World Bee Day in an annual day that calls attention to the critical importance of bees in our world. Did you know that bees are very important to the production of food in the world? They are among the most effective pollinators which enable fertilization and the production of seeds and fruits. Approximately 1/3 of all the world's food crops depend on bee pollination. Without bees many plants would struggle to live and this would lead to diminished food availablily.
World Bee Day
May 20th is an annual observance to raise the awareness of the essential role of bees. In 2017 the United Nations approved May 20th to be the first annual World Bee Day. This date was picked to honor Anton Jansa of Slovenia who was a pioneer of beekeeping that was born on May 20, 1734.
The 2026 theme for World Bee Day is "Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production."
I found the following YouTube video on World Bee Day. It was written for children, but it can also be very educational for adults. It tells about bees and their place in food production.
Fun Facts About Bees
There is one Queen bee in each hive. She is the only one that produces new bees. She may live up to 5 years. She can lay up to 2600 eggs a day.
When a queen bee dies the worker bees create a new queen by selecting a young larva and feeding it a special food called "royal jelly" this enables the larva to develop into a fertile queen.
The rest of the female bees are worker bees. They all have assigned jobs. They can live for just 5-6 weeks.
The male bees are drones. Their primary function is to mate with the queen bee and pass on their genetics to future generations.
The worker bees have duties assigned them from birth. Here are a few of the duties I found interesting.
Scouts- they go out to find where the pollen is most plentiful. They also search for a place for a new hive.
Funeral directors- when a bee dies the funeral team takes the dead body out of the hive and disposes of it.
In order to keep warm in the winter, there are a group of bees that gather and block the entrance to the hive with their bodies. They beat their wings to send in a warm breeze. Even when it is below freezing they can maintain the heat in the hive to 90 degrees.
What you can do to help?
Some of the ways you can help to save the bees include:
Planting native, bee friendly flowers
Reducing or eliminating herbicide and insecticide use
Leaving patches of bare soil and untidy areas for nesting
Providing water sources with stones
Supporting local organic farmers
My husband has been learning a lot about bees and last year he encouraged me to plant more bee friendly flowers in my flower bed.
I planted sunflowers, cone flowers, black eyed susans and other bee friendly plants. Here are some photos of the bees on our plants last year.
More Information on Bees
If you would like to learn more about bees, Amazon has several books available. Here is a link to one that looks like it would have a lot of information. https://amzn.to/4eVPt60
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I always think Christmas Eve is a magical time, filled with anticipation
and joy. It is one of my most favourite days over the Christmas
period.
While it is often a busy day, it's lovely to take a moment to pause and
reflect on the beauty around us, especially the wonders of nature, and to
express gratitude for the blessings in our lives and remember those for whom
this time is difficult.
The Beauty of Nature on Christmas Eve
Life and events and all the preparations for Christmas can be very hectic.
By the time we reach Christmas Eve we may try to find a moment to rest, to
find peace.
I love to take photographs to capture the particular beauty of the season.
Appreciation will be different for everyone, it may be the crisp winter air,
the beautiful blanket of snow in the garden, rain on a window pane when you
are warm and cosy, or the distant stars in a dark sky.
Nature reminds us of the simple beauty of our world. Whether you're in a
snowy landscape or a milder climate, taking a moment to step outside and
appreciate the natural surroundings can be a grounding and peaceful, even
profound, experience.
Finding Gratitude in the Little Things
Christmas Eve is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and
acknowledge the things we are grateful for. Sometimes life is lovely,
other times it can be very hard and I am among those this year that have
lost loved ones and miss them, this first Christmas without
them. I am also grateful that they were in my life and what we meant to each
other and that love never dies.
When life is hard, or even when it isn't, we don’t have to look to the big
things to be grateful for. Especially at this time of year there can be many
small day to day special moments.
The warmth of a cosy fire, good food, the laughter of loved ones, the look
of wonder in a child's eyes, a call or message from a friend or family
member.
We may find comfort in our faith, connecting with friends across the world,
watching birds in the garden, listening to a lovely piece of music, carol
singers, a starry night sky, or the quiet stillness of a winter night are
all things we can be thankful for.
One way to appreciate our Christmas Eve experience is to connect with
nature.
This could be as simple as taking a walk in a nearby park appreciating the
red and yellow winter berries and shapes of the trees branches against the
sky. We might find a scented shrub with tiny flowers and a powerful perfume
to amaze us.
It might be listening to the sounds of the night, an owl maybe or birds
singing during the day. We may like to feed the birds and watch their
appreciation or help at an animal sanctuary. Reindeers and Donkeys are of
course also intrinsically linked to the Christmas story in their different
ways.
Even going out on a clear night to watch and maybe identify the stars and
constellations. These activities can help us feel more connected to nature
and a sense of our place in it.Who knows some of us may even see Santa and his Reindeers running across
the night sky with the sleigh!
We also like to collect pine cones, berries and Holly in our garden and
on our walks to decorate and bring nature in to our home.
Practicing Gratitude
Often it is easier to recall all the things that have not gone right and I
am guilty of that too. However it is healthy to practice gratitude when we
remember.
We might write a list of things we have been thankful for this year or give
someone close to you a genuine compliment to show them how much they mean to
you. We might like to help at a charity for children or older people who
need support or a listening ear or give local people who helped you a simple
Thank you card or small gift.
It can be useful to spend a few moments in quiet reflection thinking over
the year that has gone, the good, the difficult, the special and the
ordinary times. How we handled it all and how we have grown with the
experiences.
Expressing gratitude in this way can improve our wellbeing, support our
relationships, and enhance our well-being.
As you celebrate Christmas Eve, whether we are with family, friends, alone
or with our animal companions, a couple, single or part of a big family,
working or at home, this day can be special to us.
However you spend your day whether it is busy or quiet, whether you attend
any religious or other celebrations or not, let the beauty of nature fill
your heart with joy and peace.
It is lovely and fun to give gifts at Christmas and for many of us is a key
part of the celebrations. The best part of the spirit of the season is in
the love and connections we share with other people, animals and nature and
the appreciation for the world around us.
May your Christmas Eve be a special time filled with the wonder of nature
with love and joy and peace in your heart.
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Life can be busy and stressful and I find it is necessary to take time out whenever I can to connect with nature.
Being in a nature reserve like the one near us is really grounding and brings a sense of peace and serenity.
Nature reserves, more than any other place for me are a beautiful experience. The scenery is stunning and peaceful, I love the changing seasons and wildlife and being both an observer and a part of nature. Often quiet and free from traffic noise with only the lovely sounds of bird calls and wind in the trees
it is a chance to clear my mind, rejuvinate and relax.
There are many significant benefits for our mental and physical health by spending time each week, or as often as we can in this environment
Emotional Wellbeing And Mindfulness
As soon as we enter the nature reserve I feel a sense of relaxation, of letting go.
We generally do not take any tech with us except for a mobile phone which is for use only in an emergency.
Otherwise we do not look at it.
Spending this time in a natural setting reduces stress and raises our spirits. I think the combination of exercise, fresh air
and relaxing, peaceful scenery all helps to calm and clear the mind and improve mood.
In addition the beauty and wonder of being connected to nature that is something greater than ourselves
gives us a deep appreciation for life and there is always at least one unexpected surprise or amazement
on each nature walk that make us us feel a sense of wonderment being alive and inspired. On our last walk we saw a gorgeous woodpecker, heard the bitterns booming and found a rare orchid which the wardens had fenced off to protect it for example.
Physical Health Benefits Of Walking In A Nature Reserve.
When we visit the nature reserves we walk for miles, much farther than when we walk
around our town for exercise. We try to walk for an hour a day but when we go
to a nature reserve we easily walk two or three hours without even thinking about it.
Walking can be done at a gentle pace or a good hike. You can in our reserve stay on the wide main flat paths which are good for people who like or need a steady safe walk or are using a mobility aid or vehicle. There are also more narrow sloping winding paths or more challenging routes through the reserve. It can easily be a steady low impact exercise to a good workout.
This is beneficial for us on many levels such as heart health,
muscular strength, and improving general fitness levels. The fresh air free from traffic is great for our lungs
and bodies and all our senses are stimulated and relaxed at the same time.
The nature reserve we visit is a result of human intervention.
The wetland area used to be where heavy chemical industry was with awful pollution and toxic waste. When the industry was closed down the authorities wanted to use the space for waste disposal.
Only due to the proactive local people and nature conservation groups having a vision of a beautiful natural rescource for nature and people was the area gradually converted over years into a gorgeous nature reserve. Even before it was finished birds and mammals started to move in!
It is now so rich in birds, mammals, trees, wetland and flowers and a wonderful resource for people to enjoy and learn about nature.
Many people go there for exercise, photography and to learn about wild flora and fauna.
They run childrens outdoor classes so the next generation can learn and hopefully preserve our beautiful wetlands.
to hopefully inspire a love of wildlife and the protection and maintenance of these amazing natural resources.
Pursuing Hobbies And Interests
Someone once asked me at the Nature reserve, are you here for the walking, wildlife, flowers or photography?
It struck me then that people can gain so much in this environment.
As I took notice some people were clearly serious walkers and took this environment to walk a certain distance or time, gain fitness and enjoy the scenery.
Others were taking it more sedately, chatting with each other, pointing out beautiful scenes, showing children the wonders of nature. Sitting on the various benches and walking gently with each other taking in the lovely views and having a peaceful lovely time.
Then I noticed the photographers, some with serious pieces of kit, tripods and top of the range camera and zoom lenses to bridge cameras and mobile phones all taking notice of the world around them from the open scenes to a single flower, bird photography to the waves of the river.
The artists were set up in quiet places sketching out scenery and birds, often to me seeming in deep concentration.
The nature lovers were watching, listening, often with binoculars very quiet, very still, occasionally consulting books or phones for information loving every minute.
Many people of course combine several or many of these interests and we all enjoyed a lovely mug of hot tea or coffee in the centre at some point during our visit there, where we chatted with each other or sat in quiet revery.
I realised that one setting is enjoyed in so many respectful ways and nature gives to each of us in a way that we need it, in ways we individually appreciate it. How beautiful is that!
We can visit the nature reserve and be quiet and alone, yet even then be a apart of something special. However if anyone wishes there is also the opportunity
to be involved in many levels from casual chatting in the observation centres, joining of walks to full on volunteering.
Group walks and guided walks to learn about the wildlife are available where you can chat to others who are also interested in nature. More structured classes are held over several weeks or regular walks on certain days where a more regular set of people attend.
You can also do regular volunteering work in the centre
or giving talks, raising awareness or helping in the gardens, whatever suits your time available and skillset.
In all these ways a common aim of loving and preserving nature providing opportunity
for social interaction either casual or committed, can lead to a sense of
community and belonging that is sometimes lacking in this modern world and fosters a sense of wellbeing.
Whether you are alone or in a family or friendship group, young or older we can all benefit from seeing and hearing beautiful wildlife, breathing fresh air, exercise, learning about nature, maybe pursing a hobby like painting or photography and sharing each others company when we want to.
The connection with people may be a brief chat about a bird sighting, the shared excitement of seeing a beautiful bird or a precious rare flower, a group of people you get to know on a deeper level via set walks or classes or a belonging as a volunteer, it all helps.
Nature Reserves For General Wellbeing
So in this way walking in a nature reserve can have a range of benefits and opportunities for our mental, emotional and physical health with a sense of belonging and community that can lead to a better quality of life overall.
We are so appreciative of our wonderful special nature reserve resource and would not be with out it
and will protect it as long as we live.
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I hope you all had a wonderful, Peaceful Christmas.
Now feels like the time for me to start the gardening year. At first the
feeling is slow, almost imperceptible, but its there and each day the days are getting just that little bit longer and the
prospect of getting out there more appealing.
The shortest day in terms of daylight hours where I live is over
and despite the cold weather and seemingly bleak outlook, if you listen and
look carefully you can feel nature starting to wake up.
Now is the day if I am home, that I venture out into the
garden. During most of December I rarely go into the garden, we have heavy, wet
clay soil and when rainy it only gets muddy and then compacted if I tread
on it. In freezing weather it really is hard like a stone. I can do a lot
more harm than good gardening at this time in our
garden. So generally for most of December the garden and I have a break from each
other.
However today I look and listen and I can feel my soul wanting to
reconnect with the garden. There is often not too much to look at now and all the winter jobs are
done. However, as I gaze around I look for tiny signs of growth and appreciate the bones of the garden.
The evergreens that are always there, are so reliable, so constant and
without the distraction of colour and flowers, they come into their own
right now.
Holly Types And Growing Needs
The best at this time of year is the Holly. Although Holly can be
deciduous, we grow only the evergreen type. The Holly tree is a symbol of
winter and festivity and many of us cut and bring in Holly branches to decorate our homes in
winter.
The holly tree,common Holly, or to give it is rather pretty Latin name Ilex aquifolium, is an evergreen shrub or tree that can potentially
grow up to around 15 meters plus or about 50 feet tall though you can prune to
keep it more manageable.
There are also many smaller varieties reaching up to half that size such
as Ilex aquifolium 'Silver Mermaid' 6m x 4m (approx 20 x 13 feet) or
even smaller sizes suitable for a pot like Ilex aquifolium
'Hascombensis' 2.5m x 1.5m (approx 8 x 5 feet). These are more suitable
for a small garden or if you simply want a smaller tree with less
maintenance. Some even have lovely variagated leaves such as Ilex x
altaclerensis 'Golden King' 6m x 3m (approx 20 x 10 feet), which is a female
variety and does produce red berries.
Holly Berries can be colours mostly from red to yellow and orange on
different varieties. A Holly Plant is generally either male or female so to get those beautiful
berries you will need a female tree with male tree nearby. However
some of the male varieties even though there are no berries, have really
gorgeous leaves and habits and are worth growing.
Holly is grown in gardens both domestic and stately, woodland and hedgerows
mainly. It can be a specimum plant glorious on its own or grown as part of a pretty
inpenetrable spiky hedge which is excellent for security. We grow it alone
and as part of our mixed hedge. It is also found in the wild where the
common Holly can grow very tall and wide indeed if unchecked.
Holly is beautiful with often very dark green, glossy, and usually very
spiky sometimes variagated leaves. It can have small white flowers in Spring, though most will not be grown
for the flowers. The main feature of the female Holly is the beautiful berries that really brighten up the day and look spectacular against the dark
green leaves.
It prefers to grow in a sunny or semi shade position on moist but well
drained soil. It is not fussy about soil being happy in loam, chalk, sand or
clay and acid, neutral or alkaline soil type. It can cope well in an exposed
site or a sheltered position and is content to face any way except
north.
I have only space to mention a few varieties of Holly here. If you want
Holly in your own garden there are so many varieties offering different
sizes and features it is best to research what is suitable for your garden
and needs.
Uses Of The Holly Tree
The Holly tree is a very valuable tree for its many uses.
As the wood is hard, heavy, and fine-grained, it is good for making
furniture, carving, and inlay work. Leaves and berries are wonderful for
crafting projects whether it is using real Holly or artificial
Holly.
It can be used for Christmas or New year decorations including wreaths, and table centre
pieces or a winter display to brighten up a dull corner.
At a time when flowers are rare in the garden and expensive to buy, a
display of Holly in a vase is a beautiful alternative through out
winter.
Holly For Nature
For nature Holly is an extremely valuable tree. The spiky leaves provide
safe shelter all year round and nesting sites.
The Winter time berries are food for birds and small mammals and
the flowers in Spring attract bees and pollinators.
Even its roots help to stabilise the soil and prevent erosion.
Holly In Mythology and Symbolism
The Holly tree has a rich history of mythology and symbolism.
For many of us Holly is a part of the Holiday festivities bringing in
boughs of Holly real or artificial for home decor and is a symbol of
joy. When we bring in Holly into our homes it is also supposed to
protect from evil spirits and lightning, and to bring prosperity and good luck!
Holly has associations with the sun god and the winter solstice, and was considered a sacred plant by the Druids, Romans, and
Celts. It was believed to have magical powers, such as healing,
protection, and fertility. It was also a symbol of peace, joy and goodwill, and was used to
make crowns and gifts.
The Holly was adopted by Christianity, as a symbol of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection with the crown of thorns
representing blood and eternal life.
We even have songs about Holly such as "The Holly And The Ivy", perfectly
performed here by Kings College, Cambridge UK.
So the holly tree is a stunning plant in nature and in our gardens that has
history, mythology and many benefits for us and wildlife.
To step outside into the garden on a crisp cold day in the midst of
winter or wrap up and enjoy a winter walk and see a glorious Holly tree
covered in gorgeous berries is a highlight of the season and one I always
look forward to.
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When we are in mid-winter it is all too tempting to stay indoors warm and
cosy and away from the wintery weather. Often that is a really lovely thing
to do. However, I find if I stay indoors for too long I start to feel a bit down
and a bit sluggish especially in the winter. We suffer from the lack of
daylight hours and the same scenery. Also, we may well miss out on some
beautiful scenes in nature
So as long as the weather is not too bad or dangerous conditions, my
husband and I agreed that every day we will go for a winter
walk. We like to wrap up warmly take our camera and go out to find the beauty in
this season.
We find it very uplifting to become absorbed in nature in this way even if
only for half an hour. It lifts our spirits and clears the mind. I always
feel better after a winter walk. A few hours is ideal and when we can do
that and drive deep into the countryside it is so beneficial. However, when
it is too cold to stay out that long we just take a short walk and even if
it has only been for fifteen to thirty minutes I really notice a
difference.
Winter Trees
I love to see the beauty in the trees this time of year. All the leaves
have fallen now and all we can see is the structure and majesty of their
gorgeous limbs and trunks. My favourite tree this time of year is the Silver Birch which once it has
lost all its leaves and stands proud with its silver trunk takes on a
magical quality especially if covered in frost or snow.
Silver Birch Trees In Winter
Noticing Nature and Colour In Winter
I find at mid-winter when we are not distracted by gorgeous colourful
flowers and trees in full leaf we notice other natural things that we
overlooked before. Like an old fallen log that is covered in fungi and the
shape of a tree. The spider webs are clearly visible now all covered in
sparkling frost.
Winter is not devoid of colour though. we may need to look harder for it
but it is there. Of course, there are the Holly berries shining out bright red against the
dark green of their evergreen leaves. Cotoneaster is covered in red berries
and looks especially lovely with a light dusting of frost. Equally one of the more beautiful things to look for are wild rose hips, so red and
shiny and in abundance. The one below was a gorgeous wild rose covered in
flowers in summer, now a thicket of red rose hips.
Rose Hips
Cotoneaster berries
Christmas Lights On Winter Walks
Around Christmas time we find it lovely to take a walk at dusk so that we
can wander around our neighbourhood to look at all the beautiful lights and
decorations.
It is a real joy to see all the sparking lights and different colours at
the time of year when daylight is in short supply.
Then when we get home is a large mug of hot chocolate and maybe a warm
mince pie to warm up.
Frosted Plants In Winter
In the winter I like that you do not need to travel far to view gorgeous
plants. Often if the roads are icy or poor traveling conditions or just very cold
and threatening rain or snow we prefer to walk locally.
By walking around your own neighbourhood you can see lovely beauty in
people's gardens like this frosted Smoke bush. It normally has reddish
frothy seedheads that look like smoke but as you can see the freezing
temperatures have transformed it into an ice spectacle!
Frozen Smoke Bush
Also, watch the bare branches of any shrub in your garden or the road you
live on, you will start to see tiny buds. They are ready just waiting,
resting steady for now but ready to burst forth into leaf once the weather
warms and the days become longer.
Winter Sky Can Be Stunning
My other recommendation in winter is to look up at the skies. They can be
spectacular at this time of year in daylight hours on a clear day taking
your breath away with their sheer beauty. At night if it is clear and dark
there is something amazing about gazing up at the bright stars and feeling
like you can reach out and touch them.
I love to get out and feed the ducks, geese and coots at a local wildlife
center. They are invariably hungry at this time of year and it is often
quiet and calm with few people around. Unlike in summer we often have lots
of space to ourselves and it is a joy to feed the birds and get close to
them.
Winter Solstice
The winter solstice on or around the 21st December is one of my favourite
days. It is the day with the shortest hours of daylight but it also means
that from now on each day is getting a little lighter, a little nearer
Spring and that gives me such a feeling of hope and happiness in
mid-winter. We always light a candle and feel thanks for the new life to
come.
So if winter is getting you down with its short hours of daylight and poor
weather and it seems still a long time until spring do weather permitting,
try to get out there for just a little while. The fresh clean air and
exercise will do us good, lift our spirits and with the added benefit if it
is sunny of the sunshine on our faces to brighten up the darkest days of
year.
We need to be safe and clearly not to go out in severe weather but if and
when conditions allow we can wrap up warmly and take a little wander. There
is no need to go too far but your body and mind will benefit from time out
of the house absorbing yourself in nature for just a little
while.
If the weather is so bad that you cannot get out at all, as I know it is in
some areas of the world right now, then sit awhile by your window to
watch nature from the safety of your home.
In these bleaker times we let the world of nature come to us. Hopefully,
you can see some winter sky, shrubs or trees and maybe birds, squirrels and
other wildlife will pass by. Frost, ice and snow make everything in the
garden or sightline look and feel different.
We can take comfort in the fact that this winter will pass and Spring is
invariably on its way as it always does. Winter can be the harshest of
seasons yet it too has its beauty.
I always take great comfort in the delicate, exquisitely beautiful and
strong hardy snowdrop that is ready under the ground now just waiting to
burst forth often into so cold weather and snow shows us that there is hope
in the deep mid-winter for brighter, lighter days to come.
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June 15th is Nature Photography Day. This holiday was first
started in 2006 in North America but has since spread to people throughout
the world. It is a day to study, reflect, enjoy and photograph
nature.
While reading about Nature Photography Day online,
I discovered numerous suggestions on how to celebrate the
day. Here are a few that sounded interesting.
Grab your camera and go for a walk in your neighborhood.
Experience all the beauty in nature that you can observe every
day.
Share your photos with families and friends and spread the word that it
is Nature Photography Day.
Enjoy a local park or a nearby creek or river.
Photograph the beauty of nature.
Participate in efforts to preserve nature.
Start a photo competition of nature photograph.
While you are doing any of the above take the time to breath in all the
peace and serenity that nature provides.
Favorite Flowers from my Nature Photography Files
I love to photograph roses. There is something quite striking
about a single rose bud. In the photo above I tried to isolate the
rose bud by using a 6.3 aperture and focusing on the rose bud so that the background becomes a bit
blurry. It is important to keep the background simple so that the
focus is on the flower. The photo was taken in the early evening
when the light was soft. Early morning or evening are great times
to take floral photos. Cloudy days also enhance the colors in the
flowers, so they are a good time to photograph.
Here is another photo taken in the early evening and with an
aperture that gives the blurry background that enhances the
flowers.
Another good technique for photographing flowers is to find an
interesting background to set off the blossom. In this photo I found
some purple irises in front of a brick wall. I kept my
aperture so that the background would be a bit blurry, and I
zoomed in on the flower. I love the effect of the bright purple
against the brick.
Another time I love to photograph flowers is right after it rains.
It seems to really bring out the colors and the raindrops look
refreshing. The above photo is of a fuscia plant hanging on our
deck.
Combining Birds and Plants in Photos
I particularly enjoy capturing flowers and a bird in the same
photograph. In this photo I saw a Cardinal sitting on our fence and
the lilacs were just starting to bud out in the foreground. I
focused on the Cardinal, so you will note that the lilacs are slightly out
of focus.
Photographing Backyard Birds
One of my favorite pastimes is photographing the birds in our backyard. Here is a Hawk
that was sitting high up in the tree at the edge of our property.
He sat still for a long time, and I was able to capture several shots. I zoomed in for
the long shot and was quite pleased with the result. I was able to
get him framed in the surrounding branches.
A great way to enhance your skills in nature photography is to first study
the works of other photographers and then practice, practice,
practice.
Happy Nature Photography Day on
June 15th! Grab your camera and get out and enjoy nature.
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People who know me, know that I am interested in learning more about
maintaining my land in a way that is helpful to wildlife and this includes
educating myself about invasive species and how they harm my land. That is
why when I received
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
as a goodbye gift when I moved, I was thrilled. This book hits the mark in
so many ways.
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants written by Douglas W. Tallamy
My copy of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants is a 15th printing and was updated and expanded in 2009. The first edition
was published in 2007. Why had I not previously known about this important
book?!
"Bringing Nature Home is a book many of us have been waiting for.
So much more than a push for native plants, it articulates the broad
interdependency of living relationships and literally redefines gardens as
the new Nature" - Foreword by Rick Dark.
It is the attention to detail related to how everything is interdependent
and the ability of the author to describe everything in a helpful way for us
regular folks that makes this book so beautiful. For example, by now many of
us know that the Monarch Butterfly is dependent on the milkweed for
survival. So many of us, myself included, either plant milkweed plants or
help disperse and plant the seeds from the milkweed pods in areas where the
plant is present. However, what I only learned through this book is that
butterflies need both a "host" plant and a "nectar" plant. One plant for
reproducing and one plant for feeding. Fortunately, the milkweed does both
for Monarch Butterflies. However, people like me mistakenly believe
that popular plants, such as the Butterfly Bush, is another must-have plant
for sustaining butterflies. Unfortunately, we sometimes choose the wrong
type (or combination) of plants and do more harm than good.
"When designing a butterfly garden, you need two types of plants . . .
Most people only focus on the plants that produce nectar. Even worse,
they often turn to alien plants that are promoted as being good for
butterflies, the most popular of which, hands down, is the butterfly
bush (Buddleja species). . . . but not
one species of butterfly in North America can use buddleias as larval
host plants."
Well, who knew? I sure didn't! I am thankful to have this knowledge
now. I may still plant Buddleias on my land but cautiously and with a focus
on ensuring that I have plenty of other nectar AND host plants in order to
provide a complete habitat. According to the author, when we do not provide
this complete habitat, we sometimes do more damage than good. And in this
example, end up with a lower butterfly population.
While chapter one is "Restoring Natives to Suburbia: A Call to Action" and
chapter two is "The Vital New Role of the Suburban Garden" the information
contained in this book is relevant to all sizes of lots and land. Even my
rugged ridge-top acreage in West Virginia. In fact, this book includes
information about 2 trees I am interested in that others sometimes have
never heard of: Paw Paw and American Chestnut. This book also mentions many
of the alien (non-native) species I am dealing with on my land: Autumn Olive
and Mile-a-minute to name just two. Interestingly enough, Autumn Olive was
planted as a way to assist birds. In the long run, it became an invasive
plant that - like some butterfly plants - provides some food but no other
habitat (host) value.
Mr. Tallamy does a most excellent job of teaching the reader about the
importance of native plants. And how those native plants support birds,
butterflies, and the environment as a whole. He doesn't avoid the tough
questions about non-native plants, rather he includes an entire chapter of
"Answers to Tough Questions".
If you have any desire to learn about landscaping and providing a yard that
better sustains wildlife, this book is absolutely the place to begin.
My Personal Stance Regarding My Responsibility to the Natural World Around
Me
I am a bit sad that I had not heard of this book until it was gifted to me
at the end of last year but am thrilled that I have it now. Truthfully, I
have not read the entire book cover-to-cover. It is so packed full of
information that I have read certain sections, and have returned to read
those sections again (i.e. the section about Milkweeds and Monarchs and the
section about American Chestnuts). This will be a reference book that I
refer to again and again over time. Especially Appendix One, "Native Plants
with Wildlife Value and Desirable Landscaping Attributes by Region" and
Appendix Two, "Host Plants of Butterflies and Showy Moths".
I have a strong desire to be a good steward of my land and to provide a
helpful habitat to the birds, butterflies, and wildlife in the area - while
eventually having a place that is as useful to humans (i.e. homesteading
with a garden and chickens). I also have a strong desire to leave the
world - not just my land - a better place than I found it.
To be completely honest, I feel there is far too much lip-service given to
environmental issues and very little real action. The phenomenon of the most
vocal environmentalists physically doing little to help the environment
(while often making personal decisions that are harmful) astounds me. I
could list the things that irk me related to this topic, but I'm not sure I
am able to write it in a way that conveys my intent and that is ultimately
productive. So I'll just say: if you are concerned about the environment,
demonstrate that concern. Begin at home and in your community.
The first big step is education. Mr. Tallamy does an excellent job of
educating and explaining. I don't feel that he is lecturing or berating,
rather he is encouraging. He turns a world-wide problem into small
bite-sized chunks.
The second step is for more of us to do something. I may only have 4 acres
surrounded by hundreds of acres that aren't being cared for. But I can do
something real on my little bit of land. Something that is
meaningful.
I am not as articulate as Mr. Tallamy so I will end with an important
question and answer from his book (edited for length - please read his
entire answer if you are able):
Q: My house sits on an eighth of an acre. Is that enough land to make a
difference if I use natives instead of aliens?
"Your small plot is connected to other plots, which are connected to
others and others and others. Collectively, they are North America.
Changing the plant base of all of suburbia is quite an undertaking, but
all you have to worry about is your eighth of an acre."
"If we humans are capable of [ruining] hundreds of millions of acres . .
.we are also capable of returning natives to our gardens"
Thank You
Finally, I am so thankful for the science teacher/co-worker/friend who
gifted me this wonderful book. You demonstrate your concern for the earth
(and students, and co-workers, and all who cross your path) on a daily
basis. You are a wonderful role model in so many ways. And you have enabled
me to make more informed decisions on my land that will help sustain the
wonderful wildlife of West Virginia.
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