These button-willows (also called Buttonbush, Honey-bells) have a scientific name of Cephalanthus occidentalis. But my it is pretty (see the photo I took this weekend at the Conservancy’s Silva tract). At first, I thought they might be just another deciduous shrub used as decoration. But the experts said that they were native, and had an affinity for watered areas. So we planted a few around the Conservancy’s marsh complexes about 10 years ago. And I just like them more and more as they get more mature. We need to plant some more!

They’re back!
We are so pleased to see one of the NBHCP’s “Covered Species,” the Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), back on Conservancy property! Going back 15 years, the owl used to be seen frequently on Conservancy mitigation lands. At the time, we documented too-common depredation of them by dogs from nearby residential… Continue Reading They’re back!