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Reposted by Jean Wirth

NPR @npr.org · 11/09/2026

After 9/11, thousands of rescue and cleanup crews went to work at ground zero. They were exposed to toxic debris and experienced psychological trauma. Today, many say they live in fear of deportation. n.pr/4xPdcvp

n.pr

They cleaned up ground zero. Now many are hiding from ICE

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Reposted by Jean Wirth

Ron Charles @roncharles.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Public libraries are fighting book bans, funding cuts, political interference, and harassment of librarians. Meanwhile, publishers are worried that libraries are lending too many ebooks. This week’s newsletter: Read the Room. roncharles.substack.com/p/libraries-...

roncharles.substack.com

Libraries Are Not the Problem

A new publishing-industry study takes aim at ebook lending just as public libraries are fighting for their lives.

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Reposted by Jean Wirth

Erin Arden @erinarden.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Looked under the bed to see what all the commotion was about… #catandmouse #catsofbluesky

Under bed: gray carpet and gray storage box. White and gray cat with big eyes creeping behind a small gray mouse.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Not too big, not too small, but just right. A house sparrow enjoys the cap of a rain gauge. #birds #maryland

A house sparrow is snuggled down in the bowl-shaped cap of a rain gauge cap.

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Reposted by Jean Wirth

Adam Welz @adamwelz.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

*Why Gardens Matter* New post on the South Peninsula Nature Alliance site Sign up to my newsletter as I figure out better ways of saving species in a global biodiversity hotspot, which includes my own backyard #conservation #climate #capetown adamwelz.ghost.io/why-gardens-...

adamwelz.ghost.io

Why Gardens Matter

Some of you may be wondering why I’m so concerned about what gets planted in gardens. Why is the South Peninsula Nature Alliance, a conservation project, putting a good amount of its time, creativity ...

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The beaver was walking along the edge of a small lake in our community this morning. It’s the first one I’ve seen here, and it’s the closest I’ve ever been to a beaver. #nature #beaver #maryland

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

We blamed a squirrel for digging in a pot on the porch & making a mess, so we covered the dirt with a plastic lid. But it was a Carolina wren, who tried to remove the lid & then came to the window, complaining. So we provided it with its own dirt bath. #birds #nativeplants #gardening #maryland

A Carolina wren is taking a dirt bath in a saucer filled with potting mix. The saucer is on a table on the porch and the porch railing and garden, with Black-eyed Susans and beebalm blooming, are in the background. The photo is taken through a window.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

The native plant garden is very green and lush this year. Plants are relocating themselves and it’s looking more like a prairie than a garden. #nativeplants #gardening #maryland

My native plant garden, which is lush and green from all the July rain. Black-eyed Susans are blooming and some beebalm that didn’t bloom when all the others bloomed.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Sizing up the competition. Male Eastern bluebird. #birds #maryland #bluebird

A bright blue male bluebird perched on a feeder crook and a blue painted metal bluebird on the post next to it.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

For some reason I never cut flowers to bring into the house. But this morning, one flower with a long enough stem had broken off, so I cut a few more to join it. #nativeplants #gardening #maryland

Cut flowers from my garden in a green vase on a marble table with a tiled backsplash.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

A fritillary butterfly enjoyed the coneflower nectar for hours yesterday. When it moved on an Eastern yellow swallowtail came for hours. They were the only butterflies I saw, but they’re beautiful and it made me feel good that we had provided for them. #nativeplants #gardening #butterflies #maryland

A fritillary butterfly on a pink coneflower, in a bed of coneflowers.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Only one Eastern Yellow Swallowtail butterfly shows up occasionally and the one fritillary must have died, or moved on. I’m afraid the beebalm won’t last long in this heat. Plant #nativeplants #gardening #nature #maryland #butterflies

An Eastern Yellow Swallowtail butterfly enjoying the beebalm.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Five years ago, when we moved here, the front yard was a typical suburban pesticide-laced deadzone of grass. #nativeplants #gardening #maryland

A portion of my front yard garden, with pink coneflowers in the foreground and pink monarda and.lavender delphiniums in the background. Many other perennials are waiting for their time to bloom.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Last year when I noticed little purple flowers in our lawn, we stopped mowing that area and now have a pretty cluster of Common Selfheal. #nativeplants #gardening #maryland

The purple flowers of common selfheal in an unmowed area of lawn.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Wood chips have been flying since the pileated woodpecker discovered insects in the rails of our fence. #birds #nature #maryland

A male pileated woodpecker is standing on a wooden fence rail. There is also wire fencing to keep dogs on their own side of the fence.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Fleabane is one of those “weeds” that shows up on its own in my Maryland garden and looks glorious when left to grow as it desires. Later in the summer other perennials will add some color. #nativeplants #gardening #maryland

Fleabane, that has small flowers with white petals and a yellow center, grows lushly along a wood fence.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

It didn’t take long for our new rain barrel to fill up during yesterday’s gully washer. Yikes! #stormwatermanagement #rainbarrels #gardening #maryland

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

The front yard pollinator garden has filled in and is glorious. Only a few blossoms right now but many buds. #nativeplants #gardens #maryland

Many types of native perennials are growing cheek by jowl. Green green everywhere just now, with just a few blossoms here and there. But there are buds throughout.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

A black crowned night heron focused on breakfast. It was a nice surprise on our morning walk. #birds #maryland #nature

A black crowned night heron standing on a submerged log, peering into the brackish water of a lake. Green vegetation and small trees line the bank.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Goldfinches like to drink from the tiny water holder on the top of the hummingbird feeder. #birds #maryland

A bright yellow and black American Goldfinch standing on a red Hummingbird feeder.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The spring garden is filling in. Baptisia, Golden Alexander, and Prairie Ninebark. #nativeplants #gardens #maryland

Flowers in the native plant garden. Purple Baptisia, Golden Alexander in middle ground, and Prairie Ninebark in background.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

We have counted birds for Project Feeder Watch for 18 years. #birds #maryland

A chart from Project Feeder Watch shows that we have counted birds for 18 years, 402 counts, with 53 different species

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

A portion of the front yard pollinator garden. I enjoy this time when there is so much promise. It’s filling in nicely, though mostly because of the misbehaving obedient plants. #nativeplants #gardens #maryland

Spring in the front yard pollinator garden. Lots of different perennials in different stages of green growth. A flowering red honeysuckle plant trailing along the porch railing.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

A White-Breasted Nuthatch looking for insects on a dead branch of a dying oak tree. #birds #maryland #nature

A White-Breasted Nuthatch on a dying branch of an oak tree.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

A Common Grackle soaking up some rays. #birds #maryland

On a sunny day earlier this week, a Common Grackle was standing on a wood railing with its wing facing straight down and resting on the railing.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

I guess this Red Bellied Woodpecker was enjoying the early evening sun because it perched in the oak tree for nearly half an hour. #birds #nature

A male Red Bellied Woodpecker, with its bright red cap catching the early evening sun. It’s on a large limb of an oak tree that is showing some swelling nubs of spring growth.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Yesterday’s snow brought a lot of birds to the feeders. All the species get along, with the birds patiently waiting their turn. #birds #maryland

An Eastern Bluebird perched on the crook that holds the bird feeders. It’s snowing.

A male house finch on a snow covered wood railing.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

We’ve been in this house for 5 years, and the chipmunks have finally found us. A chipmunk always makes me smile. 😊 #nature #maryland

A chipmunk is standing upright on a block wall, with snow beyond it.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Even hawks appreciate a saucer of water. A red-tailed hawk, I think. #birds #hawks #maryland #nature

A red shouldered hawk is standing in a saucer of water with snow all around.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Don’t forget to shovel snow away from fire hydrants. A fire doubles in size every minute. You don’t want firefighters spending precious minutes getting access to a fire hydrant when your house, or a neighbor’s house is on fire.

My husband shoveling snow from around the fire hydrant across the street.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

A sweet black capped chickadee is thankful for the water. #birds #nature #projectfeederwatch

A black capped chickadee is perched on the edge of a saucer of water.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

We rarely see a red-breasted nuthatch but this one showed up for Christmas morning breakfast. #birds #maryland #projectfeederwatch

A red-breasted nuthatch and house sparrow enjoying Christmas morning peanuts at the feeder.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

It was a cold morning yesterday when this photo was taken through the window. The sweet little blueborbs are happy for the ice-free water. #birds #bluebirds #maryland

A male and female bluebird are perched together on the edge of a birdbath. They are looking at us looking at them through the window.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

The cold weather has brought lots of birds to the feeders and birdbaths. House sparrows were enjoying spa baths yesterday, but most birds are happy getting a drink. #birds #maryland #projectfeederwatch

A bright red male cardinal is perched on the crook of a bird feeder pole. Snow covered shrubs are in the background.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

A little overnight snow has provided white caps for the monarda. #nativeplants #maryland

After the overnight snow, monarda seed heads are wearing white caps.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

A green lacewing spent the day hanging out on the glass storm door. #insects #nature

A green lacewing with its long antenna, red eyes, and delicate clear wings showing the green body below.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

There have not been many butterflies around my Maryland garden for the past few weeks, so I was thrilled to have this swallowtail drop by. 🌱 #nativeplants #butterflies

An Eastern yellow swallowtail butterfly on the magenta flowers of an aster.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

I saw this pretty little moth on my morning walk. iNaturalist says it’s likely a pale beauty moth. #moths #nature

A white moth, wings open, with a subtle striped appearance on a brown oak leaf in the grass.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Perched on the crook that holds the hummingbird feeder, the female Ruby throated hummingbird is alert for incoming competition. #birds

A female Ruby throated hummingbird perched on the crook that holds the hummingbird feeder.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Wingstem flowers are brightening up the garden, but the drought has all the leaves on the 6-8 foot stems drooping down. #nativeplants 🌱

The flower clusters of a wingstem plant, some in tight green spikes and others fully open with bright yellow petals.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

The Ruby throated hummingbird, perched on the honeysuckle vine, appears to be enjoying the morning drizzle from the protection of the porch. #birds #nativeplants

A female Ruby throated hummingbird perched on a honeysuckle branch that’s growing along the porch railing, looking out at the morning drizzle.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

The bees and I are thankful for the late season blue mist flowers. 🌱 #nativeplants

Bumblebee with bulging pollen sacs on the feathery blue mist flower.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Big, strong bumblebees can force open the tight flowers of the turtlehead plant. 🌱 #nativeplants

Bumblebees on the tightly closed pink flowers of a turtlehead plant. Black-eyed Susans are in the background.

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Jean Wirth @jwirth.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

A race against time. The first chrysalis I have ever seen in the garden! But why did the caterpillar select a dying leaf on a dying plant?! (Nearly all of the showy goldenrod plants are dying from rust, I think.) 🌱 #nativeplants #monarch

A green chrysalis suspended from a leaf that is spotted with rust (I think) and dying, as is the entire showy goldenrod plant.

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