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If something is not eating your plants, then your garden is not part of the ecosystem!
While perusing Pinterest a while ago, I came across this great sign: For a long time, the ideal garden plants were ones that were “pest resistant.” That often meant plants that were not native to our region, plants that had not evolved with our native insects and were less palatable to them. In recent years, concerns about plummeting insect populations and overall loss of biodiversity has led to a new garden ethic, a movement to use our gardens to support wildlife rather than repel it. Planting native plants is a very important part of this strategy and something I hope you will consider!
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Earth Day 2020–50 Years of Celebrating the Planet
Menard County Trails & Greenways plans to honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, albeit a little differently than we had planned. While we won’t be able to physically gather as friends and neighbors to help clean up Menard County, we can come together in the same spirit, do some good work around (or even inside!) our homes, and share our efforts virtually. Public health experts and government leaders are encouraging us to safely get outdoors, underscoring more than ever the importance of our natural world to our health and well-being. Let’s take a moment, however big or small, to return the favor. We’ve started a list…
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Sounds of Spring in Menard County
Upland chorus frogs (Pseudacris feriarum) are a familiar sound in spring in Illinois. Heard now near woodland ponds such as in the video here, they can even be heard in roadside ditches. The occasional leopard frog can be heard among the chorus frogs, and soon we should be hearing the sweet melodic trill of the American toad.
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Signs of Spring
During this time of social distancing and sheltering in place, those of us who love exploring the out of doors and nature are the lucky ones. Spring is happening and every day brings new changes. Migrating songbirds are starting to arrive from the south, many trees are starting to show signs of first blooms and buds, and native wildflower foliage is pushing through the leaf litter. What are you noticing?
