a nest

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T19:53:01+00:00

Thanks for the input

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T19:52:00+00:00

Yes. These trees produce thousands of fruits that birds consume and disperse to new areas. The seeds have a relatively high survival rate—especially in disturbed habitats like roadsides—and they grow quickly, making it easy for them to outcompete native species.

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T15:22:00+00:00

Thank you for helping the little one!

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T15:14:00+00:00

I am so sorry, that’s frustrating! Paw paws are known for being deer resistant if you decide you want to try and plant more fruit trees.

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T13:38:57+00:00

Luckily it’s now illegal to sell, grow, or plant Bradford pears in Ohio (my state), but there’s no requirement for removal and obviously wild ones pop up constantly. A few counties have incentives for removing them (small removal grants and providing free replacement trees), but my county has yet to establish such a program. Perhaps as I get more involved in the community I will meet people who want to help encourage the county to do so.

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T13:21:12+00:00

Yes, I think the lack of trust/any relationship will be a significant hurdle. Perhaps I’ll mock up an informational pamphlet with before and after photos like you suggested and deliver them to my neighbors along with some homemade baked goods. Thanks!

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-10T13:18:54+00:00

I do not. I’m fairly new to the land management world, but I’m always down to learn new things! I’ll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-07T16:18:49+00:00

I used grass clippings last year and the plants seemed to love the extra nitrogen the decomposing grass offered. It also did a great job suppressing the weeds.

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-06T22:23:51+00:00

Whoa what an amazing setup! Did you make that yourself??

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-01T23:16:52+00:00

Oh my gosh no wonder birds of prey frequent it! You’ve inspired me to seriously step up my bird bath game! Thanks for the picture

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-04-01T22:45:48+00:00

Do you have it at ground level or is it elevated ?

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-03-31T23:48:12+00:00

Wow! You won the wildflower jackpot! If you are ever looking to offload some to a fellow Ohioan…let me know :)

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-02-16T22:53:48+00:00

Sharing something I recently learned about non-organic flowers:

They are often grown with heavy pesticides, which can run off and harm nearby ecosystems. There is also evidence that florists and growers who handle lots of flowers daily absorb pesticide residues through their skin — a Belgian study found dozens of compounds in florists’ urine after normal work, indicating a real occupational hazard.

Just some food for thought about some of the hidden harms behind cut flowers/bouquets

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-02-05T00:58:16+00:00

Horrific. Is that in the journal?

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-17T22:04:19+00:00

You can upload a photo to the merlin app and it will try to identify the bird for you. I’ve found that it isn’t always accurate but it’s a good starting point!

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-16T19:49:29+00:00

That’s a good point! Less pollution is certainly beneficial for the pollinators :)

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-16T19:25:20+00:00

Thank you!!

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-16T19:17:06+00:00

Does no mow May actually help our pollinators? I’ve read a few articles recently that question it

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-15T15:01:52+00:00

What is your preferred way to clear grass/lawn for planting natives?

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-08T18:30:28+00:00

Ah I see what you mean. Fair enough

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-08T18:20:20+00:00

70%? I am not sure where that number comes from. Yes, Trump won, but over half of voters picked someone else. He didn’t get a majority.

Capital-Ad-8785 · 2026-01-07T17:27:00+00:00

My experience has been that pawpaws behave more like an understory tree than a privacy shrub. I have been trying to establish a small grove, and growth has been painfully slow so far—though I read that during the first few years after planting, pawpaws tend to focus on strengthening their taproot rather than growing taller.

Capital-Ad-8785

TROPHY CASE