Sand & Sage Native Landscapes - Jax
@fl-natural.bsky.social
Sand and Sage is a Native Habitat Landscape Consultant based in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Our mission is to support native animals by restoring native habitats, one yard at a time.
Snowing in NE Florida!
Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia)
Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia)
November 27, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Snowing in NE Florida!
Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia)
Saltbush (Baccharis halimifolia)
Snow Squarestem
(Melanthera nivea)
Blooms into December
(Melanthera nivea)
Blooms into December
November 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Snow Squarestem
(Melanthera nivea)
Blooms into December
(Melanthera nivea)
Blooms into December
Stay glassy Bluecurls! Until late November!
And do you see our native sweat bee getting his?
And do you see our native sweat bee getting his?
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Stay glassy Bluecurls! Until late November!
And do you see our native sweat bee getting his?
And do you see our native sweat bee getting his?
Don’t cut those native plants that have gone to seed - native bees like this sweat bee sleep in them at night.
It is dusk and he is locking his mandibles on the underside of an aged dotted horsemint flower - getting ready for a good night’s sleep.
It is dusk and he is locking his mandibles on the underside of an aged dotted horsemint flower - getting ready for a good night’s sleep.
November 8, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Don’t cut those native plants that have gone to seed - native bees like this sweat bee sleep in them at night.
It is dusk and he is locking his mandibles on the underside of an aged dotted horsemint flower - getting ready for a good night’s sleep.
It is dusk and he is locking his mandibles on the underside of an aged dotted horsemint flower - getting ready for a good night’s sleep.
Native coral bean, sunshine mimosa and railroad vine
October 3, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Native coral bean, sunshine mimosa and railroad vine
October view
October 3, 2025 at 6:44 PM
October view
Golden aster (Chrysopsis spp.) is a native pioneer plant with long lasting flowers.
Its late-summer through fall golden blooms carry the nectar load after goldenrod peaks in the end of September in NE Florida.
Its late-summer through fall golden blooms carry the nectar load after goldenrod peaks in the end of September in NE Florida.
October 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Golden aster (Chrysopsis spp.) is a native pioneer plant with long lasting flowers.
Its late-summer through fall golden blooms carry the nectar load after goldenrod peaks in the end of September in NE Florida.
Its late-summer through fall golden blooms carry the nectar load after goldenrod peaks in the end of September in NE Florida.
Blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) looks unassuming—low, sprawling, and delicate—but its true magic is in the flowers. Each day, new tiny blue blooms open and fade, creating a constant nectar buffet for butterflies, especially zebras and swallowtails.
October 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) looks unassuming—low, sprawling, and delicate—but its true magic is in the flowers. Each day, new tiny blue blooms open and fade, creating a constant nectar buffet for butterflies, especially zebras and swallowtails.
Bushy blue curls (Trichostema dichotomum) are tiny marvels. Their delicate violet flowers unfurl each morning, then vanish by evening—ephemeral beauty on repeat. The curled stamens look like little paintbrushes, loaded with pollen for visiting bees.
October 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Bushy blue curls (Trichostema dichotomum) are tiny marvels. Their delicate violet flowers unfurl each morning, then vanish by evening—ephemeral beauty on repeat. The curled stamens look like little paintbrushes, loaded with pollen for visiting bees.
Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) may look like just another native grass—until fall, when it bursts into clouds of golden daisies. Its silvery leaves shimmer year-round, and it thrives in dry, sandy soil. A tough groundcover + late-season pollinator feast!
October 3, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) may look like just another native grass—until fall, when it bursts into clouds of golden daisies. Its silvery leaves shimmer year-round, and it thrives in dry, sandy soil. A tough groundcover + late-season pollinator feast!
Blazing star (Liatris spicata) isn’t just a native showstopper with its tall purple spikes—it actually blooms from the top down, unlike most flowers that start at the base. This upside-down fireworks display makes it a magnet for pollinators.
October 3, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Blazing star (Liatris spicata) isn’t just a native showstopper with its tall purple spikes—it actually blooms from the top down, unlike most flowers that start at the base. This upside-down fireworks display makes it a magnet for pollinators.
Snowy squarestem (Melanthera nivea) is an aster with square stems.
Very important source of nectar and pollen for native pollinators in Fall.
Finches eat the seeds.
Leaves used to make teas in the Caribbean for fever, cold and flu
Very important source of nectar and pollen for native pollinators in Fall.
Finches eat the seeds.
Leaves used to make teas in the Caribbean for fever, cold and flu
September 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Snowy squarestem (Melanthera nivea) is an aster with square stems.
Very important source of nectar and pollen for native pollinators in Fall.
Finches eat the seeds.
Leaves used to make teas in the Caribbean for fever, cold and flu
Very important source of nectar and pollen for native pollinators in Fall.
Finches eat the seeds.
Leaves used to make teas in the Caribbean for fever, cold and flu
Late summer is the season for seeing the native five-banded thynnid wasp (Myzinum quinquecinctum) a thread-waisted wasp harmless to humans. Here are males using their mandibles to hold onto grasses for the night. Female stings are suited to subdue grubs and Japanese Beetle larvae. Males can’t sting
September 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Late summer is the season for seeing the native five-banded thynnid wasp (Myzinum quinquecinctum) a thread-waisted wasp harmless to humans. Here are males using their mandibles to hold onto grasses for the night. Female stings are suited to subdue grubs and Japanese Beetle larvae. Males can’t sting
Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus, commonly called the four-banded stink bug hunter wasp
•beneficial native solitary sand wasp - nests in sandy ground
•visits wildflowers like this goldenrod for nectar while hunting stink bugs
•harmless to humans unless held
•beneficial native solitary sand wasp - nests in sandy ground
•visits wildflowers like this goldenrod for nectar while hunting stink bugs
•harmless to humans unless held
September 16, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus, commonly called the four-banded stink bug hunter wasp
•beneficial native solitary sand wasp - nests in sandy ground
•visits wildflowers like this goldenrod for nectar while hunting stink bugs
•harmless to humans unless held
•beneficial native solitary sand wasp - nests in sandy ground
•visits wildflowers like this goldenrod for nectar while hunting stink bugs
•harmless to humans unless held
If you want fewer aphids, you’ll want more oblique streaktails (Allograpta obliqua), a hoverfly whose larvae are voracious aphids eaters.
And check out the marking on its abdomen; looks like a carnivorous wasp’s face or some other stinging insect. Brilliant!
And check out the marking on its abdomen; looks like a carnivorous wasp’s face or some other stinging insect. Brilliant!
September 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
If you want fewer aphids, you’ll want more oblique streaktails (Allograpta obliqua), a hoverfly whose larvae are voracious aphids eaters.
And check out the marking on its abdomen; looks like a carnivorous wasp’s face or some other stinging insect. Brilliant!
And check out the marking on its abdomen; looks like a carnivorous wasp’s face or some other stinging insect. Brilliant!
Why do metallic green sweat bees (Agapostemon splendens) knock each other off these scorpion tail flowers?
• They’re solitary native bees, not hive-dwellers
• Males guard blooms as “territory” to find mates
• Females defend nectar & pollen resources
• They’re solitary native bees, not hive-dwellers
• Males guard blooms as “territory” to find mates
• Females defend nectar & pollen resources
September 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Why do metallic green sweat bees (Agapostemon splendens) knock each other off these scorpion tail flowers?
• They’re solitary native bees, not hive-dwellers
• Males guard blooms as “territory” to find mates
• Females defend nectar & pollen resources
• They’re solitary native bees, not hive-dwellers
• Males guard blooms as “territory” to find mates
• Females defend nectar & pollen resources
🌸🐝 Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata): a native garden multitasker.
• Cherokee brewed it as a tea for colds & fevers 🍵
• Feeds bees, butterflies & moths with late-season nectar ✨
• Incredible: its aromatic oils naturally repel mosquitoes 🦟🚫
• Cherokee brewed it as a tea for colds & fevers 🍵
• Feeds bees, butterflies & moths with late-season nectar ✨
• Incredible: its aromatic oils naturally repel mosquitoes 🦟🚫
September 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
🌸🐝 Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata): a native garden multitasker.
• Cherokee brewed it as a tea for colds & fevers 🍵
• Feeds bees, butterflies & moths with late-season nectar ✨
• Incredible: its aromatic oils naturally repel mosquitoes 🦟🚫
• Cherokee brewed it as a tea for colds & fevers 🍵
• Feeds bees, butterflies & moths with late-season nectar ✨
• Incredible: its aromatic oils naturally repel mosquitoes 🦟🚫
🌱🐝 Meet the red-and-black mason wasp (Pachodynerus erynnis) on a scorpion plant - nature’s tiny pest control expert
• Hunts caterpillars (armyworms, cutworms, loopers) that damage gardens 🌿
• Leaves pollinators & beneficial insects untouched ✨
• No chemicals, no residue—just sustainable balance 🌍
• Hunts caterpillars (armyworms, cutworms, loopers) that damage gardens 🌿
• Leaves pollinators & beneficial insects untouched ✨
• No chemicals, no residue—just sustainable balance 🌍
September 15, 2025 at 2:31 PM
🌱🐝 Meet the red-and-black mason wasp (Pachodynerus erynnis) on a scorpion plant - nature’s tiny pest control expert
• Hunts caterpillars (armyworms, cutworms, loopers) that damage gardens 🌿
• Leaves pollinators & beneficial insects untouched ✨
• No chemicals, no residue—just sustainable balance 🌍
• Hunts caterpillars (armyworms, cutworms, loopers) that damage gardens 🌿
• Leaves pollinators & beneficial insects untouched ✨
• No chemicals, no residue—just sustainable balance 🌍
chapman’s goldenrod
September 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
chapman’s goldenrod
narrow leaf silkgrass
September 13, 2025 at 3:35 PM
narrow leaf silkgrass
native lantana
September 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
native lantana
dotted horsemint
September 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
dotted horsemint
firebush and dotted horsemint
September 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
firebush and dotted horsemint
sunshine mimosa
September 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM
sunshine mimosa