The Hohlen Homestead

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One of the questions I have been asked at my native plant talks is if it is worth adding native plants to our landscapes...
07/05/2026

One of the questions I have been asked at my native plant talks is if it is worth adding native plants to our landscapes. Will native insects and birds find these plants even if I am surrounded by crops? The answer is yes!

I can say that there were no rusty patched bumblebees in our yard when we moved here. They are critically endangered and rather rare. I saw our first one last year and I do not think this is the only one I have seen this year. I believe we have a colony here or very nearby.

I have also seen other species of insects for the first time over the last several years and new species of birds show up and some are even breeding here.

You can make a difference by returning ecological function to your yard by planting native plants. We have seen the difference and you will as well!

Happy Fourth of July! Congratulations on 250 years! May we stand in unity as a people with the common goal to move our c...
07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July! Congratulations on 250 years! May we stand in unity as a people with the common goal to move our country forward and make it a truly wonderful place for the next 250.

Summer!Beginning of July photos after a bit of rain!
07/04/2026

Summer!

Beginning of July photos after a bit of rain!

This minute creature is a red-banded or candy-striped leaf hopper. It was less than 1/2 inch long and did not stay stead...
06/29/2026

This minute creature is a red-banded or candy-striped leaf hopper. It was less than 1/2 inch long and did not stay steady for long. They feed on the sap of different plants and are native to North America, from Canada to Panama. While they do eat plant sap they rarely cause serious problems in our area.

06/27/2026

The homestead trainees were hard at work helping w**d the garden this morning.

I think this may be the best head of broccoli I have ever grown. For those of you wondering, I think tomorrow may be an ...
06/27/2026

I think this may be the best head of broccoli I have ever grown.

For those of you wondering, I think tomorrow may be an insect post.

We have been busy but trying to get back to posting. Take a look at these beautiful spiderwort. A trusty native that lik...
06/26/2026

We have been busy but trying to get back to posting.

Take a look at these beautiful spiderwort. A trusty native that likes to gently seed around and spread slowly.

06/21/2026

There is great information here and a lot of truth!

I don't usually share non-garden related or the like content on here, but we went to Les Miserables on Thursday at Timbe...
06/20/2026

I don't usually share non-garden related or the like content on here, but we went to Les Miserables on Thursday at Timber Lake Playhouse, and it was phenomenal! I highly recommend attending before they close! We saw Les Mis in the West End on our honeymoon, so it was a fitting anniversary outing.

You may have thought I forgot about the insects, well that is not possible!Here are some twice-stabbed stinkbugs on east...
06/15/2026

You may have thought I forgot about the insects, well that is not possible!

Here are some twice-stabbed stinkbugs on eastern columbine. When I first saw them, I thought they were nymphs of another species of stink bug. It turns out they are just kind of small. Twice-stabbed stinkbugs are a native insect, and they feed on seeds. They were on the columbine as they would pierce the seed pods and drink the juices of the unripe seeds. This will reduce how many of the columbine will germinate, but that is fine as they are prolific reseeders.

I have more insects to share, so stay tuned!

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