June 19th-25th is Pollinator Week! Let's celebrate! The Power of Pollinators: Sustaining Our Ecosystem and Food Supply

As we celebrate the cycle of life and our planet's incredible biodiversity, we must give a special nod to our tiny yet mighty companions, the pollinators. This army of diligent workers, primarily composed of bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, plays an invaluable role in sustaining life on Earth, a role that can be too easily overlooked. Pollinators are the unsung heroes of our planet's ecosystem, enabling the reproduction of nearly 90% of the world's flowering plant species and more than 75% of our global food crops, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Without them, our plates would lack the variety and nutrition we currently enjoy. From the dazzling colors of wildflowers that grace our landscapes to the juicy fruits that nourish our bodies, we owe it all to these magnificent creatures. Bees alone are responsible for pollinating critical agricultural crops such as apples, almonds, and blueberries. Moreover, pollinators support the growth of trees and plants that provide essential habitats for countless species, playing a critical role in maintaining biodiversity.

This week, take a moment to admire a butterfly fluttering by or a bee buzzing from flower to flower. They're not just another part of the landscape; they are vital links in the chain of life. By championing pollinators, we ensure a flourishing, biodiverse planet for generations to come. Because as the saying goes, "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Let's do our part to return it in the best condition possible.

Pollinator Populations: A Crisis Unfolding

Pollinator populations worldwide are witnessing a distressing decline. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that around 16.5% of vertebrate pollinators face global extinction, and regional losses in insect populations can reach up to 40%. This global issue threatens our biodiversity, food systems, and economy. This decline is driven by habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive species, diseases, and climate change. The transformation of natural habitats into agricultural and urban areas destroys the native flora crucial for pollinators. Pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, harm ecosystems, and pollinator health. The impact of invasive species and diseases, as well as climate change's disruption of pollinator life cycles, add to the complexity of this problem.

What can we can do to help?

The good news is that we can do something to help pollinators in our backyard. As environmental stewards, we can combat this crisis through practical steps: 1. Planting native plants for a continuous bloom to provide pollinator habitats. 2. Reducing or eliminating the impact of pesticides. 3. Register our gardens as Florida-Friendly or bee-friendly spaces. 4. Reaching out to others to inform and inspire about pollinator health. 5. Buying local honey to support beekeepers. 6. Practicing resource conservation to alleviate climate change pressures. 7. Support organizations such as the Pollinator Partnership @ pollinators.org For more information, go to https://www.pollinator.org/7things and watch this video.

Tips on Creating a Pollinator Garden Habitat opportunities abound on every landscape – from window boxes to acres of farms to corporate campuses to utility and roadside corridors – every site can be habitat. Utilize plants native to your area (or, at the least, noninvasive for your area). Utilize the Ecoregional Planting Guides and the Garden Recipe Cards to create or enhance your pollinator garden. Decide among the plant material options - seeds, plugs, plants, or a combination. Know your soil type and select the appropriate plant material. Plant in clusters to create a "target" for pollinators to find. Plant for continuous bloom throughout the growing season from spring to fall. Select a site that is removed from wind, has at least partial sun, and can provide water. Allow material from dead branches and logs to remain as nesting sites; reduce mulch to allow patches of bare ground for ground-nesting bees to utilize; consider installing wood nesting blocks for wood-nesting natives.

Select the Right Plants for Each Pollinator.

Bees Honeybees prefer white, yellow, purple, and blue flowers — they can’t even see the color red! Bees also need a nice-sized landing pad, so broad-petal, daisy-like flowers are best. Finally, they need both pollen and nectar to feed the hive. So fruit-producing trees and shrubs, as well as native plants, fill the bill.

Butterflies  If you want a well-attended butterfly party in your yard, invite your local butterfly species by planting their favorite host plants! Butterflies require specific host plant species to lay their eggs on, food, and shelter. Then add some nectar plants to feed your guest, preferably with red, orange, yellow, and pink trumpet-shaped flowers.

Hummingbirds  Brightly colored, preferably red, tubular flowers that hold the most nectar are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. Plant these sugar-rich plants near and around your home and patio areas for the best opportunity to view these elusive and unique birds.

Black-Eyed Susan Coral Honeysuckle Marigolds Lavender Purple Cone flower Milkweed Coreopsis Gaillardia Dune Sunflower Blue-Eyed Grass Liatris Alyssum Agastache Bee Balm

Lantana Penta Buddleia Firebush Salvia Porterweed Sweet Almond Bush Firespike Black-Eyed Susan Purple Cone flower Milkweed Coreopsis Gaillardia Dune Sunflower

Firebush Coral honeysuckle Coralbean Tropical Sage Crossvine Cardinalflower Necklace Pod Cigar Plant Batface Cuphea Salvia Jatropha Bottlebrush Shrimp plant Soap Aloe

LANDSCAPE PROJECT OF THE MONTH  A Unique Solution to a Make the Most of a Sloping Yard

Designer Patti Sanders devised a great twist on a pool landscape design. She lifted the slanted yard to the pool level and created a unique step-down effect to make the most of this sloping lot. It turned out great!

Don't have much space? Put your Pollinator Garden in a pot! Bring on the butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees with this recipe. The bees were all over this June container garden as we took the photos!  Salvia Mystic Spires is easy to grow, low maintenance, heat tolerant, and deer resistant! The perfect thriller, perennial, and, most importantly, a bee favorite! Rudbeckia Rising Sun makes a bold statement with loads of 5" blooms that will continue through fall! Heat and drought tolerant too! Dwarf Pentas is a Florida-friendly perennial that attracts many pollinators! It comes in a variety of colors and is an excellent ever-blooming filler. Lantana New Gold is a classic spiller with a trailing nature and continuous bloom. Along with the other flowers in its recipe, it will make this planter your Summer through Fall favorite.

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LAWN MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR JUNE

It's the Rainy Season!

To avoid problems with your lawn during the rainy season, remember that:   1.    People and pets can tear up the sod by walking or running on it. 2.    Mowing a wet lawn is unhealthy for the sod. 3.    Standing water undermines plant health, invites mosquitos and other insects into your yard, and can damage foundations. 4.    If leaves and other debris pile up after a storm, it must be removed, or it can damage the grass. 5. Further aeration may be needed if water stands on the lawn for days. 6.    Look out for this disease caused by excessive water on sod: Sod Web Worm

Images of Sod Web Worm

Gray Leaf Spot: The Fungal Foe of Your Lawn Gray leaf spot is a fungus that predominantly afflicts St. Augustine grass. This disease initially presents as small, brown leaf spots on St. Augustine grass, quickly growing into larger, tan-to-gray patches with a distinct purple or brown rim. A yellow aura may surround these spots or coincide with the leaf's overall yellowing. The fungal invader flourishes in warm, damp weather, producing a grayish cotton-like growth and countless spores on the dying foliage. This gives the spots their characteristic grayish hue. If the leaf spots are plentiful, individual blades of grass will eventually shrivel up and die. Significant turf sections can appear scorched when conditions favor the disease, mirroring the effects of severe drought. During dry summer spells, the fungus can persist as fungal growth and spores on deceased foliage and within the thatch layer. When summer moisture and humidity return, the fungus generates a spore surplus, dispersed by wind, rain, irrigation, and even the movement of wet lawn equipment. Images of Grey Leaf Spot

Correct Irrigation Here in NE Florida summers will get hot, and your lawn will prefer three waterings each week (including rain events). Yet, as we are going through this cycle of daily heavy rains, be sure to turn off your irrigation. Too much water will cause as many issues as too little. Combating Gray Leaf Spot 1. Reduce the thatch layer in your lawn. 2. Water deeply but sparingly, ideally one inch per week and always in the early morning for swift foliage drying. 3. Avoid using post-emergent weed killers when the disease is active. 4. Moderate nitrogen fertilizer usage. 5. Promote air circulation and light penetration in your lawn. Prune overhanging trees and surrounding shrubs. 6. Mow when the grass is dry, at the right height, and bag and discard grass clippings if the disease is evident.

POND LIFE Another Great Pond Tour in the Books!

The ponds were terrific, the hosts gracious, and the tour-goers the best! Pond Tour 2023 was a great time. We introduced the Pond Hoppers Challenge scavenger hunt and had some serious contenders! Thank you to everyone We can't wait until next year!

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