Summary

The general impression that many people have is that prior to European settlement the whole eastern U.S. was one giant old growth forest. But that wasn't the case. Using an interdisciplinary approach, researchers over the last several decades have discovered that the eastern U.S. was instead interspersed with a surprising number of diverse ecosystems – only one of which was old growth forest.

3 things you'll learn from this episode:

• What researchers now think the eastern U.S. looked like 400 years or more ago.
• Why we have so many trees now and why it's so easy to believe that everything was once forest.
• Why all of this matters and what we should do about it.

Additional Resources:

• Forgotten Grasslands of the South: Natural History and Conservation *
• 2013 Harvard University - Smithsonian study
• 2025 State of the Birds Report

* affiliate link – We receive a small commission for purchases made through these links, but it comes at no extra cost to you. All commissions that we receive through these links goes toward producing Backyard Ecology content. We appreciate your support.

Backyard Ecology™ resources:

• The Backyard Ecologist's Newsletter
• Backyard Ecology™ Community

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary

When it comes to creating habitat, having a written set of goals can be extremely helpful in moving a task from the "I'll get to it someday" category to the "I'm actually going to get this done" category. But all too often, those goals end up being forgotten or abandoned, which can leave us feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and defeated.

In this episode, I share how Anthony and I have experienced those same feelings because we've made the same goal-setting mistakes that everyone else makes. Then I'll show you how I've overcome those mistakes and am now able to create realistic habitat goals that are much more likely to be successful and help me achieve our habitat dreams. I also tell you about a special event which will be starting on January 12, 2026.

3 things you'll learn from this episode

• Some common frustrations when it comes to creating habitat goals.
• Why so many of our habitat goals fail leaving us feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and defeated.
• How to set more realistic habitat goals which are much more likely to be successful.

Backyard Ecology™ resources

• Step by Step Habitat Challenge: Planning and Prioritizing Your Projects for 2026
• Backyard Ecology™ Community

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Summary

Late blooming native plants are crucial sources of pollen and nectar for pollinators. One of my favorite species that blooms in October, and often into early November, is Short's aster (Symphyotrichum shortii).

3 things you'll learn from this episode:

• The biology and life history of Short's aster.
• The pollinators and wildlife that use it.
• How to incorporate it into your garden.

Resources mentioned:

• BONAP's range map for Short's aster
• Plant Life of Kentucky: An Illustrated Guide to the Vascular Flora*

* affiliate link – We get paid a small commission for purchases made through this link, but it comes at no extra cost to you. All commissions that we receive through affiliate links goes toward producing Backyard Ecology™ content. We appreciate your support.

Other Backyard Ecology™ resources:

• Black-eyed Susan: A favorite nectar source for butterflies
• Discover Your Next Steps Habitat Creation Quiz
• Backyard Ecology™ Community

Thank you

Thank you to our amazing Patrons who go above and beyond every month to provide financial support which helps us create so much free content for everyone to enjoy and learn from.