Blog
 
Gravatar
Pin on Pinterest

The title for this post is taken from a byline for MASON BEE REVOLUTION, a book written by Dave Hunter and Jill Lightner.  The Mason bee, a native North American bee, is the hardest working bee on our planet.  One solitary Mason bee’s pollination is equivalent to one hundred honeybees’ pollination.  In fact, all native bees are hard workers.  Unlike the honeybee who will usually only forage when the weather is nice, our native bees will even work in nasty weather.  Spring Mason bees increase spring fruit and plant yields.  Research shows that solitary Mason bees can double cherry pollination compared to honeybees alone.  These tiny Mason bees also increase the number of seeds from annuals for better reproduction next season.

[NOTE:  We can save the USA (and perhaps the world) one backyard at a time. If enough people in any given urban area become interested in growing plants and some of the food they eat, these activities will create new markets and also support existing local markets.  For one tiny example:  If enough people in Garland had a four-foot by 12 foot raised bed, some enterprising soul could create and sell a drip irrigation system that is simple to install.  It’s even possible this product could grow into a profitable enterprise that might spread throughout a region or even the entire country.

If half of all the residents in Garland planted only six blackberry bushes, they would have enough for a family of four for the entire year as these berries (an extremely healthy food source) freeze well.  If half the residents planted twelve blackberry bushes, they could sell half of these berries to a local blackberry co-op (that would rise up from the need).  The co-op in turn would then sell the produce to various kinds of local enterprises that use blackberries as a basis for various food, health and cosmetic products. If enough people became inspired, this entire chain of events could transpire over a period of only three years—from backyard blackberry bushes to local businesses that provide local jobs that in turn support and grow the local economy.]

___________________________________________________________

 NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE BEES – Our most efficient pollinators

If we are going to save the world and achieve a local healthy plant-based economy, we must start paying attention to our pollinators and especially to our native bees.  Most folks don’t realize that here in North America we have over 4,000 species of native bees.  The honeybee is not among them.  It came to North America about 300 years ago with European settlers.

With the exception of the native bumblebee, which is social and does make hives and honey, native North American bees are solitary creatures.  They make their nests in the ground and in holes.  The Mason bees are so called because the females use mud to seal off their egg chambers.

Although we have more than 130 species of hole-nesting native mason bees in North America, two of these solitary native bees are the most popular:  1) The blue orchard mason bee and 2) the summer Leafcutter bee.  You can even order these bees online.

The native Blue Orchard Mason bee is an efficient spring pollinator for fruit and nut trees.  The native Alfalfa Leafcutter bee is a great pollinator for summer fruit, vegetables and plants.

Male Mason and Leafcutter bees emerge first.  They mate with females and then die.  It is the lone female’s responsibility to create the protective nesting chamber to lay her eggs. 

The female Mason bee builds her nest in existing holes. She gathers a pea-size mound of pollen, lays an egg and creates a chamber often within a tube such as that of a reed.  The Mason bees seal each chamber with nearby clay-like mud.  One hole might house five to eight egg chambers.  (The female lays up to 24 eggs total.)  By the end of summer, the new eggs feed off the gathered pollen left in their sealed chamber by their mother and become larvae that then spin protective cocoons in which they hibernate for winter months.  The process is quite similar for the female Leafcutter bee; however, instead of mud, the Leafcutter chews up bits of leaves and mixes with bee salvia to form the “mud” to seal the chamber.

More Good News About Native Bees

Solitary native bees are easy to raise and entertaining to watch.  An added benefit is their gentle nature.  They rarely sting and you don’t need special clothing to observe them and help care for their cocoons.  In the rare cases where people are stung, the venom is comparable to a mosquito bit and does not cause anaphylactic shock.

________________________________________________________________________ 

Learn how to raise gentle North American native bees.

Sign up for BeeMail Newsletter for tips, reminders and research.

www.CrownBees.com

If you want to see a female Mason bee depositing her eggs, visit the home page of http://LovingGarlandGreen.org .

__________________________________________________________

BUILDING HOMES FOR NATIVE BEES

I’ll keep you posted.  Several members of Loving Garland Green are going to try to attract some native bees to the Garland Community Garden as well as to our own gardens at home.  In fact, one of our members already has acquired houses and has saved and released cocoons of Mason bees in her garden.

 We’ve looked at some of the bee houses for our solitary native bees and have found most of them to be somewhat pricey.  Thus, we plan to make some ourselves to see how that works.  The photo below shows the basic construction:  A Container within a container within a container, within a container, within a container. 

The native Mason bee crawls inside these cylinders to lay her eggs.  Only one solitary female will deposit eggs in a particular cylinder.  The amazing thing is they don't mistake which cylinder is their cylinder. They always return to the correct one.  The cylinders are about six inches long and each one will have about 8 eggs in it.  The Mason bee, after putting a pollen loaf in a chamber with one egg will seal that egg with mud before laying the next egg.  Also they deposit female eggs in the back part of the cylinder and males in the front.  Males hatch first.  Thus they are waiting near the entrance when the female eggs hatch.  The males fertilize the females and die shortly after.  One female Mason bee will deposit approximately 24 eggs during her lifecycle.  Thus she will use three or four cylinders.

______________________________________________________________________________

I plan to build a box with one side open as shown below.  Then I’ll insert an oatmeal box.  Inside the oatmeal box I’ll put larger paper cylinders that I’ve made by rolling paper around a wooden dowel.  Inside that cylinder I’ll put paper cylinders that I’ve made by rolling paper around a pencil about four times and taped to hold.  The tubes will be approximately six inches long but varying slightly in length, as that is one of the ways the female bee identifies her nest. The oatmeal box will be cut to about 7 inches tall and the box will be about 8 inches deep to provide an overhang.  The open sides will face south for morning sun.  In addition to the box with the plastic straw, I may create the larger cylinder from paper by rolling it around a larger wooden dowel and taping.  I’ll also put some smaller paper straws in the mix. These are for the smaller leafcutter bees.

Mason bee homes need to be put out before the end of April.  We will also build a little native clay soil mud box to put near the nest.  If there is not mud near by for the female to seal her egg chambers, she won’t nest there.  It is recommended for the nest to be placed about five feet seven inches from the ground.  Down at the garden, we plan to attach ours to the trellis for the loofah tunnel.

 

 

 Standard Mason Bee Nest Kit with 68 tubes for $11 from Kinsman Garden.

 In addition to the Mason bee home I’m building, I ordered one for $11.95 ($20 with shipping) from Kinsman Garden online.  It is shown in the photo above.

 The photo below shows one of the thousands of North American native bee homes that can be built.  Rohdes, one of our local nurseries here in Garland has various native bee homes for sale.

Rescue Mason Bee Cocoons

You can also carry your protection of these valuable native pollinators further by harvesting the cocoons from these tubes in the fall and storing them in your refrigerator (not freezer) over the winter.  To do this you will need a plastic container such as a plastic berry container with a few holes punched in top, and a sponge on the bottom.  You will need to put one tablespoon of water on the sponge a month.  You can of course leave them in the tubes as this is how nature does it.  However, it is likely that not as many will hatch.

Gravatar

Yarrow Plants will be on sale tomorrow from 10 AM to Noon in the Garland Community Garden

This weekend begins at 12:30 today with the installation of an irrigation system at the Garland Community Garden!

From 12:30 to 3PM today Susan Metz will be installing a drip irrigation system in one of the beds  down at the Garland Community Garden.  The public is invited to watch Sue work and learn how to do it yourself.

The weekend continues Saturday with Loving Garland Green's Annual Plant Sale - 10 to Noon at the Garland Community Garden

We have yarrow, Turks Cap, sunflowers, Echinacea, Kale, mint, lemon verbena, blackberry bushes, and even some petunias.  While they last we also have some packets of Texas Native Milkweeds that we are giving away.

Oh and we also are selling four garden tables for only $12 each.  Three of them are brand new and are still in their boxes.

INVITATION TO ALL LOCAL NONPROFITS AND SCHOOLS AND INDIVIDUALS:  If  you have already had your plant sale and have plants left over.  Bring a table and come on down to the garden!  We won't charge space rent.  You are welcome to come sell your plants with us.  You must manage your own table though.

Gravatar
 
 
The National Wildlife Federation today announced the launch of Butterfly Heroes presented by Subaru with a goal of 100,000 Americans pledging to help save monarchs and other critically important pollinators in 2016. To help reach that goal, the National Wildlife Federation is distributing over 50,000 Butterfly Heroes Garden Starter Packets for those who take the Butterfly Heroes pledge, and corporate partner, Subaru will give out a further 50,000 at its retailers nationwide. The Disney Conservation Fund is also supporting the NWF effort as part of its mission to protect the planet and help kids develop lifelong conservation values, and Botanical Interests is the official provider of seeds in the kits that participants receive when they make a formal pledge to become a National Wildlife Federation Butterfly Hero.
 
The Butterfly Heroes Campaign asks Americans to submit a photo of themselves making the international sign language sign of the butterfly at NWF.org/ButterflyHeroes. By taking the pledge, participants will be mailed a free kit (while supplies last) and if entered by June 1, are eligible for a chance to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Gravatar

And the garden grows . . . and yes, despite all appearance of a serendipitous path, there is a big plan for the Garland Community Garden moving it forward.

Soon, on April 24, we will mark our second year down at the Garland Community Garden.  It's still hard work but some of the rough edges are beginning to smooth out and management of the beds is becoming a little bit easier.  Next year should even be easier.  If you plan your garden well, by the end of its fourth or fifth year, it should not require a lot of long heavy hours of labor.  Basically this means a mixture of about seventy-five percent perennials (most of which are native) to 25% annuals and following an organic, no-till method. Mother Nature will eventually kick in and work with you.

We now have several established beds filled with perennials that will begin their second year of life and a few that will begin their third year.

Community Gardens are difficult to sustain over the long haul.  Members move, people lose interest, etc.  But all in all I think that many community gardens fail because they become too much work and one of the main reasons they become too much work is because most community gardens contain 90 to 100% annual plants and still follow the old till method of overturning the soil each season.  These types of gardens are extremely labor intensive.  This is not true for the organic (no pesticide), no till gardens that contain a high percentage of perennial plants.  They are designed to eventually let Mother Nature do most of the work.  Ruth Stout had the right idea over 50 years ago.  Her “no-work” gardening methods allowed Ms. Stout to garden until the she died at age 96.

CURRENT PERMANENT FEATURES OF THE GARLAND COMMUNITY GARDEN


Coming back for a repeat performance in the loofah tunnel bed we have yarrow on the left, Sweet William in the middle, a Butterfly Bush and a Pine Needle Milkweed.  Soon we will be planting loofah seeds and installing a few loofah plants.  Unfortunately, loofah is an annual.

  • The Loofah Tunnel will begin its second year of existence.  In the bed in front of its trellis we have yarrow, a Sweet William, a butterfly bush and a pine needle milkweed.  This year, instead of having to build the trellis, lay the brick path, and plant seeds; all we need to do is to plant loofah seeds and install a few loofah plants.

______________________________________________________________________


The Buffalo Grass is beginning to emerge from its winter dormancy.

The Buffalo Grass Plot has already begun its second year.  Last year we ordered buffalo grass seed from the Native American Seed Company and planted it the middle of March 2015.  It took almost four months to get established and it was a battle keeping the Bermuda grass from chocking it out.  Today, however, the turf is well established and is awakening from its winter sleep as it turns green again.  Buffalo grass is the only native turf grass in North America and it has many merits to recommend it.  It is extremely drought-hardy.  You do not have to mow it ever and you never have to fertilize it.  I have fond memories of inviting visitors last summer to slip off their shoe and walk barefoot over our Buffalo grass.  

_________________________________________________________________________



A reminder of what once was.  We in the DFW area are part of an eco-region known as the "Blackland Prairies."  This area covers 19,400 square miles and stretches from the Red River southwesterly to San Antonio.  Due to agriculture and encroaching urbanization, less than 1% of these native prairie lands and their native grasses remain.

The Blackland Prairie Sampler is another success story of plants that will come back year after year.  Much of the grass in this sampler plot was grown from seed and all of it is native grass that once grew all over this area of North Texas (except for some naughty invasive non-native Bermuda grass)  .

_____________________________________________________________________________________________


  • The Hops Barrels - Talk about thriving on neglect!  Last year after talking with several commercial hops growers in Oregon, Wisconsin and in New England, we decided to order some rhizomes and see if hops can be grown in Garland, Texas.  It was recommended that we try to grow a variety called "Cascade."  They did grow, but their bines seemed somewhat fragile.  In late August they produced 12 hops flowers.  Since we harvested the flowers, we have done nothing with the rhizomes in the two blue barrels.  However, last week I noticed the bines have returned and they are much stronger looking than last year.  I had considered replacing the hops with another plant, but now I think we will add more twine to allow them to climb to their fullest height this year. Below are some iris in the garden--another repeat performance from rhizomes.

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

 
The Medicine Wheel - The Medicine Wheel won't begin its second year until August 2016, but already I can see the signs of permanence showing in the face of its enduring and returning perennials.  First there are two large clumps of Mexican Tarragon beginning their seasonal return.  Then we have four clumps of prickly pear cactus.  The prickly pear cactus was designated the official plant symbol of Texas in 1995. Found in the deserts of the American southwest, the fruits of most prickly pear cacti are edible, and have been a source of food to Native Americans for thousands of years.   I am still in awe of how easy the prickly pear cactus is to propagate.  Anita, Loving Garland Green’s treasurer, simply placed four sections of a prickly pear on the ground.  We watered them and now, less than a year later they have multiplied.  The four clumps of yarrow are five times larger than they were in August.  In the next week or two we will be adding some native milkweed to the Medicine Wheel.  Native Americans used the milkweed for many purposes:  from material for ropes to medicine for healing.

______________________________________________________________________________

The blackberry bushes – Scattered throughout the garden are 30 blackberry bushes.  The blackberry is a dependable producer here in North Texas and I wholeheartedly recommend for folks to plant four bushes in their yards (if you like to eat blackberries).  I’ve found the thornless varieties with Native American names such as Arapaho, Apache, etc. are extremely productive.  The four bushes in my own yard have consistently yielded 60 pounds of blackberries for the past two years.  Blackberries freeze (and thaw) beautifully.  They are chocked full of antioxidants and they are expensive to purchase in the grocery store—averaging $5.00 for six ounces over the year. Of course they are cheaper in season, but by December they are up to $5.98 for six ounces. 

_____________________________________________________________________

The Spiral Herb Garden – Lavender and Oregano have survived from 2015.  This unusual bed, patterned after herb gardens from hundreds of years ago in monasteries in Europe, begins its second year of existence in June.  Today I’ll be adding an ancient herb to it—horehound (Marrubium vulgare).  Horehound s a grey-leaved herbaceous perennial plant, somewhat resembling mint in appearance, and grows to 10 to 18 inches tall. Horehound has been mentioned in conjunction with medicinal use dating at least back to the 1st century BC, where it appeared as a remedy for respiratory ailments in the treatise  De Medicina by Roman Aulus Cornelius Celsus.  The Roman agricultural writer Columella  lists it as a remedy for expelling worms in farm animals in his important first-century workOn Agriculture.Since then, horehound has appeared for similar purposes in numerous herbals over the centuries.  More recently a 2011 study concluded that the essential oil of M. vulgare contains potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties.  Also in 2012 another study found marrubiin, one of the primary active compounds found in horehound to possess antidiabetic, antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

____________________________________________________________________________

Soon we will add soil to top this off and plant some vegetables in the keyhole garden.  This design is especially handy for those who don't like to bend over.  By providing a hard surface around its perimeter, this garden space becomes wheelchair accessible.  Unlike other gardens, the plants in the keyhole are crowded very close to each other.  How close?  Deb Tolman told me last year that she has seen 50 tomato plants growing and producing like crazy in one of these beds.

The Keyhole Garden – The keyhole garden holds a special place in my heart.  It was the first significant donation to the garden from Leon Smith.  As you can see from how large the vegetables grow in this bed, the keyhole design is especially efficient.  Its soil contents are similar to that of the hugelkultur—large rotten logs comprise the bottom layer, smaller twigs, leaves and other organic matter comprise the subsequent layers, topped off with a layer of garden soil.  The frame for this bed was made by Leon Smith of Keyhole Garden in Clifton, Texas.  Read more about Leon Smith and Keyhole gardens at http://keyholefarm.com

COME VISIT THE GARLAND COMMUNITY GARDEN TO ENJOY, LEARN AND PARTICIPATE

And while you are there, pull a weed or two or water a plant that appears to be thirsty.  Stop by one of our annual beds.  We have recently planted a tomato and basil plot.  Read some of the signs in this bed and you may be surprised to learn that North America has 4,000 species of native bees and the honeybee is not one of them.  The Europeans brought the honeybee to North America over three hundred years ago.

Furthermore, the honeybee is of no use when it comes to tomato flowers, which have no nectar.  It is our native bees (the bumblebee and the Mason bee) along with the wind who pollinate tomato flowers.  We invite you to come to the garden and learn more about our native bees.

Speaking pollinators, Loving Garland Green members are in the process of installing a butterfly garden to help promote our Mayor in his efforts to encourage our residents to plant native milkweed to support the Monarch butterflies.  We have planted some native milkweed in this plot and currently have three varieties in various stages of development:  1) A seed bed of Asclepias syriaca  2) Seedlings of Asclepias tuberosa and Asclepias viridis.  

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

Gravatar

Here are a few of the North Garland High School Key Club Members who worked beside Loving Garland Green Members during our monthly garden cleanup effort.  There were other students from this group as well.  It usually works well to partner with other nonprofit when seeking labor for projects.  We assist the Key Club on many of their project and they assist us on our projects as well.  If you want enthusiasm and positive energy, there is nothing that fits the bill quite like a youth group.

This past Saturday (March 26, 2016) was a great day down at the garden.  As usual, the lessons I learned were many, but perhaps the most outstanding lesson was that a few people who care can make a real difference.  We had sixteen people who showed up to assist in tidying up the garden. The total man-hours I would estimate to be at about 48 hours--within a three-hour time period. It would have taken one person six 8-hour workdays to accomplish what we did.

People who participate do make a difference. In fact, people participating are more often than not the determining factor in the success or failure of any organization or human endeavor.

This past Saturday  was not without its learning experience.  Jane Stroud, biologist and also officer of our board, found the larvae of a lady bug and showed it to the students, explaining what it is.  Turns out that Jane had written a paper on the topic.  There are always lessons to be learned in the garden.  It's a wonderful place.

Jane Stroud - Secretary Loving Garland Green

Another lesson I learned follows along the lines of "if Muhammad won't come to the mountain, bring the mountain to Muhammad" -- or perhaps if you don't succeed on the first try, then approach from a different angle:  We had prepared a 20 minute presentation on pollinators for children ages 4 to 14 and the young at heart.  No one showed up for that presentation.  But we won't let those efforts go to waste.  We will offer these presentations at schools here in the Garland ISD and we will also offer it once again for our April last Saturday-of-the-month garden clean up.  

 

First Monarch Sighting at the Garland Community Garden--No, wait a minute!  That's Anita Opel Loving Garland Green's Treasurer.

Gravatar

SPECIAL EVENT AT THE GARLAND COMMUNITY GARDEN

Saturday March 26

4022 Naaman School Road (at the Brand and Naaman School traffic light)

11 AM to noon (and beyond if you want to work in the garden) 

The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (MPGC) is a nationwide call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America. It will move millions of individuals, kids and families outdoors and make a connection between pollinators and the healthy food people eat. 

The National Pollinator Garden Network (NPGN) is an unprecedented collaboration of national, regional, and local gardening clubs. Its founding private nonprofit and garden industry members were convened in Fall 2014, to propose efforts to help restore critical pollinator populations in support of the President’s Executive Strategy to “Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators.”

NPGN collectively represents approximately 800,000 gardeners, 10,000 schoolyard gardens and bring a baseline of a 250,000 registered pollinator gardens nationwide from across its five main founding organizations.

The focus of the NPGN is: to inspire individuals and community groups, institutions and the garden industry to create more pollinator habitat through sustainable gardening practices, habitat conservation and provide these groups the tools to be successful.

______________________________________________________________

Loving Garland Green supports all efforts aimed at creating pollinator habitat nationwide.  The monarch butterfly, an iconic species whose populations have declined by 90% in the last 20 years, is an indicator of the habitat decline and stress all pollinators are facing.  Quality monarch habitat also helps other pollinators.

As you may know, our mayor, Doug Athas, has signed the Mayors' Monarch Pledge.  Loving Garland Green is actively supporting our mayor in his efforts to call citizens' attention, not only to the plight of the Monarch butterflies, but to that of all pollinators.  More than 90% of all plants need a pollinator to distribute pollen.  Our native pollinators are in serious decline  At least 185 species of pollinators are considered threatened or extinct by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) atn at least 2 bat and 13 bird species listed as endangered in the United State are pollinators.  It is often repeated in the literature that at least 1/3 of all the food we eat is due to the work of pollinators.

______________________________________________________________

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF OUR POLLINATORS?

Actually there are several things you can do.  Here are a few suggestions:

1.  Come to the Garland Community Garden tomorrow.

The last Saturday of the month is our regular scheduled workday in the garden.  Members gather at 10 AM and work until 2PM.  Don't worry, we can work and talk at the same time.  You won't be conscripted, however; any volunteer labor is gratefully accepted.

We have decided to add something special to these end-of-the-month workdays.  GARDEN EVENTS FOR KIDS!

These educational events will last from 11AM to noon and will feature garden topics.  Tomorrow we will be talking to the kiddos about pollinators. In addition to creating their own "pollinator on a stick", they will learn about the importance of pollinators and the relationship of pollinators to the food that appears on their table.  In addition to the craft activity, we will also give the young people a handout on pollinators, a description of the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, and a free seed packet of Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed).  The seed is already cold-stratified and is ready to be soaked overnight and planted.

2.  Give the gift of a native plant.  Bring a Texas Native Plant to the Garland Community Garden tomorrow.  We will install it in the pollinator habitat we are building.  If you donate a perennial, it may live longer than you do.  It's also a great way to remember someone you love.

We are just beginning to build our pollinator habitat at the garden and we need some more native plants.  If you don't know where to find native plants, one of the best places to obtain them is Garland is at Rohdes Nursery.  Roaches in downtown Garland and Covington's in Rowlett are two other good spots for native plants.    For those who live in the Dallas and Richardson area, try Bruce Miller on Beltline; Gecko Hardware in Dallas; and North Haven gardens.  NURSERIES THAT SPECIALIZE IN NATIVE PLANTS.

Don't worry it it turns out there are too many plants to install in the garden, there are plenty of local schools in our community that we are helping to establish pollinator habitats.  No native plant will be turned away.

3.  Donate to the Loving Garland Green Pollinator Fund.

 The monies donated to this fund will be used to support our monthly educational activities for children.  These events are scheduled to be held the last Saturday of each month (weather permitting) in the garden.  In April we hope to feature a program where the students will observe butterfly eggs and caterpillars in addition to creating a life-cycle booklet.

 

4.  Create your own pollinator habitat in your yard.

Come to the Garland Community Garden tomorrow on Saturday March 26, 2016 and we will point you in the right direction.

___________________________________________________________________________

 

I HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW IN THE GARDEN!

 Below is a photo of some pollinators on a stick that members of Loving Garland Green made last night.  As the kiddos listen to a presentation on pollinators, they will be able to color and decorate replicas of these valuable insects.  We have a blue swallowtail, a Monarch, a bumblebee, and a butterfly that is left up to the imagination--always an interesting proposition.

Gravatar

Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) seedling in my flower bed -- transplanted March 8; germinated Feb 28; seed planted February 14.  Seed came from White Rock Lake area.  Seed soaked overnight in Garland water.  Seed was not cold-stratified.  (Photo taken March 20, 2016)

If you are talking about events, then spring in Garland Texas is in like a lion!

Yesterday Loving Garland Green ushered in the season of hope and new beginnings with our annual, and highly successful, yard sale.  The first week of spring continues with a burst of spring-related events:

 

MONDAY MARCH 21st
LEARN HOW TO PROPAGATE PLANTS!

6:30 to 7:30
Garland Downtown Public Library -625 Austin Street

Learn how to successfully propagate plants!

Dr. Tom Wilten, Master Gardener is the featured speaker

Loving Garland Green will also be giving away free native milkweed seeds and information regarding the Mayor's Monarch Pledge

________________________________________________________________

 

 

THURSDAY MARCH 24
EASTER EGG HUNT

Children get the chance to hunt for colorful candy and toy filled eggs.  Bounce around in a jump house, go through the obstacle course, and load up on recreation activity information.  This event is held the Thursday before Easter at Central Park.

Thursday, March 24, 2016
6 p.m.

Granger Recreation Center 
Central Park
1310 W. Ave. F
972-205-2771
 
_______________________________________________________________
 
 
(from one of the many patterns that attendees will be able to choose to paint and construct their own "Pollinator on a Stick")
 
SATURDAY MARCH 26
BUTTERFLY MANIA IN THE GARDEN!
 
for kiddos ages 4 to 14 
 
11AM to Noon
Garland Community Garden
4022 Naaman School Road
 

Learn about the importance of pollinators and milkweed.  Kiddos will get free information sheets and a free packet of native milkweed seeds.  There will also be a take-home craft activity and everyone will go home with their own artistic creation of a pollinator.

 
 
Gravatar

Max, one of the North Garland High School Key Club Members--With the enthusiasm and positive energy of these students, we don't have to worry about the future.

This week is packed with all kinds of excitement and activities for members of Loving Garland Green!

On Wednesday we met a group of about 15 student from the North Garland High School Key Club for a weed pulling event and to assess the butterfly garden installed last October with a joint effort of Loving Garland Green members and they Key Club students.

As usual, we had lots of fun with great upbeat students.  It's such a pleasure to spend time with them.  They are all so nice and conscientious and so genuine.  I'm quite sure I was not nearly as nice as an adolescent.
 
I'm happy to report the garden has survived the winter and most of the plants we installed last fall are thriving.  From 70 plants that we installed, 45 are thriving.  As for the 25 that didn't make it,  I'll have to check my notes, but some of them may have been annuals that we stuck in for nectar plants.  One of the ones that did survive, I didn't think would make it. It's already blooming.   I'll have to look it up in my notes to ascertain the name.  It is from South Africa (We'll probably remove it to be purists with our native plants.)  The only reason it is there is we grabbed it last fall when Covington nursery had an "all  you can load in your truck for $50" sale.  
 
I can't say enough good things for Salvia greggi  (Autumn Sage).  It grows and blooms from February up to the first hard freeze in November.  In fact, just about all varieties of Salvia do very well.  The kiddos at North Garland High School also have some nice Blue Salvia plants that look very healthy.
 
On Wednesday we also planted about 15 Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) seeds.  These seeds were taken from the White Rock Lake area and I did cold-stratify them 40 days prior but did not soak them in water prior to planting.
 
Each of the 15 students received a packet of Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) seeds, a one-page handout explaining the Mayor's Monarch Pledge, and a three page USDA Plant information sheet for Asclepias syriaca.  It's very interesting to learn of all the many commercial applications for the milkweed.  This information sheet is also available on the Loving Garland Green website.
 
We are looking forward to the installation of the butterfly garden at Watson Technology Center here in Garland.  That's coming up soon.  This one will be a hugelkulter/straw bale build.
 
__________________________________________________________________________
 

Track the Monarchs' Journey North in 2016

 The first adult Monarch Butterfly was already sighted in Portland Texas on March 18, 2016.

Monarch Butterfly Migration Map

 

___________________________________________________________________

HUGE ANNUAL SPRING YARD SALE

321 PEBBLECREEK - GARLAND, TEXAS 75040 - SATURDAY MARCH 19 - 9AM TO 3PM

HELP LOVING GARLAND GREEN'S EFFORTS TO BUILD SCHOOLYARD BUTTERFLY HABITATS AND BRING BACK THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY FROM THE FRINGES OF EXTINCTION.  We have at least five pickup truck loads of goodies.  You are certain to find at least one item that will please you.  Those who purchase at least $10 worth of goods, will receive a packet of 10 Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) Seeds along with an explanation of the Mayor's Monarch Pledge.

We hope to see you at 321 Pebblecreek on Saturday.

______________________________________________________________

 

LEARN HOW TO PLANT SEEDS SUCCESSFULLY!

Join Loving Garland Green for our monthly speakers meeting.  The topic for Monday (March 21) will be plant propagation.  Dr. Tom Wilten, a Dallas County Master Gardener will be our guest speaker.

Downtown Garland Public Library - 625 Austin Street - 6:30 to 7:30

 

 

Gravatar

Be prepared for a shock if you purchase milkweed seeds!

I ordered 1,500 milkweed seeds from Native American Seed http://www.seedsource.com .  I have ordered seeds from this company before; however, I ordered in much smaller quantities (seed packets with 10 seeds that cost $3 on average).  This time I ordered a Dpak of seeds (1,500) that cost $29.00. With the shipping cost and state tax, the total was $44.67.

 

$44.67 for this!

I was expecting a package of seeds that weighed close 8 ounces if not more.   Instead, when it came I was shocked.  The entire package weighed 2 ounces.  The container for the seeds was even smaller.  It was six inches by two inches.  Frankly, I felt ripped off once again by false advertising—but in our new society of “buyer beware”, where the consumer is held responsible for not being able to see through the subterfuge of advertiser, I shrugged it off to just another instance of my not paying close attention to the tricksters.

______________________________________________________________________ 

A Demonstration of  Patience and Determination

Charlie, however, still has some fight left in him over this issue of not getting what was advertised.  The outside of the packet promised 1,500 Common Milkweed seed.  He counted them—separating them into piles of 100 seeds. At the end of his exercise Charlie had counted about 2,000 milkweed seeds.  It was a good thing because we put each 100 count into a small envelope and then put the 20 envelopes into a Ziploc bag and put in the refrigerator.  They will be much more manageable in these quantities for distribution in our community.

I also took ten out and put them in a jar of water to soak.  I will plant them tomorrow.  I know that all the "experts" tell us that milkweed seed must be cold stratified (put in fridge for at least 30 days) prior to planting in the spring.  However I have 32 milkweed seedlings that were not cold stratified but were soaked for a little over 24 hours prior to planting.

Note:  The ideal time to plant milkweed seed is in the late fall.  When you do it this way you can just sow directly in the soil without having to go through the process of cold stratification.  However, milkweed seed is reported to have notoriously low germination rates in the wild.

__________________________________________________________________

Not All Milkweed Seed Is Created Equal

You are likely to have the greatest success with seeds taken from milkweed grown in the area where you live.  I was fortunate to obtain some seeds that came from the White Rock Lake area—only a few miles from where I live.  That is another reason why I ordered from Native American Seed. Although not local, at least they are located in Junction Texas.  Many of the specialty native seeds purchased in stores and nurseries around here come from Botanical Interests—a company located in Broomfield Colorado, hardly local.

Also I’ve found the shapes and sizes of Milkweed seeds vary according to the variety of milkweed.  If you would like to see a list of all the native milkweed plants in Texas, visit our Loving Garland Green website.  We have a complete list of all 36 varieties.

 

The seed on the left is Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed).  The seed on the right is Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed).  The Common Milkweed seed is also similar in shape and size to the Showy Milkweed seed (Asclepias Speciosa).

______________________________________________________________

 

 

Getting the Garland Community Garden Ready for Milkweed and Other Loving Garland Green Upcoming Events

On Saturday, March 5, we installed a brick border and a few plants in what will be known as the Pollinator Heaven plot down at the garden.  In the foreground you can see blue mist flower and some Salvia greggi.  You can’t see the tiny seedlings of the Asclepias viridis in the photo, but they are there.  I’ll be curious to see how/if they survived our recent rain.  So far the ones I planted in my yard are holding up to the rain.

  • HUGE YARD SALE - Saturday March 19 - 10 AM to 3PM - 321 Pebble Creek Drive - Garland, Texas 75040 - This promises to be one of our largest sales ever.  One of our member has obtained a donation of a storage unit.  In addition we also have many more special items such as a bicycle and a sound system.  

  • MONTHLY GUEST SPEAKER EVENT -- Plant Propagation.  Monday, March 21- 6:30 to 7:30 PM -  Downtown Garland Library - Just in time for spring!  Learn how to propagate plants.  Tim Wilten, Master Gardener will be the speaker.

  • POLLINATOR MANIA - Saturday March 26-- an event for young people ages four to fourteen.  The kiddos will learn about pollinators and the important role they play in our food chain.  There will be a craft exercise associated with this event.  Each participant will get a free packet of Common Milkweed seed.  Time:  11AM to Noon.  This event also coincides with our last Saturday of the month garden workday.  The children will have the opportunity to chat with Loving Garland Green members about the various plots and plants at the garden.

  • PLANT SALE APRIL 9 - 11AM to 3PM--We already have 30 Turk's Cap bushes and are hoping to have many more Texas natives at this sale.


  

Gravatar

The Critical Need for Native Milkweed 

The most critical step in building habitat for Monarch butterflies is to ensure a sufficient number of milkweed plants in the habitat.  I would be hesitant to say the exact number of milkweed plants that would be required in a particular habitat as the sizes of habitats vary as well as the size of the milkweed plants within the habitat.  Four or five milkweed planted in one area of the habitat will usually be adequate.  Enough milkweed leaves must be there to support the Monarch population through its caterpillar stage which is devoted to voracious eating.  Eric Carle, author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" based at least some of his famous children's book on fact:  Caterpillars are hungry.  In fact, they are eating machines.

Tragedy strikes when there is not enough milkweed for the Monarch caterpillars.  In late April of 2015, I wrote of a Monarch caterpillar catastrophe at the Garland Community Garden:  Monarch caterpillars arrive at the Garland Community Garden. This story illustrates what happens when the supply of milkweed is not sufficient.  The caterpillars strip all the leaves and thus, in addition to having no food left, have no protective cover to shield them from their many predators and thus they are easy picking.  That's why we are recommending that folks have three or four milkweed plants in their habitat.  One plant will almost never be enough.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 As many of you know, Mayor Doug Athas has taken the Mayor's Monarch Pledge.  We had our first meeting with interested citizens a few days ago on February 23. One of the outcomes from this meeting has been the realization that we need to plant a lot of native milkweed here in Garland Texas.  Frankly this is easier said than done and it will take some amount of diligence and dedication.  Native milkweed seed is not that easy to find.

Loving Garland Green has already implemented the beginning of what will be called "The Great Garland Milkweed Monitoring Project."  This project was kicked off on February 15 when we held our first speakers meeting at the local Garland downtown library.  Our guest speaker was Roseann Ferguson, a local Garland gardener who is also a Master Gardener.  Roseann spoke on the topic of attracting pollinators with native plants.  Among our door prizes, we gave away a small flat of nine Asclepias asperula (or perhaps Asclepias viridis).  Since the seeds for these plants were collected from a wild area in the late fall after the plants were gone, we can't make a definite determination until the plants mature.

Details of the Great Garland Milkweed Monitoring Project

Goal:  to give away 100 Native Milkweed seedlings on or before April 15 to 50 Garland residents (The seedlings will not be ready until the third or fourth week in March.)  To be eligible to receive seedlings, participants must be Garland residents between the ages of 9 and 100.  Yes, we trust children to be caretakers of plants.

This gift will not be given without a few requirements from the recipients:

  • Report at least once a month via email with photos to Loving Garland Green regarding your milkweed, how its growing and what it is attracting.
  • In the late summer/early fall when the plant makes seed pods, you must give at least two seed pods to Loving Garland Green

Following such a simple plan as this, we believe the growth of milkweed in our community as well as our community's interest in the importance of pollinators will be exponential explosion.

Next year, for example, Loving Garland Green will have at least 100 seed pods, each having at least 20 seeds-- 2,000 native milkweed seeds. (These seeds sell today, when you can find them at 10 per packet for about $3.00.)   No we likely won't sell them, but we will give them away and encourage folks to join the Great Garland Milkweed Monitoring Project.)  Once again, in the spring of 2017 we will offer milkweed seedlings--only instead of 100 milkweed seedlings, we will be giving away 200 milkweed seedlings to 100 people.  You can do the math from here and see what I mean in regard to exponential growth.  But it's more than math, it's a community coming together to support a great cause:  helping to strengthen the security of our food chain by providing habitat for pollinators--including the beautiful Monarch Butterfly.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

NOW, HANG ONTO YOUR HATS! (garden hats that is)

Loving Garland Green has already received its first milkweed report.  Remember that door prize of a flat of nine planted native milkweed seeds we gave away on February 15?  Well, just today I got the first milkweed report from the recipient of that gift, Wendy Atlason Loiselle of Garland, Texas.  The little flat that we gave Wendy has 9 native milkweed seeds planted in it.  These seeds were cold-stratified (in my fridge--not freezer for 30 days) and then soaked in Garland tap water for 24 hours prior to planting.  They were planted on February 15 and the plant shown below showed up 11 days later on February 25.  I'm sure there will be more to come.  Germination rates vary.  I've read that in the wild native milkweed germinate at the rate of only two seeds from each one hundred seeds.  Germination rates from the native seeds that I have are much higher--so far closer to 50%.  Thus I expect Wendy to end up with at least four milkweed plants.

Perhaps before we can rescue Monarch, we need to give serious consideration as to how we can rescue native milkweed plants.  In 2012, John Pleasants of the University of Iowa and Karen Oberhauser of the University of Minnesota estimated that 60 percent of milkweed has been eliminated from the grassland ecosystem.  We are not talking about one species, we are talking here about the entire native flora being eliminated. All this is directly related to overuse of herbicides as an agricultural solution.  The good news is that things are changing.  Even the general public is becoming more aware of the destructive outcomes on beneficial plants than can result from indiscriminate overuse of herbicides on so-called weeds. Agricultural practices are also changing.  For example, some farmers now leave wide borders around their fields where they allow nature to take her course with no herbicides.  Government practices are also changing as well.  State highway departments are cutting back on their use of herbicides along roadways.  It will take time but at least it looks like we are moving in the right direction when it comes to cutting back on our overuse of herbicides.