Katie Sivinski
@katiesivinski.com
🌳Helping parents and educators incorporate nature for kids.
🌻Children's Writer - Educator - Naturalist
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🌻Children's Writer - Educator - Naturalist
🐛Sign up for my newsletter with free lesson plans, children's book recommendations and native plant news on katiesivinski.com
Looking around my yard for flying squirrel evidence. I know I have some. I don’t see a carrying notch but it’s a round hole to nibble the acorn and they ate pretty neatly. Any flying squirrel thoughts? #virginianativeplants #leavetheleaves #backyardhabitat
November 13, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Looking around my yard for flying squirrel evidence. I know I have some. I don’t see a carrying notch but it’s a round hole to nibble the acorn and they ate pretty neatly. Any flying squirrel thoughts? #virginianativeplants #leavetheleaves #backyardhabitat
Did some backyard relaxing and exploring today. Found this salamander resting in one of the kids toys under the fallen leaves. #leavetheleaves even if they cover your kids stuff. 😆 #backyardhabitat #nativeplants #virginianativeplants
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Did some backyard relaxing and exploring today. Found this salamander resting in one of the kids toys under the fallen leaves. #leavetheleaves even if they cover your kids stuff. 😆 #backyardhabitat #nativeplants #virginianativeplants
My hearts-a-busting is busting and it’s so cute. (Aka strawberry bush, yes I barely ever get deer.) #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardhabitat #berries
September 22, 2025 at 1:34 AM
My hearts-a-busting is busting and it’s so cute. (Aka strawberry bush, yes I barely ever get deer.) #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardhabitat #berries
I saw a monarch going into its chrysalis! It was wiggling a bit and the chrysalis looked so crazy, like a grub almost. I had to leave but when I came back, it looked normal and had hardened. #monarchs #backyardhabitat
September 22, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I saw a monarch going into its chrysalis! It was wiggling a bit and the chrysalis looked so crazy, like a grub almost. I had to leave but when I came back, it looked normal and had hardened. #monarchs #backyardhabitat
September 18, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I came home from work at the perfect time the other day. A monarch had just emerged from its chrysalis and I got see it drying its wings. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #monarchs
September 18, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I came home from work at the perfect time the other day. A monarch had just emerged from its chrysalis and I got see it drying its wings. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #monarchs
Really good monarch season in our yard. Love that my milkweed is finally getting some attention. First year with caterpillars. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #caterpillars
September 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Really good monarch season in our yard. Love that my milkweed is finally getting some attention. First year with caterpillars. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #caterpillars
Velvety turtlehead now in bloom. I saw a bumblebee visit today. 💚 #bloomscrolling #virginianativeplants #nativeplants
September 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Velvety turtlehead now in bloom. I saw a bumblebee visit today. 💚 #bloomscrolling #virginianativeplants #nativeplants
I am loving my cutleaf coneflower I planted last year. Does so well in part shade/almost full shade conditions. #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #bloomscrolling
August 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I am loving my cutleaf coneflower I planted last year. Does so well in part shade/almost full shade conditions. #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #bloomscrolling
Jewelweed up close. I really want some in my yard. Any tips on best way to grow? From seed or plant some in the spring? #nativeplants #backyardhabitat #bloomscrolling
August 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Jewelweed up close. I really want some in my yard. Any tips on best way to grow? From seed or plant some in the spring? #nativeplants #backyardhabitat #bloomscrolling
Looking at my dwarf fothergillas yesterday and was like where did all the leaves go? Then I found three Polyphemus moth caterpillars! Love imagining the adult flying around laying eggs on my plants. They’re in the witch Hazel family so it’s a host plant! #bugsky #nativeplants #virginianativeplants
August 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Looking at my dwarf fothergillas yesterday and was like where did all the leaves go? Then I found three Polyphemus moth caterpillars! Love imagining the adult flying around laying eggs on my plants. They’re in the witch Hazel family so it’s a host plant! #bugsky #nativeplants #virginianativeplants
August 5, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I thought from far away this was a Chinese Chestnut tree but then found out it was a Chestnut Oak up close. It really clicked why they call it a chestnut oak. 😆 The acorns were so pretty and there were so many. #trees #virginiatrees #oaktrees #treelover #nature
August 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I thought from far away this was a Chinese Chestnut tree but then found out it was a Chestnut Oak up close. It really clicked why they call it a chestnut oak. 😆 The acorns were so pretty and there were so many. #trees #virginiatrees #oaktrees #treelover #nature
Love these mushrooms that look like agate or the Grand Canyon. #fungiphotography #mushrooms #nativehabitat
August 4, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Love these mushrooms that look like agate or the Grand Canyon. #fungiphotography #mushrooms #nativehabitat
That is a female! They have thicker black veins and the males have a black dot on each of their lower wings.
August 4, 2025 at 12:48 AM
That is a female! They have thicker black veins and the males have a black dot on each of their lower wings.
I have mountain mint and this same type of wasp in my yard! I found out it’s a grass carrying wasp and they line their egg holes with grass.
August 2, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I have mountain mint and this same type of wasp in my yard! I found out it’s a grass carrying wasp and they line their egg holes with grass.
Found this grass sticking out of my bee hotel. Looked it up and learned it’s the Grass Carrying Wasp! She’s emerging right in the corner of one grassy tube. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #pollinators
July 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Found this grass sticking out of my bee hotel. Looked it up and learned it’s the Grass Carrying Wasp! She’s emerging right in the corner of one grassy tube. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #pollinators
I had my back turned in the garden and then I turned around and it was so close! Female eastern tiger swallowtail. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #pollinators
July 27, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I had my back turned in the garden and then I turned around and it was so close! Female eastern tiger swallowtail. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #pollinators
July 27, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I think I took a photo of that kind of flower at Green Spring Gardens in Annandale, also this week! Cardoon it’s called, I think. So pretty! And awesome artwork!
July 26, 2025 at 2:26 AM
I think I took a photo of that kind of flower at Green Spring Gardens in Annandale, also this week! Cardoon it’s called, I think. So pretty! And awesome artwork!
Shout out to Kentucky! Lots of good butterflies on a trip there. Got this American snout butterfly to crawl on my finger. #bugsky #butterfly
July 20, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Shout out to Kentucky! Lots of good butterflies on a trip there. Got this American snout butterfly to crawl on my finger. #bugsky #butterfly
Waiting for my swamp milkweed to bloom. Love these pentagon shaped buds in such a pretty color. #bloomwatch #nativehabitat
July 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Waiting for my swamp milkweed to bloom. Love these pentagon shaped buds in such a pretty color. #bloomwatch #nativehabitat
Red banded hairstreak #butterfly visiting my mint plant. Captured its defense mechanism! They move their lower wings while feeding and resting to look like a false head. #bugsky #nativehabitat
July 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Red banded hairstreak #butterfly visiting my mint plant. Captured its defense mechanism! They move their lower wings while feeding and resting to look like a false head. #bugsky #nativehabitat
Eastern prickly pear ready for its close-up. #greenspringgardens #bloomscrolling
June 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Eastern prickly pear ready for its close-up. #greenspringgardens #bloomscrolling
June 7, 2025 at 9:34 PM