From The Natural Web: White or Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) blooms in late spring to early summer, offering nectar and pollen to flower visitors. It’s easy to recognize in fields and along roadsides by its upright habit and its inflorescence of many whitish flowers, all positioned perpendicularly to the stem. …
Helping Monarch butterflies to thrive in your garden requires some basic knowledge of their life cycle and migration paths so that you know how to support them through these two journeys they take in their lifetime. You will also need some ideas for garden layouts and plants they love. Thanks …
Benefits of Bats Many people have serious misconceptions about bats. Myths that they are vicious carriers of rabies and pests are abundant. The fact is that bats are actually quite harmless and are important indicators of a healthy environment. Because bats are sensitive to high pollution and pesticide levels, they …
Local Girl Scouts have recently received the gift of 24 bat house box kits from the Rowayton Gardeners and are a step closer to earning a badge for their efforts in assembling, staining and distributing the bat homes throughout our community. The boxes will be mounted on 15 foot poles …
“A grass-roots movement is transforming traditional landscapes into pollinator way stations”, writes Susan Shea in the April issue of Natural History. “Amidst the historic homes, posh estates and manicured lawns of southwestern Connecticut, a new, almost radical, movement is gaining strength.” Read the entire article here.
Check out this article from Audubon Society about when to expect migrating hummingbirds in your yard and how to attract and feed them: When to Expect Hummingbirds in Your Yard This Spring.
Rowayton Gardeners are proud participants in the Pollinator Pathway and we encourage all residents to plant for pollinators. This wonderfully graphic article by Alice Ely is a terrific guide for us all as it includes information on natives and non-natives, perennials and annuals that provide food and habitats for bees, …
Pledge Your Yard as a Pesticide-Free Zone! Organic lawn and garden care is friendly to pollinators, birds and humans. Going organic doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice an aesthetically pleasing lawn and it certainly doesn’t mean that you have to devote long hours to tending your lawn. It DOES mean planting …
Enjoy this lengthy, detailed and illustrated article from the Nature Conservancy as they “explore the intimate connections plants and pollinators depend on for survival and how this understanding can enhance our own efforts when gardening for wildlife.” See the full article here.
Gardenista says, “When it comes to pollinator gardens, not all are created equal. In fact, we were surprised to learn that many plants advertised as “pollinator friendly” actually do more harm than good, either because they do not support the entire life span of pollinators and threaten native species that …
Would you like to know how to create a sustainable garden that helps wildlife find food, water, shelter and a safe place to raise their young? May is designated by National Wildlife Federation as “Gardening for Wildlife” month and a new section of their website will provide all the pointers …
Pollinator Pathway has created a terrific illustrated guide to plants that will attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators through most of the year. Plan your buffet for the bees with this handy chart.
From Protect our Pollinators, here is a way to prevent grubs in your lawn without using products that can harm our insect friends. It involves some common sense organic steps to diagnose and then control the grubs that can decimate lawns.
American Beauty Native Plants has put together a list of native shrubs and trees that pollinators love. See their website for more information, but this list includes plant type, bloom time and preferred exposure. A second list includes native plants that will attract pollinators…have a look!
From Bringing Nature Home, By Doug Tallamy, this list of native trees includes the number of butterfly species supported by each and a ranking of the twenty most valuable Mid Atlantic plant genera in terms of their ability to support butterflies. Thanks to the Pollinator Pathway for compiling these lists!
There are many plant varieties that butterflies love and this garden plan includes many of them. From trees to shrubs to perennials and annuals, the scheme would be a veritable magnet!
Natureworks in Northford, CT has created a 5 step process that starts with searching for Monarch eggs on milkweed plants and feeding the larvae leaves, watching the chrysalis emerge and finally releasing the adult butterfly. Take a look and consider adding milkweed to your landscape.
More than 85% of the earth’s plants require pollinators to exist. Using these plants in your landscape with keep our butterfly and moth pollinators thriving! Check out this list from American Beauty Native Plants that includes plant type, whether it is a nectar source and/or a host plant, its bloom time and …
American Beauties Native Plants says, “1 out or every 3 bites of food you eat comes from plants that are pollinated by bees. Your help is crucial to keep these bees thriving!” See their list of native plants that includes plant type, bloom time and exposure requirements.
Like other environmentally concerned organizations, Rowayton Gardeners has become increasingly aware of the significant dangers to humans as well as the environment in using hazardous synthetic pesticides like Roundup. We encourage all of our neighbors to avoid glyphosate and other toxic pesticides used in landscape management to kill crab grass, …
Thanks to Priscilla Feral and Meghan McIntire for a great video (mounted on YouTube) on pollinators and how we can help them survive. This is such an important time of year to be particularly aware of how our actions can help bees. butterflies and birds thrive in our community and …
As you embark on maintenance of your lawn and garden this year, please make them part of the “Pollinator Pathway” that now stretches from Ridgefield to Greenwich and beyond. Municipalities and residents are recognizing the importance of bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators to the overall health of our environment …
