iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 29/12/2025

I’m reading Frozen River now. I really like it too!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 16/11/2025

I love esoteric squirrel knowledge! :) so do you think this was probably a normal gray squirrel eating this acorn?

000

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 13/11/2025

Looking around my yard for flying squirrel evidence. I know I have some. I don’t see a carrying notch but it’s a round hole to nibble the acorn and they ate pretty neatly. Any flying squirrel thoughts? #virginianativeplants #leavetheleaves #backyardhabitat

Acorn eaten with half remaining. Excavated in a round hole.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 13/11/2025

Did some backyard relaxing and exploring today. Found this salamander resting in one of the kids toys under the fallen leaves. #leavetheleaves even if they cover your kids stuff. 😆 #backyardhabitat #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Red backed salamander hiding in shallow bucket under some leaves. Yes, he can get out.

051

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 07/11/2025

Love that, Tami! The shadows look awesome.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 28/09/2025

Thanks for the info! I’ve noticed ants always visiting my euonymous flowers. Good to know why.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 28/09/2025

I’m planning a place to dig up daffodil bulbs and get rid of lyriope (sp?). No planting yet but cover with cardboard and mulch to plant in the spring.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 23/09/2025

Yes I never stop being amazed by them! It was a surprise! 🤩

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 23/09/2025

Thanks, I couldn’t believe my timing!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 22/09/2025

My hearts-a-busting is busting and it’s so cute. (Aka strawberry bush, yes I barely ever get deer.) #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardhabitat #berries

Four red berries bursting out of the shell with the dainty leaves of strawberry bush.

Light pink bumpy berry shells with red berries bursting out.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 22/09/2025

I saw a monarch going into its chrysalis! It was wiggling a bit and the chrysalis looked so crazy, like a grub almost. I had to leave but when I came back, it looked normal and had hardened. #monarchs #backyardhabitat

Monarch wiggling into chrysalis with shed skin on left.

230

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 19/09/2025

I know, I’ve been so pumped!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 18/09/2025

I came home from work at the perfect time the other day. A monarch had just emerged from its chrysalis and I got see it drying its wings. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #monarchs

Monarch butterfly resting on flower right next to its chrysalis.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 18/09/2025

Really good monarch season in our yard. Love that my milkweed is finally getting some attention. First year with caterpillars. #backyardhabitat #bugsky #caterpillars

Teensy tiny day old monarch caterpillar.

Few day old caterpillar on swamp milkweed.

130

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 06/09/2025

Velvety turtlehead now in bloom. I saw a bumblebee visit today. 💚 #bloomscrolling #virginianativeplants #nativeplants

White tubular flowers that bumblebees have to push open to get into.

0100

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 27/08/2025

Thanks for the tips! Maybe buying some plants is the easiest way to go.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 26/08/2025

Wow so just from one plant you got a dense grouping? That’s amazing! If you use seed can you just self sow over the area you want in the fall?

100

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 26/08/2025

I am loving my cutleaf coneflower I planted last year. Does so well in part shade/almost full shade conditions. #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #bloomscrolling

0100

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 26/08/2025

Jewelweed up close. I really want some in my yard. Any tips on best way to grow? From seed or plant some in the spring? #nativeplants #backyardhabitat #bloomscrolling

Pretty orange flower that hummingbirds love.

2100

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 08/08/2025

Looking at my dwarf fothergillas yesterday and was like where did all the leaves go? Then I found three Polyphemus moth caterpillars! Love imagining the adult flying around laying eggs on my plants. They’re in the witch Hazel family so it’s a host plant! #bugsky #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Fat bright green caterpillar stretching along branch to eat leaf.

Tons of caterpillar poop from all their munching!

050

Check out the deal on Rosa arkansana at Prairie Moon Nursery

I love shrubby St. John’s wort. Mine is so beautiful blooming for about 3 weeks. What about some of that interspersed with a wild rose? www.prairiemoon.com/rosa-arkansa...

prairiemoon.com

Rosa arkansana

Hmm maybe! I looked it up and it likes part sun and dry. My yard is pretty wet so that might not work. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the suggestion!!

Oh wow, it’s not native to Virginia. Maybe that’s why I never planted it! 😆 I have cardinal flower blooming right now and the hummingbirds love that too.

Cool, thanks! I might try it.

Beautiful! I’ve thought about getting that plant. Does it need a lot of sun?

Milkweed tiger moth caterpillars on butterfly milkweed. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #caterpillars

Black, white and orange hairy caterpillars chomping away on milkweed.

0132

I thought from far away this was a Chinese Chestnut tree but then found out it was a Chestnut Oak up close. It really clicked why they call it a chestnut oak. 😆 The acorns were so pretty and there were so many. #trees #virginiatrees #oaktrees #treelover #nature

Sinuate style leaves I believe—leaves with wavy edges and pretty lime green acorns.

040

Didn’t realize I had myself a turkey tail mushroom there. 😁

000

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 04/08/2025

Love these mushrooms that look like agate or the Grand Canyon. #fungiphotography #mushrooms #nativehabitat

190

That is a female! They have thicker black veins and the males have a black dot on each of their lower wings.

150

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 04/08/2025

Same! One of my favorite pollinators!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 02/08/2025

I have mountain mint and this same type of wasp in my yard! I found out it’s a grass carrying wasp and they line their egg holes with grass.

030

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 01/08/2025

I think it is! Keep us posted! 💕🐛

000

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 01/08/2025

Looks like it to me! Are they shaped like a silo ending in a curved point?

100

Reposting so I remember this gem. #amwriting

000

Found this grass sticking out of my bee hotel. Looked it up and learned it’s the Grass Carrying Wasp! She’s emerging right in the corner of one grassy tube. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #pollinators

040

I had my back turned in the garden and then I turned around and it was so close! Female eastern tiger swallowtail. #bugsky #backyardhabitat #pollinators

Yellow swallowtail butterfly with blue stripe on lower wings on pink Joe pye weed.

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 26/07/2025

Tiny mint moth on swamp milkweed. Dainty and pretty! #bugsky #bakyardhabitat #pollinators

Orange and brown small moth on pink flower.

040

I think I took a photo of that kind of flower at Green Spring Gardens in Annandale, also this week! Cardoon it’s called, I think. So pretty! And awesome artwork!

120

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 26/07/2025

Thanks, Debbie! This is so encouraging to see. Haha ironic-even though it’s a rejection!

Katie Sivinski @katiesivinski.com · 26/07/2025

I always get the false milkweed beetles in my false sunflower! I hope I get some sleepy bees too!

021

It was a nice little fella! 😉

Shout out to Kentucky! Lots of good butterflies on a trip there. Got this American snout butterfly to crawl on my finger. #bugsky #butterfly

161

Waiting for my swamp milkweed to bloom. Love these pentagon shaped buds in such a pretty color. #bloomwatch #nativehabitat