Sorry that I have been away. Gardening season is busy for me. In a few hours, I'll be headed to Raleigh, NC for the Arts in Bloom Festival at the NC Art Museum.

Will report on all of this as soon as I return. Until then enjoy my blooming Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), a native vine that has stayed green even through the very cold days we had. Flowers popped out as one of the first flowers for my #NativeBees and other pollinators.

#Bloomscrolling #NativePlants #HabitatGardening #Gardening
@NCConnect

FOR THE BIRDS

🐦‍⬛ Non-native trees are commonly used in urban settings, but a new study out of Sweden finds that native trees provide more resources and are preferred by urban birds.

https://phys.org/news/2023-02-urban-birds-native-trees-long-term.html

🐛 Another study out of the University of Glasgow shows that common woodland birds produce more chicks when surrounded by a greater abundance of native tree foliage.

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-woodland-birds-native-trees-chicks.html

👉 Support the planting of native trees in all environments.

#WildlifeWednesday #Biodiversity #WildlifeConservation #NativePlants #UrbanPlanning #Birds #Environment #HabitatGardening #NativeTrees

Be Aware When Spring "Cleaning"

🐞 Check your timing when you begin clearing garden areas in the spring. Beneficial insects may still be overwintering in growth and stems.

🍂 Pic 1: This area of dead, overgrown iris leaves is a good example of a spot to overwinter, if you are a bug, so it was left until they had time to get active. (See link)

🌻 Pic 2: Waiting was not a problem, though. Time was used to create a design to maximize insect population support. Labels on the cleared area show that the design puts shorter natives at the 'top' of the bed and taller natives near the 'bottom'. Species prefer different heights.

🦋 This design also addresses the common view of this bed from beyond the 'top'. Now the many butterflies which will appear soon can easily be seen.

Go Native!

Details:
https://www.bhg.com/when-to-clean-garden-in-spring-11918761

#SolarPunkSunday #HabitatGardening #NativePlants #GardenDesign #Gardening #Biodiversity

PREPARE FOR HUMMINGBIRDS 🐦‍⬛

1️⃣ USians: Update Calendars for Appearances (Next 8 weeks)

🔸 Late February to mid-March: South Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida
🔸 Early April: Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina
🔸 Mid-April: Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Indiana
🔸 Late April: Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, parts of New England

2️⃣ Learn How to Support Them

🔸 Easy-to-make sugar and water solution should be available a couple of weeks before scheduled arrival. It can bring them to your window and help support populations and migration.
🔸 Resource: https://birdzfly.com/2026-hummingbird-migration-map-in-usa/

#SolarPunkSunday #Hummingbirds #WildlifeConservation #HabitatGardening

#WildlifeWednesday

🐦‍⬛ Has Spring nearly sprung in your hemisphere? Then it's time to think of your local birds!

🧹 [Edited to remove meanness] Unaware people near you cleared away leaves and debris last Fall, leaving precious little building material for our feathered engineers.

📉 You can help by taking a little time to make available twigs, last year's dead slender plant leaves, even natural fiber string and yarn. This will help reverse the bird declines we are seeing globally. More nests mean more chicks - and more bird song!

📒 Details are in my Habitat Gardening blog post, "Support Bird Nesting".

https://write.as/habitat-gardening/support-bird-nesting

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#HabitatGardening #BiodiversityGardening #Gardening #NativePlants #Nature #Environment #Conservation #Biodiversity #Birds #SolarPunk #WildlifeConservation

Support Bird Nesting

This time: Make nesting easier for your birds; Improve your home habitat for birds. [...]

https://write.as/habitat-gardening/support-bird-nesting

HELP BUILD BIRD AND BEE POPULATIONS

🌱 New post in HABITAT GARDENING for those considering purchasing native plant seeds: Know germination requirements.

🐝 Also, store-bought bee houses can be dangerous for bees, unless you manage them correctly.

📒 Finally, several FREE resources that help you help the 30% of native bees in North America that live above ground. You can bee a hero and help for zero dollars.

https://write.as/habitat-gardening/know-before-you-buy-native-plant-seeds

#WildlifeWednesday
#HabitatGardening
#BiodiversityGardening #Gardening #NativePlants #Nature #Environment #Conservation #Biodiversity #Invertebrates #SolarPunk

Know Before You Buy Native Plant Seeds

This Time: Making sure you know germination requirements of any native plants you plan to buy; Avoiding the danger in bee houses. [...]

https://write.as/habitat-gardening/know-before-you-buy-native-plant-seeds