Flowers look so innocent. But just like humans, they can be manipulative and very picky about their mates, as illustrated by ladyslippers and irises, two common bumble-bee pollinated plants. (If you want to learn more, see Zink and Wheelwright, Amer. Midland Naturalist 137: 72-78.)

If you want to make your own natural history observations, The Naturalist’s Notebook by Nathaniel T. Wheelwright and Bernd Heinrich (Storey Publishing, 2017) provides guidance and a systematic format, with 100% of royalties going to conservation and environmental education.

Check out more Nature Moments—and the series’ new website, which lets you search by topic or season.