What's the Buzz?
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What’s the Buzz? April 2018 In this issue: Pollinator Garden of Merit: Phipps Conservatory Protecting Pollinators: Avoiding Invasives—Exotic Bush Honeysuckles Outstanding Pollinator Plants: Joe Pye News from the Center for Pollinator Research—Pollinators’ Garden At the Penn State Arboretum Outstanding Pollinator Gardens By Linda and Rich Silverman, Penn State Master Gardeners In order to certify your garden as pollinator-friendly, you need to follow simple guidelines to make your yard a home for pollinators. You must provide nectar and larval food sources, provide water and shelter and safeguard habitat by removing invasive plants and reduce pesticide use. The Phipps Conservatory has created native area gardens that do just that. This is a departure from our usual articles on private homes. Opened in 1893, our sixth 'Garden of Merit' is awarded to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1993, management was transferred from the city of Pittsburgh to a non-profit public garden. In 1999, the CSL (Center for Sustainable Landscapes) was the first to meet all 4 of the highest green certifications. As an education, administration and research facility, the Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) generates all of its own energy and treats all storm and sanitary water captured on- site. It has met the requirements for LEED Platinum, WELL Building Platinum, Four-Stars Sustainable Site, and Living Building Challenge. (Master Gardeners who are planning to attend the 2018 Penn State Master Gardeners State Conference in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, Thursday June 28th- Sunday, July 1st will have a chance to visit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with a docent-led tour.) 1 Garden of Merit (continued) Sustainable Gardens 1. Describe your gardens (Jessica Horenstein, Outdoor Foreman) The Sustainable Gardens flank the dome of the Welcome Center at Phipps. These gardens consist of 8 distinct linear beds, 4 on each side of the Welcome Center. They are about 10’ x 50’. They range from full sun to part shade under large Metasequoia trees. 2. How old are your gardens and how long have you been at this site? (Jessica Horenstein, Outdoor Foreman) These beds are about 10 years old. I have been the foreman overseeing this area for under a year, but I have worked in these gardens longer. 3. How many species of native plants do you have? (Jessica Horenstein, Outdoor Foreman) In all the areas I oversee, including the Sustainable Gardens, CSL Environs, and the Green Roof, we have over 150 species. (Dr. Ryan Gott, IPM Specialist) In our native plant areas, we do allow some natural evolution in terms of plant composition; so the number of natives in a specific area can change over time. We replant important natives if they disappear to maintain diversity though. 4. What kind of pollinators do you attract? What have you done to increase pollinator diversity? (Dr. Ryan Gott, IPM Specialist) The early season pollinators are especially interesting to observe in the Sustainable Gardens. We have many early blooming plants that are important food sources for honey bees, bumble bees, and solitary bees. Our outdoor Horticulture team is constantly improving the beds by introducing natives and managing invasives. We even have a stand of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) that served as a host for a few monarch caterpillars this year. 5. What is the importance of natives to increasing pollination? (Jessica Horenstein, Outdoor Foreman) Native plants and our native insects have co-evolved. There are certain insects that specialize in particular plant nectars and pollens, and these are the best choices for them. Non-native flowering plants can provide nectar but it is unclear what the quality is for our native pollinators and whether it fulfills all of their biological and physiological needs. 6. What are your future plans to increase pollinator diversity in your garden? (Jessica Horenstein, Outdoor Foreman) We have plans to increase native plant species diversity every year to provide more choices for pollinators at different times of the growing season. 7. What have you observed this year in regard to the number of bees and other pollinators? (Jessica Horenstein, Outdoor Foreman) This was a stellar year for our gardens. The consistent rain and moderate temperatures were perfect conditions for our flowering perennial plants. We saw native bees, wasps, many butterflies including swallowtails, and flies; and our honeybees were very visible as well. 2 Garden of Merit (continued) Discovery Garden 1. Describe your gardens (Claire Dusak, Outdoor Foreman) The Discovery Garden is about 9,000 square feet. It has shady, sunny, dry, and moist areas. 2. How old are your gardens and how long have you been at this site? (Claire Dusak, Outdoor Foreman). The garden opened in 1995. I have been working in this garden since 2004, although I was responsible for the ordering and purchasing of all the original plant material. 3. How many species of native plants do you have? (Claire Dusak, Outdoor Foreman) Over 45. 4. What kind of pollinators do you attract? What have you done to increase pollinator diversity? (Claire Dusak, Outdoor Foreman) We see hummingbirds, many butterflies and bees, and flies. We have steadily planted native plants and use annuals specific to butterfly, bee, or bird needs. 5. What is the importance of natives to increasing pollination? (Dr. Ryan Gott, IPM Specialist) Native pollinators are responsible for more pollination than most people realize. Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) tend to get all the credit, especially in food crops, but native pollinators including native bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and birds all contribute to pollination of many plants. In fact many native insects are much more efficient at pollinating certain plants that they have evolved alongside compared to a species from a different continent like the Western honey bee. 6. What are your future plans to increase pollinator diversity in your garden? (Claire Dusak, Outdoor Foreman) We have added a Bug Hotel and will have beneficial insect-attracting plants in front. (Dr. Ryan Gott, IPM Specialist) Our Bug Hotel is outfitted with a variety of nesting and hiding spots to create spaces for beneficial insects to live, lay eggs, nest, and overwinter. This mean we will support beneficial insects like pollinators all through their life cycle and serve as their home rather than stopping at only providing food plants. 7. What have you observed this year in regard to the number of bees and other pollinators? (Claire Dusak, Outdoor Foreman) There are many more monarch this year as well as hummingbirds and all different types of bees. MOVING? If you have a certified Pollinator friendly garden and are moving, please take your sign with you and send a note to [email protected] to let us know you have moved. The new owner of your property will need to recertify. When the gardens at your new address are ready, send us a new application and mention that you that you have moved. We can certify you and waive the application fee. 3 OUTSTANDING POLLINATOR PLANTS From Bees, Bugs and Blooms Each issue we will highlight plants from our trial at the Southeast Research and Extension Center — Bees, Bugs, & Blooms. From 2012 to 2014, 84 plants and some of their cultivars were monitored for their attractiveness to a wide variety of pollinators. The results are on our Pollinator Friendly Garden Certification website. Go to http:// ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert and click on Step 1 – Provide Food. On that page you will find a list of links. The first one, Bees, Bugs Blooms, contains our results. Check it out! Who Doesn't Like Butterflies! Priscilla Waldman, Master Gardener A sure way to attract butterflies to your yard is to plant some Joe Pye. The species is a wonderful nectar source for both bees and butterflies - you will attract tiger swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail and monarchs just to name a few. Eutrochium dubium (common Joe-Pye weed) or E. fistulosum (hollowstem Joe-Pye) produce tall stalks with large billowing heads of pink-to-purple foliage which makes it a great replacement plant \or those looking to remove butterfly bush. Joe-Pye develops a silvery purple hue several weeks before bloom which acts as an advertisement to pollinators that the nectar is on the way! This species provides a vital late-season nectar source for butterflies because many other perennials are finished blooming. Not only is Joe-Pye beneficial to pollinators, it is relatively easy to grow. While much of the literature indicates that it likes water, and it does perform most magnificently in a moist spot, it will do well in average moisture placement as well. It will thrive in sun or part-sun locations. In his book, Wildflowers, A Guide to Growing and Propagating Native Flowers of North America (a MUST have), William Cullina suggests that the seed ripens in the Fall - about a month after flowering - and, like other Composites, should be collected when the heads spit and dry and the fluffy seed begins to float away. The seed will germinate upon shifting to 70 degrees F after 90 days of moist, cold stratification at 40 degrees F. It is an easy-to-grow species that William Cullina recommends for beginners! All of our garden spaces are different and there is a Joy-Pye that should work for all of us. E. dubium and E. fistulosum both can reach 7'. f you are looking for a plant with a shorter stature, try the cultivar E. dubium 'Little Joe' which grows to a height of only 3' - 4' . If 'Little Joe' is still too tall, another option is E. dubium 'Baby Joe' which tops out at 3'.