Great Natives of Midwestern Ecotype
May 2011 Edition
Cover Photo: Shooting Star -Dodecatheon meadia May, 2011– Montgomery, IL © 2011
G r e a t N at i v e s Of M i d -w e s t e rn E co ty p e
V o l um e 2 2 , I s s ue 1 M a y 2 7 , 2 01 1
GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Native Clues and Global Warming Plant Profile
4
Native on the Net
4
Best Books
4
Organization Spotlight
5
Native News
5
Planting with a Purpose
5
Big Green Lie
6
Invasives!
7
Fantastic Fauna
7
Focus on the Future
7
Did you know... The Eastern goldfinch is the state bird of Iowa and New Jersey? Home use of pesticides rose 42% between 1998 and 2001 alone? GNOME newsletters have reached over 1,300 different readers?
Global warming trends have some scientists concerned about many different plant and animal species’ future viability. What species will migrate, evolve, change behavior, or become extinct? It was precisely these questions that prompted Brad Oberle, a doctoral candidate in biology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, to look at a survivor or another global warming episode at the end of the Pleistocene. These native survivors are members of the Dodecatheon genuscommonly called shooting stars. Shooting stars are a fairly widespread species. Some of them are very rare and have very specific habitat requirements. Oberle used Mead’s, Jeweled, and French’s shooting stars to see if looking at a species, now rare, could tell him anything about how to predict the future of species faced with a warming environment.
be a remnant survivor in that area. An ecotype would show a physical variation, but be genetically similar to other species found near it. This would show adaptation and selective properties.
His research focused on relict vs. ecotype species. In theory, a relict species would be genetically distinct from other species in the area. This means it would
Genetically distinct species could have a higher future conservation Jeweled shooting star populavalue. Hopefully more research will tions from Wisconsin and Penn- help in predicting how species will sylvania are genetically similar fare in our warming world.
Mead’s (left), Jeweled (middle), and French’s (right) Shooting Star
What he found could help land managers develop plans for future species.
to one another, but very different from other members of this genus found nearby. This suggests it is a relict species. French’s shooting star are genetically similar to other more common varieties. This would make it an ecotype.
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.
P age 4
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Dodecatheon meadia– Shooting Star This flower in the primrose family is one of the most identifiable and pretty prairie bloomers of the spring. Known as “prairie pointers” to the pioneers and commonly called shooting stars today, this is Dodecatheon meadia. There are over 18 species recently re-identified, though this is still under investigation.
“Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.” ~H.G.Wells
This plant was originally distributed in the eastern half of the US. Found in prairies and savannahs, it is associated with high quality sites. The leaves of this plant are basal and usually 6” or shorter in length. The are green, but often have red accents. This plant usually blooms in May on a rosette about a foot tall. Coloring ranges from white, pink, to even lavender in some ecotypes/species.
Faunal associations include many types of bees. Queen bumble bees are common pollinators and use vibration or “buzz pollination” to get The common name comes from a resem- the pollen. blance to a “star” falling to Earth.
I have always viewed these plants as almost ephemeral. They sprout leaves in spring and bloom, then die back in early summer, leaving no trace. For this reason, mammals usually don’t do much damage to them. It is also this trait that makes them slower to establish and also to bloom after establishment. My experience has been positive with these plants. Used en masse, they are real show stoppers. They can be used almost as one would use bulbs since they die back leaving room for other plants. It did take three years for mine to bloom after planting them. Blooming seems dependent on early rainfall, but they are great plants to lift spirits in late springtime!
NATIVE ON THE NET Sometimes wading through sites looking for good resources on native information is just too time consuming. This section should help!
Bird watching is an ever growing hobby. I was online looking for good places to view wildlife and came across the Migratory Bird page on the FWS site. This has some great links to help birders in the Midwest.
Societies are really helpful in many ways. These often show what is migrating, what has been recently seen and where, and give you “hot spots” to view migrations as well as nesting areas.
Bird Watching- (Region 3-Midwest) http://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwe Though this page is pretty stbird/bird_watching.htm basic, the links to the state ornithology unions or Audubon
Many of these organizations also have emailing notifications if you really get into this activity.
This month’s featured site is :
BEST BOOKS– RACHEL
AND
SAMMY VISIT
THE
PRAIRIE
Rachel and Sammy Visit the Prairie by Jannifer Powelson is a wonderful book. According to several other reviews, this story is geared for ages 4-8. While that might be the intended audience, these are certainly not the only ages that will find this story both entertaining and informative. The storyline presents an intelligent and prairie savvy raccoon named Rachel meeting Sammy
the skunk near a local Midwestern prairie. As they explore this prairie, Rachel helps Sammy learn to identify about 20 different prairie plants. I really think that this is not only an entertaining story, but a useful “first” field guide on prairie plants. Kids will like it for both of those reasons!
Another thing I love about this book is that it is the first book in a series of Midwest-based nature books. In fact, the next book about forests is already out. The text is lively, there are many accurate illustrations, and also included are actual photos of the plants to help in real world identification.
Great introduction for a younger audience!
The last thing I really like about this book is that it encourages all people to get out and enjoy nature.
G N OM E N e w s
P age 5
O RG A N I Z AT I O N S P O T L I G H T : ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY “40 years of protecting health time employees and an annual budget of over 10 and the environment.” billion dollars.
http://www.epa.gov If you haven’t ever visited the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, it is worth a look. But you might want to do it when you have a little time– there is so much information there that you will get pulled in… The EPA was formed in December of 1970. Its primary purpose is to create and enforce regulations based on laws passed by Congress that are related to human health and environmental issues. It has over 18,000 full
The many roles of the EPA are too numerous to list here. A quick look at their site will show you how many things they are involved in. The “MyEnvironment” component is a really helpful tool for finding out all sorts of useful information about the area that you live in. You can search via zip code or state/town. I really found the water quality part of this interesting, but kind of scary!
This site also provides information in the form of mobile apps and widgets. This feature is handy for those with smart phones. It is a government agency and there is no fee to use the site.
NATIVE NEWS: NEBRASKA SPONSORS WILDFLOWER WEEK May 25th through June 5th is Nebraska Wildflower Week. This is a state-wide celebration of native flora both wild and in landscaped environments. The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Inc. is serving as the coordinator of events and activities for Wildflower Week.
The goal of this celebration is not just to appreciate the beauty of native plants, but to appreciate what these plant symbolize. "Where wildflowers are thriving, it is a sign that the environment is healthy," said Bob Henrickson, whose nursery production work with the arboretum concentrates on native and regionally appropriate plants.
“The Truly Healthy environment is not merely safe, but stimulating.”
Some of the activities of this celebration include guided tours of natural and home land~William H. Stewart scapes, presentations about landscaping with native plants, Fun Run/Walks through natural areas, and children’s activities like creating your own wildflower book.. Maybe other states will follow Nebraska’s example. It is a cause worth celebrating!
PLANTING WITH A PURPOSE: JUST
ADD PLANTS–
This month’s feature focuses on the use of various chemicals for “enhancement” in the home landscape. There is another soil consideration that is different for native plant landscapers when compared to traditional gardeners. That factor is soil amendment. Part of the culture of traditional landscaping and gardening is to manufacture soil to meet the growing needs of the desired plants. Adding manure, peat, compost, “top soil” or any number of items to create “good” dirt is common practice.
AMENDING
THE SOIL
This is the exact opposite of what is needed when you choose to use natives. Native plants have evolved to live without the need of “extra” soil additives. Fitting the right native to your site rather than creating the right soil for your plant may take a little more research on the front end of planting, but will end up being a lot easier on your back and your wallet after planting. In addition to being “green” by going the natural soil route, you will have several other benefits without amendments as well.
Soil amendments often encourage weed growth as well as desired plant growth. This means more maintenance to keep these weeds at bay. When planting natives into “improved” soil, they will often get larger than they should. This can cause issues like flopping taller plants and those with aggressive tendencies to really go wild. The best soil practice? Just add natives! Nature will do the rest!
Time, patience, and native plants will give your soil everything it needs without soil amendments.
P age 6
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THE BIG GREEN LIE Some will say that gazing out on a thick, green lawn is one of the most satisfying sites in the world. There has been research that has said the we are “evolutionarily predisposed” to want and need a lawn filled home environment calling all the way back to the African savanna days of our ancestors. For many others, a weed-free turf grass monoculture is a symbolic status representation of both monetary as well as “master of nature” philosophy. Culturally, historical “lawns” were only able to be maintained by the wealthiest members of society. This is something that many, even if it is unconsciously, continue to want to emulate.
You might try to console yourself because you don’t use a lawn service. Do you use “Weed and Feed”? How about Grub-X? Take a look at the myriad of other chemical applications you use both inside and outside of your home and think about these other risk factors.
The costs of achieving and maintaining a lush, weedfree and bug free turf grass lawn are many. The feature article this month will focus on these costs– both to the pocketbook and the health of our environment. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Concise, a pesticide is “Any toxic substance used to kill animals or plants that damage crops or ornamental plants or that are hazardous to the health of domestic animals or humans.”
A report by Toxics Action Center took a close look at 32 different pesticide products that ChemLawn markets to its customers. Many of these are also available at home retailers, though not in the same concentrations. Of these, more than half have ingredients identified as possible carcinogens by the EPA or World Health Organization. One third of them contain known or suspected endocrine disruptors (look this one up for some really scary info). More than a quarter of them contain reproductive toxins. To beat that, 40% of the chemicals on ChemLawn’s list are banned in other countries!
Green and Weed Free = Healthy?
“Any toxic substance” really stands out to me in this definition. It is fairly obvious that many of the chemicals that are used on lawns are solely created for this purpose– insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide all contain the suffix –cide. This suffix has Latin roots in the word caedere, which means “to kill”. Of course that would mean “toxic”. But the other part of the definition above is just as meaningful, even if it does not stand out as much. In most home environments, crops are not a major consideration in the application of pesticides. On average, crop fields in America receive about 2.7 lbs. of pesticides per acre. But did you know that the average suburban lawn receives between 3.2 and 9.8 lbs. per acre? In the home landscape, these chemicals are not usually to protect vital food sources. That leaves turf grass and ornamental plants. The use of pesticides for aesthetic purposes has been steadily increasing since 1998. Over 90 million pounds of pesticides a year are applied to American lawns. It is estimated that over 35 billion dollars are spent annually to eradicate weeds like dandelions and insects like grubs. All of this so we can “enjoy” our lawns a little bit more. Many homeowners choose to apply these pesticides themselves. But for those who choose not to, there is a plethora of companies such as TruGreen ChemLawn to do it for you (as is evidence of my spring mailbox filled with “deals” for services). Either way, there things that need to be brought to the general public’s awareness about these chemicals. Let’s take a look at some of the facts and research related some of the most common ones.
Children take in more pesticides relative to body weight than adults and have developing organ systems that make them more vulnerable and less able to detoxify. It is estimated that 50% of lifetime pesticide exposure occurs in the first 5 years of life. This makes sense– who spends more time playing, rolling, and walking around in a yard? Dogs exposed to pesticide treated (mainly herbicides) lawns and gardens more than double their risk of developing canine lymphoma and can increase bladder cancer risks up to seven times for certain breeds. Lawn pesticides are deadly not only to the “pests” they are meant for, but also many other non-target species. This includes many beneficial insects and soil microorganisms that are essential for a truly healthy lawn. Of the 30 most common pesticides, 16 are toxic to birds, 24 are toxic to fish and other aquatic life forms, and 11 are deadly to bees (essential for pollination). Think these are only things to worry about when you step into your grass? Think again. Because of drift in the air (of you can smell it, it is drifting even without wind) and due to tracking in on shoes, fur on pets, and even bare feet, residue that sticks in carpets or lands as dust can boost exposure rates from 10 to 400 times inside the home as well. These are only related to the active ingredients in the pesticides. This doesn’t account for the dangerous and often unregulated inert ingredients or even the secondary risks (such as algae blooms in water from excess and runoff fertilizer) from these chemicals. Deciding to use chemicals on your lawn should not be a casual decision. It should be looked at as if your life depended on it– because it just might… This is one time when it is ok that the grass is greener on the other side of the property line...
G N OM E N e w s
P age 7
I N VA S I V E S -
BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG Halyomorpha haly is known as the brown marmorated stink bug. The common name comes from its streaked or marbled body parts. I first heard about this insect in February of 2011 in the Cedar Rapids Gazette in Iowa. This is an invasive that seems to really taking the national scene by storm.
about box elder bugs can recognize this strategy. The largest threat of this insect is to ornamental and fruit-bearing plants. Host plants for this insect include both native (walnut, maple, red bud, etc) and nonnative (butterfly bush, honeycrops like corn, soybeans, suckle) plants. It can also use and green beans. Being a stink bug, it has piercing mouth parts designed for sucking juices. This is what causes damage to fruits and vegetables.
First identified in 2001, it is another invader from Asia, originating in Japan, Korea, and China. This bug is in the stink bug family. It, therefore, shares some of the typical characteristics with other similar insects. One of these similarities is that they overwinter indoors in their adult stage. Anyone that knows
Blue= Reported
There is a large effort to document the expansion of this pest. Anyone finding this insect should report it to their county Extension office.
F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E E A S T E R N G O L D F I N C H The Eastern goldfinch is a bird that many people are familiar with. These birds readily come to feeders to eat and are tolerant of human activity. Let’s take a closer look at Carduelis tristis. This bird has a large range for breeding and wintering. It can be found from southern Canada all the way to Mexico. This extends east and west from coast to coast. They are short distance migrators, though some populations remain in their locale all year long. The Eastern goldfinch is likely the most conspicuous member of the finch family found in North America. This is because of its bright breeding plumage. Males of this species are bright yellow with a black cap. They also have black wing feathers streaked with white and a white rump. Females are typically an olive/dull yellow with similar wing and rump markings. These birds are seed eaters. They will feed on various tree seeds like birch and elm. They also relish seeds of plants like sunflowers and thistles. It is these types of seeds used in bird feeders that will often attract them into your yard. They also eat dandelion seeds from the plant.
One of the unique characteristics of these birds is related to their breeding time. Even though Birds begin to get their breeding coloration in the spring, they are late nesters. They typically begin nesting in mid– to late summer. They do this to coincide with the abundance of food. It is this time of year that seeds are becoming more plentiful. Goldfinches nest in the forked branches of a tree or bush. It is the female that builds the cup shaped nest over about 6 days. Upon nest completion, the female will lay between 4-6 light blue eggs. At this point the male will feed the female while she incubates the eggs. Young are totally altricial when born. This means they have closed eyes and no feathers and are totally dependent on parents. Amazingly, they are able to leave the nest in 10-16 days!
“If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.” ~Andrew V. Mason
G r ea t N a ti v es O f Mi d - wes t er n Eco t yp e Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538
E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com
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.
Check out our site!!!
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Big Picture- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2011/04/110411152631.htm Name That Native p.4-http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ shootingstarx.htm Native News p.5- http://arboretum.unl.edu/wildflower/ Big Green Lie p.6- http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/ facts&figures.htm Big Green Liep.6– http://www.ghorganics.com/Refuse%20to%20Use% 20Lawn%20Chemicals.htm Invasives p.7- http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/pdf/FS_3824_08.pdf Fantastic Fauna p.7-http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/goldfinch.htm Big Picture Photo- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2011/04/110411152631.htm Planting with a Purpose p.5- http://talentgardener.com/solutions/othersolutions/ Big Green Lie p.6- http://www.pestcontrolrx.com/david_somlcom/ dandelions/ Big Green Lie p.6- http://carbonzerolawncare.com/why-organic Invasives map p.7-http://casey.senate.gov/about/blog/post.cfm? pl=The_Brown_Marmorated_Stink_Bug Invasives p.7- http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/similar.asp Invasives p.7- http://casey.senate.gov/about/blog/post.cfm? pl=The_Brown_Marmorated_Stink_Bug Fantastic Fauna p.7- http://www.adeoma.org/the-20-most-brilliantlycolored-birds-in-the-world.htm
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FOCUS
ON THE FUTURE R E D E F I N I N G B E A U T I F I C AT I O N . . . I recently had the pleasure of meeting with our Village’s Beautification Committee. I was asked to attend this meeting to begin a paradigm shift pertaining to the meaning of beautification. I happened to park next to the Director of Public Works the night of the meeting. I hauled out my sample birdhouses (right) and he got the door for me as we entered Village Hall. I already knew Mike from our meeting last fall related to placing the recycled, real Christmas trees in our lake for fish cover. The purpose of my attendance at this meeting was to discuss plans for adding bird houses to open areas near our several subdivision lakes. It was also to seek formal permission to add Habitat Improvement as a subcommittee. A brief history of the committee was presented for a new member, so I was fortunate to be able to get
After procedural approvals of minutes, discussion of “old” business, I was up.
a fair picture about the scope of previous projects. Overall, these had revolved around business sponsored flower planters, hanging floral baskets from street light poles, and resident donations to receive a name plaque on the local bridge and keep up planters at that location. I could tell that what I was about to propose was a little out of the realm of the norm for this group.
I discussed the importance of engaging the community to begin the process of ownership of already existing habitat. I informed them of the importance of involving interested community members (children in particular) and providing an opportunity for these members to share their time and talents. I emphasized the importance of habitat improvements for both our community and for the animals that share our space. After a few questions, a motion was made to approve my request to begin improving habitat within our own subdivision. It was seconded and a unanimous “Aye” was given from the committee. I’m excited to begin redefining what beautiful means to our community!