🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
@chaseprairie.bsky.social
Research Scientist 🌾 Adj Professor
Scicomm 🌾 Env/Sci History 🌾 Comics
history, plants, & goldenrod 🌾🏳️🌈🌾
https://liz.kozik.net
she/her
@negauneeinstitute.bsky.social 🌿 Chicago Botanic Garden 🌿
https://rethinkinglawns.com
Scicomm 🌾 Env/Sci History 🌾 Comics
history, plants, & goldenrod 🌾🏳️🌈🌾
https://liz.kozik.net
she/her
@negauneeinstitute.bsky.social 🌿 Chicago Botanic Garden 🌿
https://rethinkinglawns.com
Pinned
The dissertation! 150 pages of prairie, history, & more pawpaws than you'd expect.
I've sold over 850 copies of this baby, and the world being what it is, it's far too expensive to print another edition right now.
Check it out in pdf form:
drive.google.com/file/d/104cf...
I've sold over 850 copies of this baby, and the world being what it is, it's far too expensive to print another edition right now.
Check it out in pdf form:
drive.google.com/file/d/104cf...
If I was a responsible academic, I'd hide this until I publish on this, but WHO CARES
Spring bee visits to flowers Mar/Apr/May in MN IA WI IL IN MI
What flowers are early season bees, including bumblebee queens, actually visiting?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Spring bee visits to flowers Mar/Apr/May in MN IA WI IL IN MI
What flowers are early season bees, including bumblebee queens, actually visiting?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Pollinator Plant Observations in Mar/Apr/May in MN IA WI IL IN MI
docs.google.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:44 PM
If I was a responsible academic, I'd hide this until I publish on this, but WHO CARES
Spring bee visits to flowers Mar/Apr/May in MN IA WI IL IN MI
What flowers are early season bees, including bumblebee queens, actually visiting?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Spring bee visits to flowers Mar/Apr/May in MN IA WI IL IN MI
What flowers are early season bees, including bumblebee queens, actually visiting?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
shout out to our national treasure, the federally endangered rusty patch bumblebee....... dining on reed canary grass
TRASH BEE
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
TRASH BEE
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
October 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
shout out to our national treasure, the federally endangered rusty patch bumblebee....... dining on reed canary grass
TRASH BEE
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
TRASH BEE
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Ok so like... the midwest. Does this need Ohio and/or Missouri?
I've IDed plants in over 6,500 pollinator observations in March, April, May in the red areas. If pressed, I could expand, but I'm waffling.
I've IDed plants in over 6,500 pollinator observations in March, April, May in the red areas. If pressed, I could expand, but I'm waffling.
October 20, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Ok so like... the midwest. Does this need Ohio and/or Missouri?
I've IDed plants in over 6,500 pollinator observations in March, April, May in the red areas. If pressed, I could expand, but I'm waffling.
I've IDed plants in over 6,500 pollinator observations in March, April, May in the red areas. If pressed, I could expand, but I'm waffling.
Job Posting - University of Illinois
Assistant/Associate Professor in Agroecology
"[...W]ill serve as Director of the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP). ASAP aims to promote sustainable food systems while conserving biodiversity."
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant/Associate Professor in Agroecology
"[...W]ill serve as Director of the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP). ASAP aims to promote sustainable food systems while conserving biodiversity."
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant/Associate Professor in Agroecology
Duties & Responsibilities
illinois.csod.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Job Posting - University of Illinois
Assistant/Associate Professor in Agroecology
"[...W]ill serve as Director of the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP). ASAP aims to promote sustainable food systems while conserving biodiversity."
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
Assistant/Associate Professor in Agroecology
"[...W]ill serve as Director of the Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP). ASAP aims to promote sustainable food systems while conserving biodiversity."
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
The area that I could see the rusty patch bumblebee daily is now totally bereft of any bumblebees
Every other day I’ve been walking different areas, cursing honeybees and lowly singing “where have all the cowboys gone?”
Every other day I’ve been walking different areas, cursing honeybees and lowly singing “where have all the cowboys gone?”
September 25, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The area that I could see the rusty patch bumblebee daily is now totally bereft of any bumblebees
Every other day I’ve been walking different areas, cursing honeybees and lowly singing “where have all the cowboys gone?”
Every other day I’ve been walking different areas, cursing honeybees and lowly singing “where have all the cowboys gone?”
Mental health recovery success:
Going photographing in prairie remnants with a friend and watching bees climb into gentians with equal excitement
Going photographing in prairie remnants with a friend and watching bees climb into gentians with equal excitement
September 21, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Mental health recovery success:
Going photographing in prairie remnants with a friend and watching bees climb into gentians with equal excitement
Going photographing in prairie remnants with a friend and watching bees climb into gentians with equal excitement
hello from a megachile friend I made today, deeply lost in the sauce at Marquette Park
September 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
hello from a megachile friend I made today, deeply lost in the sauce at Marquette Park
Prairie evening sounds
September 5, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Prairie evening sounds
prairie fact of the day:
the first prairie garden made post-settlement was Jens Jensen's* American Garden at Union Park. He harvested plants from roadsides outside the city & planted them in flowerbeds...... among tree-of-heaven & buckthorn. You might those now as major invasive species of Chicago!
the first prairie garden made post-settlement was Jens Jensen's* American Garden at Union Park. He harvested plants from roadsides outside the city & planted them in flowerbeds...... among tree-of-heaven & buckthorn. You might those now as major invasive species of Chicago!
September 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
prairie fact of the day:
the first prairie garden made post-settlement was Jens Jensen's* American Garden at Union Park. He harvested plants from roadsides outside the city & planted them in flowerbeds...... among tree-of-heaven & buckthorn. You might those now as major invasive species of Chicago!
the first prairie garden made post-settlement was Jens Jensen's* American Garden at Union Park. He harvested plants from roadsides outside the city & planted them in flowerbeds...... among tree-of-heaven & buckthorn. You might those now as major invasive species of Chicago!
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
Early "native gardens" and "restorations" tended to just be "we drove around, dug up some plants, and put them all together"
Here's Olmsted in 1893, talking about the lagoon edges at Jackson & Washington parks in Chicago, which took 75 rail-car loads of wild plants from all over
Here's Olmsted in 1893, talking about the lagoon edges at Jackson & Washington parks in Chicago, which took 75 rail-car loads of wild plants from all over
May 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Early "native gardens" and "restorations" tended to just be "we drove around, dug up some plants, and put them all together"
Here's Olmsted in 1893, talking about the lagoon edges at Jackson & Washington parks in Chicago, which took 75 rail-car loads of wild plants from all over
Here's Olmsted in 1893, talking about the lagoon edges at Jackson & Washington parks in Chicago, which took 75 rail-car loads of wild plants from all over
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
Here's similar stories from Jens Jensen about The First Prairie Garden Ever™️ at Union Park & from Ted Sperry (1936) about The First Prairie Restoration Ever™️ at
UW Arboretum
Imagine there being so many bottle gentians in Chicago city limits that you could just grab some nbd
UW Arboretum
Imagine there being so many bottle gentians in Chicago city limits that you could just grab some nbd
May 4, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Here's similar stories from Jens Jensen about The First Prairie Garden Ever™️ at Union Park & from Ted Sperry (1936) about The First Prairie Restoration Ever™️ at
UW Arboretum
Imagine there being so many bottle gentians in Chicago city limits that you could just grab some nbd
UW Arboretum
Imagine there being so many bottle gentians in Chicago city limits that you could just grab some nbd
ok but actually, I need a bodycam to capture all the honeybee-on-bumblebee assholery I see when I'm out. We've especially had issues with honeybees bullying the rusty-patch bumblebees, but haven't been quick enough to document any of it!
Next year, I'm determined to put honeybees on blast
Next year, I'm determined to put honeybees on blast
September 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
ok but actually, I need a bodycam to capture all the honeybee-on-bumblebee assholery I see when I'm out. We've especially had issues with honeybees bullying the rusty-patch bumblebees, but haven't been quick enough to document any of it!
Next year, I'm determined to put honeybees on blast
Next year, I'm determined to put honeybees on blast
Happy bee butt season everyone
Video: a bombus impatiens wiggles out of a white gentian
Video: a bombus impatiens wiggles out of a white gentian
September 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Happy bee butt season everyone
Video: a bombus impatiens wiggles out of a white gentian
Video: a bombus impatiens wiggles out of a white gentian
I am determined to turn my @inaturalist.bsky.social obs into a square over Chicagoland. Starting next on northwest burbs.
Unfortunately, most of the time I spend in the center-northeast is on the highway. You can see my commute on Dundee Road VERY clearly, but there's no evidence of I-290 or I-294
Unfortunately, most of the time I spend in the center-northeast is on the highway. You can see my commute on Dundee Road VERY clearly, but there's no evidence of I-290 or I-294
September 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I am determined to turn my @inaturalist.bsky.social obs into a square over Chicagoland. Starting next on northwest burbs.
Unfortunately, most of the time I spend in the center-northeast is on the highway. You can see my commute on Dundee Road VERY clearly, but there's no evidence of I-290 or I-294
Unfortunately, most of the time I spend in the center-northeast is on the highway. You can see my commute on Dundee Road VERY clearly, but there's no evidence of I-290 or I-294
Big news if true:
It’s gentian season
It’s gentian season
August 26, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Big news if true:
It’s gentian season
It’s gentian season
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
Plants of Concern volunteers had only seen smaller bees visiting low bindweed until Gretel’s observation this year. Knowing who is pollinating our rare native plants can help us better understand how to protect them. Learn more: plantsofconcern.org
Plants of Concern
plantsofconcern.org
August 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Plants of Concern volunteers had only seen smaller bees visiting low bindweed until Gretel’s observation this year. Knowing who is pollinating our rare native plants can help us better understand how to protect them. Learn more: plantsofconcern.org
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
🐝 Bumble bee self-care: groom… nectar… groom…
Gretel Kiefer, manager of the Plants of Concern program, found this half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) visiting low bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea), a rare Illinois native plant. 🧪
Gretel Kiefer, manager of the Plants of Concern program, found this half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) visiting low bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea), a rare Illinois native plant. 🧪
August 26, 2025 at 2:33 PM
🐝 Bumble bee self-care: groom… nectar… groom…
Gretel Kiefer, manager of the Plants of Concern program, found this half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) visiting low bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea), a rare Illinois native plant. 🧪
Gretel Kiefer, manager of the Plants of Concern program, found this half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) visiting low bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea), a rare Illinois native plant. 🧪
ICYMI: I found a prairie remnant actively in the process of being destroyed. There's not much left, but if anyone is on the hunt for some dry-friendly plants, you might as well go pick some of these up before they're all killed.
1040 Marquis St, Montgomery, IL
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
1040 Marquis St, Montgomery, IL
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
August 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
ICYMI: I found a prairie remnant actively in the process of being destroyed. There's not much left, but if anyone is on the hunt for some dry-friendly plants, you might as well go pick some of these up before they're all killed.
1040 Marquis St, Montgomery, IL
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
1040 Marquis St, Montgomery, IL
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Had a guess there was some remnant over here and finding the last of it literally in front of a fleet of construction trucks is TOO ON THE NOSE
Reality is so tacky
Reality is so tacky
August 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Had a guess there was some remnant over here and finding the last of it literally in front of a fleet of construction trucks is TOO ON THE NOSE
Reality is so tacky
Reality is so tacky
Anti-turf buyback Utah State professor Kelly Kopp is part of the expert team for the lobbyist org "Healthy Green Spaces Coalition"
They CLAIM to be supporting water-smart landscaping. They actually advertise all the lawn reduction legislation they've shut down
I wonder how much $ she gets
They CLAIM to be supporting water-smart landscaping. They actually advertise all the lawn reduction legislation they've shut down
I wonder how much $ she gets
August 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Anti-turf buyback Utah State professor Kelly Kopp is part of the expert team for the lobbyist org "Healthy Green Spaces Coalition"
They CLAIM to be supporting water-smart landscaping. They actually advertise all the lawn reduction legislation they've shut down
I wonder how much $ she gets
They CLAIM to be supporting water-smart landscaping. They actually advertise all the lawn reduction legislation they've shut down
I wonder how much $ she gets
Join me in having a good laugh at this Utah State professor who claims "Well actually, turf buyback programs in desert areas are bad because .... people stop watering their trees." Two very connected ideas, clearly.
When turf researchers are funded by the industry...
smartrain.net/blog/turf-bu...
When turf researchers are funded by the industry...
smartrain.net/blog/turf-bu...
Turf Buyback: The 2023 Mirage of Conservation - Smart Rain
Learn more about the dangers of turf buyback. It may be more detrimental than you think. Be aware of your landscape.
smartrain.net
August 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Join me in having a good laugh at this Utah State professor who claims "Well actually, turf buyback programs in desert areas are bad because .... people stop watering their trees." Two very connected ideas, clearly.
When turf researchers are funded by the industry...
smartrain.net/blog/turf-bu...
When turf researchers are funded by the industry...
smartrain.net/blog/turf-bu...
💛 this new @sophietaddeo.bsky.social Urban Ecosystems paper on combining/comparing herbaria, lit, & @inaturalist.bsky.social plant observations in Cook County. Citizen science gives us a window into private property, while lit is biased towards conservation areas.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
August 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
💛 this new @sophietaddeo.bsky.social Urban Ecosystems paper on combining/comparing herbaria, lit, & @inaturalist.bsky.social plant observations in Cook County. Citizen science gives us a window into private property, while lit is biased towards conservation areas.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
I commented on the observation, but I suspect b. vagans :) great diagrams made here: wisconsinbumblebees.entomology.wisc.edu/online-guide...
Even tho MI has different species, I use these diagrams to train new folks.
Even tho MI has different species, I use these diagrams to train new folks.
Species
Visual Guide This guide serves as a quick reference for all bumble bee species in Wisconsin. You can click on the photos below to learn more about each species including where it’s found, the common ...
wisconsinbumblebees.entomology.wisc.edu
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I commented on the observation, but I suspect b. vagans :) great diagrams made here: wisconsinbumblebees.entomology.wisc.edu/online-guide...
Even tho MI has different species, I use these diagrams to train new folks.
Even tho MI has different species, I use these diagrams to train new folks.
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
Im behind this year, but Bee Palooza planning is in full swing with 4 days left to do all the overly ambitious things i always wanna do 😂 This Sunday, Bee there or be square.
August 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Im behind this year, but Bee Palooza planning is in full swing with 4 days left to do all the overly ambitious things i always wanna do 😂 This Sunday, Bee there or be square.
Reposted by 🌾 Dr. Liz Anna Kozik 🌾
Society for Ecological Restoration folks!!!
SER World is coming up & understandably, things are... diminished. You can't have a World conference if people cannot safely fly here & budgets are being cut.
SER sent out a survey asking about your conditions to problem-solve this issue. Please answer!
SER World is coming up & understandably, things are... diminished. You can't have a World conference if people cannot safely fly here & budgets are being cut.
SER sent out a survey asking about your conditions to problem-solve this issue. Please answer!
August 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Society for Ecological Restoration folks!!!
SER World is coming up & understandably, things are... diminished. You can't have a World conference if people cannot safely fly here & budgets are being cut.
SER sent out a survey asking about your conditions to problem-solve this issue. Please answer!
SER World is coming up & understandably, things are... diminished. You can't have a World conference if people cannot safely fly here & budgets are being cut.
SER sent out a survey asking about your conditions to problem-solve this issue. Please answer!