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Jill Staake 2021 Square Jill Staake

Jill Staake

location-pin Tampa, Florida

Expertise: Gardening, Butterflies and Bugs, Backyard Wildlife

Jill Staake

  • MOSI Outside Assistant Curator, Museum of Science & Industry, Tampa: 8 years.
  • Contributing Editor, WeAreTeachers: 6 years.
  • Contributor, Birds & Blooms: 14 years

Experience

Jill Staake's lifelong love of nature turned into a career during the years she spent working with native Florida butterflies, caterpillars, and other wildlife at the Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa, Florida. During this time, she helped to maintain 30+ acres of gardens and backwoods, all carefully cultivated to support the more than 20 species of butterflies displayed indoors and out. She now writes for a variety of publications and sites on topics like gardening, birding, and education, among others.

Education

Bachelor of science degree in Secondary English Language Arts Education

Birds & Blooms Editorial Policies

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brand, has been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Articles

pentas is also known as starflower

Pentas: A Perfect Plant for Butterfly Gardens

Learn how to grow pentas, also known as starflower. This colorful, easy-to-grow annual is a swallowtail butterfly and hummingbird favorite.
Bnbbyc18 Beate Pohlig

Butterfly Eggs: Where Do Caterpillars Come From?

Out of the blue, caterpillars appear in the garden. But where do caterpillars come from? See butterflies laying eggs on host plants.
aster flower monarch

Grow Aster Flowers to Attract Butterflies in Fall

Late-blooming aster flower varieties will attract butterflies and bees to your garden throughout the end of summer and into fall.