EcoAddendum, a non-profit organization, has developed the BBB program as an outreach of its mission to return native plants to the landscape by promoting the use of local species in public and private gardens and greenspaces.  This program also supports the recovery of natural environment space by creating schoolyard and backyard habitats. The BBB process facilitates the installation of wildlife-friendly native plant installations in public schools and greenspaces that may find themselves strapped for funding by creating an easily used and adaptable microfunding approach.

EcoAddendum designs and installs public and private plantings that are both attractive for humans and beneficial to birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. As we are non-profit, these services are provided at near cost, any revenues going toward the perpetuation of our stated goals. We also give educational programs on how and why to plant native species and promote volunteer participation in their planting and maintenance. We are co-operating with Atlanta Audubon, the U.S. Forest Service, and other organizations in the National Wildlife Federation sponsored Flyway Cities Coalition, a nationwide effort to promote activities beneficial to migratory birds passing through urban areas.

The female is about twice the size of the male, and swollen with eggs.

This week two adult Royal Walnut Moths emerged in our back yard. This moth is related to the silkworm moth family, or Saturniidae.  The female was about 6 or 7 inches long, from her furry head to her gorgeous wing-tip.  Several of us wanted to “pet” them. They looked so soft, so plump and furry. But that would have been rather rude, don’t you think? The markings on the body are remarkable. The moths hung together on the plant stem all day long. In the evening the female left to lay her eggs in the tree tops.

Last year's photo of the Hickory Horned Devil. This is one of North America's biggest caterpillars.

Late last summer, we saw the amazing caterpillar of the Royal Walnut Moth (photo right).  The caterpillar’s common name is Hickory Horned Devil.

What competitive advantage do these carnival face markings confer to the moth? There’s a reason in all of this glorious color and pattern, somewhere… I still want to pet them.