A Bird’s Danger Color
Birds dislike white flowers.
To be honest. I have too many birds in my garden.
They are awesome pollinators, but they really like to feast on my flowers.
I've used blank CD's on sticks and many other tricks.
Birds are not a fan of white flowers. They're not going to scare birds away from your garden. Maybe, keep a few away.
Birds will show their white feathers or patches to signal danger. White feather’s are a bird’s way to defend themselves.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Orioles Love Orange
Orioles love orange flowers/
Orange flowers attract the Orioles.
In Ohio we have two Orioles that visit.
The Baltimore in spring. They love ripe fruit and nectar. Orange birds try orange slices. Also, grape jelly works great.
The Orchard appearing in summer. Not really easy to lure to a bird feeder. They love mulberries. I have those trees and get these friends. Orange slices hung high could persuade them to visit. Placed next to a full tree!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
The Fuzz in The Buzz
A bee is a hairy creature.
I Thought Waxing My Lip Was Hairy!
Bumblebees are hairy creatures.
If you looked at them under a microscope. You'd see tons of hairs that fork at the top.
Long and short tongues.
Meaning bumble bees as a group can pollinate in a variety of ways. Many other pollinators are not capable.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
My Kind Of Garden
How a bee sees a garden.
A Rainbow Shooting From The Ground
That's my kind of garden!
Poems, paintings and music have been written about the flower garden.
Imagine being a bee in this garden. Did you know that petals change color to a bee?
It's called "iridescence", within the "UV Spectrum".
Bees can see petals just turns colors. Humans cannot!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Parasitic Wasp Magic
Parasitic wasps are beneficial against aphids.
No romance blossoms more abundantly. Sweet Alyssum and Leafy Spring Greens!!! The magic is the parasitic wasp!
Sweet Alyssum flowers are irresistible to tiny parasitic wasps.
These insects use the aphids as a nursery for their baby wasps. Also baby wasps love to feed on aphids.
The wasp requires the body cavity of the aphids to survive.
No chemicals. No aphids. No garden problems. Thanks to our helpful wasp!!!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
The Buzz of Pollination
Bumblebee pollination.
Bumblebees are able to do something marvelous.
They contract muscle in flight. This produces strong vibrations.
Directed to their antler, by using their legs and mouth parts.
Producing a buzz worthy spread of pollen, via their antlers.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Seeing in UV
Bees see in ultraviolet light..
Do You See What Bees See?
Nope, we don't see ultraviolet, but a bee can!
Humans base their color combo on red, blue and green.
Bees base their colors on ultraviolet light, blue and green.
Bees cannot see the color red!
They do see reddish wavelengths. Like orange and yellow!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Seeds For Monarchs
Fall gardens and the monarch butterfly.
The growing season is about to begin.
However, it’ll continue long into autumn.
The pollinators that you grow during fall are very important to the migrating Monarchs.
Those Monarchs that winter in Mexico are the superstars that get the cycle of life restarted every spring.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Tough Odds
Monarch butterfly reproduction.
Did you know that only about 5% of Monarchs successfully hatch and survive in nature?
You can boost those odds by 90% if you monitor their nurseries in your gardens. Foster them.
As for indoor breeding. I still don't support the idea. Keep a healthy garden and stay natural
Monarch Cycle:
Eggs (4-7days)
Caterpillar (2 weeks)
Chrysalis (8-14 days)
Monarch (Fall migrators over 8 months)
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Salvia's Relationship To Nature
The importance of flowering herbs in early spring.
Salvia or Sage, there's a serious romance of sorts with the pollinator posse.
If you want a Monarch to "super like" your garden. The milkweed/salvia duo will not disappoint.
One of the first blooms in my garden is my blue bedder salvia. It never disappoints.
It's my "calling card" that the garden is open for pollinators
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Monarch’s Need Nectar
A variety of flowers and the monarch butterfly.
The Monarch is on the decline.
Non-native plants are essential to regaining the Monarch population.
Planting native is a great idea and practice.
However, it's not going to help the Monarch if you remove helpful non-native plants. If they are providing a strong nectar supply.
A better solution. Figure out how to add native plants around the non-native plants. If those plants are beneficial to the Monarch.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Bread Eggs & Milkweed
Milkweed and the monarch butterfly.
Planting a variety of milkweed guarantees a viable milkweed leaf is always available for caterpillars who need one.
What kind of milkweed do you want to plant?
Common and Swamp milkweed are a double Ohio delight. All have the nectar for butterflies and their leaves are the perfect nursery for their caterpillar kiddos
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Thinking About Monarchs
Benefiting the Monarch butterfly.
Nothing keeps me warmer than thoughts of the Monarch.
We can help them.
Beginning with planting your garden early.
You've heard that in Ohio you plant, starting Mother's Day weekend. But, you actually have an entire season of other planting before.
The "cool crops" are planted beginning on the 1st day of Spring and throughout the early season. It will be those crops that entice the pollinators and Monarchs to your garden.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
The Queen’s Duties
The life of a queen bumblebee.
There's a great deal to understanding bumblebees.
The Queen is the only bee to survive through Winter. Hibernating alone.
Male bumblebees have no stinger. Only the females.
Before the males die in Fall. The Queen mates and stores it in her abdomen until Spring.
Then she'll make new baby bumblebees in Spring.
Dies off when she has a successor. Another crowned Queen. The cycle repeats.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Following The Sun
Sunflowers and their meanings.
Sunflowers follow the sun.
Those who plant Sunflowers follow the light.
No matter what storms are upon you. A Tender of Sunflowers seeks happiness, positivity and optimism.
A garden of Sunflowers belongs to the ones that have unwavering faith.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
A World Of Flowers
Inspirational flowers ideas.
There's no such thing as too many posts that celebrate nature.
You cannot share too many pictures of the pollinator posse.
The world has far too little sunshine and flowers.
Inject a ray of light on your community whenever the opportunity!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
When You Need Harmony
The meaning of cosmos in a cottage garden.
Make your day harmonious. Think of these blooms.
Cosmos are the order and harmony of a late Summer garden.
With a name like Cosmos, is it any surprise these flowers guide your gardens until the the final hard frost?
The Cosmos is the heart of a cottage garden!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Playing by The Rules
The meaning of hyacinth.
Hyacinth are for those who play the game of life. Fair and square.
Like the flower fights to be a 1st bloom in Spring. You fight to win everyday.
Someone who plants hyacinths is encouraging within their community!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Cottage Garden Style
Celebrating cottage blooms.
No cottage garden is complete without this edible bloom.
Bachelor's Buttons have a single wish with each blue bloom.
Good luck to the one who grows them.
Wealth and good fortune are the fate of those who plant their seeds,
A cornflower is a blessing for any garden.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
