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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Laughing Mantis Studio Pittsburgh, PA. breast cancer scientist, artist, woodworker, naturalist, native plant enthusiast, gardener, gamer, husband, dog dad. Full portfolio on IG @laughingmantisstudio
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This piece is called “Deer Resistant My Ass!” We have a few painted rocks around our garden. After deer browsed my evening primrose literally the day I planted it, I thought about a rock with this quote. Then was like “wait. I have a bandsaw.” #nativeplants #starwars #failure Oenothera biennis

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

I found a dead fly in my yard. Turns out it’s zombie fly infected with a fungus that makes it find a high perch, spread its legs/wings, die, and release fungal spores below. I’ve found 3 now, with 1 shipped to @zombiflied.bsky.social at Harvard for science! Just in time for Last of Us finale! 😂

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment

Zebra swallowtail wing looks like pixel art. #butterfly #naturalist

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

It happened! At least 4 of the 32 zebra swallowtail #butterfly chrysalises that overwintered survived (maybe all). The 1st eclosed today! This shot was NOT planned. 3 more coming in the next 1-2 days. All offspring of this single mom: www.publicsource.org/zebra-swallo... #pawpaw #nativeplants

submitted 43 days ago • 3 comments

Another tiny strip of lawn I’ll never mow again! The other side is neighbor‘s lawn. Shrubby St. John’s wort + foxglove beardtongue from seed. I’ve solarized w/cardboard/mulch around plantings before. Works well enough. If the deer strike and I need to replace, well the hard part’s done.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

Before and after. Evening primrose grown from seed in my basement. 😂 #nativeplants #gardening #eveningprimrose #deer

submitted 51 days ago • 2 comments

Made a new #hobbit hole for our front garden. Partly to make kids/parents smile when they walk by. But mainly to make myself smile. Scrap fence cedar and acrylic paint. It’ll look better with real plants around it I think. Pieces cut on #scrollsaw. #woodworking #geekart

submitted 59 days ago • 4 comments

Current vibe post Chewie’s “cryptorchid” surgery. Fun tangent: this lead to me learning that “orchid” means “testicle.” Hat tip to @metalmarks.bsky.social for sharing this illustration of why the plant is called an #orchid in our Pittsburgh #Naturalists signal chat. #DogsofBluesky

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

Happy to have this recent wooden monarch #butterfly piece shown at the University of #Pittsburgh #EcoArtisans Sustainable Art Expo today! Bonus materials showcasing #milkweed, #nativeplants, #pawpaw, and zebra swallowtails.

submitted 64 days ago • 0 comments

Plant Milkweed! #Monarch #Butterfly wood #intarsia is complete! Started this thing in Dec24! Made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Ebonized black walnut, orange-dyed ash, American holly (all scavenged). + A bit of wenge, and painted metal cord antennae. #woodworking #nativeplants

submitted 71 days ago • 4 comments

Cold & rain makes for a great day to do my annual refinish of this inlayed patio sunflower table I made. Downside of oil-finish: yearly maintenance. Upside: it’s easy and much prettier than something like spar urethane. It stays on our porch so at least somewhat limited exposure to elements.

submitted 75 days ago • 2 comments

If any of you happen to be #pittsburgh local, the monarch I’m working on will be displayed at the “EcoArtisans Sustainable Art Expo” on April 2nd (10-2pm, WPU, Pitt Campus).

submitted 78 days ago • 0 comments

1 way I make my #woodworking more sustainable is by ebonizing common woods like this black walnut instead of using e.g. ebony. Vinegar + steel wool in an old mason jar = iron acetate (& hydrogen, so don’t seal it💥!). The solution reacts with tannin to create various shades (depending on species)

submitted 81 days ago • 2 comments

Back at this #monarch #intarsia again. I started it in December! It’s a slow metamorphosis. All handcut on #scrollsaw. Will dye some of it orange. #woodworking #art

submitted 85 days ago • 9 comments

I don’t show my face here all that often - just because there’s usually much more interesting things to show. But Chewie was being too cute not to share. I swear there will be both woodworking and nature content here soon!

submitted 88 days ago • 0 comments

The fastest creature on Earth - a peregrine falcon - flying around the Cathedral of Learning while supporting #standupforscience2025 in #pittsburgh (a pair nests up there). The survival of the peregrine is 1 of the great conservation stories. #science #nature @standupforscience.bsky.social

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

Hey if y’all want to see some absolutely gorgeous woodworking - often inspired by nature, wildlife, and pets. Give my friend Chelsea @evergreendaydreams.bsky.social a follow! She’s a truly amazing pro and just joined here. (Chelsea you should post one of your cardinals!).

submitted 94 days ago • 1 comment

I started many of my #nativeplants seeds suuuper early (like December), mostly as a mental health exercise, and expecting failure. But so far like 95% of it still looks happy and healthy-ish. For a cool dry basement under cheap lights anyway. The main challenge has been fighting the fungus gnats.

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments

How I maintain my winter sanity: garden planning. Our small pizza slice of Pittsburgh started as monoculture lawn and a few invasives and non-natives (but beautiful rhododendrons). I’m slowly converting it to mostly #nativeplants (minus dog runs). 100 native seedlings in our basement now!

submitted 112 days ago • 3 comments