Native Plants
-
Milkweed, in the genus, Asclepias, are the prime host plants for monarch butterflies. Their caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. Without milkweed, monarchs cannot complete their life cycle. The monarch has long been the most fascinating insect in the United States. Not only is it a beautiful butterfly, but it also undertakes the longest and…
-
Biodiversity is the extraordinary variety of life on Earth — from genes and species to ecosystems and the valuable functions they perform. E.O. Wilson, the noted biologist and author who coined the term “biodiversity,” explains it as “the very stuff of life.” For at least 3.8 billion years, a complex web of life has been…
Posted in: Uncategorized -
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate north from their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. They arrive in Georgia in the spring between late March to early April. Migration depends on the weather and food sources. We need to be prepared for the hummingbirds’ arrival by putting out feeders. We should fill the feeders with a solution…
-
Without pollinators, people and earth’s environment would be in jeopardy. Of the 1,400 crop plants grown around the world, those that produce all our food and plant-based industrial products, almost 80% require pollination by animals. Visits from bees and other pollinators also result in larger, more flavorful fruits and higher crop yields. We have pollinators…
-
As we transition from fall into early winter, we imagine the beauty of spring wildflowers. You can set the stage for a healthy, vibrant spring garden by aligning your planting strategy with nature’s rhythm. But as with anything, success depends on several key factors, including timing, preparation, and knowing your local climate. We are in…
-
Close your eyes, you are sitting on your porch, “Georgia On My Mind” is playing in the background. You are eating a juicy peach* and then you hear an American green tree frog melodious trill. Does this make you think of the other Georgia symbols? Most of the symbols denote agriculture, nature, and flowers. Agribusiness…
-
Remember when you were a kid, and you’d get tucked in on all sides nice and snug for a good night’s rest so you’d be ready to go the next day? Your gardens need that same care in late fall to have the best start in the spring. Some call it “putting the garden to…
-
If you could increase the value of your land to where it would benefit you financially, improve game and fish harvest, and provide ecological improvements, would you be curious? Of course you would! That means you need to register today for the 2025 Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day on Sept. 18. This one-of-a-kind educational event,…
-
A naturalist is any person who studies the natural world. Naturalists make observations of the relationships between organisms and their environments, as well as how those relationships change over time. Well-known examples of naturalists in history include Charles Darwin, John Muir, Rachel Carson, and William Batrum. Notable naturalists in recent history include Janisse Ray, Steve and…
-
Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate north from their wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. They arrive in Georgia in the spring between late March to early April. Migration depends on the weather and food sources. We need to be prepared for the hummingbirds’ arrival by putting out feeders by mid-March. We should fill the feeders with…
-
When it comes to our landscapes, do we ask ourselves why we plant what we plant? How much are we influenced by our neighbors’ landscapes? How much is determined by ill-advised and uninformed HOAs? We are now at the point where these questions must be considered in depth, because our landscapes are no longer just…