Active Outdoors LLC

09/29/2024

Nature Guys latest Podcast on wild grape that was presented at the Civic Garden Center's Fall Native Plant Festival is now live. Tune in to hear Sam Settlemyre and Greg Torres explain why the wild grape is important to biodiversity. Bob Staggenborg adds a bit of history and encourages curious listeners to learn more about this misunderstood plant. https://natureguys.org/wild-grape/ A great place to start is Jim McCormac's blog titled In Defense of the Lowly Grape. https://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/search?q=grape

09/28/2024

I had a fun time speaking on native plants and animals at The Kentucky Master Gardener Conference. Thank you for having me!

09/15/2024

I love Beech Trees!

08/24/2024

08/23/2024

Boogie Woogie Aphids, a.k.a. Aphid Beech Blight (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) is a fun species of insect in the Cicada family. They practice safety in numbers, and when disturbed, they rhythmically wiggle bunches of waxy fibers on their hind end to deter predators. While they can damage an individual branch, they don't cause mortality in healthy trees. Look for them in late summer and autumn. They can be seen in large groups that look like snow on beech branches.