Leona
@leonaburgess.bsky.social
Nature lover and biodiversity enthusiast. Sharing photos I took primarily in New England to raise awareness and foster appreciation of the natural world, the plants and critters in it.
Black-legged kittiwakes are a type of gull that nest in large colonies on narrow ledges of seaside cliffs. When not breeding, they live exclusively on open ocean. They are found in the north Atlantic and arctic. Juveniles have black bands across their shoulders. #365species #birds #gull #arcticbird
November 16, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Black-legged kittiwakes are a type of gull that nest in large colonies on narrow ledges of seaside cliffs. When not breeding, they live exclusively on open ocean. They are found in the north Atlantic and arctic. Juveniles have black bands across their shoulders. #365species #birds #gull #arcticbird
Cross orb weavers are native to Europe but now can be found across the US and in parts of Canada. They are a fairly large spider, with females (up to 20 mm) growing larger than males (up to 13 mm). They have distinctive cross markings on their abdomens. #365species #spider #arachnid #nature
November 16, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Cross orb weavers are native to Europe but now can be found across the US and in parts of Canada. They are a fairly large spider, with females (up to 20 mm) growing larger than males (up to 13 mm). They have distinctive cross markings on their abdomens. #365species #spider #arachnid #nature
Despite its a common name, blue-eyed grass is technically a member of the iris family. They are low growing with long thin leaves, resembling grass. They're native to North America, grow in clusters and most species are perennial. #365species #plants #flowers #nature
November 16, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Despite its a common name, blue-eyed grass is technically a member of the iris family. They are low growing with long thin leaves, resembling grass. They're native to North America, grow in clusters and most species are perennial. #365species #plants #flowers #nature
Salt marsh moth caterpillars vary from pale yellow to rusty orange to dark brown. They grow tufts of hair, longer towards the end of their body. They can be found throughout North America and feed on a variety of plants including dandelions, clovers, walnut trees and even corn. #365species #moths
November 15, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Salt marsh moth caterpillars vary from pale yellow to rusty orange to dark brown. They grow tufts of hair, longer towards the end of their body. They can be found throughout North America and feed on a variety of plants including dandelions, clovers, walnut trees and even corn. #365species #moths
Sundrops are part of a group of species of plants often referred to as evening primrose as many open in the evening. They originated in Mexico and central America and spread north. They are pollinated by moths and butterflies. They can quickly take over disturbed soils. #365species #flowers #nature
November 15, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Sundrops are part of a group of species of plants often referred to as evening primrose as many open in the evening. They originated in Mexico and central America and spread north. They are pollinated by moths and butterflies. They can quickly take over disturbed soils. #365species #flowers #nature
Winged euonymus, or burning bush, was brought to North America in the 1860's from northeast Asia for its ornamental value with bright red fall foliage. Unfortunately it's highly adaptable and invasive, taking over the understory in wooded areas and killing native vegetation. #365species #invasive
November 14, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Winged euonymus, or burning bush, was brought to North America in the 1860's from northeast Asia for its ornamental value with bright red fall foliage. Unfortunately it's highly adaptable and invasive, taking over the understory in wooded areas and killing native vegetation. #365species #invasive
Blue wood aster are native to eastern and central US, grow in a variety of soil types and can tolerate full sun to full shade. Since they bloom in fall, they provide critical nectar to butterflies and bees. Also, a safe place for bees to sleep during the cooler nights of early October. #365species
November 13, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Blue wood aster are native to eastern and central US, grow in a variety of soil types and can tolerate full sun to full shade. Since they bloom in fall, they provide critical nectar to butterflies and bees. Also, a safe place for bees to sleep during the cooler nights of early October. #365species
Mouse-ear chickweed are low growing plants commonly found in grasslands and along roadsides. Distinguishable by hairy, tear shaped opposite facing leaves and white flowers. Native to Europe and introduced to North America, they spread by rooting branches that contact the ground. #365species #flowers
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Mouse-ear chickweed are low growing plants commonly found in grasslands and along roadsides. Distinguishable by hairy, tear shaped opposite facing leaves and white flowers. Native to Europe and introduced to North America, they spread by rooting branches that contact the ground. #365species #flowers
Lysimachia include several species of yellow flowers often referred to as loosestrife. Native to Europe, Lysimachia occasionally escapes cultivation in North America. Preferring river banks and other damp locations, they are a wetland indicator species. #365species #plants #flowers
November 12, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Lysimachia include several species of yellow flowers often referred to as loosestrife. Native to Europe, Lysimachia occasionally escapes cultivation in North America. Preferring river banks and other damp locations, they are a wetland indicator species. #365species #plants #flowers
White clover include multiple varieties of low growing plants that grow in thick mats. They're native to Europe and Central Asia and introduced elsewhere. While they are not native, I over seed bare patches of lawn with it instead of grass since the bees and rabbits enjoy clover more. #365species
November 11, 2025 at 5:35 AM
White clover include multiple varieties of low growing plants that grow in thick mats. They're native to Europe and Central Asia and introduced elsewhere. While they are not native, I over seed bare patches of lawn with it instead of grass since the bees and rabbits enjoy clover more. #365species
Recently I was bemoaning the fact that it was too cold for the chirping and buzzing of crickets and katydids. Then I saw this magnificent buck.😁Deer shed their antlers in late winter after mating season and begin regrowing them weeks later. White tailed deer antlers can grow 1/4 inch per day! #deer
November 10, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Recently I was bemoaning the fact that it was too cold for the chirping and buzzing of crickets and katydids. Then I saw this magnificent buck.😁Deer shed their antlers in late winter after mating season and begin regrowing them weeks later. White tailed deer antlers can grow 1/4 inch per day! #deer
Wintergreens are aromatic plants used for wintergreen flavoring used in gum, mints and dental products. The berries provide food for birds and small animals. They thrive in shade and are often found growing along the ground in wooded areas.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Wintergreens are aromatic plants used for wintergreen flavoring used in gum, mints and dental products. The berries provide food for birds and small animals. They thrive in shade and are often found growing along the ground in wooded areas.
Common, or great, mullein are biennial plants native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Introduced to North America, they grow a rosette of large wooly leaves in year 1, and a giant (6-10 ft) stalk with yellow flowers in year 2. They thrive in poor soil and along roadsides. #365species #plants
November 9, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Common, or great, mullein are biennial plants native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Introduced to North America, they grow a rosette of large wooly leaves in year 1, and a giant (6-10 ft) stalk with yellow flowers in year 2. They thrive in poor soil and along roadsides. #365species #plants
Butterfly weed is a type of milkweed that doesn't have the namesake sap but still provide food for monarch caterpillars. It is native to North America and provides nectar to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. They're drought tolerant and grow in poor soil. #365species #nativeplants #flowers #nature
November 8, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Butterfly weed is a type of milkweed that doesn't have the namesake sap but still provide food for monarch caterpillars. It is native to North America and provides nectar to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. They're drought tolerant and grow in poor soil. #365species #nativeplants #flowers #nature
American royal ferns have distinctive shaped leaves for a fern and are found natively throughout the US and Canada. They prefer shade and wet soil. #365species #plants #ferns
November 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
American royal ferns have distinctive shaped leaves for a fern and are found natively throughout the US and Canada. They prefer shade and wet soil. #365species #plants #ferns
Sensitive ferns are named for their sensitivity to frost with leaves curling up with the lightest touch of frost. They are wetlands indicators due to their preference for wetland habitats and are native across the northern hemisphere from Russia and China to North America. #365species #fern #nature
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Sensitive ferns are named for their sensitivity to frost with leaves curling up with the lightest touch of frost. They are wetlands indicators due to their preference for wetland habitats and are native across the northern hemisphere from Russia and China to North America. #365species #fern #nature
Common earwigs, also known as European earwigs, are omnivore insects that prefer damp spaces. Both males and females have pincers. Males have larger, curved pincers while females' are straight. Both males and females tend their eggs and nymphs. #365species #nature #insect
November 6, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Common earwigs, also known as European earwigs, are omnivore insects that prefer damp spaces. Both males and females have pincers. Males have larger, curved pincers while females' are straight. Both males and females tend their eggs and nymphs. #365species #nature #insect
Penstemon digitalis or foxglove beardtongue is a better alternative to the showy, fuscia foxgloves. They are native to New England, hardy, tolerate dry and normal soil, partial shade or sun. They also attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies! #365species #flowers #plantnative #nature
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Penstemon digitalis or foxglove beardtongue is a better alternative to the showy, fuscia foxgloves. They are native to New England, hardy, tolerate dry and normal soil, partial shade or sun. They also attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies! #365species #flowers #plantnative #nature
Digitalis, commonly called foxglove, are non-native in North American and can be invasive. I did not realize this when planting some from a relative years ago. Now they spring up all over. I leave some of them because the humming birds and bees thoroughly enjoy them. #365species #flowers
November 5, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Digitalis, commonly called foxglove, are non-native in North American and can be invasive. I did not realize this when planting some from a relative years ago. Now they spring up all over. I leave some of them because the humming birds and bees thoroughly enjoy them. #365species #flowers
Star of Bethlehem are native to southern and central Europe and north-west Africa. Cultivated in other places, they have escaped cultivation in North America (including randomly appearing in my lawn!). It has grass-like foliage and white star-shaped flowers in late spring. #flowers #365species
November 5, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Star of Bethlehem are native to southern and central Europe and north-west Africa. Cultivated in other places, they have escaped cultivation in North America (including randomly appearing in my lawn!). It has grass-like foliage and white star-shaped flowers in late spring. #flowers #365species
Mapleleaf viburnum is a shrub native to eastern US. Resembling maple trees, it grows 2-6 feet tall and has creamy-white, flat-topped clusters of flowers in the late spring. They provide pollen for beetles, bees and butterflies, berries provide food for birds, rodents and deer. #365species #nature
November 4, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Mapleleaf viburnum is a shrub native to eastern US. Resembling maple trees, it grows 2-6 feet tall and has creamy-white, flat-topped clusters of flowers in the late spring. They provide pollen for beetles, bees and butterflies, berries provide food for birds, rodents and deer. #365species #nature
Eastern white pine forests once covered central and eastern US. Due to logging only 1% of old growth forests remain. Easter white pines live primarily in northeast US and southern Canada. They can grow over 150 feet tall and live for hundreds of years. #365species #trees #forest #nature
November 3, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Eastern white pine forests once covered central and eastern US. Due to logging only 1% of old growth forests remain. Easter white pines live primarily in northeast US and southern Canada. They can grow over 150 feet tall and live for hundreds of years. #365species #trees #forest #nature
Pink lady slippers are members of the orchid family found in the eastern US and parts of Canada. They require acidic soil and are most often found in pine forests. Once used for medicinal purposes, harvesting has been discouraged due to population decline. #flowers #365species #nature
November 3, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Pink lady slippers are members of the orchid family found in the eastern US and parts of Canada. They require acidic soil and are most often found in pine forests. Once used for medicinal purposes, harvesting has been discouraged due to population decline. #flowers #365species #nature
Ragged robin are a perennial plant native to Eurasia. They were introduced to North America. They prefer damp locations and can be found in meadows, woods, along roadsides, and apparently, a wet section of my lawn! I moved it to a garden and enjoy its blooms every June. #365species #nature #flowers
November 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Ragged robin are a perennial plant native to Eurasia. They were introduced to North America. They prefer damp locations and can be found in meadows, woods, along roadsides, and apparently, a wet section of my lawn! I moved it to a garden and enjoy its blooms every June. #365species #nature #flowers
Common ink cap mushrooms are frequently found in North America, Europe, Asia. They grow on buried wood, in lawns, gardens, disturbed soil, often after rain. Their bell-shaped grey-brown caps flatten out, turning into black liquid as their spores mature giving them their name. #365species #nature
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Common ink cap mushrooms are frequently found in North America, Europe, Asia. They grow on buried wood, in lawns, gardens, disturbed soil, often after rain. Their bell-shaped grey-brown caps flatten out, turning into black liquid as their spores mature giving them their name. #365species #nature