Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Natural Landscaping

Do you have a passion for native plants and natural landscaping? Do you wish you knew more about native plants and biodiversity? If so, I invite you to join this blog and learn about native plants, natural landscaping and biodiversity a little at a time.

As Executive Director of Wild Ones for 17 years, one of the things I enjoyed the most was to share with members and others the new and interesting information I learned about things related to the Wild Ones mission. So now as I continue on with my next life adventure, [Read more…]

Nature’s Best Hope

Introduction

I want to explain why it has been so long since I have written a blog post. The hospital was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and my therapy sessions were put on hold. Because my friends bought me an iPad, I was able to continue without a therapist. Recently, I have started therapy again at the Neuroscience Group with Nicole Shafran, along with the aid of the Google Duo video app.

Nicole said I could do my blog as part of my therapy, since it will be helpful to my recovery. I have Nicole for two days a week, and I think I will write a blog post about every other week.

The Blog

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard

You have probably heard of the second book authored by Doug Tallamy. It would be too long for me to read it right now, but I hope you will read it. Here is a good review by Angela Tanner.

Angela explains, “In Nature’s Best Hope, Doug Tallamy takes topics from his popular book Bringing Nature Home (Workman Publishing, 2009) and expands upon them. He explains, with examples and statistics, what is happening to the ecological systems around us, and why we should care. This book is geared toward the private landowner – not one whose primary landscaping concern is how green their lawn is – but one who could also be convinced to be concerned about the alarming decline of birds, insects, and other wildlife.” Read more of the book review.

The NPCC Invites You to the “Nature’s Best Hope” Presentation

The Native Plant Conservation Campaign (NPCC) invites you to enjoy Doug Tallamy’s popular “Nature’s Best Hope” online presentation. Emily B. Roberson says, “Native plant gardens help local wildlife and support vital ecosystem services such as water purification, storm protection, and climate moderation. Tallamy has a new book and presentation, “Nature’s Best Hope,” which describe advances in our understanding of how individual homeowners can help fight the extinction and climate crises and save the planet…all by gardening with beautiful local natives!”

It is wonderful that we, as gardeners, place so much value on wildlife and the flowers we hold dear. Gardening makes me happy, and growing native plants makes me so very happy!

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Cinco de Mayo – Hominy

Tomorrow, May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, is a day many schools and communities celebrate here in the U.S., as well as in Mexico. Often mistaken as Mexico’s celebration of independence, it actually is intended to celebrate the Battle of Puebla. It has, however, become more of a fun holiday that celebrates the Mexican way of life. To add to your enjoyment, here is a recipe from my favorite New Mexico area.

Hominy

2 tbsp butter
1 can hominy, drained
1/2 tsp salt
1 onion, diced (medium)
1 can green chili, diced
1 cup cheese, grated (medium cheddar, Monterey, etc.)

Mix hominy in the frying pan to caramelize. Add onion and green chili. Heat until cheese melts.

If you are serving a main dish, add a pound of hamburger (fried), one can of tomato soup, and one can of green chili. Serve with toasted flour tortillas.

From Trevor Noah

From the April 30, 2020 episode: On Cinco de Mayo, you can help create a national salute to the first responders from your couch and have your family and friends do the same. Post your thank you using #CincUp. For every public post using #CincUp, ModeloUSA will donate $1 (up to $500K) to #FirstRespondersFirst to help get PPE to medical teams.

From ModeloUSA, an additional donation up to $500,000 as part of the #CincUp social fundraiser. This Cinco de Mayo, Modelo is encouraging people 21+ to celebrate from home while saluting and supporting first responders. For every public post on May 5 with #CincUp, Modelo will donate $1 to #FirstRespondersFirst. (Thrive Global)

Eastern Monarchs overwintering during 2017-18 in the forest areas of Mexico. Photo by Wendy Caldwell

Butterflies in Mexican Culture

Because of its importance in Mexican culture, it is also a day to celebrate the monarch butterfly. Whether you celebrate Cinco de Mayo Day or not, this holiday would be a good opportunity to take the time to learn more about the monarch butterfly migration and to explore the native plants that attract these butterflies to your garden or yard. Plant more of these plants at your home or encourage your employers and your communities to plant more in their green spaces.

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Plants & Pollinators (2)

Bee Buzz – Support Native Plant Vendors

Reprinted in part from Nature Scoop, May 2020 issue.

We can help save native bees by providing pesticide-free native plants that bloom from early spring until fall, and by having natural nesting places in our yards. These plants provide nectar (fuel for flight) and pollen (protein for baby bees).

Bees return to their nests every day and can fly only limited distances. A small bee may be able to fly only 600 feet. For example, the Spring Beauty Mining Bee lives in a tunnel in the ground near its partner plant, and comes out as an adult only when the plant is in bloom. Spring Beauty pollen is the only kind of pollen their babies can eat. Larger bees, like Bumblebees, can fly up to 3 miles. Leave bare spots (soil without mulch) and scrubby areas with leaf litter so ground-nesting bees, like Mining Bees, can dig tunnels for nests.

Leave dormant plants overwinter for overwintering insects and next spring’s solitary bees to use for nests. Photo by Heather Holm.

Leave rotting wood (including firewood and snags) for tunnel-nesting bees, like Carpenter and Mason bees. Cut or break down dead flower stalks to 12-15 inches in late spring. Tunnel-nesting bees need these pithy or hollow stems. Here are some important tips, including a link to bee-plant lists by zip code.

Specialist bees can feed only the pollen of their partner plants to their babies: Plant Spring Beauty for Spring Beauty Mining Bees, Yellow Trout Lily for Trout Lily Mining Bees, Brown-eyed or Black-eyed Susan for Rudbeckia Mining Bees, Ironweed for Ironweed Longhorn Bees, and Goldenrod for Goldenrod Mining Bees. Check out the items marked with a yellow dot on the Native Plant-Insect Interactions Guide for the Specialist Bees.

Download the the Native Plant-Insect Interactions Guide, courtesy of Prairie Moon Nursery. This pollinator chart is a great reference. It indicates types of bees, including Specialist Bees, and was prepared by Heather Holm.  She shares stories about bees — all of kind bees — she posts to Facebook: Heather Holm.

Test Your Skills

From the Wisconsin Pollinators – What’s the Difference Between a Moth and a Butterfly?
A moth and a butterfly sure can look alike, and they both belong to the same insect family (Lepidoptera). But, there are a few differences to look for so that you can tell them apart. See if you can spot the differences.

From The Prairie Ecologist – Quarantine Quiz #6
Reminiscent of the time we spent on the Kansas Tallgrass Prairie, we are reminded that so many plants are similar to the ones we have in Wisconsin. Search the five other quizzes in the Quarantine Quiz – and stay tuned for more.

From the Xerxes Society
There are more ways to learn and to support important projects coming up, including the Pesticides: Threats and Solutions webinar on Thursday, April 30. We are also launching a new webinar series in May. Webinar Content.

 

 

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It’s the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

 

The Blue Marble: The View From Apollo 17 – Fifty years ago, on April 22, 1970, people around the world marked the first Earth Day. On this Earth Day (2020), as we physically separate ourselves by necessity, we can still collectively appreciate the wondrous beauty of our planet and the extraordinary science that helps us understand how it all works. (NASA)

Today is April 22, which marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. “Before 1970, pollution was rampant. Air pollution was widespread, toxic fumes billowed from factories and automobiles, and enormous fish die-offs occurred in the Great Lakes.” (Nature Scoop) After returning from World War II, people began using more chemically produced pesticides and fertilizers. This came at a cost to the environment, and posed great danger to the health of both animals and humans. This is a story about conservationists – especially CNRA and Lorrie Otto.

1942: DDT First Used
DDT was introduced during WWII to protect our troops from the mosquito-borne disease malaria. It is still being used selectively in some tropical countries.

1949: A Sand County Almanac
Aldo Leopold published his landmark book, A Sand County Almanac, calling for a “land ethic” connecting people and nature.

1950s: Citizen Activists Got Involved
Citizen activists started sending letters and confronting editors, WDNR, and local municipalities. These activists included not just conservationists, but also hunters, fishermen, professors, members of garden clubs and many others.

1951: Citizens Natural Resources Association of Wisconsin Formed
The new Wisconsin militant conservation organization called the Citizens Natural Resources Association of Wisconsin (CNRA) begins fighting for the preservation, management and restoration of Wisconsin’s natural resources. They follow the principles of Aldo Leopold and have remained committed conservationists to this day.

1957: Lorrie Otto Confronted Officials With Evidence
After Lorrie Otto, the High Priestess of the Natural Landscaping Movement, dropped off twenty-eight dead robins at their offices, Bayside, Wisconsin officials asked her, “What do you want, Mrs. Otto, birds or trees?” This wasn’t her first battle with Bayside officials.

1960s: Raising Awareness
CNRA focused on increasing awareness of misuse of chemicals. See the The First Decade.

1962: Silent Spring
The publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson made people aware of the disastrous environmental impact of DDT and other chemicals.

1966: A Ban on DDT
Attorney Victor Yannacone and his wife Carol, won a local ban on DDT on Long Island, New York.

1967: The Environmental Defense Fund (EFT)
Founded by Charles F Wurster, Victor Yannacone and others to defend the environment in a legal setting, the EDF‘s motto was “Sue the bastards!”

1968: Plotting Further Victories Over DDT
Wisconsin and New York (EDF) strategists began to plot their battle against DDT based on studies that showed DDT was present in virtually every body of water in Wisconsin.

1968: Hearing to Determine DDT’s Status as a Pollutant
The Wisconsin Administrative hearing to determine if DDT was a pollutant began. Strategists had gotten the City of Milwaukee to stop spraying DDT, but they wanted to present scientific evidence against DDT, and get a judgment against its use. The hearing dragged on for nearly six months, with Lorrie Otto attending every session, reporting back to CNRA, and working with the strategists to develop new tactics.

1968: Wisconsin’s DDT Hearing in the Spotlight
The Capital Times started sending news on the Wisconsin DDT hearing nationwide. Every afternoon Whitney Gould would file a story, putting Wisconsin’s DDT Hearing into the national news.

1969: Michigan Bans DDT
A major victory as Michigan quietly banned DDT.

1969: The USDA Regulates the use of DDT
Because of the nationwide news coverage, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the use of DDT nationwide.

1970: Wisconsin Bans DDT
The Pesticide Review Board was established to update pesticide-control measures for use in Wisconsin’s very strong agriculture industry, and on January 15, 1970, Governor Warren Knowles signed the law banning the use of DDT.

1970: The First Earth Day
With assistance from Lorrie and the CNRA members and others associated with the Wisconsin Administrative hearing, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson founded the first Earth Day on April 22. As governor, Nelson had established a strong conservation record, and later, in the U.S. Senate, lobbied for a safer environment – proposing a ban on DDT as early as 1965.

1970: DDT Ruled a Pollutant
Hearing Examiner Maurice Van Sustern ruled that, under the State’s water-quality standards, DDT was polluting Wisconsin waters.

1970: The United States Environmental Protection Agency Created
President Richard Nixon signed the Executive Order to create the EPA, which bought the responsibility for environmental health of the U.S. under one organization instead of several, each working for their own interests.

1970: The Clean Air Act
Growing public awareness and concern for controlling the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or the Clean Water Act led to sweeping amendments in 1972 by President Nixon and the Congress. As amended in 1972, the law became commonly known as the Clean Air Act.

1971: United Nations Celebrates Earth Day
U.N. Secretary-General U Thant signed a proclamation saying that the United Nations would celebrate Earth Day annually on the vernal equinox, thereby officially establishing the March date as the international Earth Day.

1972: USA Banned DDT
EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus announced the ban on “virtually all interstate sales and shipments of DDT.”

1972: The Clean Water Act
The Amended Act provides for pollution-control programs and sets water-quality standards in surface waters. This includes regulating construction of sewage-treatment plants and discharge of contaminants by the manufacturing and agriculture industries.

1973: The Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act, enacted with bi-partisan support, was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a “consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation.” It was to protect both the species and “the ecosystems on which endangered species and threatened species depend.”

1977: Wild Ones Garden Club
Ever the conservationists, Lorrie Otto set about healing the Earth by presenting workshops throughout the USA on native plants and natural landscaping. After listening to Lorrie’s workshops held at the Schlitz Audubon Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a group of men and women continued to meet informally to discuss native plants, natural landscaping and biodiversity. They called themselves the Wild Ones. As knowledge of the group spread, others joined from not only the Milwaukee area, but throughout Wisconsin and adjoining states, leading to the eventual creation of the national environmental education and advocacy organization called Wild Ones Natural Landscapers Ltd in 1979.

1990: Earth Day goes Global
Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage and giving a huge boost for recycling efforts worldwide.

2007: Final Delisting Rule of Bald Eagle
After decades of conservation efforts, the Bald Eagle is nearly 10,000 nesting pairs today (low of 400 nesting pairs in 1963). The recovery and delisting of the nation’s symbol marks an overall achievement for the conservation movement.

NASA’s new three-dimensional portrait of methane, the world’s second-largest contributor to greenhouse warming, shows it arising from a diversity of sources on the ground and shows how it moves through the atmosphere. Combining multiple data sets from emissions inventories, including fossil fuel, agricultural, biomass burning and biofuels, and simulations of wetland sources into a high-resolution computer model, researchers now have an additional tool for understanding this complex gas and its role in Earth’s carbon cycle, atmospheric composition, and climate system. (NASA)

2016: International Paris Climate Agreement
The Paris Climate Agreement aimed to the replace Kyoto Protocol, an earlier international treaty designed to curb the release of greenhouse gases. It entered into force on November 4, 2016, and has been signed by 197 countries and ratified by 187 as of November 2019.

2017: Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Listed as Endangered
The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (and six other bees) has declined by 87 percent. Disease, pesticides, effects of climate change, habitat loss and degradation and effects of small population dynamics have been to blame.

2020: Decision of List Monarch and Other Pollinators as Endangered will be determined in December

Today Is Where We Conservationists Must Continue Our Work
Today, much the rabble-rousing conservationist group CNRA has passed, and Lorrie Otto* has died, but the natural landscaping movement will live on. There are still those who deny the scientific basis for the banning of DDT and synthetic chemicals, considering the concerns and regulations politically motivated. It’s always about the personal responsibility we share. As environmental stewards of the Earth, this has never been more timely or important.

Use native plants. Include natural landscaping. Minimize pesticide and fertilizers.

 

*Lorrie Otto passed away May 29, 2010. Read about Lorrie’s considerable achievements through the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame’s environmental legacy.

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