5 minute read
This Season
Native Garden Charmers
Native plant species provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and berries that feed our native butterflies, insects, birds, and other animals. By being adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they occur, they require less care than grass lawns once they are established and on hilly areas you will also reduce erosion. Some native plants have very deep root systems and can significantly reduce water runoff and flooding. Yet another plus to growing native plants instead of grass is they remove carbon from the air, and they require no mowing!
When replacing lawns with native plants that require no fertilizers and less water, you are creating a sustainable ecosystem where wildlife can thrive. If pollinators find their favorite nectar, pollen, and host food for their offspring in abundance, they will lay eggs and provide you with generations of life. Birds will find the habitat enticing if they feel safe to eat, rest, and nest there, so provide numerous seeded plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees.
If you love birds, provide some areas in your yard for leaf litter to accumulate, so that those birds who are not seed eaters can forage for insects, spiders, and worms. Leaf litter is a food source for invertebrates including earthworms which help to break it down, and in the process, leave even more nutrients in the form of “castings” near or just under the soil surface. This also acts as a soil conditioner for spring ephemerals, and these patches can be positioned over those places where they rest for the summer. In winter, they can be placed around the crowns of most native plants, but not too thickly or too close. Healthy soil contains a multitude of living creatures that facilitate plant roots in taking up nutrients with the water.
By creating a native plant garden, each patch of habitat becomes part of a collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape for birds and other animals. Together, native plants and animals form a web of mutually beneficial interactions that is greater than the sum of its parts: an ecosystem.
By adding even a few groupings of unusual native plants to sections of your yard, you will create zones of unanticipated joy.
From top: Blue Wild Indigo, Queen of the Prairie, White Culver’s Root, Golden Alexander
Perennials that Pack a Pollinator Punch
BIG LEAF MOUNTAIN MINT (Pycnanthemum muticum) – Mountain mint is a pollinator magnet bringing beneficial wasps, bees, and specialized flies which keep other insect pests under control.
BLUE WILD INDIGO (Baptisia australis) – Wild bees and bumble bees are attracted to these early flowers with their pea-flower blossoms.
QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE (Filipendula rubra) – Early summer brings clouds of light pink blooms on 6-foot stems to fill the air with sweet fragrance. From top: Indiangrass, Little Bluestem
Grasses that Feed the Birds
WHITE CULVER’S ROOT (Veronicastrum virginicum) – The 5-foot spires of tubular flowers are very attractive to many native bees, soldier beetles, and is a host plant for red admiral butterflies. INDIANGRASS (Sorghastrum nutans) – Its flowers attract butterflies and is a host food for certain skippers, small mammals, and birds come for the ripened seeds and for nesting material.
GOLDEN ALEXANDER (Zizia aurea) – An excellent available source of pollen and nectar, Zizia is visited by short-tongue bees, wasps, and is a host food for Black Swallowtail butterflies.
LITTLE BLUESTEM (Schizachyrium Milford Yacht Club scoparium) – Small songbirds flock to eat the seeds of this beautiful grass. Host plant for “Not your grandfather’s club” several insects, especially skipper butterflies. where friendship The Milford YachT and memories are made club
Milford’s PreMier social club • You don’T need a boaT To Join
Whether you’re a boater, a swimmer, or just looking for the next best spot on the water, the Milford Yacht Club is the new place for you. Membership benefits include:
• Uninterrupted vistas of vibrant Milford Harbor and serene Long
Island Sound • Use of our marina located right at the mouth of the harbor • Our pool pavilion with Olympic-sized and kiddie pools, lounge chairs, snack bar, and views of the marina • Three seasons of waterfront dining, socializing, and relaxing • Sailing programs for adults and children, and children’s swimming programs • 131 Trumbull Avenue 203-783-0060 www.milfordyachtclub.comMemories for a lifetime with the MYC family
Inquire today about how to spend your summer on the water.
office@milfordyachtclub.com or (203)783-0060 for full details on joining MYC.
Shrubs for Wildlife
NINEBARK (Physocarpus opulifolius) – Great spring nectar source for pollinators, and birds love the red berries.
FOTHERGILLA (Fothergilla gardenia) – Honey bees and butterflies are attracted to the nectar-rich, fragrant bottlebrush flowers which bloom before the leaves emerge. Wonderful fall color.
BUTTON BUSH (Cepholanthus americanus) – Creamy-white round flower head are loved by pollinators and butterflies. When the fruit forms, birds enjoy the seeds. From top: Ninebark, Fothergilla, Button Bush
Doesn’t mind wet “feet,” and grows up to 10 feet.
SUMMERSWEET (Clethra alnifolia) – Mid-to-late summer blooms are very fragrant and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bumblebees, and native bees.
Flowers in shade but loves full sun.
Brunch at the ‘Bridge Saturdays & Sundays Call to place your Mother's Day reservations!
Thanks for being an important part of our story. Voted Best Seafood & Best Outdoor Dining 2020
50 Daniel Street - Milford, CT 06460 (203)874-7947
From top: Fringe tree, Sourwood tree
Trees that Draw Attention
FRINGE TREE (Chionanthus virginicus) – Songbirds and game birds eat the dark purple fruits. Bees are primary pollinators.
SOURWOOD TREE (Oxydendrum arboretum) – Very attractive to butterflies, native bees, and honeybees. The seeds are eaten by birds. Fantastic fall color. —Cheryl Cappiali, UConn Extension Master Gardener, Milford Garden Club FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NATIVE PLANTS:
• National Audubon Society • National Wildlife Federation • The Native Plant Trust • The Nature Conservancy • The North American Native
Plant Society
NATIVE NURSERIES:
• Earth Tones Native Plants
Woodbury, CT • Native LLC. Fairfield, CT
MILFORD GARDEN CENTERS:
• Glendale Farms • Filanowski Farm • Rivercrest Farm • Robert Treat Farm
