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Partnering for the Monarch Butterfly

September 29, 2016 By Jenn Stumer Leave a Comment

Partnering for the Monarch Butterfly- – by Jenn Stumer, – Appalachian Creations, Inc.monarch butterfly

Did you know that the monarch butterfly is in crisis?  Even to the point of being considered for the endangered species list?  This is bad news in more ways than one.  The monarch butterfly is North America’s most loved insect and they contribute to the health of our planet by pollinating many types of wildflowers.  This article will discuss how Appalachian Creations, Inc. is partnering for the Monarch Butterfly.

Recently, a concerned group of individuals from the Butterfly Garden Committee of Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville, PA approached me with a plan to create a butterfly haven.  The location chosen is an area in the Uptown Park in the borough of Northampton, the site of our most recent community landscape project.  The group, headed up by Reverend Jerry Mraz, received the go-ahead from the Northampton Borough Council.  Appalachian will be donating the labor to prepare the proposed sections of the park and the Butterfly Garden Committee will be procuring the milkweed and butterfly plants. The group even went so far as to apply for grants and received approval for $500!

According to the Center for Food Safety, monarch numbers have been declining steadily for the last 20 years.  Although monarchs feed on the nectar of many flowers, they lay their eggs only on certain types of milkweed plants. Monarchs need milkweed to survive because it hosts much of their life cycle.  The eggs hatch into caterpillars and feed on the milkweed through the five stages of their growth.

Unfortunately, milkweeds are often eradicated as noxious weeds. Especially in the last two decades where we saw the introduction of Round-Up Ready (RR) corn and soybeans. Round-Up Ready crops are genetically engineered to survive direct broadcast application of glyphosate.  Glyphosate, (otherwise known as Round-Up) is one of the very few herbicides that is effective on milkweed.  Once absorbed it kills milkweed to the root and prevents regeneration.

There are two other unrelated reasons for the decline of the monarch.  One is the deforestation and development of their winter habitats in Mexico and California.  The other is climate change.  Especially during the last decade, changes in climate have brought on more out-of-season storms, severe temperature drops and excessive rain. The combination of both wet and cold is deadly and has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of millions of butterflies.

What can be done?  Obviously, here in the Lehigh Valley, we have very little power over the deforestation/development on the other side of the continent.  And we have absolutely no power over climate change.  Only one resolution remains – we must plant milkweed.  And we must create habitats that attract monarchs.  The Uptown Park Monarch project is just one small step in the direction of partnering for the monarch.

Filed Under: Articles, Butterflies, Flowers, Landscape, Spring, Summer Tagged With: attract butterflies, butterfly, butterfly habitat, butterfly haven, crisis, landscape project, lehigh valley, milkweed, monarch, wildflowers

The Tiger Lily – The Common Orange Daylily

June 22, 2015 By Jenn Stumer Leave a Comment

  Tiger Lily

  Tiger Lily Hemerocallis fulva

          by Jenn Stumer

Appalachian Creations, Inc.

The Tiger Lily… Famous for appearing along roadsides from coast to coast, this common wildflower is known by a host of different names in different parts of the world. Some may know it as Tawny Daylily or Roadside Lily, Ditch Lily or Railroad Lily.

This common orange daylily was introduced into the United States in the late 19th century as an ornamental perennial. This is the one found in every grandmother’s garden and the one seen blooming right now along roadsides from coast to coast. It is the number one daylily to naturalize. Once established, it multiplies and spreads to form dense patches that overwhelm all weeds. It requires no care and is tolerant of any soil (although it really LOVES moist and wet soils which is why it grows so well in roadside ditches. It loves shade but will also flourish in sun as well.

Once quite popular with homeowners and landscapers for the large, showy flowers, hardiness and the ability to spread, nowadays, the Tiger Lily has fallen a bit to the wayside in landscape designs simply because it can be an aggressive spreader. Some even consider it invasive. Taking their place is the new hybrid Daylilies that vary in height, color and length of blooming period.

Where does the Tiger Lily get its Name?

The Tiger Lily gets its “Lily” name from the similarity of the flower to other lilies. True lilies carry the genus name “Lilium.” Some major differences are: Daylilies grow from tuberous roots and Lilies grow from bulbs. Daylily flowers last only one day and Lily flowers can last up to a week. The foliage differs as well with Daylilies having long, flat blades that grow in clumps. The Lily has one, single unbranched stem from the bulb. There is actually a true Lily bearing the name “Tiger Lily” that has large orange flowers covered in spots.

The Tiger Lily can grow up to four feet tall and produce numerous 4-5” flowers on their stems. The tiger lily flower only lasts one day and is actually edible. Dried or fresh flowers are used in Asian cooking and are known as “golden needles.” The shoots and roots are also edible and when baked, lily roots are said to taste like potatoes! Oh and did I mention they attract butterflies and hummingbirds???

Tiger Lily (3)

Filed Under: Articles, Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Landscape, Summer, Uncategorized

The Hummingbirds Are Here!

May 16, 2014 By Jenn Stumer Leave a Comment

Hummingbird 3          Hummingbirds are Here! by Jenn Stumer – Appalachian Creations. Inc.

        With cooler temperatures lending such a late start to this spring season, it’s been easy to forget about the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  Imagine my delight when I saw one hovering over the burgundy pansies in my hanging baskets!  I knew there were very little options for food for them so I hung my liquid feeder the same day.  Of course the arrival of this Archilochus colubris, prompted me to research more information on them.  Which I’m happy to share!

          Ruby-throated Hummingbirds begin their migration from the south and arrive around the same time every year regardless of the temperatures in our area.  They need the warmth of the sun, and they need food sources as soon as they arrive.   This cooler weather prevents them from feeding, and forces them to go into torpor, a state of being still and stiff, in order to conserve energy.  If they can’t find food to generate warmth, they might not survive.

          Hummers will feed every 15-20 minutes all day long.  An adult bird can eat twice their body weight in one day but it burns this up with the high metabolism necessary to sustain its rapid wing beat and aerodynamic maneuvers.  Nectar is their primary source of food from which they gain carbohydrates for energy.  But they do not suck nectar as you would expect them to (as in drinking through a straw). They place their open bill in the feeder and lick up the nectar at a high rate of speed similar to how a cat drinks.  The birds will also catch and eat insects and spiders that will provide them with fats and proteins. They will spend more time eating insects to fatten up as the time draws near for their southern migration. 

          The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the most common hummingbird in our area. The adult males migrate north several days before the females and young males in order to claim their territory.  The territory is usually rich in nectar-containing flowers and could cover a quarter acre or more.  Hummers are extremely protective of their food source and will defend their territory by chasing intruders out of their space.  They will descend aggressively upon cats, squirrels, butterflies, moths, bees, larger birds and even humans to defend their territory.  Even the female builds her nest away from the male territory.  

          Ruby-throated Hummingbirds like to nest in deciduous or mixed woodland areas often near or over water.  The female alone builds the nest usually on a downward facing tree branch anywhere between 4’-50’ off the ground.  She will use old flowers and leaves and lichen on the outside.  The inside is lined with soft plant down and spider’s silk.  The outside diameter is no bigger than a half dollar.  Old nests are reused for several seasons and refurbished every year. 

          Female Hummingbirds provide all the care for the babies.  They lay 1-3 eggs, incubating them for about two weeks.  Upon hatching, the young are no bigger than peas.  They are blind and featherless and virtually helpless, in need of constant care.  They are fed by the female as she is hovering.  She inserts her bill into the baby’s throat and pumps in nectar and insects.  Because brooding periods vary with the weather, a female may have several broods in a season. 

          Hummingbirds have unique skeletal and flight muscle adaptations that enable them to have high maneuverability in flight.  Muscles make up 25-30% of their body weight.  Their wings connect to the body only from the shoulder joint.  From this joint the wing rotates almost 180 degrees.  This allows the bird to move freely in any direction.  They can fly not only forward but also straight up and down, sideways and backwards.  And of course they can hover in order to drink nectar and eat insects.  During hovering, their wings beat an average of 53 beats per second.  When moving backwards, 61 beats per second and an astonishing 75 beats per second when moving forward.  When they fly, they always follow regular routes.  This is called traplining.  

          Hummers have more feathers per square inch than any other bird and have no down feathers. Many of the feathers are iridescent and require sunlight to show colors.  The ruby-throated adult male sports the tell-tale brilliant red throat.  The immature males may show some slight coloring in this area but do not fully mature until the following spring.

           Hummingbirds are guided by sight.  They can see the color red, especially large groups of it, from over half a mile away.  But they are not only attracted to red.  Orange, pink, purple, white and blue flowers will also draw them. 

          Hummingbirds share favorite plants with butterflies.  Mimosa, butterfly bush, shrub verbena, monarda and hollyhock are a few examples.  Cardinal vine, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, rose of Sharon, and Rhododendron are Hummingbird magnets.  They are also attracted to artificial feeders.   And they love dripping water.  They will fly through it instead of perching on a bird bath.

          The oldest known Ruby-throated Hummingbird on record is 9 years and 1 month of age. Almost all hummingbirds of 7 years or more in age are females, with males rarely surviving past 5 years of age.  Possible reasons for a higher mortality rate in males may be weight loss during the breeding season (it takes a lot of energy to defend its territory), followed by a grueling marathon migration south. 

          The Ruby-throats are back!  And the late start to spring may be hindering them from keeping up with their regular diet.  Not much to be done about the cool temperatures but if you have an artificial feeder, fill it and put it out!  In researching this article, I learned a good bit about them that I didn’t know before.  I hope you enjoy reading it!

Filed Under: Articles, Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Landscape, Spring, Summer, Uncategorized

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