September 26 , 2019
Why Plant for Pollinators in Weather Challenge
Austin ’s hottest September on book following weeks of drought and temps topping 100 ° ( still chalk up three - digits first week of twilight ) has left grief-stricken gardens , frantically throw off trees , and desperate wildlife in its wake . At the same clip , just hours from my planetary house , Tropical Storm Imelda put down home and life .
Near The Woodlands in Houston , Brennon Romney’shome and habitat garden did n’t wash away , but the field behind his theater became temporary lakefront property after a quick 16 ” of rain . He slogged through the boundary to discover an opportunist Gulf Coast anuran awaiting a meal from scamper insect . In May , we answeredChris Hazard’squestion about millepede accumulate on his exterior walls . At that time , with all the rain , Travis County Extension bugologist Wizzie Browntold us they were escaping concentrated grime . Now , gregarious millipedes are tramp around inside my house . This time , they ’re attempt moisture and humidness indoors after weeks of ironical soil . In their natural leaf - litter home ground , these herbivore are valuable garden scavengers . I gently tuck them up and deposit into a moist , shady container plant on the patio . On my the Great Compromiser grease , some petite house crack has set aside access .
Wildlife are desperate for piddle in CTX . A thirsty wren nickedSusan Doss’euphorbia . In fact , all wildlife go after our succulent in juiceless times like this . And the plants will recover!Every evening , I replenish the great birdbath ( bees and wasps drink along the edges ) along with multiple vessels of all sizes for tiny creatures . A large plant saucer even puzzle out . Anything , tribe , though they ’ll still go after your flora .
Challenging weather makes it even more significant to plant for the home ground main road . This week , meet Certified Master NaturalistDrake White , laminitis ofThe Nectar Bar , a native plant landscaping ship’s company in San Antonio . She also sells native plant and carry workshops . A champion for wildlife home ground since she discovered a Black Swallowtail butterfly stroke caterpillar on her Florence fennel , she ’s a hands - on educator to step us through easy ways to turn over our garden into year - long home ground . look on now !
Drake ’s also the chief docent for San Antonio’s4th one-year Monarch Butterfly & Pollinator Festivalcoming your style October 12 - 20.Monika Maekle , founder ofTexas Butterfly Ranch , an educational resource , notes that the weeklong celebration of scientific discipline , citizen science , artistic creation , and Department of Education , unfolds in venues across the metropolis . Along with art , child ’s activity , educational assembly , butterfly release , and masses for Pollinators Parade , NPR ’s John Burnettjoins the “ Butterflies Without Borders ” panel discourse . Get all the details .
Drought , fungal disease and last wintertime ’s late freeze continue to impact our fruit trees . Viewers are asking , “ Should we fertilize our yield trees this fall to help them out?”“No , ” saysJim Kamas , Texas A&M AgriLife Extension fruit specialist . We do n’t want to encourage newfangled outgrowth as ( believe it or not ) our first frost are on the skyline . He explain when to fertilize , why a persimmon ’s dying , and what ’s troubling a fig Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Watch now .
Indoor gardeners face their own problem with succulent plant . Monique CapanelliofArticulture Designsillustrates how to name . Here ’s an echeveria that does n’t have enough lighter . But this genus Aeonium is suffer from sunscald . Crinkly leave indicate a deficiency of piss , while black , rot stems indicate too much . This echeveria ’s job staunch from improper tearing : trivial drinks that create too much humidity under the leaves without genuinely substantiate the rootage . Watch now to see her examples in military action !
On hitch in San Antonio , Christine and Richard Alcorta’scinder block veggie garden on rocky grease did the trick to pull pollinators for year - long organic harvests . Richard cut vino bottles and orchestrate an artistic waterfall that like a shot pull wildlife to the audio of run water . Watch their story now !
Thanks for stopping by ! See you next week , Linda
tags :
