Ticks can make you sick. However, if you take a few precautions they will not prevent you from being outside. Join us to find all about these challenging creatures.

Related episode: Opossums Like To Eat Ticks

Our sources for this episode include:

• What Purpose Do Ticks Serve in the Ecosystem?
• Create a Tick-Safe Zone Through Landscaping
• Deer Ticks: 7 Facts You Need to Know Now
• Ticks are getting worse

Bobʼs garden is invaded by voles. Tune in to find out why this little rodent is being studied by researchers.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
• What Can Rodents Tell Us About Why Humans Love?
• Voles: These Little Rodents Can do a Lot of Damage
• Facts on Voles
• Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat – Book and  Movie

Photo thanks to Larry Dailey

Seems like everyone knows something about the Praying Mantis. Tune in to find out some interesting facts that you might not know.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Praying mantises released for pest control are hunting hummingbirds
• 11 wondrous facts about praying mantises
• 10 Fascinating Praying Mantis Facts

Who isnʼt happy to see butterflies? Bill loves to look for zebra and tiger butterflies in April and May.  Join us to find out how these butterflies get out so early.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Tiger Swallowtail Facts and Info
• Common Swallowtail Butterflies
• A Garden for Zebras and Tigers
• Top 10 Plants for Swallowtails

Tiger Swallowtail

Zebra Swallowtail

Bob is amazed to learn that tent caterpillars are native. He also learns that pregnant horses can be harmed by tent caterpillars. As usual Bill tells us when and where to find these gregarious creatures.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Interesting Behaviors and Traits of Tent Caterpillars
• 7 facts about tent caterpillars and why they’re all over N.J. this spring
• Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Bill has a very hard time dealing with the common starling. Bob does his best to bring up some interesting facts about the starling. Join us to see if Bill changes his mind about a bird that many people love to hate.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
• The Invasive Species We Can Blame On Shakespeare
• Even if we don’t love starlings, we should learn to live with them
• Fun Facts about European Starlings
• Why We Should all Love and Help the Humble Starling

Bamboo in Bob’s yard

Bob, Bill and Beth take a field trip out to Burtonʼs Bamboo Garden. Did you know that some bamboo is native to the US? Tune in to find out all the pros and cons of this very interesting plant.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Zak Burton at Burtonʼs Bamboo Garden
• Bamboo
• Americaʼs Native Bamboo
• Invasive bamboo frustrates Worthington coupleʼs neighbors
• Switch Cane, Giant Cane

Toad in Beth’s Garden

Toads are so cool! If you cannot find one make sure you take some kids hiking with you. They are great at finding toads. Join us as we explore many interesting things about the toad. Do you know how they drink water?

Our sources for this episode include:

• Book “The Hidden Life of a Toad” by Doug Wechsler
• American Toads
• American Toad: The Animal Files
• What are these tiny toads?
• Do Toads Really Give You Warts?

We are excited to have Chris Clements, Executive Director of Imago, join us on this show recorded in front of a live audience at Roads, Rivers and Trails. Imago is an ecological education organization rooted in the concept that living in harmony with the natural world is not only good for the planet, but good for ourselves, our families and our communities. Bill, Bob and Chris talk about the importance of summer camps in connecting children to nature. But why let kids have all the fun? Imago will for the first time be offering an adventure camp for adults. Tune in to learn all about it.

Our sources for this episode include:

• Imago Adventure Camp for Adults
• Chris refers to an article in the New York Times Cure Yourself of Tree Blindness

This is a great native under story shrub. If you see something that looks like chinese lanterns you may have found bladdernut. Bill says it is a wonderful plant for a yard.  Thanks to John Howard for the photo.

Our sources for this episode include:

• American Bladdernut (Staphylea trifoliaa)
• Staphylea trifolia Fact Sheet
• Bladdernut
• There are No Insect-Free Plants, but There are Good Insects