Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype
V o l u m e 7 , I ss u e 1 April 1, 2009
GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Plant Profile
2
Native on the Net
2
Best Books
2
Organization Spotlight
3
Native News
3
Planting with a Purpose
3
Milkweed Breakthrough
4
Invasives!
5
Fantastic Fauna
5
Focus on the Future
6
Did you know... •
•
The largest concentration of monarchs in North America occurs in the Michoacan area of Mexico? Milkweed silk was used during WWII to replace kapok in “Mae West” personal floatation devices?
Tracking animals via signals has been going on for years. I can remember watching Wild Kingdom (the Marlin Perkins version) on Sunday afternoons (pre-cable of course) and seeing them dart large animals and fit them with huge radio collars. In 2008, a researcher at York University accomplished a world first– tracking common songbirds using geolocator “backpacks”. Tracking animals can reveal all sorts of useful information. Up until now, even the best satellite tracking systems were too heavy for small animals. But study author Bridget Stutchbury revealed new insights with the use of new technology. The results and applications of this technology could be enormous. The study found that common songbirds such as wood thrushes, and the not so common anymore purple martin travel up to three times faster than had been previously calculated.
FIND
THE
High flying and high tech– Songbird Geolocation Their findings indicate that songbirds routinely travel in excess of 311 miles a day. Previous estimates believed their travel distance at about 93 miles per day. Also revealed were stopping points along the way and wintering areas– all important to monitoring and protecting the species and previously not easily possible.
Advancements in technology driven by major industries to make things smaller and lighter (look at cell phone evolution for example) will have far reaching applications in the scientific world as well. Tracking songbirds is likely the tip of the iceberg. The big picture is that as technology advances, our world gets a little smaller and clearer with each step.
GNOME!
Nothing is better than stretching your brain a little. The role of this word game is to get you thinking a bit! Look for the word gnome within the text (no logo). I will vary the ways it is pre-
sented. It might be the first letters of five consecutive sentences, it might be crossword style, or something more creative. Let me know if you find it and maybe I will include your name in the next GNOME News!
No one found the gnome last month. I am going to keep it the same until it is found. Good luck this month!
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V o l u m e 7 , I ss u e 1
Ratibida columnifera– Upright Prairie Coneflower Did you vote this month? If not, you can check out Name That Native on the website listed on the back of the newsletter. Last month’s plant is one of my favorites– Ratibida columnifera– scientifically known as Upright Prairie Coneflower.
“Keep your sense of proportion by regularly, preferably daily, visiting the natural world.” - Catlin Matthews
This plant is a native biennial typically found in mesic to dry mesic conditions. The range of this plant was once quite extensive where it was found throughout most of North America.
The plant typically grows to about 2 feet tall. The leaves are deeply pinnatified and narrow. It has a long bloom time which can last from June through September. Blooms can also display a wide variety of coloration in yellow to red combinations. I collected seed on a plant that I had marked as yellow and This native has a variety of colors from deep these were the flowers of red to bright yellow . that seed I planted.
NATIVE
ON THE
Sometimes wading through search engine results can be a daunting task. Each month I will highlight a particularly good site related to native flora or fauna. You can also check out these links at our site! This month’s featured site is :
Discover Life– Invasives Search
Faunal associations of this plant include many types of bees, small butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetles. Most of these feed on nectar, but the beetles will feed on pollen. Finches and turkeys have been known to eat the seeds and it is of fair browse palatability to mammals. This plant will thrive in regular average soil. Due to its long bloom time and showy flowers, I feel that it is a great addition to existing beds, new beds, or naturalized or restored areas. Though tough to find in the nursery trade, several native plant seed sources include this species.
NET This section of the Discover Life website focuses on North American invasive organisms. The reason I like this site so much is that you can search in multiple ways to get the information you are looking for. Start by selecting the group that you are looking for.
These include microorganisms up to plants and vertebrates. You can also select the form of the plant or animal that you are looking for. It pulls from many sources and is pretty inclusive. It’s a great place to go to figure out if you have an invasive and want to identify it!
BEST BOOKS– DESIGN
YOUR NATURAL MIDWEST GARDEN
This instructional reference book by Patricia Hill is a must have for those considering adding native plants to your landscape. Pat Hill is an award-winning professional landscape designer that specializes in using only native plants. Through her illustrated designs with accompanying photos of those plants and plans, you are sure to find a garden that will suit the site you are considering.
Plans are given both by location (ex. front entrance) and by species that you wish to attract (ex. butterfly). You can also look for desired plans according to the ever important soil type too. Books of this nature are not very common.
Usually planting guides such as these are not tailored to Midwestern areas– and finding one that includes natives is even harder.
This book has many practical plans that take guess work out of what to plant!
This book is a valuable “how-to” book for anyone interested in creating sustainable gardens!
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 : T H E C O N S E R VA T I O N F O U N D A T I O N I think it was destiny that this be the organization for March. On my way to my last Wild Ones meeting I heard about them on the radio, then there were handouts for The Conservation Foundation on the table at the meeting. “The mission of the Foundation is to preserve open space and natural lands, protect rivers and watersheds, and promote stewardship of our environment.” taken from their site: www.theconservationfoundation.org The headquarters for this organization are located on a 60 acre farm in Naperville, IL. “The Foundation
maintains a support base of
over 4,500 members and donors and 500 volunteers in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois. Although we work throughout Northeastern Illinois, these are the counties in which we focus our efforts.” Education is a primary goal A Land and Watershed Protection of this organization. The Organization offer programs for families, youth organizations, conserve and protect the land schools, and also technical train- an water on their property and ing for furthering sustainable the community at large. practices. Their “Conservation @ Home” section provides homeowners with MANY practical things to
Membership begins at $45 for individuals (cheaper for students) and they also accept donations.
NATIVE NEWS: OAKS FACE DANGER FROM BELOW Scientists looking for answers as to why eastern oaks are experiencing a high rate of mortality as seedlings may only need to look under the surface of the problem– literally. A recent study done by Robert Swihart of Purdue University found that Microtus pinetorum, also known as the woodland or pine vole, have a strong prefer-
PLANTING
ence for oak seedling roots compared to other native tree species.
Voles were responsible for oak seedling mortality greater than 19% in his study area. It may have been much higher because some plants went missAccording to the study, these ing altogether. voles created twice as much Swihart believes that this damage to white oak roots than could impact the hardwood to northern red oak and black industry as well as the carrying cherry. There was six times as much damage to white oaks than capacity of forests for animals dependant on oaks as a food to black walnut. staple.
WITH A
PURPOSE:
Spring is nature's way of saying, ‘Let's party!”
NATIVE CLIMBERS Climbers are often overlooked when it comes to native gardens, but there are several that really stand out and can create wonderful accents to your property. Here are a few to consider planting this year. Illinois Rose Rosa setigera grows from 4 to 12 feet tall. It will arch if not supported. Flowers are pink and showy. Rose hips are attractive in the fall and winter.
American Bittersweet: Celastrus scandens is a great plant for all seasons. Great fall color, attractive fruit, and calming shade are all desirable features. Just make sure to plant a male and a female!
a native clematis with white to cream colored blooms. Seed heads provide extended display interest. Climbing Hydrangea Decumaria Barbara is not native to our area, but is to the US. The 2-4 inch flower clusters in white are sure to attract neighbors as well as bees!
Virgin’s Bower Clematis virginiana is Clematis virginiana is a native climber that
can be substituted where exotic forms exist.
~Robin Williams
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V o l u m e 7 , I ss u e 1
GOT MILKWEED? BREAKTHROUGH MAY E X PA N D M O R E T H A N M O N A R C H S For years, planting common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has been strongly encouraged mainly to provide the monarch butterfly with its only food source. While the intention is clear, there are many in the public domain that opt for a “cleaner” look without “weeds”.
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ~Margaret Atwood
Another possible benefit of this product would be that is has possibilities to be used for other applications as well. Industries may be able to slightly modify the milkweed oil base to be used in epoxies, paints, and other products currently using a petroleum base. Harry-O’kuru believes that it might also be able to be considered biodegradable due to its unique combination of fats and waxes.
Danaus plexippus – the monarch butterfly is considered a secure species worldwide. It is dependent on plants In fact, this base in the Asclepias has been patfamily– the milkented by the ARS. weeds. It is these They are currently plants that allow it seeking an industo move north trial partner to from its wintering help further degrounds in Mexvelop this breakico. Over several generations, these A monarch caterpillar on common milkweed in my yard. through. amazing migrants go north and then There is a current south again in the market, though a small one, for milkweed alfall. It is in Mexico that they are most susceptible, ready. Natural Fibers Corporation is an example since destruction of their few select overwintering of one such business. Uses listed on their websites would virtually eliminate them in North Amersite range from controlling nematodes ica. While protection of those sites is essential, so (microscopic worms) to hypoallergenic fillers for is providing their food source– milkweed. pillows and comforters. Their site also mentions the use of seed oil in cosmetics. Since the motivation for creating or leaving milkweed stands has largely reliant on good will and With further development of milkweed oil based stewardship, it lacked the “teeth” that monetary products, it might just add some “teeth” to the motivators often have. All of that may be about to thought of propagating milkweed. Not only would change. it be providing for monarchs or native plant movements, but being “green” might just bring some Recent studies done at the Agricultural Research green in return! Service (ARS) by chemist Harry-O’kuru indicate the milkweed seed oil can serve as a potential base material for items like sunscreen and other personal care products. Harry-O’kuru created a process in which zinc chloride was used to catalyze the triglycerides in the milkweed seed oil into ultra-violet (UV) absorbing compounds. Current products that absorb these UV rays rely on chemical fillers or blockers. The milkweed oil derivative could accomplish this at a much lower concentration and be just as effective. In addition to that, the milkweed oil base contains natural antioxidants that are often added to skinnourishing products.
Got milkweed? Plant some today!
G N O M E N ew s
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I N VA S I V E S J A PA N E S E B E E T L E Popillia japonica–the Japanese Beetle was first identified in New Jersey in 1916 after being introduced from Japan. Adults are easily identified as being metallic green, oval, with copper wing covers and a row of white tufts on their sides.
Unless done in mass (think everyone in your neighborhood), this trapping can actually increase the numbers of adults attracted to your area and the resulting brood the following year.
Turfgrass areas are especially vulnerable to the larvae– called white grubs, which feed on roots and organic matter.
While this insect is well known throughout much of the eastern US including parts of the Mid-west, there are many misconceptions related to this insect and its control. One of the most common of these is the use of pheromone or floral scented traps to eradicate them from your yard.
Japanese Beetle Distribution Purple= Established
There are a number of different methods currently being used to reduce the numbers of this insect. A great source for these methods is the Ohio State University Extension Office (see link on website).
F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E A M E R I C A N C R O W The American crow- Corvus brachyrhynchos, is a Thought of largely as carrion eaters, this intelligent bird that belongs to the same family as blue jays bird is also an apt predator capable of taking prey as large as squirrels. I consider hearing and seeing and ravens– the family Corvidae. crows “cruising” along highways as a true sign of spring. Crows can be seen along roadways at this This family of birds is highly intelligent. Crows time searching for nests of birds like red-winged are not an exception. Some examples of this blackbirds and other songbirds. Both eggs and intelligence are amazing. Crows have been obyoung are frequently taken by crows. served to carry nuts to wires above streets and drop them. Once cracked by traffic, they will retrieve the meat from inside. Another fascinat- These birds have been highly affected by West Nile ing behavior that crows participate in is called Virus. Once contracted, crows typically die within a anting. Crows will stand on top of ant hills or week. These birds also come into conflict with hupick up ants and rub their feathers with them. It mans if winter roosts are established in populated is believed that the chemicals secreted by the areas (some believe to escape owl predation– yet ants act as an agent to eliminate pests on the another “smart” behavior if true). crow. The average crow weighs about a pound. Crows are typically black and their feathers have an iridescent quality. These birds can be found in family groups. The young of previous years, as well as both parents, will help feed the new brood and defend their “home’ territory. They can form very large communal roosts in winter, family flocks, and flocks of unpaired individuals. The American crow in flight.
“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” ~Rachel Carson
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
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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.5- http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/vecase/ Behavior/Spring2007/Burke/Assets/AmericanCrow1LR.jpg
I am always in awe when I have the opportunity to see bald eagles in the wild. Luckily for me, this feeling is happening ever more frequently as the national symbol is increasing its population every year.
Japanese Beetles p.5- http://www.pestcontrolrx.com/photos/ uncategorized/2008/06/28/japanese_beetles.jpg
Invasives- http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2001.html
Fantastic Fauna p.5- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crow Invasives Map p.5- http://threatsummary.forestthreats.org/images/maps/ Japanese_barberry_Map_76.png
Milkweed- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2009/02/090220181749.htm Invasive Map p.5-http://pest.ceris.purdue.edu/map/INBPAZA.gif
Monarch/milkweed p.4- http://i.pbase.com/ o4/57/483457/1/63059379.M2ImJIOK.20D2006705238PIMonarch.jpg
Native News p.3- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2009/03/090303161419.htm Planting Purpose p.3- http://www.wildcanada.ca/Plants/ VinesShrubsTrees/Images/virgin's_bower-web.jpg
Cover- http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2009/02/090212141152.htm Cover Photo- http:http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/content/vol2009/ issue212/images/200921211.jpg
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ON THE
FUTURE the world, what are today’s youth identifying with? I mentioned the red-eyed tree frog deliberately. While I am never one to deemphasize world issues (of which rainforest destruction is a HUGE one), might our children even recognize an animal slightly less iconic than the bald eagle from North America? Do they know about leopard frogs?
I can remember riding the wake of the DDT ban and this bird received a lion’s share of the attenBald eagle near Amana, IA on March, 8th 2009 tion. It was emblematic to the environmental While we may very well be cause in the same way with the rest of the global connected to the entire world, many the red-eyed tree frog has society. Consider cell phones. are missing their local connection. come to symbolize rainforest There was a time when peoIt is locally that some of the biggest issues. ple had times that they did changes can be made by individunot have information at their als. fingertips. Times when you This makes me wonder about really were unavailable– not current symbols for our youth. Perhaps the eagles, as they spread just by switching the phone It isn’t just the global econever inland up smaller and smaller off. omy that is subject to the water courses will also bring with zealous individualism that we them lessons for those that have are all, to some degree, conSo with all of this information forgotten them. Maybe, once retributing to. Many people and connection to the rest of membered, those lessons will be today are never out of contact the harbingers of more to come.