Outdoor Inquiry at Pine Island Elementary

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🐦 9 Plants Not To Cut in Fall: Birds Need Them for Winter

1) Coneflowers (Echinacea)
• Leave seed heads standing through winter.
• Cut back only in early spring.

2) Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
• Keep dark seed heads until late winter.
• Goldfinches & chickadees feed on them.

3) Sunflowers (Helianthus)
• Large seed heads = natural bird feeders.
• If stalks flop, lay them down or prop up.

4) Joe-Pye W**d (Eutrochium)
• Tall seed heads feed small birds.
• Foliage adds snow-cover shelter.

5) Goldenrod (Solidago)
• Keep stems and seeds all winter.
• Sparrows & juncos rely on them.

6) Ornamental Grasses (Miscanthus, Panicum, etc.)
• Don’t cut back until spring.
• Provide seeds, shelter, & winter interest.

7) Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
• Leave dried flower heads intact.
• Birds love seeds; adds frosty texture.

8) Asters
• Leave uncut until spring.
• Birds feed on their small seeds.

9) Native Shrubs with Berries (Viburnum, Dogwood, Elderberry)
• Keep berries for winter food.
• Only prune weak or diseased branches.

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🐦 9 Plants Not To Cut in Fall: Birds Need Them for Winter

1) Coneflowers (Echinacea)
• Leave seed heads standing through winter.
• Cut back only in early spring.

2) Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
• Keep dark seed heads until late winter.
• Goldfinches & chickadees feed on them.

3) Sunflowers (Helianthus)
• Large seed heads = natural bird feeders.
• If stalks flop, lay them down or prop up.

4) Joe-Pye W**d (Eutrochium)
• Tall seed heads feed small birds.
• Foliage adds snow-cover shelter.

5) Goldenrod (Solidago)
• Keep stems and seeds all winter.
• Sparrows & juncos rely on them.

6) Ornamental Grasses (Miscanthus, Panicum, etc.)
• Don’t cut back until spring.
• Provide seeds, shelter, & winter interest.

7) Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
• Leave dried flower heads intact.
• Birds love seeds; adds frosty texture.

8) Asters
• Leave uncut until spring.
• Birds feed on their small seeds.

9) Native Shrubs with Berries (Viburnum, Dogwood, Elderberry)
• Keep berries for winter food.
• Only prune weak or diseased branches.

Let them protect your garden. No need for pesticides. 🪲

One of my favorite insects…they are amazing!

Cicadas don’t sting or bite, because they simply don’t have the mouth parts to do it. They don’t spread disease and they’re not toxic. In fact, they’re actually good for your plants. When their life cycle ends, their bodies return to the soil, releasing nitrogen that feeds your garden. While alive, they help aerate your lawn, letting water soak in more effectively. So instead of fearing them, let nature work her magic. Cicadas aren’t troublemakers they’re just our rowdy friends who never quite learned to settle down. ❤️

What a wonderful opportunity! Just wanted to share for all my fellow photographers.

Hello PIES students and parents! We had a wonderful first week of school. I was so happy to see all the kids’ excitement about the Outdoor Inquiry class. Don’t forget if you want to bring in your own treasures from nature feel free. It’s fun to share in your discoveries! Parents, the same goes for you! If you have some awesome things to share from nature we’d love to see them. If anyone has things to donate to the class, we appreciate that too. It can be anything from sharks teeth to animal pelts to bones. We study them all. Check in on our page from time to time. I will be telling you all about the cool things we are learning and may even have opportunities for you to volunteer and spend time with us in class. Have a great weekend and don’t forget to hug a tree! 🌳 ❤️