Accent on Natural Landscaping

Donna VanBuecken

Some Recommendations

I want to share with you two resources I am most grateful for. The first one is a Facebook page, and the second is a newsletter.

 


Dave Crawford
August 23 at 10:21 PM ·
You don’t have to visit Africa’s Serengeti to experience predator-prey interactions. This orbweaver (probably genus Araneus) snared a grasshopper using a three-foot-wide web constructed about 6 to 8 feet off the ground.

The Dave Crawford Facebook page

I am intrigued by Dave Crawford’s Facebook page. I have known Dave since 2005 when he was a Wild Ones member. With his great photos and the information he provides, he touches just about everything related to natural landscaping – and nothing seems to escape him. From pollinators to frogs to native plants to what pollen does, he describes it all so well.

Roaming around his land, the Como Park Neighborhood, and in his adventures, Dave snaps photos of intriguing subjects and researches the subjects of his photos to show what he experienced.

To subscribe, like him as a friend.

The Wisconsin Native Pollinators

The Wisconsin Native Pollinators website is a comprehensive resource filled with information on Wisconsin’s native pollinators including bees, butterflies, and birds. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are in decline, and their losses threaten Wisconsin wildflowers, ecosystems, agricultural crops, and natural areas. One purpose of Wisconsin Pollinators is to raise public awareness and concern regarding this issue. We depend on pollinators to transfer pollen and help plants produce fruits and seeds. Many native plants, as well as many food crops, rely on pollinators.

The Wisconsin Pollinators newsletter shares information about pollinators.

The website is dedicated to individuals looking for information on native pollinators as well as information on how to support those pollinators. Even a small yard can make a difference.

To subscribe to the Wisconsin Pollinators newsletter, fill out this form. You will get one or two information-filled newsletters a month. Read the current newsletter. Read about the 7 Ways To Use Fall Leaves, the Ant Quiz, Tips On Fall Leaf Mulching, or How to Provide Shelter for Overwintering Bees & Butterflies.

   Send article as PDF   

Wild Grape Vine & Pollinators

Wild grape vine (Vitis sp) leaves are simple, alternate and toothed, heart-shaped and often lobed. They can be anywhere from two to nine inches in length. People sometimes confuse them with Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), but their leaves are entirely different.

The other day a Monarch butterfly stopped to rest on the wild grape vine which covers the chain link fence which surrounds my in-ground pool. I think that was the first time I’ve ever seen a butterfly alight on the grapevine, so it got me thinking. Do wild grapes support pollinators? [Read more…]

Where Ecology Meets Economy: Season 6

This year’s Where Ecology Meets Economy! hosted by the Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium Inc (SEWISC) and Johnson’s Nursery, Inc™ will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

It is a forum to bring together Green Industry Professionals (nurseries, landscape architects, arborists, contractors) and Land Management Professionals (restorationists, natural area managers, environmental educators, conservationists) to share and to learn from from each other and forum speakers. The goal is for attendees to develop working relationships which should lead to opportunities to help improve the state of our ecological communities.

Registration is now Open

Where Ecology Meets Economy: Season 6 registration is now open, so please register now and also share the link and the date with anyone you think should attend. Early bird registration is $99 for the entire day (includes meals and garden tours).

Forum Agenda & Speakers

Dr Doug Tallamy is the author of Bringing Nature Home and co-author of The Living Landscape with Rick Darke.

The forum features two presentations by Entomologist Doug Tallamy: Creating Living Landscapes and Treasures Among our Natives. Following his presentations, will be a Panel discussion held by Dan Wilson, Randy Powers, David Wanninger, Ron Gumz, Mike Yanney and yours truly, Donna VanBuecken.

Besides the day’s educational sessions, there will also be vendor booths, a silent auction, Mike Yanny poetry, Boerner Garden Tours, catered lunch and an afternoon social where attendees can mix with Green Industry and Land Management Professionals.

   Send article as PDF   

Creeping Bellflower — Oh My!

The European Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) has violet-blue, 5 petaled bell shaped flowers that alternate up one side of the tall flower stalk.

I was going to start writing today about my recent trip to the Tallgrass Prairie, but I have to delay those posts for one more day to get on my peach crate about Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) and Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata). Here goes….

As we drove Up North this weekend through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest for a family gathering, and as we slowed to drive through all the small towns along the way, I noticed Creeping Bellflower in many of the gardens scattered here and there and EVERYWHERE. Then when we got to our destination, there in a hillside planting near the lake was Clustered Bellflower.* We just couldn’t get away from it! I know they’re pretty flowers, but they are not native and they are highly invasive, and they displace our native plants. I know because I’ve been trying to eradicate them from a spot in my prairie for years. I also know because they’re on many states Invasive Species Lists. See Wisconsin Law NR 40.

The non-native Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) is invasive.

So, please! If these plants pop up in your gardens, don’t just view them as a pretty surprise!! View them as the very serious invading monster they are and get rid of them into the landfill as quickly as possible!!!

*Campanula sp is a prolific seed producer, so once the seed gets into the lake, it will likely spread along the lake shore pretty quickly.

   Send article as PDF