Sex in the Wildlife Garden — Baccharis halimifolia

October is Native Plant Month in Florida. I’m dusting off and republishing some of my lost articles on our fabulous natives.

Dateline: November 13, 2011*

OK, have I got your ATTENTION?

I’ve talked in other articles about plants that are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. Sorry to disappoint those who thought I was going to have a REALLY “interesting” topic this month. 😉

Late autumn blooms make this a winner in my garden

I’m not the most observant person in the garden…although I spot the smallest of insects quite often. This past week, I was looking out at the landscape enthralled by the beauty of the Baccharis halimifolia that I’ve trained as a specimen shrub in the front yard. This shrub had just come into full bloom and looked lovely against a backdrop of Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera). Later I took a walk in the back and I noticed two other pairs of groundsels. They are prolific bloomers and can be trained as a tree or a fast growing hedge, the latter my mission to block the view of some graffiti on my neighbor’s shed (drawn their by their own kids…OY!). Thus I have scads of them growing just about everywhere.

The paired shrubs seemed odd to me, distinctly different colors. One a creamy white bordering on pale yellow… the other, the bright white I described above. I went over to take a closer look and observed something else. The creamy colored one was covered in bees, Syrphid flies and wasps. The white one…not so much.

The male flowers attract the pollinators

Then it hit me…this species must be dioecious. It’s not the first dioecious species I’ve struggled to identify. It surprised me to learn that B. Hamlimifolia is in the Asteraceae Family a.k.a. aster, daisy, or sunflower family, since I don’t associate shrubs with similarity to Sunflowers or Daisies. While not a greatest source of food for wildlife, its preferred benefit is in the cover and the nesting it provides for birds in the openly branched stems. I can speak from personal experience that northern mockingbirds will successfully nest in these shrubs.

Northern Mockingbirds use Groundsel Bush for nesting

B. halimifolia has a slew of common names, including Eastern Baccharis, Groundsel Tree; Sea Myrtle and Salt Bush. I always called it Groundsel, but recently I discovered it called “Silverling”, this moniker likely given because of the coloring of the female shrub in bloom. It describes it perfectly. Beautiful bright white paintbrush style blooms that shimmer so as to look like silver in the sun. I’ve taken to calling the girl shrubs Silverling and the boy shrubs Groundsel.

Female Flowers look like tiny paintbrushes

It is native from Massachusetts south to Florida then west to Arkansas and Texas. These shrubs are extremely salt tolerant and also will thrive in standing water…such as what I have in the summer rains of Florida. They bloom when not a lot of other shrubs do, in Florida this is late in autumn, often continuing into the winter. Down here they can hold their leaves through the year unless we get an unusually long freeze.

The Groundsel Beetle Larva shimmers

This plant is currently being investigated for application in soil bioengineering systems to stabilize tidal shorelines because of its ability to root from a dormant, unrooted cutting. It does attract a beetle, Trirhabda baccharidis, which in caterpillar stage is just as lovely as the female plant at the end of autumn. The adult beetle, not so pretty, but I’m sure as tasty morsel, the birds don’t mind.

While not all that attractive, the beetle itself probably tastes good to birds

Back when I first moved out here, I tried for months to identify this particular shrub. At the time I wasn’t very good at it, having few resources. The leaves seemed to be different shapes, but the plants seemed so similar that I wasn’t sure whether I had one shrub species or two. Well, now I know why. Sex in the garden can be a fascinating if not perplexing thing.

Information from The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service was used in the writing of this article.

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on November 13, 2011 at the defunct national blog nativeplantwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

Arbor Day? Yes! And It’s All About Florida Trees!

Florida Arbor Day 2019 was January 18th.  What better time to dust off and republish one of my lost articles .

Dateline: January 16, 2015*

Thrasher in a laurel oak

Florida weather puts us ahead of the April National Arbor Day planting curve.  The third Friday of January is officially designated as Florida Arbor Day (in Louisiana too!).   Tis our dry season, so I suppose we plant now to get the roots reaching deep for water before rainy season hits and makes it easy.  This helps establish a wind resistant tree since deep roots provide a better anchor system.  Also deep roots is what makes a lot of the native trees quite drought tolerant as they grow up.

You can’t beat laurel oak for providing a LOT of bird food

Our friends over the border in Georgia follow with their state Arbor Day just a month later.

Sycamores are great shade trees and lose their leaves in winter allowing the warmth of the sun to cut down on heating costs

It’s been a while since I did a tree story, so what better time?  I thought I’d just discuss a few of many species of trees at my place and who comes visiting.

Sulphur Butterflies will bed down for the night in a sycamore tree

American Sycamore or American Planetree (Platanus occidentalis) hosts some insects and in turn spiders, reptiles and birds. I’ve found katydid eggs parasitized by wasps, butterflies resting under those huge leaves and some unidentified moth larvae as well as many other arthropods.  I’m holding out for sycamore lace bugs…likely one of the few people who would be excited to see them on my tree.  Although this species of tree probably wasn’t the best choice in my Central Florida location, it has worked out well and seems quite happy to be living here.  That could be since it wasn’t shipped from some far away place, it was started in our own county (think provenance).  I purchased it from a Master Gardener Plant Sale, a great place to find local plants.  Native Plant Society sales are another great place to find locally grown stock.

Long Leaf Pines are majestic

The Pine trees (Pinus spp. ) are a favorite of so many different species of songbirds, wading birds, woodpeckers and raptors.  Squirrels like to dance up and down to snag pinecones as a snack.  My pines also provide support for airplants.

Even in death Pine trees support fauna

Laurel Oak hosted a ground dove nesting last year

Two varieties of oaks (Quercus spp.) are a favorite of nesting mockingbirds and doves.  The acorns feed the woodpeckers, blue jays and thrashers.  These trees are a favorite nesting place for insect galls and beetles that in turn attract the songbirds, spiders and reptiles.

Winged Sumac are mid-size trees and provide fruit

Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) is deciduous with the leaf litter serving as the larval food for the Redbanded Hairstreak Butterfly (Calycopis cecrops). The prolific drupes of fruit feed multiple species of birds and mammals.  They form after the continuous blooms of spring, summer and fall provide needed nourishment for our pollinators.

Dahoon Holly provide countless berries for wintering birds

Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine), an evergreen, also provides continuous berry availability for our feathered friends and browse for others.

This Red Maple sapling started as a single leaf pair in the driveway and is now coming into its own after being moved to a better location than that chosen by the bird who planted it

The Red Maples (Acer rubrum) provide seeds for birds and is a host for moths. The spectacular color that occurs as this deciduous tree loses it’s leaves, gives this native New Yorker her needed fix of autumn, although quite a short season here.

The bluebirds enjoy the winter Red Maple when scouting for insects or warmth from the sun

Bay Trees support pollinators with clusters of flowers. The resulting fruit feeds birds and mammals

The Red and Swamp Bay Trees (Persea sp.) are making a comeback after the devastation from laurel wilt in our area.  I’ve many saplings and hold out hope that they will have resistance to this heinous disease created when invasive beetles provided a pathway for the fungus as they set up shop.  My saplings are good news for the pollinators, especially the Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio palamedes) and two other swallowtails that make use of the leaves as its larval food source.  It also is host to redbay psyllid (Trioza magnoliae) that in turn draws in birds looking for protein to feed their young.  Flowers are visited by pollinators and berries are enjoyed by birds and other fauna.

Persea sp. is the host to the Larva of the Palamedes Butterfly

Well, that sums up a few of the many naturally-occurring and human- added trees on my piece of paradise.  Florida Forestry has a list of trees although it includes a lot of species that I would consider more of a shrub, but at least if you are in Florida, you can see what a great variety of plants Florida has to choose from.

A live oak provided the perfect nesting spot for Mourning Doves

If you are from Florida, take a little time this weekend to visit your local native plant nursery and choose a tree to plant.

The mockingbirds will use Dahoon Holly for nesting as well since it has dense foliage

Those of you in other regions?  Mark the calendar with “save the date” on your very own designated State Arbor Day. You could make an educational event of it hosting children and teach them how and why it is important to plant native trees.  You could take a field trip to find trees of note in your community and, more importantly, you can gear up so you are ready to add beauty, food resources and habitat for fauna in your very own beautiful wildlife garden.

Winged Sumac, a great Florida Native Plant supports many pollinators

Happy Arbor Day, Florida! (and Louisiana too!)

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on January 16, 2015 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

It’s a Girl! Why Sex Matters in a Wildlife Garden

Dateline:  October 15, 2010*

Female Myrica cerifera rich with fruit

Have you ever been walking through a nursery and noticed a plant which has a pink ribbon attached? It probably is a dioecious species. Yes, believe it or not, plants have sexuality. Some plants are monoecious meaning they have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Examples of monoecious trees would be oak or cypress. Now dioecious flowered means that the male and female are on separate plants. That’s why some nurseries put the ribbon on to distinguish them.

I discovered this fall that my newest sapling, a dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) expertly planted by an unknown birdy is a female! Oh JOY!

What’s the big deal, you might ask. Well, trees have different roles in the garden. Pollinated female-only trees often set a lot of seed and fruits—perfect for feeding wildlife. Some gardeners, certainly not this one, consider this “messy”. If you hire a landscaper to install and maintain your plants, you might just find out he chooses all males because cleanup will be minimal. However, wildlife will suffer because the males don’t produce the abundant fruits and you might suffer because many all-male flowered plants produce tons of pollen which will send an allergy-prone human reeling.

Of course, as a beautiful wildlife garden-owner your smart choice would be the female plants and you would never consider cleaning up dropped fruit…that’s what birds and mammals are for. Whatever they don’t pick up will work towards fertilizing the plant by breaking down into the soil and providing nutrients for the next crop.

An older, female Ilex cassine has beautiful red fruits, a favorite with birds

Now let’s talk about the fact that some of the all-male plants produce copious amounts of pollen. Thomas L. Ogren has written a book called Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping (2000, Ten Speed Press). It outlines the Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale (OPALS™) created to rate the allergy potential of certain plants. Plants are assigned a rating of 1 to 10 to measure their allergenicity, or potential to cause problems for allergic people. Most allergenic effects of plants were taken into consideration in the OPALS™ rating: reaction to contact with leaves and sap, reactions to odor, and effects of inhaled pollen. Plants assigned a 1 on the scale are least likely to cause allergenic reactions in most people, whereas trees assigned a 10 should be regarded as highly allergenic. For instance, a male Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) is rated 9 whereas a female plant is rated 2. A male holly (Ilex spp.) is rated 7 whereas a female is rated 1.  In these two cases, females have less allergy potential than their male counterparts.

Although it has no fruits, this male Myrica cerifera is perfect cover for wildlife and a pretty backdrop for taller plants like the goldenrod and bluestem grass shown here

For a plant to truly be beneficial to your beautiful wildlife garden, you need a combo of both males and females. Keep in mind that one male can go a long way in pollinating females, so you could conceivably plant one male far away from the house or outdoor living space to avoid the pollen blanket and then plant several females close by to enjoy the wildlife viewing experience. Then again, maybe your neighbor has a landscaper who planted males to avoid cleanup and you could just plant females and get free “stud” services. Your neighbors will be scratching their heads wondering why all the birds and other critters are running around your place while their yard sits relatively unoccupied. Buy a box of tissues as a thank you…just don’t explain why!

Additional select references:
University of Florida IFAS Exension Publication #FOR 206

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on October 15, 2010 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

Timmmmmmmberrrrrrrrrr! Yet, Not the End of the Road

Dateline:  January 7, 2011*

Pine Warbler doesn’t seem concerned that tree is on the ground

I’ve struggled with a decision to remove one of my Pine snags. It was uncomfortably close to the house yet provided such a wealth of entertainment with the wildlife that partakes in its demise from a lightening bolt in 2008. I remember that day vividly because I felt my hair stand on end and I was sure the house had been struck, but that tall pine gave its life to protect my home. The dead tree swayed in recent 50 mph winds and the weight at the top seemed to lean it toward the house rather than away, so I knew it had to go.
When I bought the property another snag was standing and I opted to leave it up since it was housing Pileated Woodpeckers at the time. They had a family of two fledglings and I was hooked on keeping snags in my wildlife garden. That tree fell down in tropical storm Fay yet pieces of the debris still provide habitat for my many critters. I cut it up and stacked it and it is slowly returning to soil, dwindling slowly, beetles breaking down the wood structures, birds eating the beetles for protein, snakes finding a safe haven, lizards playfully dancing between the cracks.

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Back to my current dilemma. The tree was clearly rotting and ants had taken up residence in the lower section. When oak firewood was delivered from a local guy, I inquired if he could fell the snag and lamented how I would miss it. He said he could top it. A deal was made and he came back a week later chain saw in hand!

Half a tree is better than no tree

He cut it about 15 feet from the ground and had it land in the wrong direction (scaring the bajesus out of me…so dangerously close to his truck). Judging from the look on his face, perhaps the delivery guy wasn’t a smart choice to cut it, but it is a good height and no one got hurt, so the results are good. It still stands proud and the balance will be put to some use as soon as I think up all that it can be used for. I know the outer layers will be raked up and used to help form the basis for natural pathways through my growing restoration areas or mulch where needed.

That which crumbles will be used to make pathways

The birds seem unconcerned that part of it is on its side and still visit. Bringing it down to my level is intriguing….I’ve got a close-up view of where the redbellied woodpeckers were making a hole under the protection of a large branch. The hole is perfectly round. I can see the core is solid…perhaps it will be the base for a new water dish or will help by being the base for the cedar bench that recently had it’s legs give out.

The woodpeckers made a hole under the protection of a branch..smart birds

I only know that the nuthatches are still thrilled and have already begun digging feverishly into its side making a deep hole. Perhaps a nest area? They’ve teased me before and I hold out hope that one of these times they will actually complete the nest. They are cagey sorts….but I have faith. Faith in those little birds and faith in my lovely half-tree as it continues to give pleasure.

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on January 7, 2011 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

 

Where Do You Get Your Trees?

National Arbor Day is April 28, 2017 and many will mark the event by planting a tree.  How many of those trees will actually live to see maturity?  The information in the following (initially written for Florida Arbor Day which is in January) may help YOUR selection have better odds for success.

Dateline:   January 13, 2012*

Sycamore from a local plant sale

Happy Arbor Day (well almost). Ok…are you scratching your head and wondering if I’ve lost my sense of time? In seven days, on the third Friday of January, it will be Arbor Day for both Florida and Louisiana…two states who appear to want to be first in the nation. We are all familiar with National Arbor Day that is the last Friday in April and celebrated by 28 states as their State holiday. Did you know that in addition to the national holiday many states have another date? They choose them according to their best tree-planting times. When does your state hoist the shovels to celebrate?

So, you’ve found out WHEN, then there is the question of WHAT…finding a tree to plant for Arbor Day. Despite the Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) trying to “inspire people to plant” by offering 10 free trees with membership, I always try to discourage this. Wait…don’t get your pansies in a bunch, I think supporting a non-profit is a commendable thing to do, but please forego the free trees delivered to your house. Choose “No trees” or the “10 Trees Planted in our Nation’s Forests in Your Honor”** option instead.

Let me explain why. How many of us have been excited to get our free trees only to struggle to get them established while we watch them fail to flourish or die a slow death. I sometimes think that homeowners who get these free trees become discouraged to plant due to failure of the specimens to thrive. At my own place, a friend who got their free trees gave me two crepe myrtles (not native to Florida, I KNOW, but considered “Florida-Friendly“). Well, those things have been planted since 2006 and are still barely 1-1/2 feet tall and one has yet to flower.  UPDATE 2017: Now about 6 foot tall with sparse branches and minimal flowering they are on the list to be removed since naturally occurring natives have filled in close by.

All ten trees that I received with my membership that same year are dead, despite nursing them according to instructions. If I hadn’t learned about native plants since their “burial” and local provenance, I’d be cursing Florida’s ability to provide a proper garden, blaming the sand that pretends to be soil. Apparently it is that the poor trees just aren’t adapted to the soil conditions or our climate. Heck, it even took me a while to get used to Florida where you can run the a/c and the heat on the same day.

Pinus spp. planted by a bird or the wind. Local provenance assured

Provenance can be a crucial factor in a tree’s ability to live a good long life and using a nursery within a 100-mile radius of the intended planting site will go a long way toward achieving better success. In addition, the question of the importance of genetic diversity and also the possible affect that outside specimens could have on our native populations through pollination or seed dispersal is often brought into discussion.

While purchasing with provenance in mind might give you a head start toward success, that’s not to say that you don’t have to baby a native tree during its young life. While we tout that native plants use fewer resources such as water and are generally carefree, even native trees need regular watering and care in order to get established.

I transplanted this red maple while a single leaf in my driveway to a pot and then into it’s current location

I say when your state celebrates Arbor Day, find a nice native plant nursery in your locale to purchase your tree and support local business at the same time. I have a couple of Red Maple (Acer rubrum) seedlings purchased at our Master Gardener sale that are on tap for planting. And I also noticed a Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) volunteer under the momma tree that I will relocate (at least to a pot).

One of these acorns produced a “vounteer” seedling for me to transplant

Oh…and you gotta love South Carolina. They must be a hearty bunch as they get out there on the first Friday in December to celebrate their Arbor Day.

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on January 13, 2012 at the defunct national blog nativeplantwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

**This option doesn’t seem to be available any longer.

Laurel Oak: Bring on the Birds

From Winter 2010: Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) shows comraderie with a Blue Jay in the branches of my Laurel Oak

I have been enjoying quite a show of avian wildlife visitors to my bird-planted Oak tree that is in full view of my dining area windows as well as the small outdoor patio.   It is providing endless entertainment especially between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.  That seems to be a favorite time for the gang to show up.

It has a nice symmetrical crown (from February 2013)

Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia) is a fast growing tree that can achieve a height of 60 to 70 feet with a spread of 35 to 45 feet.  Also known as Darlington or Diamond Oak, it has a dense, symmetrical crown and is semi-evergreen. Mine loses it leaves slowly in January as the new leaves appear so the tree is never completely bare.

This photo was taken in 2006 so you can see it grew quite a bit compared to the photo above from 2013.

One drawback is its relatively short life span of 50 to 70 years.  Easily propagated by seed as is evident at my place where I find saplings growing here and there, planted by birds and mammals that enjoy the bounty of acorns and insect delectables that this tree produces.

Large acorns are a favorite of many Florida birds and mammals.

Oaks in general are wildlife attractants since they are “…important food source for many animals, including white-tailed deer, raccoon, squirrels, wild turkey, ducks, quail, smaller birds, and rodents.  Swamp laurel oak ranked second in quantity and frequency of acorns consumed by wild turkey in Florida.”

Larval host for the Southern Pink-striped Oakworm (Anisota virginiensis pellucida)

They are larval hosts for many insect species including Horaces Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) and White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) butterflies.  That, in turn, draws in the birds that rely on these proteins, especially during nesting season given that baby birds can’t eat seeds.

I decided to take a look back at a number of birds who have visited this particular oak in my landscape.

From January 2017: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

 

From October 2013: American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

From February 2015: Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) dancing among the catkins

From September 2013: Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) snagging an acorn

 

From May 2014: Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) NESTING

 

From June 2013: Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina) NESTING

 

From February 2015: Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula munching on an invasive Cuban Treefrog

 

From April 2016: Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

 

From January 2012: Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)

 

From March 2014: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

 

From March 2016: Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

 

From November 2012: Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

 

From March 2011: Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) rests on a topped Pine snag in front of the Oak where it has nested.

 

From March 2014: Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

 

From February 2011: Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronatagal)

This oak is tolerant of wet sites so if you have an area with seasonal flooding, it will happily stand up to the inundation.

Select references:

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Publication #ENH-707.

Florida Native Plant Society http://www.fnps.org/

Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2017. Atlas of Florida Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).[S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

Carey, Jennifer H. 1992. Quercus hemisphaerica, Q. laurifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2017, February 10].

Wildly Wonderous Wax Myrtle

The bayberry began blooming this week (shown above) which brought to mind an article that I wrote a few years back on the benefits of this hardy Florida native plant.

Dateline: December 3, 2010*

Wax Myrtle blooms in Spring

Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera or Morella cerifera) aka Southern Bayberry is an evergreen, which is native to the U.S. It is versatile and will work for most landscapes. It can be used alone as a great specimen or group together to form quick growing hedges or privacy screens. Left unpruned, it will become a multitrunk tree, which can reach heights of 25 feet but is normally maintained at 10 to 15 feet. It is a naturally occurring species in my Pine Flatwoods ecosystem and gives a myriad of wildlife entertainment to those who choose it for their landscapes.

Makes a great specimen alone or grouped as a privacy screen

Wax myrtle grows in a variety of habitats but prefers moist, sandy soils and is a great addition for areas that may experience flooding, yet it proves to be a wonderful, drought-tolerant species once established. It is also salt-tolerant, does well in full sun to partial shade but the growth will be considerably thinner in total shade.  It is recommended for street planting especially beneath powerlines because it looks great in any shape

Berries to feed wildlife or to make bayberry candles

It’s functional uses transcend into the home as the wax coated fruits can be used to make scented candles and the leaves can be used to make a pale yellow shade of dye. Although there is no scientific proof that it repels fleas, my dogs have not been treated with chemicals and yet they have no fleas. On the one occasion that I did see fleas, I made an infusion from the leaves and sprayed the dogs. The next day the fleas were gone.

I clip a branch as greenery for use in tabletop bouquets

This plant does have two minor downsides, although they are quite workable and certainly don’t warrant passing this beauty up.

It should not be planted too close to structures as it has oils contained in the leaves which could ignite in a fire.

Puss or Asp Caterpillar, a toxic stinging Caterpillar

It is larval host for what is said to be one of the most toxic stinging caterpillar in the United States, the puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis).  When encountered, I just carefully move these critters to areas not accessible to my dogs as one was stung and got pretty sick…although recovered fine. The resulting Southern Flannel moth is quite pretty in the books, although I’ve yet to see one in the flesh. The caterpillars are hardly prolific. I’ve only encountered maybe 10 or so over the years and I encourage these plants all around my 1-acre property as my choice of privacy screen.

Now on to all it’s best attributes!

A mockingbird nest hidden in the branches of Bayberry

It provides excellent cover for wildlife. Wild turkey, bob-white quail, various waterfowl, catbirds, thrashers, bluebirds, vireos, warblers, tree swallows, squirrels and other mammals are some of the species who rely on its berries as a winter food source. In my own yard, mockingbirds use it to build well hidden nests albeit some of them prove to be “decoy” nests apparently set up to throw off other birds or the birds of prey.

Buds occur in spring

It is dioecious and only female plants have fruits provided there is a male nearby for pollination. It has subtle yet pretty blooms in the spring. It is a larval host for Red-banded Hairstreak Butterfly, which use the leaf litter below the plant as the host, another good reason to leave your leaves in place. It is a larval host for the beautiful Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) and serves as a nesting zone for yellow garden spiders and other beneficial creepy crawlies.

Larva of the Polyphemus Moth enjoys a snack

A welcome bounty for many, including you,  in your beautiful wildlife garden.

USDA hardiness zones: 7 through 10

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on December 3, 2010 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

Pine Trees are for the Birds

Dateline:   January 28, 2011*

Pine Tree (Pinus sp.) which overlooks my pond

I’ll admit that I was not a big fan of Longleaf (Pinus palustris) and Slash Pine (P. elliottii) trees when I first moved out to my rural lot in January 2006. They were the only species in my yard at the time, and to me didn’t seem all that beautiful…very tall and somewhat gangly. Given that at that time I subscribed to gardening magazines whose photos espoused neat lawns and clipped exotic bushes…unsustainable visions…it’s no wonder.

Closer look at the Great Blue Heron in the picture above

Fast forward to present. I no longer subscribe to said magazines, preferring enlightening books such as Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy and The Landscaping Revolution: Garden With Mother Nature, Not Against Her by Andy Wasowski. I have joined the Florida Native Plant Society and I now base my choice of plants on their value in a biodiverse landscape and appropriateness to my ecosystem rather than some cookie cutter look that we are brainwashed to adapt to.

I’m now a big advocate of the native Pines since I found their beauty in the glimpse of sunset through their tall branches and in the magnitude of their purpose in a beautiful wildlife garden.

Red Shouldered Hawk waiting on voles (I HOPE!)

The title of this article says it all and might not be what you think. I see it every day. I see hawks, kingfishers and great blue herons on alert in the branches looking down at the pond waiting for their bounty to swim near the top. I see black vultures and swallows resting comfortably, taking a break from flight in the shade of high branches. I see brown-headed nuthatches and red-bellied woodpeckers picking under bark for food. I see pine warblers flitting from cone to cone grabbing at the pine nuts held within. I hope to see their fledglings sometime for they use the high branches of these pines as their nesting grounds. Bluejays, red winged blackbirds, mockingbirds, bluebirds all spend time foraging in the pines and the list goes on and on. The Red Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) is the only woodpecker in North America that excavates its cavity in a living pine tree. With the loss of old growth pine forests, this bird has become endangered and since it needs a forest, won’t be gracing my acre, but I’ll look for them in the conservation areas nearby. Yes, Pine Trees are for the Birds.

A male great crested flycatcher stands guard on a pine snag branch while mate tends the nest

According to the US Forest Service, because of its timber value and because longleaf pine communities house many endangered plant and animal species, forest managers are attempting to regenerate more longleaf pine communities. Sixty-eight species of birds utilize longleaf pine forests. Mice, squirrels, and other small mammals eat the large seeds. Eagles utilize large slash pines as nesting sites.

Kingfisher waits on a Pine branch

It takes a long time to grow a mature longleaf pine and I have a few babies growing where I’m letting my property restore itself. There are various stages of growth in a pine, one being the grass stage, which can last one to seven years, depending upon competition with other plants. This is when the root system is established. At this stage, more grows beneath the soil than above and the pine is virtually immune to fire, which is a common occurrence in pine ecosystems…those lanky trees are just begging lightening bolts to hit. Next up is the bottlebrush stage when a white tip, known as a candle, begins to emerge. The bottlebrush stage is when it works on gaining height, bark begins to form, but no branches are apparent. This stage can last a couple of years. I have a couple of trees in the beginning of this stage.

transitioning from grass stage to bottlebrush stage

Once the young pine reaches 6-10 feet, it starts to form the lateral branching and thus begins the sapling stage, lasting several years. I’m pleased to report that my neighbor has many in this stage. The remaining stages are: mature, where they grow from 60-110 feet; old growth (nearly nonexistent with clear cutting in the early 1900s), death and the last stage, “after death”.

The Slash Pine, on the other hand, grows more quickly, can be used as a landscape tree in zones 7-10, prefers full sun to part sun and is tolerant of moist sites. Grow from seed or purchase seedlings.

Black vulture takes a breather in a pine during the hottest part of the day

I’m grateful that “an angel on my shoulder” had me make the house setup guys leave a dead pine standing. I spotted some Pileated woodpeckers busy at work and I was interested to see what they were up to. Two fledglings were the result; an extremely rewarding wildlife encounter and a defining moment is my appreciation of pines. I used this dead pine as a post for my first bluebird nesting box. When it came down in a tropical storm, I got out my chain saw, cut it up and stacked the wood so the butterflies, snakes and lizards would have habitat. The birds visit the decaying stacks to peck and find beetles and other insects for protein. As the layers break down I move the broken-up wood to form pathways through the native grasses.

Eastern Bluebird fledgling waits in a pine for mama to bring food

If you are lucky enough to have pines, protect them, if you have a supporting ecosystem, grow them. The pine is a mighty important tree and having learned what it takes to make a pine, I have a newfound love for them in their journey to become mature.

Red bellied Woodpeckers enjoy the fruits contained within pine cones.

Mockingbird uses a ballmoss covered pine limb as a perch

Boat-tailed Grackle sits at the top of a Pine

Pileated Woodpeckers come to discover insects under the bark and nest in the dead snags.

Cedar Waxings group together on branches

Brownheaded nuthatches escavate dead pines to nest.

I’m happy to live in a Pine Flatwoods ecosystem where I can monitor their stages and enjoy all the wildlife that they provide for.

Select resources:

The Longleaf Alliance 

US Forest Service

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on January 28, 2011 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.

A Berry Merry Christmas

Dateline:  December 24, 2010*

Our winter robins returned to find an overnight freeze here too!

We had an early hard freeze last week in my section of Central Florida so with insects in shorter supply and variety than usual, the birds are relishing the berries of my beautiful wildlife garden. I am enjoying the color and activity that the berries encourage and will admit that the cold weather did put this native northerner in a more Christmas-y frame of mind.

Some of the native offerings in my pine flatwoods ecosystem include Dahoon (Ilex cassine) a perennial holly that reaches a height of approximately 26 feet but also works well when shaped as a shrub. It has dark green foliage with spring blooms and pretty red berries appearing in late summer and early fall. It is a favorite among the birds and is tolerant of the occasional flooding the rainy season provides and the drought of our dry season.

A young Dahoon Holly. First year the fruits appeared!

The leaves have all dropped from the American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) but the beautiful purple fruits persist inviting a multitude of birds for a daily snack, especially the mockingbirds. This multistem perennial shrub provides moderate growth and the birds will do the propagating for you when they deposit the ready “fertilized” seeds along fence lines. Other critters who enjoy the fruits include armadillos, raccoons, wood rats, gray foxes, opossums, and deer.

Beautyberry the morning after the freeze. The leaves have since dropped.

Inkberry or Gallberry (Ilex glabra) is another native holly, which grows to shrub size. According to the USDA Plant Guide, leaves are browsed by marsh rabbit and deer, the fruits are important food for raccoon, coyote, and opossum when other sources are scarce. The fruit is also eaten by at least 15 species of birds, including bobwhite quail and wild turkey. It provides cover for deer, small rodents, and several species of birds. Nectar of the flowers is an important source for honey production.

Inkberry is also known as Gallberry

And of course, one of my favorites, the Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera) with it’s pale blue berries for food and excellent structure for cover.

I wish each and every one of you a Very Berry Christmas in your beautiful wildlife garden.  😉

* This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on  December 24, 2010 at the defunct national blog  beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com.  Click the date to see reader comments.

 

Garden Bells are Ringing: the Heath Family

This is an update to an original tale published by Loret T. Setters on April 13, 2014 at the defunct national blog nativeplantwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments and find working links to other stories.

Rusty Lyonia lives up to its name with the colorful pubescence

I love spring. You can almost hear the pretty bell flowers of a few shrubs in my native plant garden ringing as they sway in the breeze. I’m talking about members of the Heath (Ericaceae) family. The Heath family includes about 70 genera with over 1,500 species of plants. I’m sure you have at least one offering from this extensive family in your own garden (think: azaleas, rhododendrons, laurels, blueberries or cranberries as potential candidates). This spring I had 5 different species in bloom in my garden.

Coastalplain Staggerbush a.k.a. Rusty Lyonia has creamy flowers that are urceolate.

Two members of the Lyonia genus are residents in my natural area. Coastalplain Staggerbush (L. fruticosa) is one of the more visually interesting plants. The common name of Rusty Lyonia comes from the colorful pubescence that is sprinkled over the new growth of leaves. It is thought to protect new growth from harmful insects. This shrub is found in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. It has a high drought tolerance yet holds its own in areas inundated by seasonal rains. It is popular with deer and pollinators.

The flowers of Fetterbush change color as they age

The second member of this genus is Fetterbush (L. lucida). The native range covers a bit more of the southeast. The pretty flowers, which can be a rich dark or pale pink depending upon the age of bloom, are constantly abuzz at my place. Solitary bees seem especially enamoured of this beauty. This species may be toxic to livestock and “specific use of Fetterbush by wildlife has not been reported” although the habitat associated with it are important to a huge variety of southeastern wildlife including the “black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcat, marsh rabbit, squirrels, diamond-back rattlesnake, alligators, pine barrens tree frog, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.”

Pale Pink and pretty is Fetterbush

Next up is Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.). There is a native species of blueberry in nearly every state in the US (click on the “Subordinate Taxa” tab to bring up the maps of species appropriate for your area).  My restored area produces Shiny Blueberry (V. myrsinites) which is evergreen but has a low compact growth with fruits smaller than cultivated. Still, they are tasty to many mammals (including me) and birds such as ruffed grouse, wild turkey, quail and the northern bobwhite.

Shiny Blueberry has compact bell shaped flowers

Other bird species that use a larger variety of Vaccinium spp. include ring-necked pheasant, scarlet tanager, gray catbird, thrushes, towhees, thrashers, and bluebirds. This genus of plants has excellent wildlife benefit and is a worthy addition to any wildlife or edible garden.

Fruits of Shiny Blueberry are tasty and attract wildlife

In 2012 I purchased a Tree Sparkleberry (V. arboreum) at a native plant sale to extend my Heath family collection.

Sparkleberry newly planted in 2012

It was a slow grow in the beginning, but I finally got some fruit in 2016 and it appears to be established and ready to reach high to the sky.  Often new plantings work to establish their root systems for the first few years so don’t be overly concerned if your plant isn’t producing abundant leaves or fruits during this important establishment time.

2016: first year for the Sparkleberry fruit

Finally, I have a small smattering of Dwarf Huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) which look very similar to blueberries.

Huckleberry flowers may be the prettiest Heath of all

It is, however, a different genus. Gaylussacia spp. are native to eastern US. This genus of plants is known to provide extensive wildlife benefit including food for multiple mammals and birds, nesting cover for birds and it also serves as a larval host for The Huckleberry Sphinx, (Paonias astylus). Henry’s Elfin and the Brown Elfin within their range. They also are a nectar source for bumblebees and other native bees. Definitely a worthy addition to the garden if appropriate for your area.

So, make a visit to your local native plant nursery and explore all the options of the Heath Family. You’ll be glad you did and so will your local wildlife.