JBtheExplorer ❄️| Native Plant Gardener (WI)
@jbtheexplorer.bsky.social
Wisconsin Native Plant Gardener🦋 (more than 3000 sq. ft.!), Habitat Enthusiast🌿, Casual Nature Photographer, Hiker, Gamer, Motorsports fan, Plane watcher. Using Bluesky to document the nature in my yard and elsewhere. Please plant #NativePlants
Pinned
I cant even believe it!
I've waited at least 25 years to see another one of these! I kept telling myself this was going to be the year and I can't believe it actually was! 😍
Yellow garden spider. Seen during today's prairie walk.
#yellowgardenspider #spider #prairie #prairierestoration 🕷️
I've waited at least 25 years to see another one of these! I kept telling myself this was going to be the year and I can't believe it actually was! 😍
Yellow garden spider. Seen during today's prairie walk.
#yellowgardenspider #spider #prairie #prairierestoration 🕷️
Couldn't get a better photo but this is the first of two Green Bay Packers planes flying past on their way to Chicago for the playoff game.
#aircraft #planes #aviation #Packers #GreenBayPackers
#aircraft #planes #aviation #Packers #GreenBayPackers
January 9, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Couldn't get a better photo but this is the first of two Green Bay Packers planes flying past on their way to Chicago for the playoff game.
#aircraft #planes #aviation #Packers #GreenBayPackers
#aircraft #planes #aviation #Packers #GreenBayPackers
Winter sowing with 14 milk jugs. We'll see how this goes. Species include rosinweed, tall thimbleweed, zigzag goldenrod, culver's root, and more. I also have more seeds in my stratification box, and might start a few indoors.
#nativeplants #nativegarden #gardening
#nativeplants #nativegarden #gardening
January 9, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Winter sowing with 14 milk jugs. We'll see how this goes. Species include rosinweed, tall thimbleweed, zigzag goldenrod, culver's root, and more. I also have more seeds in my stratification box, and might start a few indoors.
#nativeplants #nativegarden #gardening
#nativeplants #nativegarden #gardening
January 9, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I noticed something white on my cedar tree a few minutes ago and realized it's the empty monarch chrysalis still tied to the branch that I forgot to remove.
January 8, 2026 at 7:38 PM
I noticed something white on my cedar tree a few minutes ago and realized it's the empty monarch chrysalis still tied to the branch that I forgot to remove.
Reposted by JBtheExplorer ❄️| Native Plant Gardener (WI)
At the Lake Michigan beach in winter. I left the house two hours before sunrise, arriving at Point Beach State Forest at dawn. It was worth it, not too cold, right around freezing. I am working on a video of that morning, and hope to have it out next week. #lakemichigan #winter #wisconsinnature
January 7, 2026 at 1:38 AM
At the Lake Michigan beach in winter. I left the house two hours before sunrise, arriving at Point Beach State Forest at dawn. It was worth it, not too cold, right around freezing. I am working on a video of that morning, and hope to have it out next week. #lakemichigan #winter #wisconsinnature
I play Bandle nearly every day and I've gotten a handful of songs right on the first try in the past year and a half, but I'm proud of how fast I got it today. As soon as I pushed play I recognized it. 😁
January 4, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I play Bandle nearly every day and I've gotten a handful of songs right on the first try in the past year and a half, but I'm proud of how fast I got it today. As soon as I pushed play I recognized it. 😁
15°F didn't feel so bad wandering around the lighthouse (until I walked over to the lake and felt a breeze).
#lighthouse #Wisconsin #Winter #LakeMichigan
#lighthouse #Wisconsin #Winter #LakeMichigan
January 4, 2026 at 4:15 PM
15°F didn't feel so bad wandering around the lighthouse (until I walked over to the lake and felt a breeze).
#lighthouse #Wisconsin #Winter #LakeMichigan
#lighthouse #Wisconsin #Winter #LakeMichigan
Another look at the Wind Point foghorn building built in 1900.
#LakeMichigan #HistoricMarker #Wisconsin #Winter #historicbuilding #museum
#LakeMichigan #HistoricMarker #Wisconsin #Winter #historicbuilding #museum
January 3, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Another look at the Wind Point foghorn building built in 1900.
#LakeMichigan #HistoricMarker #Wisconsin #Winter #historicbuilding #museum
#LakeMichigan #HistoricMarker #Wisconsin #Winter #historicbuilding #museum
More photos from Wind Point. I found out after I got home that there's a Purple sandpiper hanging out at Wind Point. I never saw it and wasn't actively looking for birds, so I missed out.
#LakeMichigan #Winter #Wisconsin
#LakeMichigan #Winter #Wisconsin
January 3, 2026 at 7:34 PM
More photos from Wind Point. I found out after I got home that there's a Purple sandpiper hanging out at Wind Point. I never saw it and wasn't actively looking for birds, so I missed out.
#LakeMichigan #Winter #Wisconsin
#LakeMichigan #Winter #Wisconsin
Racine Reef Light is a couple miles east of shore in Lake Michigan. It used to be a home to a pretty cool lighthouse but that was torn down in 1961 and replaced with a basic metal tower. At certain times of year it will be covered either in ice or cormorants.
January 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Racine Reef Light is a couple miles east of shore in Lake Michigan. It used to be a home to a pretty cool lighthouse but that was torn down in 1961 and replaced with a basic metal tower. At certain times of year it will be covered either in ice or cormorants.
The top of the Wind Point lighthouse. One of the tallest and oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes.
#lighthouse #wisconsin
#lighthouse #wisconsin
January 3, 2026 at 3:43 PM
The top of the Wind Point lighthouse. One of the tallest and oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes.
#lighthouse #wisconsin
#lighthouse #wisconsin
The Wind Point foghorn building overlooking Lake Michigan. It was built in 1900. Today it operates as a small museum.
#Wisconsin #LakeMichigan #HistoricalMarker #History #Winter
#Wisconsin #LakeMichigan #HistoricalMarker #History #Winter
January 2, 2026 at 10:36 PM
The Wind Point foghorn building overlooking Lake Michigan. It was built in 1900. Today it operates as a small museum.
#Wisconsin #LakeMichigan #HistoricalMarker #History #Winter
#Wisconsin #LakeMichigan #HistoricalMarker #History #Winter
Visited the Wind Point Lighthouse today. I rarely ever visit it in winter so it was nice to see with some snow on the ground.
#Wisconsin #Lighthouse #winter #snow
#Wisconsin #Lighthouse #winter #snow
January 2, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Visited the Wind Point Lighthouse today. I rarely ever visit it in winter so it was nice to see with some snow on the ground.
#Wisconsin #Lighthouse #winter #snow
#Wisconsin #Lighthouse #winter #snow
January 2, 2026 at 3:09 PM
A few more additions to my collection. I usually stick with racecars but I couldn't pass up a Jurassic Park Jeep.
#diecast #HotWheels #Matchbox #racecar
#diecast #HotWheels #Matchbox #racecar
January 1, 2026 at 8:10 PM
A few more additions to my collection. I usually stick with racecars but I couldn't pass up a Jurassic Park Jeep.
#diecast #HotWheels #Matchbox #racecar
#diecast #HotWheels #Matchbox #racecar
All the leaves are brown.
And the sky is gray.
And the sky is gray.
January 1, 2026 at 4:22 PM
All the leaves are brown.
And the sky is gray.
And the sky is gray.
Happy New Year.
I don't know how we're 6 years into the 20's already but damn, time really goes by fast.
I don't know how we're 6 years into the 20's already but damn, time really goes by fast.
January 1, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Happy New Year.
I don't know how we're 6 years into the 20's already but damn, time really goes by fast.
I don't know how we're 6 years into the 20's already but damn, time really goes by fast.
Coyotes were active on the trails overnight.
January 1, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Coyotes were active on the trails overnight.
Can you identify these animal tracks?
December 31, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Can you identify these animal tracks?
Another year comes to a close. Had some fun throughout 2025. Museums, car shows, airshows, a dirt race, seeing blimps fly past my house, a lunar eclipse, the northern lights, fun hikes and camping trips, great wildlife moments and native garden moments. Only time will tell what 2026 brings.
December 31, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Another year comes to a close. Had some fun throughout 2025. Museums, car shows, airshows, a dirt race, seeing blimps fly past my house, a lunar eclipse, the northern lights, fun hikes and camping trips, great wildlife moments and native garden moments. Only time will tell what 2026 brings.
Went on a New Years Eve hike this morning. The final hike of 2025.
#hiking #nature #wisconsin #winter
#hiking #nature #wisconsin #winter
December 31, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Went on a New Years Eve hike this morning. The final hike of 2025.
#hiking #nature #wisconsin #winter
#hiking #nature #wisconsin #winter
It's snowing just enough to make me shovel tomorrow.
December 31, 2025 at 1:41 AM
It's snowing just enough to make me shovel tomorrow.
I'm nearly finished with the throwback posts. Only one more day left in the year!
These are four of my favorite photos I've taken in 2025.
#photography #nature #wildlife #wisconsin
These are four of my favorite photos I've taken in 2025.
#photography #nature #wildlife #wisconsin
December 31, 2025 at 12:34 AM
I'm nearly finished with the throwback posts. Only one more day left in the year!
These are four of my favorite photos I've taken in 2025.
#photography #nature #wildlife #wisconsin
These are four of my favorite photos I've taken in 2025.
#photography #nature #wildlife #wisconsin
Today's throwback was the wettest hike of my life back in May. It started out cloudy and eventually turned into a heavy shower that I was stuck in for well over an hour. I have since packed an emergency poncho for my camping trips. 😁
December 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Today's throwback was the wettest hike of my life back in May. It started out cloudy and eventually turned into a heavy shower that I was stuck in for well over an hour. I have since packed an emergency poncho for my camping trips. 😁
I just found this photo from 11 years ago when I was first trying to make ornaments out of wood. All I had at the time was an ultra fine-point sharpie and a decaying branch that I cut to make wooden disks. It's honestly shocking to me to see how much I've improved. I don't know how it happened!
December 30, 2025 at 1:49 AM
I just found this photo from 11 years ago when I was first trying to make ornaments out of wood. All I had at the time was an ultra fine-point sharpie and a decaying branch that I cut to make wooden disks. It's honestly shocking to me to see how much I've improved. I don't know how it happened!