Archives

BACKYARD SECRET – NANDINA BERRIES ARE POISONOUS TO BIRDS

Apr12

       During the spring, the urge to plant flowers, trees and shrubs is high.  For those of us that are trying to enhance our yards for wildlife we are on the lookout for plants that are attractive and benefit wildlife.  With that in mind, sometimes you find a plant that is beautiful and provides food for wildlife.

       A plant that appears to fit the bill is nandina.  It has dark green, evergreen foliage and bears a crop of shiny red berries. As such, the plant seems to add a touch of beauty in the winter.  In truth, you should avoid it.

       One reason why it should keep out of your yard is that it is on the Georgia Invasive Plant List.  That means it spreads across the countryside and thereby threatens native plants.

       The second reason is that its berries are toxic to birds. It seems the berries contain cyanide compounds that produce hydrogen cyanide.  Typically, when a bird eats a small amount (1-2 berries) of the berries it will not die.  The berries, however, pose a greater threat to cedar waxwings.  The reason for this is they often gorge themselves on the red berries.  This is especially true when other food sources are scarce.

       Keep this in mind when you are considering possibly adding nandina to your landscape.  This is a case of where what you do not plant is as important as what you do not.

BACKYARD SECRET – PLANTING GROUPS OF PLANTS BENEFIT HUMMINGBIRDS AND OTHER POLLINATORS

Apr1

     

        If you are looking for a simple way to benefit hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators, plant nectar plants in groups of the kind.  You will find that mass plantings enhance the beauty of your yard and makes it easier for these valuable backyard neighbors to locate plants bearing nectar. 

       With that in mind, plant no less than 3-5 of the same variety together.  If have enough room for larger plantings, masses of plants measuring two to three are even better.

       I hope you will try this simple technique this year.  I suspect that, if you take this advice, the pollinators will love it and you will wonder why you have not adopted this gardening trip before.

BACKYARD SECRET – MOST EXOTIC PLANTS IN OUR YARDS HAVE LITTLE OR NO FOOD VALUE FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE

Nov19

       Some experts say that at least 80 percent of the plants growing in our yards are exotics that have little or no food value for native wildlife. This has contributed to the decline in native plant and animal populations in suburban settings. 

       Just one example of this is studies have shown there is 35 times more caterpillar biomass in native woody vegetation than is found in exotic woody plants.  This is important because caterpillars are a key source of food for many wild animals.  For example, 96 percent of terrestrial birds eat caterpillars.

       With this in mind, if you are interested in increasing the variety and numbers of native animals in your yard, expand the number and diversity of native woody plants that grow on your property.

FLOWERING DOGWOOD

AFTER FREEZE NECTAR SOURCES

Nov16

       This week much of Georgia suffered through the first freezing temperatures of the season.  At our home in Monroe County, the temperature fell to 27º.   Realizing that spelled trouble for many pollinators my wife and I brought in two plants (scarlet sage and pineapple sage) that have been hosting cloudless sulphurs for the past few weeks.

       When the weather returned to normal, we put them back on our deck. In a matter of minutes, they were once again being visited by cloudless sulphurs, syrphid, and hover flies. While our efforts did not benefit many pollinators, they did provide a few with much-needed food. In addition, we extended the time we can enjoy watching pollinators at work in our yard.
Based on our success I decided to visit our local nursery (Mossy Creek) to see if any of their plants had survived the cold and were hosting pollinators. 

       I no sooner got out the door of my vehicle when one of the nursery’s staff called me over to look at a stunningly beautiful butterfly. The butterfly turned out to be a zebra longwing; it was the first I have seen this year.  The whole time that I was there, the butterfly fed at lavender pincushion blossoms.

       While I watched, an American lady joined it.  Nearby, an Ocola and fiery skippers, and a couple of American ladies visited marigolds.  All of these plants had survived the severely cold weather.

       Later, our daughter told us that a hover fly was feeding on a late four-o’clock bloom beside her house.  She also saw several pollinators visiting coneflowers at a nursery in Columbia County.

       Admittedly, the weather was not kind to our gardens this year consequently; we did not have many sources of nectar available deep into the fall.  However, we pledge to do better next year.

       If you want to help late pollinators in your yard, the first thing you need to do is find out which pollinator plants can survive cold weather in your neighborhood.  One great place to learn find this information is your local nursery.  There is no better time do so than after our recent freeze.  Armed with this knowledge you will be better able to address the food needs of the pollinators living close by.

       When I returned home, I was carrying four pots containing cold-hardy plants that we are going to add to our yard. 

      

BACKYARD SECRET – WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE MONARCHS IN GEORGIA DURING THEIR FALL MIGRATION?

Oct15

  

     

 

        The best time to catch a glimpse of fall migrating monarch butterflies is during the months of September and October.    Records, however, suggest the greatest number of these butterflies pass through the state in mid-October.       

       With that in mind, if you want to see these large orange and black butterflies, spend some time outside during the next few days.

       Good luck!

 

LATE BONESET – AN IMPORTANT POLLINATOR PLANT

Sep3

      Once September arrives, pollinator plants become increasingly more difficult to find.  However, a native plant that helps fill that void is an herbaceous perennial known as late boneset (Eupatorium serotinium).

       Late boneset provides nectar to a wide range of pollinators such as native bees, moths, and butterflies. 

       In addition, it is the host plant for the clymene and other species of moths.  The dorsal side of this moth is most distinctive.  Its wings are creamy and marked with bold black markings that resemble a cross. To me, the markings look much like the symbols seen on the shield of an English knight.

       While I often see boneset blooming in old fields and along country roads, I rarely encounter it in backyards.  Interestingly, my daughter recently found one blooming in her suburban backyard.  She finds this volunteer so fascinating; she plans to let it continue to prosper.

       Since the plant is easy to grow and is deer resistant, it is a valuable addition to the backyard of anybody interested in promoting native pollinators.   

MY FAVORITE BUTTERFLY BUSH

Aug27

       Over the years, my wife and I have planted a number of butterfly bushes.  The flowers produced by these plants varied from yellow, to lavender and dark purple.  While they all attracted butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, the one that is most often visited by these amazing insects is a dark purple variety named Black Knight.

       As long as I regularly prune the spent blossoms, it produces flowers from late spring into fall.  In late August, it is often difficult for pollinators to find food.  Since Black Knight is still profusely blooming every time we visit these butterfly bushes, I see several eastern tiger swallowtails, skippers, buckeyes and other attractive butterflies.

       While Black Knight does well in our yard, it may not do as well in your yard.  If you do try it, I would like to know how it does.  In addition, if you have a variety that attracts lots of pollinators in your yard, I would like to know about it.

TWO LATE AUGUST POLLINATOR FAVORITES

Aug11

        By this time of the year, gardens are often losing their value to pollinators day by day.  The reason for this is many of the plants we plant for their beauty and ability to provide pollinators with nectar and pollen have already stopped blooming.  This is unfortunate because butterflies, bees and other pollinators still desperately need sources of food.  Consequently, if you spot bees and butterflies flying about your yard vainly looking for flowers, don’t let this happen again. With that in mind, I suggest that next spring you add some nectar plants that continue to bloom until frost. Two of the best are purple coneflower and cosmos.

       Both bloom throughout the summer into the fall. They are also hardy. In addition, birds will eat the seeds produced by both plants.  Although a number of birds eat the seeds, American goldfinches are especially fond of them.

OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL COCKROACH

Jun23

           If there was ever a contest to crown Georgia’s most beautiful cockroach, I am certain that the winner would be the pale-bordered field cockroach (Pseudomops septentrionalis).  I never thought that it is impossible to describe a cockroach is being beautiful.  Then a few days ago, I just happened to find a pale-bordered field cockroach.  When I first looked at it, it appeared to be a bauble that had fallen of a necklace or bracelet.  Upon closer examination, I saw the object had six legs and was adorned with a distinctive pattern that was far different from any cockroach I have ever seen.

            This cockroach is small (1/2 to 5/8 inches long).  Unlike the cockroaches we are familiar with,  it rarely ventures into our homes.  Instead, it remains outside living its life in the thick cover found in our backyards, gardens, and natural areas.  It is particularly fond of mulch, and woodpiles.  It is a scavenger that spends the daylight hours feeding on the juices of low-growing plants and flowers.  Fortunately, it does not damage plants nor is a garden pest.  In addition, unlike other cockroaches, they are not known to carry any diseases that can infect humans.

            This insect is not native to the United States.  Instead, its home range includes Mexico and Costa Rica.  Interestingly, some experts believe it was accidentally brought here in shipments of bananas.

            If you spot a pale-bordered field cockroach in your backyard, I suspect that you might exclaim, “It is the most beautiful cockroach I have ever seen!”  

 

DO NOT PLANT THIS MILKWEED IN YOUR GARDEN

Jun18

        With each passing year, more Georgia gardeners are planting milkweeds in hopes their efforts will bolster the dwindling monarch butterfly population.  The University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Program recommends we do not plant the common milkweed in our gardens (Asclepias syriaca) in the state.

       This reason they want us to defer from planting this particular milkweed is it is not native to Georgia.  This recommendation is based on the fear that this milkweed could potentially become invasive and usurp habitats currently occupied by Georgia’s native milkweeds and other wild plants.