Lawns to Legumes Leads to Shoreline Renovation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Lawns to Legumes Leads to Shoreline Renovation Lawns to Legumes Leads to Shoreline Renovation AUGUST 2020 YARD AND GARDEN NEWSLETTER Article and photos submitted by Karen Wright, Minnesota River Valley Master Gardener August is National Water Quality Month, so I decided to write what I’m doing to help take care of watersheds and make them healthier. My interest in this came in early 2016 after we’d purchased a cabin on Lake Washington. Lake Washington is one of the largest lakes in southern Minnesota at 1,487 acres with 13.2 miles of shoreline. It has approximately 450 homes, with 80% of the residents living there full time, according to the Lake Washington Improvement Association. In the spring, the water was beautiful and clear and we could see the lake bottom. However, that didn’t last for long—as the summer progressed, the lake became murky green and didn’t smell so good. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Lake Washington is classified as “impaired” and is among more than half of Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams that fail to meet water-quality standards for protecting aquatic life and human health. I knew I wanted to do something to help “fix” the problem, but what? The answer came in December 2019, when I came across online information about a program where one could apply for a grant for the Lawns to Legumes program. It originated from the State of Minnesota which passed legislation for a cost share program to help landowners transform their turf lawn into habitat that would benefit pollinators. I applied online through the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Blue Thumb (a public/private partnership promoting native plants, raingardens, shoreline stabilization projects and turf alternatives to reduce runoff and improve water quality), to create a more eco-friendly and sustainable landscape. My New Shoreline Pollinator Buffer Strip To cultivate a healthy water ecosystem, I planted a shoreline buffer garden which offers so much more than stabilization and erosion control. Native plants on the shoreline create a healthier aquatic environment by filtering pollutants from run-off water, while creating habitat that supports butterflies, pollinators © 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is anand equal opportunitybirds. educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to 612-624- 0772 or [email protected]. Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent postconsumer waste material. Nearly 8,000 Minnesotan’s applied for the Lawns to Legumes according to James Wolfin, Sustainable Landcare Manager at Metro Blooms. He said, “The funding provided by the state of Minnesota grants will be provided to approximately 700-1200 residents over the course of this grant.” Lawns to Legumes provides workshops, free planting guides and opportunities to apply for reimbursement, which enables Minnesota residents to create pollinator habitat in their yards. It aims to empower Minnesota residents to help pollinators in their own yards. “Even relatively small plantings of native flowers, or beneficial trees and shrubs, can help create valuable conditions for pollinators and build important habitat corridors,” explained Wolfin. I qualified for a $350 grant (the max amount for an individual) for this cost-sharing program to purchase native plants, site prep, mulch, consultation, or basically whatever was needed. I was required to participate in a Blue Thumb “Resilient Yards” Webinar and connect with a coach (I had Shane Bugeja, Extension Educator for Blue Earth and Le Sueur Counties). To receive reimbursement, I am required to document my work with photos (many of which you see here), as well as provide receipts for what I’ve purchased and the amount of time spent on the project. There is a 25% match required for any funding received and it could be in the form of purchasing materials, hiring contractors, or in-kind time spent planting or maintaining plants. I have well- exceeded those parameters in time alone! I installed a “pocket planting” which is a smaller planting of native plants and grasses. This was the practice recommended for new gardeners and could be as small as 10 square feet to make a difference for Minnesota pollinators. My pocket planting is considerably larger and encompasses about 55 feet of lakeshore by three feet wide. To create my pollinator shoreline, I removed the turf grass along the shoreline with a shovel and considerable elbow grease! After it was planted, I used a bucket and got the water directly from the lake to maintain moisture levels to ensure the plants got well-established. I used grass clippings for mulch to keep the weeds down. Shoreline Planting with Natives I removed 55 feet of turf by hand and planted a pre- planned Native Shoreline Pollinator Garden. I watered it with water from the lake. I purchased native pollinator plants that are particularly attractive to our state bee, the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, which is on the endangered list. The pre-planned garden I bought online from Prairie Nursery (I highly recommend) includes flowers that bloom from early in the spring through the fall which is critical to survival of the Rusty Patched Bumblebee. Native plants are the best thing that could happen to my shoreline. They have roots that can grow down to 16 feet, so they can retain and infiltrate A pre-planned garden was easy to install as long as I followed the chart- Karen Wright. more water, decrease soil compaction, filter out pollution and sequester carbon according to the University of Minnesota Extension. In addition, they are easier to grow and require fewer inputs (less mowing and watering, no fertilizer or pesticides), which leads to lower costs. And, of course, they also provide habitat for the pollinators. Had it not been for the grant, I’m not sure I’d have had the motivation to complete the project this year, and who knows when I would have gotten around to improving the shoreline for water health and for our pollinators! I hope to continue to plant the remaining shoreline to cover all 125 feet to enhance my efforts for clean water and pollinators. To learn how you can apply for a Lawn to Legumes Pre-planned Garden grant, go to: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l from Prairie Nursery: I hope to expand my native planting to the entire 125 The plants in this kit are designed to filter runoff feet of shoreline and hope my neighbors will follow while promoting infiltration of water into the soil. suit. The flowers bloom from early spring into fall, important to the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. https://www.prairienursery.com/ CLOSE UP PHOTOS BY KAREN WRIGHT OF BLOOMS FOR THE POLLINATORS My neighbor’s “perfect” lawn—but it’s not eco- friendly Sources: Bjorhus, Jennifer. “State finds 56% of Minnesota's lakes and streams are 'impaired'”, Star Tribune, Nov. 13, 2019 Blue Thumb, https://bluethumb.org/ Lake Washington Improvement Association, https://www.lakewashingtonmn.com/ Lawns to Legumes Program, https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l Minnesota Extension, https://extension.umn.edu/find-plants/native-plants Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Lake Monitoring, https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/lake- monitoring-0 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/water-quality- standards “Plants Favored by Rusty Patch Bumblebee”, Midwest Endangered Species: Rusty Patch Bumble Bee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/insects/rpbb/plants.html Prairie Nursery, https://www.prairienursery.com/ Wolfin, James, Sustainable Landcare Manager: Turf Alternatives. Metro Blooms, Minneapolis, Minn. Extension Corner By Shane Bugeja, County Extension Educator JAPANESE BEETLES: DO FOUR O’CLOCK FLOWERS HELP? Partially due to the mild winter, Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) emerged unscathed in southern Minnesota. Once out and about, they quickly went to work scathing our plants. Hollyhock, basswood, and rose leaves turned into lace as the beetles chomped away. Folks Solarizationscrambled to In protect The Garden their gardens, bringing Solarizationout buckets Inof Thesoapy Garden water and spraying insecticides. Soon, a rumor emerged that there existed a flower which could not only halt the beetle’s garden invasion but kill them in the process. After some investigation, this mythical plant people talked about was the four o’clock, also called marvel-of-Peru (Mirabilis jalapa). Unfortunately, it appears a four o’clock would rather hit the “snooze” button Four o’clock flower. Photo by Petra Göschel than do battle with Japanese beetles. What are Four O’clocks? While perennial in their native habitat in South America, many Minnesota gardeners grow four o’clocks as an annual. Their unusual name likely relates to their blooms, which tend to open in the afternoon and evening. Soils that are well fertilized and drained are good spots to place them. Four o’clock flowers provide many clues to pollinators, with bright colored petals, a sweet smell, and nutritious nectar. You may also see more moths visit four o’clock. Indeed, back home in South America, hawk moths do most of the pollinating. You may even see some relatives of these insects in Minnesota! Is Four O’clock Really Toxic to Beetles? The origin of this myth is hard to pinpoint. Sites such as Pinterest and other gardening blogs often mention four o’clock as a control to Japanese beetles. Several state that University research proves this, but they do not provide links to these resources. Since Japanese beetles arrived in the US around the 1900’s, old books and journal articles could be a possible source of this idea. In a 1940 USDA pamphlet titled “The Japanese Beetle and Its Control,” four o’clock was listed as “never or rarely fed upon.” A later bulletin in 1963 upgraded the plant to one “lightly or moderately” eaten by Japanese beetles.
Recommended publications
  • Pollination and Botanic Gardens Contribute to the Next Issue of Roots
    Botanic Gardens Conservation International Education Review Volume 17 • Number 1 • May 2020 Pollination and botanic gardens Contribute to the next issue of Roots The next issue of Roots is all about education and technology. As this issue goes to press, most botanic gardens around the world are being impacted by the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19. With many Botanic Gardens Conservation International Education Review Volume 16 • Number 2 • October 2019 Citizen gardens closed to the public, and remote working being required, Science educators are having to find new and innovative ways of connecting with visitors. Technology is playing an ever increasing role in the way that we develop and deliver education within botanic gardens, making this an important time to share new ideas and tools with the community. Have you developed a new and innovative way of engaging your visitors through technology? Are you using technology to engage a Botanic Gardens Conservation International Education Review Volume 17 • Number 1 • April 2020 wider audience with the work of your garden? We are currently looking for a variety of contributions including Pollination articles, education resources and a profile of an inspirational garden and botanic staff member. gardens To contribute, please send a 100 word abstract to [email protected] by 15th June 2020. Due to the global impacts of COVID-19, BGCI’s 7th Global Botanic Gardens Congress is being moved to the Australian spring. Join us in Melbourne, 27 September to 1 October 2021, the perfect time to visit Victoria. Influence and Action: Botanic Gardens as Agents of Change will explore how botanic gardens can play a greater role in shaping our future.
    [Show full text]
  • Heart of Uwchlan Pollinator Garden Plant Suggestions – Perennials 2020 Page 1
    Pollinator Garden Plant Suggestions - Perennials Heart of Uwchlan Project Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden • Assess your location. Is it dry? Often wet? Is soil clay or loamy? How much sun or shade? Select plants appropriate to the conditions: “Right plant in the right place.” • Plant so you have blooms in every season. Don’t forget late summer/autumn bloomers; migrating butterflies need that late season pollen and nectar. • Plant for a variety of flower color and shape. That’s prettier for you, but it also appeals to a variety of pollinators. Some bees and butterflies prefer specific plants. • Plant in groups of at least three . easier for pollinators to find and browse. • Don’t forget the birds. Plant tubular flowers for hummingbirds, bushes with berries for birds (see related Plant List for Shrubs). • Finally, do minimal cleanup in the fall. Leave the leaves, dead stems and flower heads. Beneficial insects like miner bees lay eggs in hollow stems, finches will eat the echinacea seeds. Many butterflies and moths overwinter as pupae in dead leaves. Spring Blooming Golden-ragwort (Packera aurea) – mid to late Spring – Damp location, shade Grows freely and naturalizes into large colonies. Yellow flower heads, blooms for over 3 weeks in mide- to late spring. Dense ground cover. Prefers partial sun, medium shade. Prefers moist, swampy conditions. Cut back bloom stalks after flowering. Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) – blooms May-June – prefers wet habitats but will tolerate dry Attractive bright yellow flower which occurs from May – June, looks like dill in shape. An excellent addition to a wildflower garden because it provides accessible nectar to many beneficial insects with short mouthparts during the spring and early summer when such flowers are relatively uncommon.
    [Show full text]
  • A Plan for Pollinator Landscape Management on the Ursinus Campus Megan N
    Ursinus College Digital Commons @ Ursinus College Environmental Studies Honors Papers Student Research 4-25-2016 A Plan for Pollinator Landscape Management on the Ursinus Campus Megan N. Hanscom Ursinus College, [email protected] Adviser: Richard Wallace Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/environment_hon Part of the Apiculture Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, and the Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits oy u. Recommended Citation Hanscom, Megan N., "A Plan for Pollinator Landscape Management on the Ursinus Campus" (2016). Environmental Studies Honors Papers. 2. https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/environment_hon/2 This Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at Digital Commons @ Ursinus College. It has been accepted for inclusion in Environmental Studies Honors Papers by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Ursinus College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Plan for Pollinator Landscape Management on the Ursinus Campus Megan Hanscom April 24, 2016 Submitted to the faculty of Ursinus College in fulfillment of the requirements for Honors in Environmental Studies 1 Abstract This document proposes a plan for managing pollinator landscapes on the Ursinus campus. The goals of this project were to research existing pollinator management plans and studies about pollinator health to provide a background on which to build an Ursinus-specific plan. Other schools’ pollinator protection plans were used as inspiration for a document that would address the needs of pollinators on the Ursinus campus while keeping the communities goals and restrictions in mind.
    [Show full text]
  • Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators
    OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators A. Melathopoulos, N. Bell, S. Danler, A.J. Detweiler, I. Kormann, G. Langellotto, N. Sanchez, D. Smitley and H. Stoven Photo: Lynn Ketchum, © Oregon State University EM 9289 June 2020 Photo: Chris LaBelle, © Oregon State University Gardens in the backyards and landscaped areas of cities and towns provide a variety of ecological niches for pollinating insects. Table of contents Introduction Author affiliations Pollinator habitat ....................................................................................................... 4 Andony Melathopoulos, pollinator health Extension specialist and Reducing pesticide exposure .................................................................................. 4 assistant professor; Neil Bell, Part 1: Pollinators in urban landscapes Extension community horticulturalist, Marion County, and professor; Pollinators of the Pacific Northwest ..................................................................... 5 Signe Danler, instructor; Amy Jo Detweiler, community/commercial Factors that threaten pollinator health ................................................................ 6 horticulturalist, Central Oregon, Creating and maintaining pollinator-friendly habitat ....................................... 9 professor; Iris Kormann, graphic designer and biologist; Gail 10 principles for ensuring a good start ..............................................................10 Langellotto, urban and
    [Show full text]
  • Louisiana Specialty Crops
    Hammond Research Station Super Plants for 2016 Sweet Potato Roots page 22 page 29 page 34 Vol. 59, No. 2, Spring 2016 Louisiana Specialty Crops Louisiana Agriculture, Spring 2016 1 Specialty Crop Block Grants Enhance AgCenter Research Rick Bogren EDITORIAL BOARD: John S. Russin, Chairman Over the past several years, the LSU AgCenter has received grants totaling more than Linda Foster Benedict $750,000 for research and promotion projects to support specialty crops in Louisiana. Rick Bogren They’re part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture competitive grant program that pro- Melissa Cater vides funding for a range of specialty crops, which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, Daniel Fromme dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops, including floriculture. Glen Gentry Funding comes from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to enhance compet- Christopher Green Kurt M. Guidry itiveness of specialty crops. The grants are awarded through the Louisiana Department of Claudia Husseneder Agriculture and Forestry. Kathy Kramer Recent specialty crop grants support the following AgCenter projects: Megan La Peyre • Increase the safety and competitiveness of Louisiana pecans by developing a safe, economical way to thermally treat pecans in a way that does not adverse- EDITOR: Linda Foster Benedict ly affect the pecans’ taste and quality but will be consistent with increasing safe- ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Rick Bogren ty standards. DESIGNER: Kathy Kramer • Combat the spread of bacterial wilt, which is causing severe losses to Louisiana CONTRIBUTORS: Tammi Arender, Tobie tomato, eggplant and pepper growers by creating and disseminating new man- Blanchard, Elma Sue McCallum, Johnny agement tactics involving resistant rootstock lines grafted to popular tomato Morgan, Olivia McClure and Bruce Schultz varieties.
    [Show full text]
  • What's the Buzz? Pollinator Garden
    What’s the Buzz? January 2021 In this issue: Pollinator Garden of Merit: Kim Blocher, Newville, PA Outstanding Pollinator Plants: Native Trees & Shrubs Protecting Pollinators: Avoiding Invasives—Norway maple From the Center for Pollinator Research: The Pollinator and Bird Garden at Penn State Arboretum Dear Readers. I hope this newsletter finds you all well during this difficult year. Spring isn’t far away and I’m sure many of you are spending this time planning new gardens and deciding on plants to add to your landscape. We hope that you will find some inspiration from the articles in this newsletter. Yours in gardening, Connie Schmotzer Pollinator Certification Coordinator Outstanding Pollinator Gardens By Linda and Rich Silverman, Penn State Master Gardeners Our 10th ‘Garden of Merit’ is awarded to Kim Blocher of Newville, PA. Her gardens are surrounded by the Michaux State Forest and reflect the serenity and beauty of the area. This is the first garden in our ‘Garden of Merit’ articles where mosses were an integral part of a garden bed. Describe your garden—size, type? We live on the edge of the Michaux State Forest, near Carlisle. Our home is about 3 miles from Pine Grove Furnace State Park. We have about an acre. It is primarily wooded with chestnut, oak, red maple, sassafras, and hemlock. The area cleared for the house includes gardens that are both sunny and shady. The sunny spots are not as sunny as they were when we first moved in 12 years ago! The trees have grown a lot and I was not very forward thinking in setting some of my planting areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Horticulture: Pollinators
    Kansas 4-H Project Challenge Plant Science: Pollinators Inspire Kids to Do Skill Building • Learn about pollinators and their impact on the environment. • Plan, plant, and raise a pollinator garden. Goals • Research different plant species that are beneficial to pollinators. • Discuss the benefits of pollinators to the environment. • Learn how to protect pollinators and provide resources for them. Horticulture focuses on activities related to raising a garden or flowers. This includes planning, planting, experimenting, understanding soils, seeds, insects, plant care, harvesting, weed identification and control, processing, exploring Project Ideas careers and the relationship between trees, people, and communities. • Create a container garden. You don’t need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden. Even a few containers of flowers can attract hungry bees and butterflies. To succeed you must provide • Plant a butterfly garden. basic wildlife needs — food, water, shelter, and places to rear young. • Hang planters around the area. • Build a bee hotel. Starting Out Learning More Expanding Horizons Learn About Pollinators Learn About Design Your Garden • Learn about native Pollinator Gardens • Once you have Self-Evaluation Before pollinators in my area. • Research pollinator- researched which plants What are their habitat friendly plants that grow you would like to use, it Using the rating scale below, answer requirements? well in your area before is time to put a design the following: 1 = not at all • Select the pollinators you plan your design. together. 2 = a little that you want to attract. • Use the Plant Library • Select your location. 3 = a lot from Dyck Arboretum • Discuss the pollinator • Map out your garden I know how to… garden budget with your to decide which plants plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden 1
    Name: ________________________________ Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden 1. Choose a sunny spot that is safe from wind Your site should receive at least six hours of sun per day to help insects stay active. Make sure the spot is protected from strong winds, which make it hard for pollinators to fly between flowers. 2. Include a variety of flower types, colors, and shapes Different pollinators have different mouthparts, which fit different shapes of flowers. A variety of flower colors will also attract a variety of pollinators. 3. Plant flowers that bloom at different times Having flowers that bloom throughout the growing season means that pollinators will visit your garden all spring and summer long. 4. Plant in clusters Planting flowers in groups helps bees find them more easily, and collect pollen and nectar more efficiently. 5. Plant native species Pollinators are best adapted to local, native plants. Native plants are also better adapted to our region’s climate and soils, and can grow well with less watering. 6. Avoid using pesticides Many pesticides are dangerous to pollinators, especially bees. Consider using an alternative, such as spraying your garden with light soapy water to ward off unwanted pests. 7. Make sure to include food sources for all life stages All butterflies come from caterpillars, so make sure you grow plants for caterpillars too. Be prepared for some leaf damage--caterpillars need to eat a lot! 8. Provide sources of water for pollinators Pollinators need water too! You can add rocks to a birdbath to give pollinators a place to land while they drink.
    [Show full text]
  • Texas Monarch Flyway Strategy Step by Step Guide to Pollinator Habitat Creation in Texas
    Texas Monarch Flyway Strategy Step by Step Guide to Pollinator Habitat Creation in Texas August 2019 Revised Edition www.HoustonWilderness.org/MFS 1 Authors: Deborah January-Bevers & Jose Alducin © 2019 by Houston Wilderness. All rights reserved 2 Texas Monarch Flyway Strategy (Texas MFS) The Texas Monarch Flyway Strategy (Texas MFS) was created in conjunction with the Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Department’s Monarch Conservation Plan in April, 2016. The Texas MFS concentrates on substantial increases in Monarch populations by working with partners around the state to (1) increase pollinator habitat, (2) provide education and outreach, (3) collaborate with other stakeholders and (4) coordinate pollinator research to assist interested people/partners (see more at houstonwilderness.org/mfs). With the assistance of NFWF Monarch Conservation grant funds and other private funding, the Texas MFS seen success in all four targeted areas, helping to restore, increase and enhance Monarch habitat across four major regions in the state – which all serve as critical links in the Monarch butterfly's journey along the Central Flyway from Canada to Mexico and back every year. By facilitating collaborative funding from various federal, state and regional sources, Houston Wilderness is working with federal and state agencies, biologists, multiple municipalities, private and public land owners, schools and nonprofits to enhance or restore thousands of acres of habitat for Monarch butterflies and other pollinators throughout Texas. With multiple completed and ongoing projects along the Texas MFS, partners are currently collecting various native milkweed and pollinator plant seeds and plugs for distribution to collaborative partners around the state. Current and future partners are also focused on increasing the supply of milkweed seeds and the variety of native pollinator species across all types of property in the state.
    [Show full text]
  • NGC Pollinator Power
    Pollinator Power An Educational Publication of National Garden Clubs, Inc. Table of Contents Table of Contents Pollinator Power 3 Bats 4 Bees 5 ‐ 6 Beetles 7 Butterflies 8 Flies 9 Hummingbirds 10 Moths 11 Wasps 12 Pollinator Habitats 13 – 14 Providing for Pollinators 15 ‐ 16 Pollinators in Peril 17 Pollinator Programs 18 – 19 Color the Pollinators 20 Websites and Apps for Pollinator Information 21 Sources for Seeds for Pollinators 22 Houses for Pollinators 23 Pollinator Power was researched, written, and compiled by members of the NGC Environmental Concerns and Conservation Committee as a component of the 2015 ‐ 2017 NGC President’s Project: Pollinators. National Garden Clubs, Inc., (NGC) is a not‐for‐profit educational organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri USA, adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. NGC is comprised of 50 state garden clubs and the National Capital Area, 60 national affiliates in the U. S. and over 300 international affiliate organizations around the globe. National Garden Clubs, Inc. 4401 Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 Telephone: (314) 776‐7574 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gardenclub.org Page 2 National Garden Clubs, Inc. Pollinator Power Pollinator Power Insect and Animal Pollinators – ants, bats, bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, hummingbirds, moths, and wasps ‐ have the power to fill our world with flowers and to make or break our food supply. The pollinators visit flowers mainly in search of food in the form of nectar. Seeking shelter and searching for nest‐building materials and potential mates may also be noted as reasons for visiting the flowers. Some pollinators, such as bees, visit the flowers specifically to collect pollen and in the process transport pollen to other flowers.
    [Show full text]
  • What's the Buzz?
    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.
    [Show full text]
  • Pollinator GARDENS Design Guide
    Pollinator GARDENS Design Guide Gardening for Pollinators Pollinator Garden Designs (See detailed plans inside.) Pollinators are at the heart of these gardens! Bees, butterflies and other pollinators need Dry Pollinator Garden plants thrive in pollen, nectar and vegetation to live. These dry, drought-prone, well drained soils. gardens are designed for them! Dry sites are usually found on hills and/ Gardens Designed for or sandy soils. Pollinators The gardens pictured here include many different flowers that will bloom throughout Wet Pollinator Garden plants thrive the growing season. Planting flowers so in low-lying, poorly drained areas that something is blooming from spring through pond water after it rains and retain fall provides a continuous source of food wetness for long periods. for pollinators. The native plants selected for these gardens provide pollinators with particularly high value nectar and pollen. In addition to planting native plants with high Typical Moisture Pollinator Garden value nectar and pollen, there are other plants thrive in moist, moderately steps you can take to support pollinators. drained soil that are not too wet or too dry soils. Cluster plants of the same species together for efficient foraging. When the same flowers are grown together, pollinators don’t have to travel as far Savanna Pollinator Garden plants between blossoms. This makes collecting thrive in moist soils that are partially nectar and pollen easier. shaded by scattered trees and receive 3-6 hours of sun per day. Once the garden is established leave some bare areas of soil for nesting, particularly at the base of flowers and grasses.
    [Show full text]