mm
Regardless of age, we all enjoy the fun of discovering new
insights to our natural world. Nature’s Notes delivers this joy
using “bite-sized learning” text and dazzling close-up photos to
unlock scores and scores of fascinating secrets. The fast-paced
format features mini-articles and sidebars interspersed with fun
and affordable projects as well as backyard explorations
revealing all kinds of hidden natural treasures.

Nature’s Notes unique spiral-binding and flexible jacket make
this eye-popping book both sturdy and “outdoor-friendly”.  Put
it in your backpack and take it on your nature hikes.  Learn
about frogs, toads, turtles, birds, snakes, salamanders, snails,
mushrooms, wild flowers, insects and much more!
Winner of the 2011
National Outdoor Book Award
the outdoor world's largest and most prestigious book award program












With this book in hand, readers of any age will discover - just outside their own
doors, no matter where they live - a world they never knew existed.  Stunning
photography is combined with expert information to create an up-close and
personal tour of the hidden lives of spiders, beetles, butterflies, moths, crickets,
dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, ladybugs and many other backyard
residents.  You won't believe your eyes!  Each creature is shown in its natural
setting and many are shown progressing through the stages of their life cycles.  
This is a one-of-a-kind look at some of life's most fascinating mysteries -
surprising, captivating, and perfect for nature lovers of all ages.
                                          What are Native plants?

A native plant is one that has naturally existed in a certain habitat for a long time without being introduced there by humans.  It
has survived the local soil and climate conditions and has natural hardiness.  Native plants provide food for wildlife like
butterflies, insects, birds and animals.  Generally, the plants in North America are considered to be native if they were already
there before colonization.  Native plants may be better adapted to the habitat in a specific area, and need less water and care, if
you include them in a garden with similar growing conditions.

*  Some native plants are beneficial (or even critical) in certain habitats but invasive and undesirable in others.
*  Some native plants can become aggressive in small gardens due to self-seeding or underground runners, so choose wisely.

Be sure to do your research to learn which plants are best for your landscape or garden.  One way to get native wildflowers is
to contact a local wildflower rescue group.  They collect native plants (with permission) from sites that are scheduled to be
developed by construction companies.  You can also search the internet for native plant nurseries, native plant societies,
wildflower preservation groups or your local Cooperative Extension Service.  Here are some sites we found to be helpful:
www.for-wild.org    -   www.plants.usda.gov   -   www.plantnative.org   -   www.wildflower.org

Many people are concerned that some of the non-native plants introduced into this country will eventually crowd out our native
plants, especially the pretty wildflowers.  As education and awareness of this issue grows, it should become increasingly easier
to buy native plants for your own gardens.....preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

We use a mix of both native and "friendly" non-native plants in our butterfly gardens.  As we gain more knowledge and
experience we will strive to focus more on our local native varieties that would be good choices for our particular gardens.  We
used to think that any plant that voluntarily sprouted up in our yard was a native.  Now we know that's not always true.

Do you have a butterfly or bug question?
Would you like to exchange kid-friendly site links?
Interested in gardening for butterflies?

High-quality educational butterfly and moth field guide sheets created with our
own photographs and showing all life cycle stages.
Click on them to get a larger view.  
These
double-sided sheets are covered in a heavy, crystal-clear laminate.
.Winner of two Teacher's Choice Awards
















For every person who has ever watched the miracle of a
butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, this book is a
treasure chest of amazing butterfly transformations.  
Readers are invited to explore and experience the life
cycle stages of many common backyard butterflies in this
unique collection of stunning full-color, up-close
photography all taken in a live garden setting.

All photographs on this site are copyright protected.
Contact us to request pricing for digital images or prints.
We have thousands of photographs not shown on this
website.  Feel free to contact us to see if we have the
nature photos that you require for your project.
All of our photographs are taken with Nikon equipment.

Click HERE to see our sample gallery                            
                                                                     
1 Tim 5:18

Buy our books online...
click on a link below

Our butterfly book won two national awards  
Learning Magazine's 2007
Teachers' Choice Award
for "Children's Books" &
"Product of Excellence for the Family"
For wholesale pricing of our BUTTERFLY
or
BUG book contact our publisher:
www.storey.com

For our NATURE book contact:
www.WillowCreekPress.com
The Life Cycles of Butterflies front cover

What's the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

*  Usually butterflies are active during the day and moths fly at night, but there are exceptions.
*  Butterflies have thread-like antennae with small knobs at the end.
*  Moth antennae often look like little feathers, especially on the males.
*  Most butterflies have an exposed chrysalis, while many moths spin silk cocoons to hide theirs.
*  Moths often have very fuzzy, thick bodies and hairy legs.  Butterflies are more smooth.
Fun photos and
facts about
butterflies, eggs and
caterpillars
more insect life
cycle photos:

Click here
one Butterfly sheet $5
plus $2 shipping
one Moth sheet $5
plus $2 shipping
Save $2 on shipping - buy two
sheets (mix or match) for a total
of  $12
Moth plus Butterfly                   
sheets                       
2 Butterfly sheets                  
2 Moth sheets              
website updated Jan. 2012
mm
Welcome to our website!
We are the authors of these books:
"The Life Cycles of Butterflies"
"The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs"
"Nature's Notes"
We hope you find our site
to be fun and educational.
Butterfly - front side
Butterfly - back side
Moth - back side
Moth - front side
~ ~ ~ ~  Butterfly or Nature presentations  ~ ~ ~ ~

Meet the authors
- book signing and sales, observe and
handle live insects (seasonal), questions and answers

Butterfly and Bug show and tell -  life cycle presentation,
educational display setups, insect specimens to observe

Nature photography - camera basics, how to photograph
insects in the wild, tips and tricks for great shots, our secrets!

Gardening for butterflies - attracting butterflies and              
hummingbirds to your yard, habitat conservation with native
plantings, how to hand-raise butterflies and moths

Insect life cycles - learn all about ladybugs, lightning bugs,       
praying mantis, beetles, dragonflies, and more!

Making nature fun! - get your hands on nature, dirt won't
hurt, what's under that log, let's explore the creek, nature projects

We offer a wide range of presentations tailored to your particular
group, class, club, convention, or other event.

~   ~   ~   ~   Click here for more details   ~   ~   ~   ~
blue butterfly logo on page header provided by
www.Mind2u.com
* USA orders only *
Our photo of the month








baby tree frog
Copyright 2004-2012 Burris & Richards
Book us!
Sister and brother Judy Burris and Wayne Richards are the
authors and photographers of
The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs,
winner of the National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) plus the
Teacher's Choice Award for "Product of Excellence for the
Family", and
The Life Cycles of Butterflies, which won the
Teacher’s Choice Award for “Children’s Books” as well as
“Product of Excellence for the Family.” Their articles and nature
photography have been published worldwide in calendars, books,
newspapers  and magazines including Butterfly Gardener, Birds
and Blooms, Nature's Garden, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Better
Homes and Gardens, Cincinnati Magazine, and Backyard Living.
Learning Today to Care About Tomorrow
"This is the perfect nature guidebook for children, and it will help lead and instruct them through the fascinating world just outside their doors."
Each butterfly is photographed as an egg, caterpillar, chrysalis
and winged adult.  This book makes a great gift and is a
wonderful teaching tool for students, teachers and parents.
nn
Winner of the 2012
Teacher's Choice Award

Coming soon -
April 2012... .

Spiral-bound: 232 pages .
Publisher: Willow Creek Press .

Hundreds of full-color...
nature photographs.......

Fun projects for the......
whole family...............
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Pre-order now