THE SUNFLOWER PROJECT - MONITORING THE BEES

http://www.greatsunflower.org/

This is something I want to try. I have seen...TWO (COUNT THEM - 2) HONEYBEES THIS YEAR.

There are no flower wasps, no moths, either nocturnal or diurnal, no micro moths, no orchard bees, few carpenter bees.

This is the time of migration for butterflies. In fact, by late October, most of the migrations are over for them. There was so much rain this year, we had growth but no flowers. The county mowers have scoured the roadsides. They should be at least knee deep to over my head and full of blooms. September should be a kaleidoscope in yellows, whites and orange. NOTHING is here for the butterflies or wasps.

The Monarchs should be coming. There is nothing for them. They had a bad time in Mexico last year.

The Gulf Fritillary should have arrived in late August to stay until late October, migrating in clouds.

The one shown above is the second one I've seen. And it is an older adult.

A friend who is a lifelong naturalist and ornithologist said there are simply NO pollinators this year.

How is it in your neck of the woods? Are they spraying? Do you have chem trails? Is your county mowing brutally? Got any theories? Do you have pollinators? Do you have GM crops near you?

Please leave some comments.

The Butterfly and Moth Cookbook - getting ready for spring?

I love butterflies and moths. You know that by now. On the warmest day last week it went above their comfort zone and I saw two sulfurs and a Sleepy Orange (I think).

So, just in case you're getting spring itchy, I wrote a little recipe book on attracting butterflies and moths to your garden.

And here it is: http://www.jpgmag.com/stories/7053

I'm going to try it out on my grandchildren this summer, because our peak butterfly season begins in August.

Oh - and bear in mind that all the images on my JPG Magazine site and on Red Bubble are for sale. (A little bit of self-promotion, you know.)

Collection of really nice gardening videos...

You will love these - something for everyone. From Living the Country Life. Good info on heirloom seeds, water gardening, etc.

http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/lcl/file.jsp?sssdmh=dm17.382389&item=/videos/index&temp=yes&bcpid=1156002551&bclid=1338929664&bctid=8784033001&esrc=nwlcl49_09&email=1043230477

I didn't know this about earthworms...

Take a look at this!

Earthworms Spread Weed Seed

Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) is one of the main contributors to the hay fever that causes distress to millions of gardeners this time of year. While giant ragweed is quite capable of spreading through gardens and fields on its own, it’s also getting help from one of a gardener’s best friends: the earthworm.

Weed ecologists at Ohio State University have found that earthworms are moving seeds of giant ragweed around in the soil, effectively spreading this weed wherever they go. More than two-thirds of all giant ragweed seedlings studied emerged from earthworm burrows. Researchers began investigating this phenomenon because giant ragweed produces few seeds, yet it's readily spreading in gardens and agricultural fields.

While earthworms also collect seed from other plants, such as sunflowers, giant ragweed is a preferred plant. Earthworms forage for seeds and bring them into their burrows, often located only a few inches below the soil surface -- a perfect place for weed seeds to germinate.

For more information on earthworms as weed farmers, go to: Weed Science Society of America.

I found the article here:

http://www.garden.org/regional/report/national/2896

Butterfly site - Publish your photos!

http://www.gardenswithwings.com/index.html