Loving on BUGS with Entomologist Jessica Wyn Miller

Loving on BUGS with Entomologist Jessica Wyn Miller

I've been hearing people saying lately how much they hate bugs or are scared of certain bugs and I’m like, I gotta do an episode on bugs…because we need bugs and they’re really so intricate and amazing. And, because I think it would be fun to learn a little bit more about them. My guest today is Jessica Wyn Miller. She’s an environmental entomologist and insect advocate. She’s the owner of Dragons Wynd that shares the wonder and fascination of the insects and the services they provide in our own yards and environments around the globe. She does a lot of talks and workshops and uses current research and interesting facts to help people laugh and inspire a respect for insect behavior, their heavy workload, and environmental needs. Jessica shares with us some bug fun facts, their role up the food chain for birds, fish, and turtles for example that we like to see in our yards, parks, lakes and rivers and how we can protect and nurture them to thrive. You can learn more about Dragons Wynd or reach out to Jessica below: jessica@dragonswynd.com [jessica@dragonswynd.com] dragonswynd.com [http://dragonswynd.com/] https://www.etsy.com/shop/DragonsWyndInsects [https://www.etsy.com/shop/DragonsWyndInsects]

Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden

Today we’re talking about planting for pollinators! A few years ago I received a Lawns to Legumes pollinator habitat grant through a MN statewide education program called Blue Thumb which is part of the nonprofit, Metro Blooms based in Minneapolis. Metro Blooms partners with communities and folks to create outdoor spaces that’s good for the water and land like installing rain gardens that filter and clean water and native plantings the provide habitat for pollinators. With the grant, I started my first pollinator garden which has been addictive and now has transformed a once entirely mowed backyard to about 3/4’s pollinator garden… and it’s SO much fun to see all the flowers and life back there. I’ve invited Megan and Jennifer from Metro Blooms to talk with us about how to plant for pollinators. Megan Reich is with the Education Team and Jennifer Ehlert is Vice President of the for-profit Metro blooms Design+Build that does residential and commercial design, installation and maintenance of native landscapes. But, No matter where you live, this can apply to you. Each of our little pollinator spaces, big or small are like stepping stones across the landscape to help for example, migrating monarch make their journey. And, it’s, I think, super fun. Here are a few resources: Metro Blooms Website: https://metroblooms.org/ [https://metroblooms.org/] Blue Thumb Website: https://bluethumb.org/ [https://bluethumb.org/] Blue Thumb Planting Templates: https://bluethumb.org/public-resources/ [https://bluethumb.org/public-resources/] Lawns to Legumes Habitat at Home Sign Up: https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/habitat-at-home/ [https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/habitat-at-home/] Lawns to Legumes Garden Tour Day: https://bluethumb.org/garden-tour-day/ [https://bluethumb.org/garden-tour-day/] National Wildlife Federation - Native Plant Habitats - https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native [https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native]

Lessons Learned on a Winter Hike in the Colorado Rockies - a Saturday Adventure Story with Sawyer Gilsdorf

Sawyer Gilsdorf learned a few lessons on his snowy New Year's Day hike in the Colorado Rockies.

Building Nests to Help Loons

With declining natural shorelines from development, loon numbers have been hurting. People like my guest Mark Backes on Big Fish Lake in Minnesota are building loon nests to help them out. Hear what goes into making a loon nest, the success they're having, and some fun loon facts along the way. The loon calls you'll hear are recorded on Gull Lake from a friend of mine and Minnesota's 'Loon Lady', Sheila Johnston.

The Environmental Fight to Save Public and Sacred Lands with Chris Riccardo

We are at a critical time when many of our public and sacred lands across the U.S. are being threatened. Political decisions, like the recent, totally disgusting vote passed to undo protections that block copper mining in the Boundary Water’s watershed, are at risk of setting precedents for other wilderness areas, like Utah's Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument. We need to stand together, across state lines for wilderness protection. Today’s Guest is Chris Riccardo, the Midwest organizer with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA). Hear about what's happening with the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, how congress is seeking to roll back protections, and what you can do (that's easy) to help. After listening, I hope you’ll take action and go to SUWA.org [http://SUWA.org] or make a quick call to your members of congress to vote NO on resolutions to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante management plan. We gotta keep the pressure on together. For more info, Chris shared these resources: chris@suwa.org [chris@suwa.org] DC’s Switchboard: 202.224.3121 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W1FceOMx_XQ [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W1FceOMx_XQ] https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fbdd127c2bfb421a8fe56f579f252892 [https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fbdd127c2bfb421a8fe56f579f252892] https://gsenm.org/april-2026-newsletter/ [https://gsenm.org/april-2026-newsletter/]