CJ Sands
@cjsands.bsky.social
Pollination ecologist and UVM graduate student researching native bees in agroecological landscapes, with a passion for conservation, regenerative food systems, and knowledge sharing.
Super rare that I Merlin picks up not one but two birds to add to my life list. Horned Lark and Purple Finch feels like the name of secret agents, maybe even time travelers who are sworn enemies with just a wisp of intimacy between them.
October 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Super rare that I Merlin picks up not one but two birds to add to my life list. Horned Lark and Purple Finch feels like the name of secret agents, maybe even time travelers who are sworn enemies with just a wisp of intimacy between them.
If my research idea comes to fruition, books on seeds will be joining the books on bees on my shelf. 🤓 Not quite a seed book, but I hear amazing things about Botany of Empire.
October 12, 2025 at 2:29 AM
If my research idea comes to fruition, books on seeds will be joining the books on bees on my shelf. 🤓 Not quite a seed book, but I hear amazing things about Botany of Empire.
My harvest of dragon tongue beans to replant next year. I started off with just 7 seeds that I brought up with me from Florida to Vermont, and after growing them out and saving the seeds I now have a couple hundred to give away. 💜
September 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
My harvest of dragon tongue beans to replant next year. I started off with just 7 seeds that I brought up with me from Florida to Vermont, and after growing them out and saving the seeds I now have a couple hundred to give away. 💜
My okra harvest as of late. I think I’ve officially grown more okra than anything else.
September 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
My okra harvest as of late. I think I’ve officially grown more okra than anything else.
Burlington is beautiful 😌
September 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Burlington is beautiful 😌
Special shout out to Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona. Such a gorgeous place!
August 21, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Special shout out to Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona. Such a gorgeous place!
The reaction of a Mimosa pusdica when I touch it 😍
July 29, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The reaction of a Mimosa pusdica when I touch it 😍
I really do love how simple phone photography can be with its point, shoot, and crop aspects. As much as I would love an amazing DSLR, I’m really starting to just want an upgraded phone camera lens more.
#bugsky
#bugsky
July 29, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I really do love how simple phone photography can be with its point, shoot, and crop aspects. As much as I would love an amazing DSLR, I’m really starting to just want an upgraded phone camera lens more.
#bugsky
#bugsky
Started reading “Bite by Bite” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, a book about that explores the way food and drink evoke our associations and remembrances. It is such a beautiful read and highly recommended.
#booksky
#booksky
July 17, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Started reading “Bite by Bite” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, a book about that explores the way food and drink evoke our associations and remembrances. It is such a beautiful read and highly recommended.
#booksky
#booksky
Ive gone from never being able to really take a good photo of these agapostemon to taking this amazing video. I love these flying gemstones. 💚🐝
#bugsky
#bugsky
June 15, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Ive gone from never being able to really take a good photo of these agapostemon to taking this amazing video. I love these flying gemstones. 💚🐝
#bugsky
#bugsky
I’ve never thought so much about a graphic novel after reading it as much as I’ve thought of this one. @igotkittypryde.bsky.social did such an amazing job with this.
May 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I’ve never thought so much about a graphic novel after reading it as much as I’ve thought of this one. @igotkittypryde.bsky.social did such an amazing job with this.
Presenting some research to the Vermont House Ag Committee tomorrow. Peep the tie 😎🐝
April 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Presenting some research to the Vermont House Ag Committee tomorrow. Peep the tie 😎🐝
Little homesick for the natural beauty of Florida’s swamps, but I’m slowly adjusting to Vermont’s seemingly unending winter. Enjoy this photo I took last spring of the zebra longwing (Heliconius charitonius), Florida's official state butterfly.
March 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Little homesick for the natural beauty of Florida’s swamps, but I’m slowly adjusting to Vermont’s seemingly unending winter. Enjoy this photo I took last spring of the zebra longwing (Heliconius charitonius), Florida's official state butterfly.
Enjoy this spider! One of the first insect photos I took here in VT over the summer.
#invertebrates #bugsky
#invertebrates #bugsky
February 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Enjoy this spider! One of the first insect photos I took here in VT over the summer.
#invertebrates #bugsky
#invertebrates #bugsky
When I took this photo over the summer, I didn’t know what kind of bee this was, and completely misidentified it when I first saw it. Now I know it’s a Melissodes bimaculatus, the two-spotted longhorn bee and one of my favorites(they are all kinda my favorite) 😅
#gardensky
#plantsky
#gardensky
#plantsky
February 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
When I took this photo over the summer, I didn’t know what kind of bee this was, and completely misidentified it when I first saw it. Now I know it’s a Melissodes bimaculatus, the two-spotted longhorn bee and one of my favorites(they are all kinda my favorite) 😅
#gardensky
#plantsky
#gardensky
#plantsky
Hoping one day to get a chance to see these Oak Ridge Lupine(Lupinus diffusus) again. 💙
February 2, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Hoping one day to get a chance to see these Oak Ridge Lupine(Lupinus diffusus) again. 💙
Two summers ago I took this photo in my best friend’s front yard. She has a Dutchman’s Pipe Vine who’s flower looks like a portal to another world, it also hosts the Gold Rim Swallowtail (Battus polydamas). The two of them are said to have coevolved together before time immemorial.
February 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Two summers ago I took this photo in my best friend’s front yard. She has a Dutchman’s Pipe Vine who’s flower looks like a portal to another world, it also hosts the Gold Rim Swallowtail (Battus polydamas). The two of them are said to have coevolved together before time immemorial.
Took this photo at a farm called Sweetwater in Tampa. Vibes there are S-Tier! Syngamia florella, the orange-spotted flower moth Unlike many moths, Syngamia florella is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day, much like butterflies. This behavior is common in moths with bright warning colors.
January 31, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Took this photo at a farm called Sweetwater in Tampa. Vibes there are S-Tier! Syngamia florella, the orange-spotted flower moth Unlike many moths, Syngamia florella is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day, much like butterflies. This behavior is common in moths with bright warning colors.