Late Bloomer. Jan Coppola Bills
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Название: Late Bloomer

Автор: Jan Coppola Bills

Издательство: Ingram

Жанр: Сад и Огород

Серия:

isbn: 9781943366316

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СКАЧАТЬ We (me and you) have been chosen to care for the earth, nature, and wildlife. It is our gift, it is our responsibility.

       Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

      ~ ALBERT EINSTEIN

      Attracting beneficial wildlife is so easy: simply plant a garden. It does not have to be large. Even one small container filled with their favorites becomes an excellent food source and habitat for birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators. An online search will bring up lots of plant lists for various pollinator friends in different regions.

       Some things you can do to welcome wildlife:

      image Give ‘em a place to call home. Worms, beetles and all kinds of insects will quickly take up residence in compost piles, and bins and rotting logs provide a natural habitat and food source. It’s a good thing. Don’t forget toads and frogs – nature’s champion insecticides! Toads eat many kinds of insects including snails, slugs, and beetles. One toad is capable of eating up to 1000 insects a day. Lay out a few rocks for these welcome garden guests. Turn a broken ceramic or terracotta pot over and use as a toad house. Let’s roll out the red carpet for these little guys!

      image Quench their thirst. Water is critical for the survival of all wildlife. Most wildlife die in winter due to lack of water, not food. A small birdbath, free-standing fountain or lovely pond is a wonderful way to attract a variety of wildlife. Keep water levels in birdbaths low (less than an inch); birds can’t swim.

      image Give ‘em shelter. Hedges, deciduous shrubs and evergreens provide food and shelter from predators and protect wildlife from harsh cold winters.

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       “Dear pollinators: You’re invited to a garden party!”

      Plant pollination and the production of crops are highly dependent on the critical function of bees and butterflies. Environment America, a citizen-funded, state-based environmental advocacy organization, says, “Millions of bees are dying off, with alarming consequences for our environment and our food supply. We rely on bees to pollinate everything from almonds to strawberries to the hay used to feed dairy cows. What happens if the bees disappear? It’s simple: no bees, no food.”

       Plant a Plant for the Bees:

Alyssum Anise Hyssop Bee Balm
Borage Catmint Coneflower
Cosmos Dill Goldenrod
Hollyhock Lavender Parsley
Poppy Rosemary Sage
Salvia Sunflower Thyme
Verbena Yarrow Zinnia
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      The continued existence of butterflies is critical, too. These gorgeous creatures are cherished visitors in the garden. American poet Robert Frost eloquently describes butterflies as “flowers that fly and all but sing.” One of the most recognizable of our butterflies is the majestic Monarch, and we’ve all heard the disturbing stories of their habitat loss as they make their incredible journey of migration. The good thing is that gardeners everywhere are responding by creating butterfly habitat stations for these long-distance beauties.

      Did you know? Adult butterflies are attracted to red, yellow, orange, pink and purple blossoms that are flat-topped or clustered and have short flower tubes.

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       Attracting Monarch Butterflies to Your Garden

      Here are four things you can do to attract Monarchs to your gardens, from my friend Kylee Baumle. She is a devoted advocate for Monarchs. Her latest book is The Monarch: Saving Our Most-Loved Butterfly.

      image Milkweed. Since milkweed (Asclepias spp.) plants are essential for a Monarch to raise their young, growing it increases your chances of attracting Monarchs to your garden. There are perennial varieties as well as annual ones and these can be grown in containers or in the ground. Consult with a local garden center to see which varieties grow best in your area.

      image Milkweed variety. Provide more than one kind of milkweed if you want Monarchs to lay eggs in your garden and not just visit it. Like people, Monarchs seem to have preferences for their “flavor” of milkweed. Some prefer swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), while others flock to common milkweed (A. syriaca). By growing two or three different types, you’ll increase your chances of having Monarchs frequent your garden.

      image Host plants for nectar. Monarch butterflies also need host plants to provide nectar for nourishment and energy, especially if they’re migrating. A few of their favorites are zinnias, goldenrod, coreopsis, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, asters, blazing star (Liatris spp.), and bee balm (Monarda spp.)

      image Water. As Monarchs go about their day, they need water as well as food. Though nectar provides some, they will also seek out other water sources. You can provide this as easily as setting out a plate with water on it. The plate works best, rather than a bowl, because the water will be shallow and the dry edges of the plate provide a safe resting place for the Monarch to sit and sip.

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      Want to invite butterflies to your garden? Plant some zinnias, coneflowers, asters and more

      A warning about pesticides: This seems intuitive, but be sure you aren’t sabotaging your efforts at attracting Monarchs (and other pollinators) to your garden by using pesticides. These can include fungal treatments as well as soil drenches, which can become incorporated into the actual plant. Spraying for mosquitoes will kill mosquitoes, but it can also kill butterflies and other beneficial insects. And just because something is organic doesn’t mean it’s harmless to Monarchs, so use with discretion.

       Leave the Leaves

      One day when I was playing in my garden, СКАЧАТЬ