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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Canada bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) wet meadows vs. invasive stands of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). How to tell the difference...
Posted in
Animals,
Butterfly,
caterpillar,
Declining Species,
Endangered Species,
Farmland,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
Introduced Species,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Monarch,
Muscatine Iowa USA,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Pike Run Wildlife Preserve,
Plants,
Pollinators,
prairie,
RemnantHabitat,
Sand Prairie,
WetlandReserveEasementProgram,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildflower,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The last native bluff prairie remnant in Davenport, Iowa can be visited in Fairmount Cemetery. Towering above the Mississippi River, this prairie h...
Posted in
Ecological Services,
Fairmount Cemetery Prairie Davenport Iowa,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Oak Savanna,
Plants,
prairie,
Prairie Cemetery,
RemnantHabitat,
wilderness,
wildflower
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Over 3 million years ago, the Panama land bridge formed and connected the North American and South American Continents prompting the Great American...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
habitat,
iowa,
Mammals,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
opossum,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Finding Carolina anemone (Anemone caroliniana) blooming in the spring is a special treat. It is a very short plant with white or blue flowers and f...
Posted in
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Muscatine Iowa USA,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Plants,
prairie,
RemnantHabitat,
wilderness,
wildflower
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Many Midwest streams and rivers have been straightened by channelization. The soil removed from the stream channel is often sidecast next to the st...
Posted in
Creeks,
Ecological Services,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Rivers,
Streams,
Water Quality,
wilderness
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
The harmless western fox snake is a common Midwest species often found in the transition zone (ecotone) between wooded and herbaceous habitats. The...
Posted in
Animals,
Herpetiles,
Herpetofauna,
Herpetology,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Reptiles,
Snakes,
Western Fox Snake,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Fen wetlands of the Upper Midwest occur in areas where cold groundwater spills out onto the earth. The flow of water may seep out of a hillside, su...
Posted in
Farmland,
Fen,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
phlox maculata Marsh phlox,
Plants,
prairie,
RemnantHabitat,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildflower
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosa) is a native prairie sunflower that has a root system that forms underground tubers. Similar to potatoes,...
Posted in
Ecological Services,
Exploration,
Flora,
grassland,
habitat,
Hiking,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Native Plant,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Plants,
prairie,
RemnantHabitat,
Right of Way Prairie Remnants,
wilderness,
wildflower
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
While manning a booth at the farmers market yesterday, I noted dragonflies zipping above the crowd. The dragonflies were providing what is called ...
Posted in
Animals,
Damselfly,
Dragonfly,
Ecological Services,
Farmland,
Grazing,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
illinois,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
Natural Areas,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Odonata,
Odonate,
Plant and Animal Interactions,
Prairie Pothole,
Wetlands,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
To tell the difference between dragonflies and damselflies, look at their wings.
Dragonflies, such as this common darner, hold their wings perpen...
Posted in
Animals,
Damselfly,
Dragonfly,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
Odonata,
Odonate,
wilderness,
wildlife
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
In the prairie pothole region of Iowa and the surrounding states, the landscape was scraped flat by the Des Moines Lobe of the Wisconsin Glacier. ...
Posted in
grassland,
habitat,
Habitat Management,
Habitat Restoration,
iowa,
Kettlehole Lake,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
prairie,
Prairie Pothole,
Wetlands,
wilderness
-
by Jennifer Anderson-Cruz
It's katydid season! Katydids sing at night by rubbing their wings together. While it can be hard to spot a well camouflaged katydid, hearing...
Posted in
Animals,
backyard habitat,
BackyardHabitat,
iowa,
midwest,
MidwestWildernessConnections,
nature,
NaturePhotography,
wilderness,
wildlife,
Wildlife Photography
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