Biology

Lumens are for Humans; PAR is for Plants

elauervose

Learning about hydroponics was my COVID project. It was something I had wanted to learn for a long time and this was the perfect opportunity. I decided early on that a grow light would be my primary (and biggest) investment. Since then, I have experimented and explored all kinds of different growing methods and systems and I still think choosing a grow light carefully is the most important step. This post is the result of my own deep-dive into grow lights and my explanation of how to best use artificial light sources for autotrophic (self-feeding - aka photosynthetic) organisms.

Native Plants & Pollinators

White Peacock Butterfly

elauervose

It was a busy morning at the torch flower bed today! I saw a new butterfly - the White Peacock butterfly along with a pair of mating Gulf Fritillary butterflies. The White Peacock butterfly is a native butterfly in the brush-footed (Nymphalidae) family of butterflies. These brush-footed (or sometimes called four-footed) butterflies are so-called because… Continue reading White Peacock Butterfly

Native Plants & Pollinators

The wrong milkweed!

elauervose

I planted milkweed to entice butterflies and to support an endangered species by providing food, shelter, and host plants for their caterpillars. Last week, I figured out that I had planted the wrong milkweed. Not just a little bit wrong, or kinda unhelpful - I planted a type of milkweed that is actually contributing to… Continue reading The wrong milkweed!