Great Natives of Midwestern Ecotype
February 2010 Edition
Cover Photo: Frosty Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) January 2010 Š 2010
Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype
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GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Bee Decline Linked to Reduced Biodiversity Plant Profile
4
Native on the Net
4
Best Books
4
Organization Spotlight
5
Native News
5
Planting with a Purpose
5
Mulch Basics
6
Invasives!
7
Fantastic Fauna
7
Focus on the Future
7
Did you know...
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It takes 556 worker bees to gather 1 lb. of honey from about 2 million flowers? The word mulch comes from the 1650s Middle English word molsh– meaning soft, moist?
GNOME News has included several articles over the past year about bees. While honeybee numbers fall, the importance of native bees as pollinators increase. A recent study indicates another important pollination factor affecting both native and non-native bees, and also a call to create more plant diversity in your landscape– especially with native plants. In a study done two years ago in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, it was found that the diversity of bees and other insects was falling alongside the diversity of plants they fed on and pollinated. Honeybee population declines have been blamed on many different things including Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), infestation with varroa mite, pesticide use, loss of genetic diversity among commercial bee populations, and the changing climate.
Areas of higher plant diversity create healthier bees Avignon have now traced a possible link between the diversity of bee diets and the strength of their immune systems.
Alaux and his team found that the more varied a bee’s diet, the higher the levels of glucose oxidase (GOX). They compared bees fed a single flower species Cedric Alaux and colleagues from pollen to those that had pollen from five different flowers. the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) in
GOX is used by bees to preserve honey and food for larvae against infestation by microbes - which protects the hive against disease. Those bees that fed on more diverse food sources were better able to protect their colony. This is only one piece of the complete picture, but it points to the importance that biodiversity plays in the big picture.
GNOME’S MISSION Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where mem-
bers can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest.
1. Join our facebook group at
You can participate in many different ways.
3. Visit or link to the website 4. Pass on the newsletter.
http://www.facebook.com/ group.php? gid=45643568296
2.
Submit articles, pictures, stories, or plans for publication.
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Allium cernuum– Nodding Onion There was only one vote in Name That Native last month and it was incorrect. January’s selection was Allium cernuum– commonly called nodding onion due to the tendency of the blooms to look as if they are bowing or nodding their heads.
NATIVE
“I believe there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” ~Henry David Thoreau
The original distribution of this plant was throughout most of the continental US and lower reaches of Canada.
This plant typically grows to be about one foot tall and is vase shaped. The leaves of this onion are flat, which helps it to be This plant is one that is consididentified from other onions, ered conservative in prairie habiespecially cultivated varieties. tats. This means it is usually found in higher quality prairies, and not in disturbed areas. It usually blooms in midsummer for about a month or It likes partial shade and mesic so. The umbel of blooms faces the ground. This is be- conditions. It is not very drought lieved to be an adaptation to tolerant. I have mine mixed with discourage insects other than little bluestem, wild petunia, lead bees from visiting them. The plant, and other shorter grasses. It grows more readily from transblooms are unscented and planted bulbs or offshoots than range in color from purple/ from seed. pink to sometimes white.
ON THE
Sometimes wading through sites looking for good resources on native organisms is just too time consuming. This section should help! This month’s featured site is : Carbon Footprint Calculator http://www.carbonfootprint.com/ calculator.aspx
NET Ok– I know this isn’t exactly a “native” resource, but is related since the amount of resources you use (or don’t use) affects your footprint. Using natives and reducing lawn creates a smaller footprint.
general questionnaire, but on real data from your household.
I really like this calculator because it is based not on a
It is surprising to find out the size of your footprint! Check it out and feel free to share!
BEST BOOKS– LAST CHILD Last Child in the Woods is a national bestseller by Richard Louv and was published a few years ago. It is available in an updated and expanded version published in 2008. The premise of this book is straightforward– children (and adults as well) need more contact with nature. In discussions with others that have read this book, I have found that many consider it a
Faunal associations include short -tongued bees– which are the primary pollinators of this plant. Some types of flies will visit this plant as well to feed on the pollen. Like other Allium species, it is not usually eaten by mammals.
I know it takes more time to sit down and enter your amounts accurately, but your results will then be more accurate.
IN THE
WOODS
“real downer”. I did not get this One of the things I found enjoyable impression or feeling at all were the multiple success stories of various people and projects across while reading it. the country and globe. Also valuable are the This book presents findresources available to ings and hypotheses those wanting to take from years of research action. from a wide variety of sources. Put together in a cohesive and eyeThe newly updated and opening book, it is a expanded version has must read for anyone many useful suggescaring about children, tions and supporting the environment, and/or ideas for those wanting to make a our global future. difference. Insight into the child/nature connection
G N O M E N ew s
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O RG A N I Z AT I O N S P O T L I G H T : FLINT CREEK WILDLIFE REHABILITATION Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation is a state and federally licensed facility dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife with the goal of returning fully rehabilitated wildlife to its natural habitat. Flint Creek promotes respect for wildlife and wildlife habitats through public education programs. Flint Creek also supports efforts to repopulate endangered and threatened wildlife species. Taken from their “Our Mission” page on their websitehttp://www.flintcreekwildlife.org/
I decided to highlight a local organization this month because these organizations are so important to our communities as well as being essential to wildlife as a whole. This organization began taking animals in 2004 and has quickly become one of northern Illinois’ largest wildlife rehab centers. Last year they treated over 3,200 animals at their three centers in Barrington, Itasca, and Chicago. This organization, like many other non-profit wildlife centers, receives no federal, state, or
local funding. They are almost exclusively dependent on donations and grants for all expenses. You can make donations online at their site. Consider donating to a local center near you. It matters.
NATIVE NEWS:
FROM THE ASHES COMES A PHOENIX Sometimes miracles happen. Nothing else can describe the recent story in the aftermath of a fatal plane crash near Sugar Grove, IL.
deputies discovered that it was a hawk that must have been sleeping in a tree at the time the plane was engulfed in flames and crashing. The bird, that is believed to be a female red-tailed hawk, was taken Kane County Sheriff Deputies were at the site of the crash the to Flint Creek Wildlife Center in morning following this tragedy. Barrington. It has lost all of its One of them happened to see a feathers all the way to the underdown layer. Her feet were also bird walking around on the ground. Upon closer inspection, badly burned.
PLANTING
WITH A
It is believed that this bird will make a full recovery. It will not be able to be released back into the wild however because its eyelids were burned too badly.
“Its best to have failure happen early in life. It wakes up the Phoenix bird in you so you rise from the ashes.” ~Anne Baxter
Still, it is an amazing survival story. People at the wildlife clinic describe the bird as “a fighter”. The bird was aptly named Phoenix.
PURPOSE:
BUILD A BRUSH PILE Maybe you have some downed branches from winter weather. Perhaps you are considering taking out some shrubs or trees this spring. You might even be clearing your property of buckthorn or Asian honeysuckle. Here is an idea to create something out of nothing, while reducing your labor– make a brush pile with the waste! I noticed this winter how the woodpile near my fire pit was a
haven for all sorts of wildlife. Songbirds, rabbits, various rodents, and even hunting Coopers hawks have utilized this small habitat feature. In nature, brush piles happen on their own. But most people either consider a pile of brush something to burn, haul away, or an unsightly mess that needs cleaning up. That is why these easily created features often are underutilized.
The best brush piles have tighter centers with larger diameter wood there and looser outside edges. This creates great habitat for many animals. This also creates an opportunity to plant things like native clematis, trumpet vine (not near a house!), wild grape, native bittersweet, Virginia creeper, and other native climbers depending on pile size.
Recycle your branches and create habitat at the same time!
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MUCH ADO ABOUT MULCH: BASICS ON BENEFITS AND BUYING Mulch is a common component of many home landscapes. During spring and summer months, it can be found for sale in the strangest places– including gas stations. But did you know that the purpose of mulch really isn’t supposed to be aesthetic? Using mulch has several positive affects on gardens and flowerbeds. But it can also have negative ones if chosen without proper knowledge of materials and procedures. Let’s get down to the ground level and take a closer look at mulch.
“You know you are a real gardener when you think that composting is a fascinating subject.” ~Anonymous
Avoid “Mulch Volcanoes”
There are basically two types of mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches are primarily plantbased products. Chipped trees, bark, and leaves are major organic mulch sources. Other organic sources include shells, hulls, or other agricultural products like hay or straw. Inorganic mulches are sand, stone, or recycled materials like rubber. These often do not absorb water.
To some, organic mulch is all the same– carbon is carbon. But not all mulches are created equally. In fact, some Peanut shells, Cocoa hulls, Pine bark and needles, and Rubber have negative impacts. Composted mulch– this you can create yourself with The Benefitsraked leaves, non-treated grass clippings, and food There are three main benefits to using mulch. The scraps. It has a low cost and is high in nutrient first one is water retention and erosion control. value. The downside is that it is labor intensive, Mulch will retain 15-20% more water than bare soil. takes up yard space, and if put down while actively This translates into less fresh water usage. It helps to decaying will create heat that could harm your reduce erosion as well because water droplets from plants. rain or the sprinkler contact the mulch before the Chipped wood– the most common “bagged” mulch. soil, slowing it down and increasing water absorpThe closer to your home it is made, the better. Many tion while reducing run off. cities or towns collect downed limbs, yard debris, and recycled Christmas trees and create their own The second benefit comes in the form of weed conrecycled mulch. This is often cheap or sometimes trol. Mulch reduces the need to weed because it free. Be sure to inspect it before buying in bulk as it covers the soil. This works on both sides of the may contain unwanted weed seeds, roof asphalt remlayer. From below, it slows or blocks plant growth nants, or other material that you don’t want included. by limiting light for plants and seeds. From above, it One chipped wood mulch to avoid is also often the reduces seed contact with the soil, thus reducing cheapest– Cypress. These slow-growing wetland germination rates. trees are often taken whole and chipped to create mulch while removing valuable habitat in the process. The third benefit is that it adds nutrients to the soil Agricultural Waste– these are things like peanut when it breaks down, assuming it is of organic nashells, soybean husks, and cocoa hulls. While the ture (this means made from plants). This increases idea of using a recycled ag. waste product appeals to essential substances needed for good plant growth. It can also be mixed with the soil to increase organic many as a green alternative, be aware of what you are getting. Using local products (peanuts in the matter, pH, and water retention properties. South, soybeans in the Midwest, etc..) can be a good way to create a market for these waste items. As far It is this third benefit that got me thinking about as the cocoa, remember that the hulls contain theomulch. I recently read an article online in Nursery bromine, just like the chocolate products that are Management & Production Magazine. I found out toxic to dogs. that pine bark inventories, widely used east of the Rockies in the nursery trade as a potting substrate, I would also recommend avoiding dyed mulches or are in decline. This product is mainly based in the those treated with herbicides and/or pesticides. southeast and is a waste material from lumber mills These will leak unwanted chemicals into your there. Recent storms and the increasing cost of ground and hurt the biodiversity in the soil. Rememtransportation fuel have created a need for alternaber to follow recommended guidelines. Don’t create tives to be found to use as a potting substrate. mounds of mulch (sometimes called mulch volcanoes). This can choke a plant, create spots for disSource locations are important. The source of mulch ease to enter, or reduce water absorption ability. affects its cost, its effectiveness, and its impact on Remember to think about mulch sources and your the environment and habitat around your property. overall goal of putting it down. More than aesthetics, mulch can be an important feature of your yard!
G N O M E N ew s
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I N VA S I V E S THE CALLERY PEAR The Callery Pear– Pyrus calleryanais commonly known by the cultivar Bradford Pear. An exotic from Eastern Asia, it is still commonly being sold in the nursery trade. It was introduced in Maryland in the early 1900s as an ornamental and quickly grew in popularity. The original plants were sterile, but had a tendency to split or fall apart in wind and from the weight of snow on its branches.
The plant spreads through seed dispersal near the parent tree, or by birds (especially the invasive starling) which eat the fruit and carry the seeds to other locations. So what can you do?
This led to “improved” hybrids that would hold up better in those conditions. These were not sterile however. It is these newer hybrids and plants crosspollinated with the original sterile Bradford Pear that are slowly making their way north and west from the conquered southeast. Green= Areas present
Don’t plant it! There are several great choices that are just as showy, nicely shaped, and are native that will enhance rather than degrade the landscape. Good alternatives to the Bradford Pear are redbud (Cercis canadensis), serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), black haw (Viburnum prunifolium), southern arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), and fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) to name only a few.
F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E P S E U D O S C O R P I O N Usually the Midwest isn’t an area you would associate with scorpions, but we have our share– at least of pseudoscorpions. Sometimes called false scorpions, these tiny arachnids usually are only seen if they have found their way into your house, usually by hitching a ride on a fly or other similar insect. There are over 3,000 species of this animal worldwide. The US alone holds as many as 400 species and subspecies. They are usually found in moist areas like leaf litter, under things like stones or bark, near old paper, or in bathrooms near fixtures. Unlike true scorpions, pseudoscorpions don’t have a stinger at the end of their abdomen. All other appearance characteristics are very scorpion-like. They are very small arachnids. Adults range in size from 2 to 8 mm. Just like true scorpions, they do have venom glands. They are located in the pedipalps (pinchers) and are used to subdue prey. This venom is injected with the pedipalps and the pseudoscorpion basically drinks the digested internal parts of that prey.
Due to their small size, pseudoscorpions cannot bite people or pets. In fact, they are very beneficial because of their normal food selections. The young and adults feed on clothes moth larvae, carpet beetle larvae, booklice, ants, mites, small flies, and small earthworms. These little creatures have a normal life span between 2 and 3 years. Females lay 12-24 eggs in each brood and can have several broods a year. Similar to a wolf spider, she carries her eggs in a silken pouch for about three weeks. The young then ride on her back until large enough to fend for themselves. They overwinter inside a silken cocoon, emerging in spring when prey is more available.
“The mind can weave itself warmly in the cocoon of its own thoughts, and dwell a hermit anywhere.” ~James Russell Lowell
Great Natives of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where members can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest in native species.
Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538
Check out our site!!!
E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com
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Fantastic Fauna p.7-http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/ factsheet/pseudoscorpion08.pdf
(http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45643568296)
This is our primary forum location. The newsletter as well as open discussions are there and also other links to people and groups that focus on natives.
Got an article? Now accepting member submitted news and photos! Once you have something to share, send it to the email listed at left. Monthly news articles will, of course, give credit to the contributor. Everyone welcome!
FOCUS
Fantastic Fauna p.7-http://natureblognetwork.com/blog/wp-content/ uploads/2009/06/pseudoscorpion_sharpfocus588k.jpg
I am constantly astounded by the resiliency of nature. All too often our attention is drawn to species in decline, endangered, or on the verge of extinction. While I in no way mean to reduce the importance of preservation of biodiversity, I think we sometimes tend to dwell on the negative instead of the positive.
Fantastic Fauna p. 7- http://www.augsburg.edu/biology/photoofmonth/ pseudoscorpion-onfinger.jpg
Invasives p.7- http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivetutorial/ images/callery_pear01.jpg
Invasives p.7- http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/pubs/midatlantic/ pyca.htm
Invasive Map p.7- http://plants.usda.gov/maps/large/PY/PYCA80.png
Native News p.5- http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=354338&src=5
Mulch Feature p.6- http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/roundupecofriendly-mulches-092874
Big Picture- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8467746.stm
Name That Native p.4- http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ flw_spurgex..htm
Mulch Feature p.6- http://www.forestry.umn.edu/extension/urban_com/ images/mulchvolcano.gif
Big Picture Photo- http://planetsave.com/files/2008/11/ honeycombbee.jpg
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I always become more pensive during the winter, largely because there isn’t as much work to do outside I suppose. Recently I was doing a sort of mental inventory of species that have visited my yard over the past few years. It surprised me. While I have striven to add as many native plants to my yard as I could, I really haven’t done anything way above and beyond. I certainly could do much more in regards to that topic. I have many plans and ideas but time, cost, and consideration of resale value have limited what I have done to a more traditional form. I really haven’t gone wild…
ON THE
FUTURE
But my species inventory would tell me otherwise. This is especially true when it comes to those animals with exoskeletons. It made me wonder if everyone would do little things what kind of a difference it would make for our biodiversity as a whole. Things like plant a few native plants instead of daylilies or spirea, stop trying to kill everything that comes into their yards– be it weeds or bugs, leave a patch of grass unmowed– just for fun. It doesn’t take much and the little things matter. I can think of many “high profile” animals that benefited not so much by humans doing extra
things for them, but simply not doing things. Take for example the bald eagle– we didn’t exert extra effort, we just stopped using DDT and they slowly rebounded enough to be delisted. A similar example is the brown pelican. Even the cougar– highlighted in last month’s GNOME News- is returning to old haunts all on its own. Though high profile animals get attention, the small and often unnoticed are just as worthy. If you couple the power of the instinct for survival with the little things that people can do to help, you get increased biodiversity. Not only that, but you get a life enriched by living things going about their daily lives right in front of you. These intimate interactions with the things that share our world serve to remind us what is our obligation to this planet. Like it or not, we are the most powerful and influential creatures on Earth. It is about time we started taking that seriously.