Archives

TIME TO PLANT EVENING PRIMROSE SEEDS

Oct25

        For the past several weeks, my wife and I have enjoyed the beauty of evening primroses.  I wish we could say we  planted these native plants, but I cannot.  They sprang up in some of the driest, poorest soil in our yard.  They have taken root in a patch of poor, dry, red clay soil along the end of our driveway.  This is a very precarious spot since it is in a zone routinely mowed by the Georgia Department of Transportation.  We have come to the realization we are going to have the best chance that primrose will continue to provide the beautiful color and provide food for pollinators, songbirds and others in various spots around our yard, now is the time to act.

       The evening primrose is a native biennial.  This means the plant has a life span that only lasts two years.  During its first year, it germinates, grows roots, short stems and leaves.  During the second year it grows tall flower stalks that are festooned with bright yellow flowers.  After the plant blooms it dies.

       There are several different ways to propagate the plant.  We plan on gathering a few of the plants’ dry seed pods.  We will then scatter the tiny seeds in two locations. Some seeds will be sown in pots.  Others will be scattered on bare soil at various spots around the yard.   If you spread the seeds directly on the ground select spots rated as poor to average. We will not make any effort to cover the seeds. By planting the seeds in the fall, the seeds will be exposed to natural stratification.

     You might be wondering why we are trying to promote evening primrose.  There are a number of reasons why we want to establish a thriving population of primrose in our yard. First of all, we enjoy the beauty provided by the plants’ showy yellow blossoms.

       The flowers also provide nectar for a number of moths and butterflies and is also serves a host plant for a number of species of moths.

       Primrose also provides food for many species of bees; this list includes sweat bees, carpenter bees and bumblebees.

       Both hummingbirds and butterflies also dine on the plants’ nectar.

       As for vertebrates, American goldfinches and a variety of sparrows and other songbirds eat the plants’ small seeds.  Small mammals also eat primrose seeds.

       If the evening primrose seems to be a plant you want to add to your native plant community, I suggest you research the various ways evening primrose can be propagated. 

       If you are successful in establishing evening primrose on your property, I strongly suspect you will feel that your efforts were well worth it.

      

 

WHITE ASTERS – STUNNING AND BENEFICIAL

Oct18

          If you ride down a country road in Middle Georgia right now the blossoms of two native plants grab your attention. These plants are goldenrod and white aster.

       Goldenrod is by far the showstopper.  In many locales yellow plumes of goldenrod blanket fields and roadsides.  In some areas, however, goldenrod is sharing Mother Nature’s late summer/early fall floral stage is white aster.  These plants can reach a height of 3 or more feet and during their blooming season this perennial is covered with untold an  untold number of snow-white daisy-like blooms.  A singe plant can literally display a hundred or more of these tiny floral jewels.  At least five species of these native asters grow in Georgia.  Needless to say, separating one species of aster from another can be perplexing, however, the two asters we are apt to see along roads and fields in this neck of the woods are named the smooth oldfield aster or small white aster.  The other plant is called the hairy oldfield white aster or frost aster.     The plants are deer resistant, and often grow in poor, dry soil.   In addition, they bloom up to six weeks.

       In addition to being attractive, they are valuable wildlife plants.  Those asters that bloom in late summer and beyond provide nectar well after many pollinator plants have ceased blooming.  While they are particularly popular with native bees and wasps, they also provided food for butterflies, and even beetles.

      These asters serve as caterpillar host plants for the silvery checkerspot and pearl crescent butterflies.  On top of that, their tiny seeds   are devoured by sparrows and other songbirds.

     The next time you spot mounds of tiny white blossoms festooned on plants growing  along the roadside, stop and admire these native beauties.  After you see them up-close, it is next to impossible not to take a bevy of photos that you will want to share with others.

 

         

BACKYARD SECRET – GOLDENROD IS VALUABLE TO POLLINATORS

Sep27

     

       In my yard and through much of Georgia, goldenrod is just beginning to bloom.  Unfortunately, most Georgians consider goldenrod a weed.  The truth of the matter is goldenrod is a host plant for than 100 species of moths and butterflies. In addition, hundreds of species of insects dine on goldenrod nectar and pollen. 

       Indeed, this secret needs to be told and we need to the share this secret with everyone who shares a love for the natural world.

BACKYARD SECRET – BUTTERFLIES HAVE AN ODD WAY OF TASTING THEIR FOOD

Aug23

          We taste food by placing it in our mouths; such is not the case with butterflies. Unbelievably, butterflies taste food with their feet. It seems that when a butterfly lands on a flower, before it unrolls its straw-like proboscis and begins dining on the flower’s nectar, they taste the potential source of food through their feet.  They are able to accomplish this amazing fete because their feet are cloaked with cells (chemoreceptors) that let a butterfly know whether the flower contains sugary nectar.

     

SPURRED BUTTERFLY PEA – AN ATTRACTIVE WILDLIFE FOOD SOURCE

Jul27

          Whenever I discover a new native plant or animal in my yard it is a great day.  My latest discovery took place this morning when I stumbled across a new native plant growing on my property within minutes of the time I set foot outside.  As I began my daily walk around my yard, I spotted a handful of attractive lavender blossoms blooming inches above the ground.  As it turned out, I had found a couple of native perennial vines that had just begun flowering.  This plant is the spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum).

          Spurred butterfly pea vines attain a length only seven feet or so. A single plant will only spread over an area measuring one to three feet in diameter.  My two plants cover far less of the dry, clay hillside where they are rooted.

          Although the plant is much smaller than many wildlife food plants, it provides food for a wide range of wildlife.  Two species of butterflies (northern cloudywing and long-tailed skipper) use it as a host plant.  Its foliage is consumed by white-tailed deer and other herbivores. Even gopher tortoises will devour the plant’s leaves. The butterfly pea’s seeds are eaten by songbirds, and quail.  While such uses are important, is perhaps more valuable as a food source for many native bees and other pollinators.

          Since this fascinating native plant is a source of wildlife food and is also attractive, you should consider adding it to the list of the native plants growing in your yard.

CONFLOWERS – A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR GARDEN

Jun21

       One of our favorite garden plants is a native called purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). 

       This native perennial is a magnet for butterflies, bumblebees and other pollinators. In addition, its seeds devoured by a number of birds such as sparrows, eastern towhees, nuthatches, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, and northern cardinals.

       One of things I like best about the plant is that it blooms from May until September.

       While it will make a great addition to most Georgia flower gardens, when you purchase purple coneflower plants you need to know if you are buying true native coneflowers or one the many cultivars on the market.  These plants bear fanciful names such as Secret Affair, Avalanche, Coconut Lime, cotton candy, Fatal Attraction, Lilliput, Meringue, and milkshake.

       While these variety might be of value to wildlife, far too often cultivars are showy but lack the ability to produce nectar, pollen and seeds.  I can attest to the value of native purple coneflower, however, I know nothing about any of the cultivars sold in nurseries across the state.

       If you have found any of the cultivars of value to wildlife, please let me know.

 

 

BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PLANT TRUMPET CREEPER

Jun7

       One of my favorite native vines is the trumpet creeper. The problem is experience has taught me you have got to be careful where you plant it.

       Trumpet creeper is a great wildlife plant.  Its thick foliage provides nesting and escape cover for birds and other wildlife. In addition, the vine’s large showy blossoms are a great source of food for a variety of pollinators ranging from bumble bees, moths, and butterflies to orchard orioles and ruby-throated hummingbirds.  It sounds like this is a plant that all wildlife gardeners would like to see growing in their yards; unfortunately, this is not the case.

       The problem is that the trumpet creeper aggressively spreads for the spot where it is planted.  In fact, it is not uncommon for trumpet creeper to spread 35 feet or more.  Consequently, I would recommend that you never plant trumpet creeper close to your home, barn or other structures.  If trumpet creeper reaches a building, it will quickly attach itself and potentially cause damage to the structure.  It matters not whether the exterior is covered with brick, wood or siding, trumpet creeper will attach itself to the material.

       That being said, it does well growing along fences, arbors, and the like.  I have even seen it grown beside poles to create a trumpet creeper tree.

      

CONTAINER GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE MADE EASIER

May27

          Gardening for wildlife is being adopted by an increasing number of gardeners each year. One form of wildlife gardening that is growing by leaps and bounds is gardening in containers.

         While container gardening is nothing new, growing plants that are of value to wildlife is.  Container gardening for wildlife allows gardeners to attract wildlife to small places. In addition, is allows people that are physically unable to engage in traditional gardening to continue their hobby. 

       One of the problems that plagues container gardening is moving large pots from one spot to another.  A large container full of soil is very heavy and difficult to move about.  In addition, it can be quite expensive to buy enough soil to fill a large pot.

       An excellent way to solve this problem is to fill third to half of the pot with a lightweight filler. Innovative gardeners are using variety fillers such as plastic bottles, bags and nursery pots as fillers Some even employ large chunks of Styrofoam. Others are using organic fillers such as pinecones, and wood chips. 

       If you want to make container gardening for wildlife less expensive and easier, you should consider using lightweight materials as fillers.

       If you have used this technique, I would appreciate it if would let me know if your efforts proved to be successful.

 

BACKYARD SECRET-WEBSITE THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON NATIVE PLANTS IN YOUR AREA

Apr23

       The number and variety of native plants that grow in your yard plays a key role on determining what species of wildlife will inhabit your yard. The problem is trying to determine which plants will grow in your neck of the woods.

       The National Audubon Society has simplified the task of trying to identify which native wildlife-friendly plants grow in the county where you live.

       If you want to access this information, go to the National Audubon Society’s website.  Once there scroll to the window labeled Plants that Grow in your Area.  You will see a place where you enter your zip code.  Type in your zip code; press the Enter button and the plant list for your area will appear.

BACKYARD SECRET – BUTTERFLIES ARE SOMETIMES SMALLER IN THE SPRING

Mar23

       Recently my wife and I were walking about our backyard on a recent March after noon we noticed that one of our native azaleas was in full bloom.  When we stopped to admire the beautiful blossoms displayed by the large native azalea, an eastern tiger swallowtail flew in and began nectaring at the shrub’s stunning blooms.  As we watched the butterfly feed, we both noticed that it was much smaller than the tigers we normally encounter.  This begged the question, “Why is this individual so small?”

       One possible reason for this is eastern tiger swallowtails overwinter as pupae in a chrysalis.  If a butterfly emerges earlier than normal due to unseasonably warm weather, it may be smaller because it pupated before reaching its normal size.