Life in a Garden – The Beauty of Staying Close

Sometimes, you don’t have to go far to witness wild beauty. In my own backyard — no tiles, just native plants — I recently photographed three amazing visitors:

• Ochlodes sylvanus, the Large Skipper butterfly (Groot dikkopje, taken with my Canon 7D Mark II + Sigma 100–400mm)
• Mus musculus, the house mouse (Kleurmuis, 7D Mark II + Canon 15–85mm)
• Anomala dubia, a metallic green beetle species (Canon 5D Mark III + MP-E 65mm macro lens)

Each one is a sign that a small, pesticide-free garden can support real biodiversity — from pollinators to small mammals. These species play essential roles: the butterfly as a pollinator, the mouse as part of the food chain, and the beetle as a natural recycler of plant material.

A sustainable garden isn’t just for beauty; it’s a refuge. It reminds me that conservation doesn’t always require travel — sometimes, it starts just outside your door.

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