by flowadmin | Dec 6, 2022 | Backyard Conservation, Invasive Species, News, Pollinators, Recreation, Volunteers, Water Resources, Wildlife
As the year is ending we have been reflecting on what an amazing year 2022 has been. Together we have done so much to help the Lower Olentangy watershed. Over 3,384 volunteer hours have been spent cleaning up trash, planting trees, maintaining pollinator gardens, monitoring the tributaries of the Olentangy River, removing honeysuckle and other invasive plants and so much more. We couldn’t do this work without your time and financial support. Thank you!!!
Thank you for reading this special letter from FLOW Board President, Kelly Thiel:
This fall, on a beautiful afternoon, I took a walk along the Olentangy trail just south of Henderson Road. What used to be open grassy fields next to Whetstone High School is now planted with a row of native trees, ready to provide years of shade to trail users and an improved ecosystem for the area. This successful project is just one of many that FLOW made possible this year. Our grant writers are always on the lookout for opportunities to bring dollars to our communities and improve the watershed for all of its inhabitants. These trees were obtained through a grant FLOW received and planted by FLOW volunteers. Our hope is that everyone who passes by these trees benefits from their proven ability to clean the air, improve the soil, increase wildlife habitat, filter storm water and regulate the surrounding temperature.
In order to continue to make a difference we rely on the support of generous individuals and businesses in our community. If you have been to a FLOW event in the last couple of years then you are likely familiar with our fabulous event coordinator. With your support we can keep this position filled, keep our tools stored, and the lights on in our small office. We depend on our community recognizing the value of a healthy watershed to continue to fund the work we do.
In these days of increasing costs for everything from groceries to goods and services my family has been using the outdoors as free entertainment and a benefit to our mental health. It can be easy to take our green spaces for granted and ignore that Columbus is one of the fastest growing heat islands; increased development will put a strain on our streams and tributaries. FLOW remains focused on our mission to maintain the value of one of the community’s most precious assets–The Olentangy River. We need your help to continue this mission and meet the environmental challenges ahead.
If you have donated to FLOW in the past, THANK YOU! Our donors and volunteers make FLOW the great organization it is today. We hope that you’ll consider becoming a member of FLOW. You can give a one time gift or we hope you’ll consider giving as a monthly supporter. Your tax-deductible donation will help keep the Olentangy River safe, clean, and healthy for generations to enjoy in the decades to come. Visit the support page on this website for ways to donate.
by Ellie Nowels | Sep 1, 2022 | Backyard Conservation, News, Pollinators
We’re excited to be partnering with Riverside Native Perennials on a Fall Forb Fundraiser. This will be a great way to get some native plants for pollinators and migrating insects that are looking for fall flowers! Riverside Native Perennials is opening up their whole inventory to FLOW supporters with 40% of the proceeds coming back to FLOW.
All plants will need to be picked up on Saturday, September 24th from 12pm-3pm at the Sawmill Wetlands Education Area (2650 Sawmill Place Blvd., Columbus OH 43235)
Thank you for your support!
by Ellie Nowels | Jul 12, 2022 | Backyard Conservation, Pollinators
Are you like a kid in a candy store when you go plant shopping? So many choices! But after many years of choosing plants based only their beauty, I discovered that I’ve been doing no favors to the birds and butterflies I was trying to encourage, because I was purchasing mainly non-native plants.
Once established, native plants will provide a beautiful season of blooms with little care.
What is a native plant? Native plants are plants that have historically grown in an area without having been introduced directly or indirectly by humans. They have co-evolved with the area’s insects and birds as part of the food web.
The bad news: We are in the middle of a mass extinction, with approximately a 30% loss of birds and insects since the 1970’s. The causes include climate change, changes in agricultural practices, habitat loss, and modern gardening and lawn care practices. If this loss continues it will have serious ripple effects throughout the world’s food web, including our own.
The good news: Many people are coming to realize that our own yards are a critical part of nature. Instead of planting non-native plants that provide no benefit to the food web, and pursuing the perfect green lawn (via copious applications of insecticides and herbicides), more and more gardeners are seeking out plants that aren’t just pretty.
Caterpillars are critical! Feeding birds is one of America’s most popular hobbies. But with few exceptions, baby birds can’t eat seeds; they need soft-bodied insects. Rearing a clutch of eggs requires around 6,000 to 9,000 insects, with caterpillars the preferred choice. Caterpillars are almost all plant specialists, and most have evolved ways to bypass the defenses of specific plants, and cannot survive elsewhere. (Monarchs and milkweed are just one example of this kind of symbiotic relationship). The plants needed for each species of moth and butterflies’ larvae are called host plants, and providing host plants is the best way to nurture songbirds as well as butterflies and moths. The National Wildlife Foundation has an excellent plant finder database (nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Plants) that lists plants native to areas by zip code, with info on how many and what species that plant hosts.
This mining bee (Andrena erigeniae) can only use pollen from Spring Beauties to feed its larvae.
Keystone plants– the superstars: There are a number
of plants that are superstars as host plants – we call those keystone plants. In our region, the top trees are oak (host to over 400 species!), followed by American plum (over 300 species); top shrubs include blueberry and willow. Top flowering perennials include the native goldenrods and asters. (See our website for a detailed list).
Are my non-native plants killing the birds and butterflies? There is no need to dig up your hostas or other nursery plants if you enjoy them. There are many non-native plants that provide nectar to butterflies and hummingbirds. It’s only when it comes to laying eggs that specific plants are needed. Of course, if a plant is invasive (Bradford pear, burning bush, purple loosestrife, for example), its fast-spreading habits destroy diversity in wild areas, and it should be removed.
What about the bees?
Our native bees, especially bumblebees, are suffering great losses. (Honeybees are not native, and actually can contribute to these losses by competing with native bees for nectar resources). To help the bees, offer a variety of plants so there are nectar sources throughout the season. Bumblebees use a wide variety of nectar and pollen sources, but there are many small specialist bees that can only feed their larvae with the pollen from specific plants. The keystone plants mentioned above can provide for the needs of many of these specialist bees. Bumblebees and other native bees often are ground nesters, so having areas of open soil can provide habitat.
Native vs. Cultivar: There is some controversy about the use of native plants that have been altered to create a new variety. These plants will be labeled with an additional name in quotes. (For example, a purple coneflower – straight species – would be labeled Echinacea purpurea. A cultivar version might be labeled Echinacea purpurea “White Swan”). These cultivars have been created to appeal to gardeners, but depending on the alteration, they could be less beneficial to insects. In particular, any change to the leaf color or texture could make them inedible or less digestible for caterpillars. Changes to the flower structure might make the nectar or pollen less accessible for pollinators. So if at all possible, choose the straight species.
Your lawn is critical: All this planting of natives will not be helpful if they are surrounded by a lawn that receives applications of insecticides and herbicides and/or spraying for mosquitos. The insects and birds that are attracted by your native plants will be adversely affected!
– Ellie Nowels
