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Kids and Conservation: Planning For the Future

3/28/2023

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PictureIn communities across the Hudson Valley, kids are taking the initiative and being creative. Students at one garden enjoy experimenting with different ways to use herbs, including making shampoo. A group of girl scouts planted an herb garden for their community to use.
Conservation is more than planting flowers, trees, and shrubs for pollinators. It encompasses many concepts, ideas, projects, and must-do tasks that deserve our undivided attention. From understanding the how and why behind the delicate balance Mother Nature set into motion millennia ago to overcoming the human-made problems disrupting that balance, we have our work cut out for us.

Strides are being made to limit carbon emissions, stop the destruction of natural resources, and restore habitats and ecosystems, but there’s one slight problem. This task is destined to continue for many years to come. So where are the future leaders who will eventually take over the challenges facing humanity?

The children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, so now is the time to start educating them on what’s going on. Kids need to be included in the projects we’re working on so they will catch the conservation bug and be excited about being outside and a part of the natural world.

Combine Tech with Curiosity
Technology is fantastic and a great asset to everyone, but unfortunately by capturing the hearts and imaginations of the younger generation, it is preventing them from seeing and experiencing the great outdoors. Spending so much time in front of screens, they don’t feel connected to their environment and have no desire to protect something they don’t understand. Yet, if we combine technology with a child’s innate curiosity, we have the perfect set-up to introduce them to nature.
With a little guidance from a parent or teacher, the kid can be introduced to a lot of cool things through activities that encourage them to think, question, and see beyond the plants and trees to the intricate world that exists in their own backyard.
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: For instance:
  • What Am I? – A version of the game, I Spy, where a child describes a butterfly, tree, or a rock without saying its name so someone else can guess what it is. http://thewildnetwork.com/wild-time-idea/observation-game/
  • Make a Bee Hotel – Using plant stems, bamboo, reeds, or canes with a pithy or hollow center, children can create a place for solitary bees to nest. Cut six to eight stems in uniform lengths, tie together with twine, and hang securely from tree branches, giving the bees a place to make a home. https://www.instructables.com/Pollinator-Habitat-Project/
  • Build like a Bird – Attempt to construct a bird’s nest using only twigs, moss, and other materials a bird would have available. It’s a lot harder than you’d think! This isn’t very high-tech, but it demonstrates the extraordinary talents and skills birds possess.
  • Scavenger Hunt – Armed only with a paper bag and a list, the child has to explore his/her surroundings, locate specific items and place them in the bag. This can be as high or low tech as you want by using a simple paper list or an iPad with more complex items that must be identified online, i.e., an oak leaf instead of just a leaf.
  • SEEK Safari – Using the SEEK app on their phone, the child searches for unusual plants, insects, or critters and identifies them through this app. https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
  • Citizen Science – There are citizen science projects designed for elementary through high school-aged students ranging from counting lightning bugs in your backyard to tagging and monitoring Monarch butterflies during their annual migration. https://scistarter.org/finder

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Less Tech and More Hands-On
​With her signature bright yellow tent, Karalyn Lamb attends community events around New York’s Hudson Valley. Through their Pollinator Pop-Up project, she and her colleagues introduce kids and adults to the wonderful world of pollinators. 

It isn’t difficult to get people interested in and excited about the environment. When they find out how uncomplicated it is to help pollinators, they’re ready to do their part. According to Karalyn, easy-to-grow pollinator plants for kids and beginners are zinnias and sunflowers, “and kids especially like things that are edible like strawberries and herbs.”

 In communities across the Hudson Valley, kids are taking the initiative and being creative. Students at one garden enjoy experimenting with different ways to use herbs, including making shampoo. A group of girl scouts planted an herb garden for their community to use.

Working in a garden is a fantastic way to groom the conservation leaders of tomorrow. There is so much you can talk about while planting flowers or trees – pollinators/habitats and the importance of both in our lives, how trees provide food and shelter for birds and insects and clean and cool the air. The list of topics is endless.

These simple activities educate, encourage, and empower children to go outside, observe nature, and appreciate the beauty surrounding them. If they learn from an early age how they can make a difference, from there the sky’s the limit!

Building a Foundation
Attitudes, opinions, habits, and ideas are undergoing a transformation right now. A change that is not easy for some older folks but is necessary to stop destroying and start restoring the environment. Involving the younger generations in discussions about deforestation, declining pollinator populations, climate change, and instilling the habits of green living while they’re still young will encourage them to be more mindful of the impact their actions have on Mother Earth.

That doesn’t mean scaring them with the world coming–to-an-end horror stories, but instead emphasizing the importance of reusing and recycling, not littering, being more energy conscious, buying sustainably-sourced food and other goods, not using pesticides, and respecting all the life inhabiting our planet.

Encourage the love of the great outdoors by taking walks, hikes, biking, camping, and letting your kids climb trees, grow a garden, play in the dirt, and explore. It will make them better stewards of the environment and the future leaders our world needs.


Sassy Scribblers on Conservations

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EARTH HOUR 2023

3/21/2023

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Every year, at 8:30 pm on the last Saturday of March, millions of people worldwide show their support for our planet by coming together to take one iconic action—turning off their lights for one hour.

EARTH HOUR was created by the World Wide Fund (W.W.F.) and is held annually, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm as a symbol of commitment to our planet.

This symbolic act raises awareness of the continuing destruction of our natural resources and the threat we face from climate change. In addition, it demonstrates a commitment to making healthier choices that benefit all living creatures and the environment.

EARTH HOUR is a symbol of unity and hope. It is proof that collective action can be a catalyst for change. Since its inception in 2007, EARTH HOUR has become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment. And their voices have been heard!

Ordinary people taking action in countries such as Russia, Argentina, and French Polynesia have initiated legislation to protect their seas, waterways, and marine life from pollution. Uganda created the first-ever EARTH HOUR forest, and the Galapagos Islands became the first province in Ecuador to ban plastic bags and other disposable packaging. In 2016, 50,000 citizens urged the Spanish government to phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewables.

Who knew turning off lights for one hour could serve as a stepping stone to such monumental actions?

The Ultimate Challenge
Humanity's ultimate challenge is to achieve the global temperature limit adopted by the Paris Agreement nearly ten years ago.
In December 2015, 196 Parties in December 2015 set a goal to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels" and pursue efforts "to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels." World leaders set a deadline of 2030 to cap the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C.

The next seven years are crucial in determining whether we stay within these limits. Greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030. Additionally, we need to step up our efforts to reverse environmental destruction.

Mother Nature has always been our ally in maintaining the environment. Unfortunately, we are losing the plants and trees she needs to cool and clean the air. Woodlands and rainforests are being cleared for development faster than they can be replaced. Diversity cannot be maintained with all the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems being destroyed by pollution, poisonous chemicals, and development. 

Individuals, communities, businesses, and governments must all urgently step up their efforts to protect and restore our one home. It sounds dire, but it's doable if everyone chips in by decreasing our carbon footprints and putting forth more effort to repair our natural world. 
 
 On Saturday, March 25, 2023, supporters in over 190 countries and territories aim to send a global message reminding folks what we all have in common and what we stand to lose. It's a call to action to put aside differences and work together to protect and preserve our planet. It's up to all of us to do our part to stop destroying and start restoring our beautiful world.
Where will you be on Saturday between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm?

Be part of the Biggest Hour for Earth - https://youtu.be/niZ54wV6QdE

 
Now more than ever, we need our increasingly divided world to unite to take urgent action for our one home. We need everyone and anyone to feel inspired and empowered to play a part, no matter how small. Most importantly, we must continue to shine a beacon of hope for a brighter future, harnessing and celebrating the power of the people. https://www.earthhour.org/
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Taking a Broader View

3/14/2023

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For the past several weeks, we’ve been focused on the importance of incorporating native plants into our landscapes, getting rid of invasives, and getting our gardens ready for spring.  

​However, Pollinator Conservation and Environmental Restoration involve more than just planting trees, flowers, and shrubs. In order to regain the balance Mother Nature intended, we also need to counter pollution, global warming, overuse of pesticides, and destruction of ecosystems. These other topics are vitally important and will be covered in the weeks and months to come.

To begin with, we need to face the facts. Over the past few centuries, humans have not been very good stewards of our planet.

It hasn’t always been that way, though. Our early ancestors learned very quickly that the environment provided everything they needed to survive. Mother Nature gladly shared her resources with all living creatures, whether they had two, four, or six legs, had wings, or crawled upon the ground. As long as a balance was maintained where the mobile creatures helped pollinate, spread seeds, and protect the plants and trees, the foliage would provide the food, water, and shelter humans, insects, and animals needed.

We can’t forget the aquatic world. It was an intricate part of the balance and provided food and oxygen for the land dwellers. No one paid much attention to the harmonious dance between the plants, coral reefs, and marine creatures, but it was there and hinged on terrestrials living cooperatively with the sea.

Up until the industrial age, Mother Nature and humanity got along pretty well together. Unfortunately, after the Industrial Revolution, things started going downhill. Humankind’s greed, selfishness, and ego disrupted the balance by destroying ecosystems and polluting the water, land, and air, poisoning the environment and ourselves, leaving the current generation with a mess to clean up.

The problem is that so many things need fixing – plastics choking our oceans, air, water, and land pollution, global warming, the pollinator crisis, destruction of habitats and ecosystems, and overuse of pesticides, to name just a few.

It’s overwhelming to think of all the issues that need addressing. The good news is that one person needn’t worry about tackling them all. Instead, each of us needs to take a broader view, evaluate our motivation, and decide how our actions can benefit the greater good. What are you most passionate about?
  • Are you interested in adding native plants and trees to your existing landscape to aid in the conservation of pollinators, wildlife, habitats, or ecosystems?
  • Would you rather work on a larger scale project replacing introduced invasive plants with native flora to restore the prairies, wetlands, or other ecosystems to their natural state?
  • Are you more concerned about cleaning up the plastic waste and other chemicals and debris polluting our water, air, and land?
  • Maybe you prefer to teach, lecture, and educate others about environmental issues, global warming, carbon footprints, overuse of pesticides, etc.
Anything you do will make a difference. Take a broader perspective and visualize our work as a circle. What one person does is linked to something else and continually goes around so that all the small things add up to a significant impact.

If you haven’t found your niche yet, don’t worry. Many of us are in the same boat and don’t have a passion project. That’s why our conservation blog covers all these topics and more to educate, encourage, and empower you to find your role in cleaning our world and helping Mother Earth regain the balance she needs to keep our planet thriving.

You don’t have to have a green thumb or spend much time and effort. All you have to do is take the first step – pick up that litter, refrain from using pesticides, leave the leaves, or plant a few flowers in the yard or in a planter.

Look at that! You made a difference!
 
Sassy Scribblers on Conservation

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Grow Bugs - Hummingbirds Can't Survive on Nectar Alone

3/7/2023

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​Question: Are well-meaning people doing the hummingbirds more harm than good by putting out feeders filled with sugar water?
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It's a nice thing to do, and the hummingbirds appreciate the easily accessible source of energizing refreshment, but they need more. Instead of fussing with sterilizing the bottle, keeping the feeder out of direct sunlight, and changing the water every couple of days, why not just provide them with native plants that would supply a continuous steady source of nectar? You can still hang up a feeder, of course, but as a supplement to nature's grand scheme of things.

Another necessity the foliage furnishes is protein. Plants attract bugs; sixty percent of the hummingbird's diet consists of bugs. Watching the tiny birds as they dart back and forth, hover, and delicately sip nectar from a flower, you'd never know they were also on the lookout for small insects, beetles, ants, aphids, gnats, and mosquitoes.

Unfortunately, meatball shrubs and tightly pruned hedges adorning residential and commercial properties leave the hunters with no nectar, no bugs, and not even any places to nest. Hummingbirds need trees, flowers, and bushes to supply the essential elements they need to thrive.

Ann Barklow, environmentalist, horticulturist, and Bee City USA liaison for the city of Greenwood, SC developed an interest in hummingbirds after moving to the south from California. She observed the overabundance of feeders along with the missing vegetation and worried the hummingbirds were not getting the nutrition they needed.

 "Are we getting hummingbirds addicted to the sugar water? If given a choice, would they prefer it over searching out natural sources of nectar?" she asks.

To investigate, she grew some of the hummingbirds' favorite plants at her home. Almost immediately, they took advantage of the flowering blossoms along with the feast of insects lured in by the plants. That was a good sign.  She also observed the small birds didn't fight as they tended to do around a feeder, another positive indicator. Yet one bird continually stopped and hovered in front of Ann as if asking, "Hey, where's the feeder?"

When Ann didn't succumb to its demands, the bird finally got the message and went in search of some nectar. It wasn't happy having to work for its sweet treat, but hopefully, the bonus of delicious bugs nestled in amongst the flowers made up for it.
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Ann's discoveries through her backyard experiment inspired her to turn her study of hummingbirds into an educational experience for the entire community. So, with a display board and some interesting bits of information, Ann's Grow Bugs campaign began.

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How Do You Grow Bugs?
Ann's message was simple - grow plants that attract pollinators, pests, and other bugs because predators such as birds, bats, wasps, spiders, dragonflies, and ladybugs need the protein. "They can't survive on nectar alone. GROW BUGS!!" 

What kind of plants are we talking about? Answer: flora that has always coexisted with the local fauna. Of course, this varies from region to region.

Still, you can speak with master gardeners, horticulturists, local college extension services, and any other person, groups, or organizations that are familiar with your local ecosystems and habitats. Information is also available online from the Xerces Society or your local Native Plant Society.

You can never go wrong with a few flowers from the daisy family, along with sunflowers, zinnias, and perennials like Echinacea and rudbeckia. You will have late summer and early fall blooms if you plant solidago and aster in your garden towards the end of summer. Top off your garden by tucking in some herbs. Anything in the mint family, such as thyme, sage, and basil, will bring in tons of pollinators.

Salvias (sages) are a favorite of both hummingbirds and the bugs they love to eat, such as spiders. The eight-legged hunter builds its web to trap unwary guests, and the hummingbird scores on both counts – a veritable feast of assorted bugs along with a giant, plump, juicy orb spider to top it off. Plus, the hummingbird uses the spider's web in constructing its nests.

Birds are big bug-eaters, especially caterpillars. They need lots of food to feed their babies. A chickadee needs something like 6,000 caterpillars to raise a family of four chicks. Ann says, "It'd take forever to feed their young with aphids, flies, and other small insects. They need the big plump caterpillars that have a lot of nutrients, enzymes, and other good stuff for the babies to eat."

To attract the butterflies and moths to provide the caterpillars, plant some milkweed for Monarchs or fennel for Swallowtails or other plants that'll support the voracious caterpillars. Oak trees and dogwood trees, and various shrubs are great for this. We've been conditioned to think of caterpillars and other crawling creatures eating the leaves on our plants and trees as "pests." In reality, the caterpillars are needed and sought by many birds as an essential food for their young nestlings.

Tent caterpillars overrun many yards in the spring/early summer. Instead of spraying or burning them out, use a long stick and open a big hole in the "tent" so the winged families can access the bird food.

Let Nature Take Its Course
"When you garden for nature, you can't have any preferences," Ann says. "You may like bumblebees more than spiders, but if you find a bumblebee stuck inside a web, you have to step back and let it happen."

Another thing she points out is that sometimes you have to let pests get out of control to satisfy the appetites of the predators. The birds, bats, dragonflies, ladybugs, wasps, and the rest are much better at pest control than any chemical or spray. Nature's balance always seems to save the day. When those aphids get into the milkweed, walk away and let nature take care of itself. Give it some time, and you'll notice the ladybugs (adult and larvae), hummingbirds, dragonflies, and other beneficial insects zero in on the milkweed and have a field day feasting on the aphids. Granted, it is not instantaneous, and you'll lose some of the milkweed, but the aphids are taken care of.

When you first considered planting a pollinator garden, the thought of providing food and shelter for the pollinators may not have included sacrificing some of the little creatures. It's not so disturbing when it's mosquitoes, gnats, spiders, or even ants being eaten, but it takes them all – beneficials and pests, predator and prey to maintain Mother Nature's balance.

So go ahead and plant a garden and enjoy knowing you have provided food and shelter for more than just the pollinators you see buzzing and flittering around the flowers. You have helped preserve a natural order that has existed for many millennia. Thanks to you, it will continue.
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Sassy Scribblers on Conservation

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How Do the Wild Creatures Combat Jack Frost?

2/28/2023

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​As I sit here in my office shivering despite being wrapped in a turtleneck sweater, sweatshirt, sweatpants, fingerless gloves, fleece robe, heavy socks, and slippers, along with a heater blasting hot air underneath my desk, I wonder, how do the animals outside cope with these frigid temperatures?

It’s absolutely amazing how bees, butterflies, beetles, birds, bats, and other creatures evolved to know what to do instinctively. The changing seasons trigger a conditioned response. Songbirds migrate south. Raptors also fly south, where food sources are more plentiful. Insects carve out nesting spots in trees and vegetation or tunnel under the soil to stay out of the elements. Amphibians, reptiles, turtles, and mammals also burrow underground or sleep the winter away in earthen shelters. Wooly bears and some species of frogs can turn into ice cubes and thaw in spring.

Spoiled dogs like mine have it made. Even though he has his winter coat, my four-legged companion is curled up snoozing in front of the heater, leaving his spot only when forced to by me, hunger, or a full bladder. He doesn’t realize how lucky he is.
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Should I feel sorry for the birds, deer, squirrels, rabbits, and coyotes that are out and about roaming around the countryside, braving the cold temperatures and precipitation? What unique traits has Mother Nature programmed into them to combat the frost, ice, snow, sleet, and cold Jack Frost throws their way? How do they keep from turning into furry or feathered blocks of ice?
 

PictureYou know it's cold outside when you see one-legged Canada geese.
​Birds
Birds pack on body weight in the late summer and fall in anticipation of the long, cold winter. They have a high metabolic rate, burning lots of energy to stay warm. They keep active by flitting around, and like humans, they shiver when stationary. It’s a good thing they can remember where their food stores are hidden because they need lots of them. A Chickadee eats more than 35% of its body weight every day.

Our avian friends are well-insulated. Their feathers trap pockets of air around their bodies, keeping them warm. In addition, all birds weatherproof the top layer of their feathers by secreting oil, and waterfowl such as egrets, herons, and mourning doves grow special feathers that disintegrate into a powder used to waterproof their inner feathers. 

Ducks, geese, pelicans, gulls, and swans further conserve body heat by standing on one leg or even sitting down and tucking their bills under their back feathers.

Smaller, and even some species of larger birds, crowd together to share body heat. Cavity nesters use tree hollows and nest boxes to stay warm, dry, and safe from predators.

Deer
Deer and other large mammals such as elk, moose, caribou, and buffalo have a lovely thick coat that keeps them warm and toasty. Their outer coat repels water while their furry undercoat insulates them and prevents body heat from escaping.

Deer have special muscles that help adjust the angle of their hair for maximum insulation. Plus, the gray-brown color absorbs the sun’s warmth. This system works so well they don’t feel the cold.
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As far as food is concerned, they consume as much as possible during the autumn. A deer can lose up to 30% of its body weight during the winter, and the fat stores help it to survive. To preserve their energy, deer limit their exploring to the warmer hours of the day and bed down at night. They take advantage of natural shelters and congregate under trees and brush that shield them from the elements. Sticking together in groups also protects from predators.

PictureAny early ancestor to the possum must have really ticked off Mother Nature. They are one of only animals that don't sport a heavy winter coat and have a hairless tail and ears that Jack Frost loves to nip.
​Smaller Animals
Coyotes serenade us year-round with their haunting cries. One summer, we were fortunate to have a family living within binocular range of our home. Not wanting to disturb them, we sat in the car and watched as the adults left the den and went hunting in the evenings. The fields offered them an endless bounty of mice and insects to feast upon. They’re beautiful creatures and did us a friendly service by reducing the rodent population.

I was surprised to read that coyotes are more active in the winter than other wildlife. They prefer to sleep outside in a protected hollow or beneath an overhang rather than in a den. Young coyotes strike out on their own, and winter is also mating season. It’s a busy time.

Small animals such as possums, skunks, and raccoons hunker down in dens during the winter and poke their noses out when the temperatures are not too cold. Unfortunately, the poor possums have no luck at all. They usually den by themselves and if not careful, can get frostbite on their hairless ears and tails.

Rabbits, mice, voles, and squirrels are hardy critters who have mastered the art of thriving in the bitter cold. These wild mammals grow thick coats to keep the chill out and eat as much as possible, while fruits and nuts are plentiful.

Squirrels, mice, and voles hide caches of food for those long, lean days when food is scarce. Smaller animals lose heat faster than larger ones, so while active, they must burn fat faster to keep warm. That’s also why they stay put in their underground lair during the coldest days.

Instead of relying on emergency rations, rabbits forage for ground-level plants, twigs, and bark to sustain them until spring. They also eat their own poop.
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I guess it’s unnecessary to worry about the wild things during the winter. Heck, they seem to handle it much better than I do. Nevertheless, I enjoyed researching this stuff. The more I know about the creatures with whom I share this world, the more I appreciate them.

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Can Staggering Environmental Destruction be Stopped?

2/21/2023

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Mother Earth’s ecosystems are designed to benefit from each other. Vegetation provides food and shelter for all the creatures while in return, the critters ensure the plants and trees continue to thrive by pollination and seed dispersal.
 
This natural balance has worked very nicely for millennia. That is until humans got greedy and began destroying more and more native habitats to make way for farming, development, and urbanization.
 
Flowering bushes, weeds, wildflowers, and grasses have made a valiant effort to survive. However, between herbicides killing them off and invasive species choking them out, plants and trees face a constant struggle. In addition to our mindless devastation of ecosystems, human-made pollution, chemicals, and pesticides add to the ongoing destruction of the land and plants.
 
As habitat dwindles away, so do the creatures.
 
As of February 2023, 941 species of plants have been identified as threatened or endangered, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Environmental Conservation Online System.

Their list of imperiled species also includes 101 birds, 39 amphibians, and 92 insects. When you include mammals, fish, reptiles, worms, etc., the grand total amounts to 737 animals.
 
How Can We Correct the Damage?
 
EDUCATION
Educating yourself in a particular area of interest is about getting a sense of the big picture. It means understanding the Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How.
 
One of the Latin meanings of the root word of education is “to train,” and the other is “to draw out.” Gaining knowledge about environmental conservation is part of the process of training yourself in this area of interest. The more you learn, you discover it begins to draw out of you an understanding of pollinators, other creatures, native plants, nature’s balance, and their importance that surpasses knowledge alone.
 
ENCOURAGEMENT
No matter how much you dream about doing something, there’s nothing like encouragement to get you up off the couch. Our desire is to ramp up your enthusiasm, in other words, to light a fire under you!
 
We want our blog to be a source of encouragement for you. There are many ways to participate in helping Mother Nature. You may be fortunate enough to have property where you can create a pollinator garden. If not, you may have other opportunities to make a difference or skills that would make you an asset to an organization dedicated to making a difference. These are only two of the ways your skills might be used to Stop the Destruction of and Start Restoring your little piece of our beautiful world.
 
 
EMPOWERMENT
Gaining the knowledge and the confidence to move forward onto a chosen path to realize your dream of making a difference in the lives of plants and animals and the stability of our planet is how you achieve empowerment.
 
Once you reach this point in your journey, you are unstoppable! With people like you, we can become a never-ending force of nature ourselves to restore the balance of nature!
 
Sweet & Sassy Scribblers … on Conservation

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Invasion of the Habitat Snatchers

2/14/2023

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PictureEnglish Ivy
Invasives – every gardener's worst nightmare. The nasty alien invaders creep up from the soil choking out the native flora you've so carefully nurtured to benefit the local insects and wildlife. A few days ago, everything was fine, but now English Ivy is sprouting up.

The vines were spotted creeping up the trees in a wooded lot down the road a couple of years ago, but you never dreamed it would be a problem in your landscape. Surprise! Not only do the aggressive plant's roots travel underground, but birds and animals also carry the seed-filled berries hither, thither, and yon. 
 
Invasive plants are not just a problem for homeowners. The blasted things are everywhere! The National Wildlife Federation reports that thousands of native-plant species are at risk of extinction. According to NWF's chief scientist, Bruce Stein, "If we are interested in conserving the diversity of life on Earth, we need to be very concerned about the large numbers of at-risk and declining [native] plants."

These quick-growing and at times, very aggressive plants take over the land, choking out the native species that have no defense against the overwhelming bullies. As a result, conservationists working to restore woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and other threatened ecosystems spend countless hours removing destructive plants only to have more unwanted seedlings spring up in their place. From my perspective, it's a never-ending battle, and I'm not sure who's winning.

What is an Invasive species? According to the USDA, it is defined as a species that is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. 
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Why are invasive plants successful? According to the U.S. Forestry Service:
  • They produce large quantities of seed.
  • They can thrive in any type of soil.
  • Invasive plant seeds are often distributed by birds, wind, or humans, allowing them to move great distances.
  • Some Invasives have aggressive root systems that spread long distances from a single plant.
  • These root systems often grow so densely that they smother the root systems of the surrounding vegetation.
  • Some plant species produce chemicals in their leaves or root systems, which inhibit the growth of other plants around them.

PictureWild Parsnips
What are the impacts of invasive plant species? First, they can spread rapidly, displacing the diverse vegetation indigenous insects and wildlife depend on to survive. For instance, have you ever noticed roadsides and fields overrun with flat-top clusters of yellow flowers? Even though wild parsnip attracts pollinators, the invasive plant spreads greedily, displacing native vegetation and reducing habitat for wildlife.

The U.S. government estimates the cost from invasives to be $120 billion, with more than 100 million acres affected, an area about the size of California. The Forestry Service reports that the establishment and spread of invasives:
  • Have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species.
  • Compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space.
  • Decrease overall plant diversity.
  • Can degrade wildlife habitat.
  • Results in poor quality agricultural lands.
  • Degrades water quality.
  • Increases soil erosion.
  • Decreases recreation opportunities.
These impacts change nature's balance on which all species depend.

Where do invasive plants come from? Stores and nurseries sell what the public wants. Therefore, they stock listed invasive plants such as butterfly bush and burning bush. They also import exotic flowers, shrubs, bushes, and trees from other parts of the world, selling them to homeowners across the country. 

However, the importation and spread of non-native plants aren't anything new. It's been going on since immigrants settled in America. Colonists brought many plants from their homelands, and the foreign grasses and flora were sown from the east coast to California as the settlers migrated west. It was one of our ancestors who originally planted that bothersome English Ivy around their homestead. Unfortunately, when folks discovered the plant was a nuisance, it was too late, and we have been suffering the consequences ever since.

I have to note, though, not all invasives are imported. A plant might be native in one area of the country but a listed invasive in another. For example, crownbeard daisies are native to Colorado but are invasive In Hawaii.

What plants should we avoid?
Ecowatch lists ten of the most invasive species in the U.S. as:
  1. Bamboo
  2. English Ivy
  3. Callery or Bradford Pear Trees
  4. Wisteria Sinensis
  5. Cogongrass
  6. Purple Loosestrife
  7. Japanese Honeysuckle
  8. Winged Burning Bush
  9. Norway Maple
  10. Barberry
We can also add kudzu, butterfly bush, black locust, Japanese knotwood, common buckthorn, Dame's rocket, and giant hogweed to the list. However, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of species of invasives across the country.
 
Are all non-native plants invasive?
NO!  There's a big difference between non-native and invasive. Non-native simply means the plant was introduced to an area. The plant could have originated in a different region of the U.S. or be from Europe or Asia, but a non-native does not pose a threat to native plants. They may not support the local ecosystem's health as well as native plants do such as 
dandelions and clover, but they do no harm. Other non-native species include petunias, hyacinths, zinnias, and many food crops such as rice, wheat, and tomatoes.
​
How to know what's invasive?
To know if a plant is native, non-native, or invasive, ask local experts. Pick the brain of someone from a WildOnes Chapter or your state's native plant society. In addition, check out state and county resources, university extension offices, master gardeners, clubs, and conservation organizations. You can find information online too.

Play it safe. Before putting an exotic in your garden, try to find a native alternative, i.e., Rudbeckia instead of zinnias.

Consider a plant's potential for getting away from you. Certain herbs are better placed in a confined area where they cannot escape.

Do your homework and know what you're getting into before you go shopping. It may take time, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Happy Gardening, everyone!

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Go Native!

2/7/2023

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In all my blog posts, I try to mention the importance of adding native plants to our landscapes by replacing exotic plants and useless grass with beneficial flowers, trees, and shrubs. You may get tired of hearing this, but I will continue emphasizing the need to GO NATIVE until my dying breath!

Another subject I will repeatedly harp on: Please, stay away from the big retailers who sell imported plants, especially the exotics that have been pre-treated with insecticides.

I hear the moaning and groaning from folks who prefer the big, showy, pest-resistant, colorful, unique plants purchased from the local big box store. They wonder, “What’s the big deal? A flower is a flower. They all have pollen and nectar for the bugs. So why does it matter where the plant came from?”

Well, it matters a lot because insects can be picky about what they eat and where they shelter. Mother Nature designed our world so that certain insects, birds, and wildlife evolved over the millennia in a symbiotic relationship with a diverse selection of plants, shrubs, bushes, and trees. When that balance falls out of whack, both flora and fauna suffer. Believe it or not, so does humanity. By planting native species, you will ensure both their future and ours.

This is the situation conservationists are trying to remedy by encouraging everyone to stop destroying and start restoring our natural world. Creating shelter and food for insects is an essential first step.

Fact: Pollinator and other invertebrate populations are declining. Destruction of habitat, pesticides, disease, and climate change are all factors leading to the decline of many species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that of the 1,255 insects they evaluated, roughly 600 species are at risk of extinction worldwide (IUCN 2007). In the United States alone, 48 insects are listed as endangered and threatened by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

When you go native, you help support the local ecosystem. Indigenous plants are adapted to and thrive in the local climate, weather conditions, and soil types. In addition, the local flora provides food and shelter for insects,  as well as birds and animals inhabiting the area.

Going native not only helps preserve the natural diversity of plants and wildlife, but it also makes life easier for you. Grass serves no ecological or environmental purpose. It just takes up space and demands a lot of time, effort, and money to maintain.

Just think. By replacing the grass in your yard with beneficial plants, all the mowing, weeding, watering, and fertilizing that monopolizes your summer weekends will become a distant memory. Native vegetation has a more extensive underground root system, so once established, they need little to no watering and, when closely spaced together, minimal weeding. The only   
fertilizing is an occasional bit of compost in the spring and a layer of leaves each autumn.

Just imagine all the curious bumblebees, flittering butterflies and moths, skittering beetles, buzzing bees and wasps, dragonflies, fireflies, and other bugs that will drop by to entertain you during the spring, summer, and fall. Birds and other critters looking for a tasty treat will patrol your yard, and if you’re lucky, you may see a bat or two!

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Another advantage – goodbye to pesticides! Bugs eat bugs. Birds eat bugs. Even frogs eat bugs. Do you want to get rid of pests? Then plant a habitat containing a diverse selection of flowers, shrubs, and trees that’ll attract the ladybugs to feast on those pesky aphids, the dragonflies to catch mosquitoes, and all the other creatures who’ll munch on the bad guys. Mother Nature’s pest control may not be as fast-acting as a can of bug spray. However, they do get the job done without damaging the environment.

Insecticides are terrible stuff and should only be used as a last resort. Again, going back to those pre-treated plants I mentioned above – never, I mean never, let those things anywhere near your garden.

Those flowers are treated with a systemic insecticide that contaminates the soil and the plant. Yes, the chemicals effectively kill pests. But since the poison cannot discern the good guys from the bad, it also affects beneficial bugs. Any creature that feeds on the flower’s pollen, nectar, leaves, stem, or dwells underground near the plant is targeted.

It doesn’t stop there, either. Birds depend on caterpillars to feed their young. So when butterflies, moths, and their offspring are killed off, the birds are faced with the dilemma of having no food or unknowingly feeding their nestlings poisoned caterpillars.

Systemic insecticides are evil. They have been banned in other countries and in a few states here in the US. They should be outlawed everywhere.

And don’t forget the other pesticides. Herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides are also equal opportunity killers and do as much (if not more) harm as good. Therefore, any chemical pesticide should only be used as a last resort.  

It all boils down to this: Work with Mother Nature, not against her.
If you allow native plants to grow in your yard, you won’t need to wear yourself out cutting, fertilizing, and watering grass or take a chance at poisoning your family with pesticides.
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The bugs will appreciate your kindness and reward you by pollinating your flowers and veggies and keeping the pests down. And don’t forget about the hours of relaxing entertainment they’ll provide flittering, fluttering, and buzzing around the beautiful world you created for them.
Happy Gardening, everyone!
 
Sassy Scribblers… on Conservation

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Get a Head Start on Planting Seeds

1/31/2023

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Picturewinter sowing image from GrowIt BuildIt
The long dreary days of winter seem to never end. Here in the swamps of SC, it rarely snows; therefore, the outside scenery stays the same. Needless to say, watching raindrops race down the window gets old very quickly. So, what do you do when you’re not otherwise occupied working on something?

I don’t know about you, but I’m daydreaming of the warmer days to come when I can finally work outside again.

That’s not to say I haven’t been getting things ready for Spring, but there’s only so much one can do ahead of time. My tools are ready to go, layers of cardboard are smothering the grass for my newest garden spot, and I’ve de-seeded the flower heads I collected last autumn. Now, I’m in the process of winter sowing my collection of wildflower seeds. This method is a great way to get a head start on the native flowers and grasses I want to put in the ground in a few months.

Winter Sowing
If you’re not familiar with this method of preparing seeds, winter sowing basically mimics nature in allowing seeds to weather the elements during the colder months. Some perennials require cold stratification, and this nifty method negates the necessity of using limited refrigerator space to chill the seeds.

Another advantage is that winter-sown seedlings are hardier and better able to withstand environmental changes. The winterized plants are not delicate and better able to tolerate handling, transplanting, and such.

The best part is only having to purchase potting soil and tape. There’s no need to buy special equipment or build any structures. You can make your own mini-greenhouses out of plastic jugs or bottles, plastic tomato, berry, or other produce containers.

You know those old flower pots that were too nice to throw away and have been sitting in the shed for years? They can be recycled into winter homes for your new seeds simply by covering them with shower caps or baggies. In the Spring, take off the cover, and voila, you have a lovely potted plant for your patio.

Winter sowing does not make the plants germinate any faster, but it saves having to do all the seed preparation in Spring. I’ve made up several bottles so far and plan on doing a few more each week during February and March and on into April when I start working on veggies.

I’m not going to go into all the dos and don’ts of winter sowing in this blog post. To find out the details, click over to this Facebook group. It has tons of information and friendly folks who can answer your questions: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wintersown/permalink/10167378882110506/

If you prefer a video, click on https://youtu.be/WDanZ8XkTzc

One more important note
When choosing and purchasing seeds, please concentrate on finding indigenous varieties. Your garden doesn’t have to be 100% native but strive for at least 70%. Bees, butterflies, wasps, moths, beetles, and countless other insects are dependent on the naturally occurring flora they evolved with.

Xerces' Native Plant, Seed and Services Directory is a searchable database tool to find suppliers of native plants, native seeds, and related services. From that same directory page, there's a link that will take you to their Pollinator Conservation Resource Center and also to various plant lists. Xerces also has a free Habitat Assessment Guide that will walk you through whatever type of project you're looking to do, whether it's a flowerbed, your whole yard, or a community garden.
And don't forget your state's Native Plant Society, university-based agricultural extension services, master gardeners, garden clubs, or any conservation organizations working in your area.

Two other sources are:
https://www.audubon.org/native-plants
https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/plants
 
There you go. Now, you've got everything you need to find the seeds for your garden. Go for it. Happy Gardening, Everyone!

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How Do Bugs Survive During the Winter?

1/11/2023

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Many perennials, annuals, and shrubs actually bloom in the coldest months of the year. Pollinator plants like crocus and primrose bloom even when snow covers the ground.
​From spring until autumn, insects are everywhere. The buzzing and flittering get to be so commonplace we don’t pay that much attention to the activity around us — until it’s gone. Where there used to be lots of life remains only a few bees investigating patches of goldenrod along the roadside. Then, they all disappear.

How Do Pollinators Spend the Winter?
Actually, various pollinator populations have devised unique and impressive strategies to cope with the cold weather. Birds fly south for the winter. Monarchs and a few other species of insects migrate as well. However, for the most part, native bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and other insects stick close to home and take advantage of their native territory while they take a well-deserved vacation over the colder months. They burrow underground or make a nest inside a hollow woody stem, or maybe find an attractive ground cover of leaves or a woodpile to claim as their winter home.

The cooler temperatures and shortening days trigger the insects’ instinct to start putting on fat and getting rid of excess water. When the time is right, they seek a dry, covered shelter and enter a state of hibernation called diapause where their metabolism drops, allowing them to enter a state of suspended animation and sleep through the winter.  Diapause may occur in any life cycle stage — embryonic, larval, pupal, or adult — depending on the insect species.

In some varieties of bees, butterflies, and moths, the adults die but not until they have securely provisioned a safe haven for the next generation. Many native bees lay eggs in underground nests or in sealed cavities above ground. The eggs hatch into developing pupae or dormant adults and wait until spring to emerge. For butterflies and moths, strategies include surviving the winter in cocoons or as caterpillars. Some can even survive as mature adults protected from the elements by tall grasses or ground cover.

​Fascinating note: Woolly bear caterpillars can slow down their bodily functions and freeze rock solid. As the weather warms, they thaw out and crawl off as if nothing happened!

Bumblebees have a unique take on perpetuating their species. As winter approaches, future queens mate with male bumblebees from different colonies. She consumes as much nectar and pollen as possible to build up her fat reserves before retiring to her underground lair to hibernate while the rest of the colony succumbs to the cold. Then, in spring, she awakens and locates a new nesting site and starts a brand new colony of her own.

Honeybees have an even more unique approach to surviving the winter. They form a cluster inside the hive and stay in perpetual motion. Worker bees (all females) gather around their queen and vibrate their wings and bodies to generate heat. They circulate through the cluster so the girls on the outside have an opportunity to spend some time in the warmer center. This continues all winter long.

On super cold nights the outer bees sometimes freeze to death and fall to the hive floor. Even so, that doesn’t stop the others from fulfilling their task. This never-ending dance takes a lot of energy. The hard-working bees are fueled by the honey stored in the hive. They take time to eat but not much else, including going potty. Honeybees don’t like a messy hive, so they won’t “go” until a warm day allows them to break cluster and leave the hive. Then they make a bee-line for the exit! While they’re at it, the honeybees forage for nectar and pollen sources. They will visit flowering shrubs and trees, as will some native bees taking advantage of the warmer temperatures (above 55 degrees).

You can help them out by providing some plants and trees that bloom in the winter.

Foliage in the Winter
As early as January, there are days when the sun’s warmth lures you to follow your nose through the door and into the great outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather. It has the same effect on the bees as well. They want to escape the confines of their nest or hive and go exploring. Having some shrubs, flowers, and trees sprucing up your landscape would be an excellent way to help our winged friends.

Many perennials, annuals, and shrubs actually bloom in the coldest months of the year. Pollinator plants like crocus and primrose bloom even when snow covers the ground. Trees and shrubs also are great choices for feeding the hungry early risers. Willows, maples, filberts, and hazelnuts are excellent late winter/early spring sources of pollen.

Check your USDA Hardiness zone to make sure the native plants you choose will survive the dipping temperatures where you live. Perennials and shrubs need to be planted before the ground freezes so they can get their roots established. However, you can grow hardy annuals such as pansies and violas in milder climates for much of the winter.

Some other flowering plants and shrubs to consider for winter color and pollinating insects include:
  • Higan Cherry (Winter Flowering Cherry)
  • Witch Hazel
  • Winter Jasmine
  • Burkwood Viburnum
  • Sweet Box
  • Aster
  • Beautyberry
  • Hellebores
  • Pieris
  • Winterberry
  • Winter Aconite
  • Cyclamen
  • Camellia
  • Leucojum
Do some research and find a nice variety of winter plants native to your area.

The pollinators are out there, no matter where you are — the mountains, coastal regions, prairies, or anywhere in between. Some will be snoozing right under your feet or living in the tree and leaf litter scattered around your yard this winter. Watch for them to sneak out of hiding on a warm day. Chances are you’ll see a few bees or maybe even a moth or butterfly investigating the foliage. They’re just as anxious for spring as you are!

Sweet & Sassy Scribblers … on Conservation
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    Greta Burroughs

    I am passionate about cleaning up our environment and restoring the habitats/ecosystems necessary for pollinators and wildlife to flourish.
    ​
    Yet, Pollinator Conservation and Environmental Restoration involve more than just planting trees, flowers, and shrubs. In order to regain the balance Mother Nature intended, we need to also counter pollution, global warming, overuse of pesticides, and destruction of ecosystems.

    ​By publishing articles, essays, and resources on this blog, I hope to Educate, Encourage, and Empower others to find a niche where they can make a difference in this world.

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I will read forever because it lets me visit in my mind the worlds that I will never be able to see; it helps me put away the stresses of the day and relax into the rhythm of the story before me; it lets me bring to the surface and experience without regrets those feelings I hide away; it lets me re-experience the thrill of first love through someone else's eyes; it keeps my mind juiced so that it will never desert me; it is always there for me even when there's no one else. I will read forever no matter whether it is print or digital because the words will always call to me. ~ A Sassy Scribbler