Spencer Hardy

Oct 28, 2024 | vtecostudies.org | Spencer Hardy |Dana Williams |Eric Hanson |Allie Radin

The sun sets the Vermont forest ablaze with color © Kent McFarland The month of October reminds us of the cyclical nature of life. Like spring, autumn is a season of change.

Aug 8, 2024 | hardwickgazette.org | Spencer Hardy

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION – Everyone knows the deer fly–but do you really know the deer fly? With approximately 29 species in the genus  Chrysops  in Vermont, there is a lot to know. For example, larvae can live up to three years as decomposers and predators in water, and the eyes of adult deer flies are among the most psychedelic things in the natural world. A few species even have color patterns that rival any butterfly.

May 21, 2024 | hardwickgazette.org | Spencer Hardy

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION – Blueberry season in Vermont is a sweet one! With an abundance of pick-your-own farms and several wild species, it’s a time of year you surely won’t want to miss. But why are we mentioning blueberry season in our Field Guide to May when the first berries won’t ripen until late June? Because for the bees, May is blueberry season. Blueberries are one of a few genera with multiple specialist bees. They also attract a wide range of generalists, including bumble bees.

May 14, 2024 | vtecostudies.org | Rachel McKimmy |Spencer Hardy |Emily Anderson

Lake in spring © Kent McFarland The month of May is a show-off. Birds arrive on southern winds and liven the dawn with their chorus. Trees flower, and leaves burst from long-dormant buds.

Apr 30, 2024 | hardwickgazette.org | Spencer Hardy

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION – Willows (genus Salix) are pollen powerhouses in April. From river banks to roadside ditches, these fast-growing shrubs provide abundant food for early spring pollinators. Their inconspicuous, greenish flowers are visited by a variety of different bees and other insects and are likely the primary pollen source for several specialist bees.