HAPPY EARTH DAY! HAPPY GARDENING . . . BUT, WHERE ARE THE MONARCHS?
BY BRENDA BEUST SMITH
JEALOUS OF NEIGHBORS already harvesting vegetables? Don’t be. Lots of growing time ahead. Just be sure to follow the best advice for THIS area. Nowhere is a better place to start than with URBAN HARVEST‘s gardening-advice/gardening- basics-and-planting-guides/.
Experimenting’s fun. But if you’re investing serious time and money growing edibles, then PLEASE at least double-check advice from outside the Greater Houston area with a LOCAL source.
Our subtropical pocket is unique in this state and, in fact, the nation. That’s not to say advice from other areas won’t work here. But sometimes, it’s that advice,
not your actions, that trigger frustrating failures.
Another easy resource: your local independent nurseryman. If you don’t succeed, he loses a customer. It’s to his advantage to carry the best varieties for your specific area. These can vary greatly from Conroe to Galveston, from Brazoria to Beaumont, etc.
One major benefit to all vegetable growers has been our now-huge number of “previously-unknown-here” edibles introduced by community gardener members from other countries. Urban Harvest helps support over 200 area community gardens. One is Plant It Forward.
PLANT IT FORWARD isn’t your usual “community garden.” Its scope is broader, empowering refugees to develop sustainable urban farming businesses that produce fresh, healthy, salable foods in ways that benefit the entire community and countryside. One example: PIF’s Veggie Guide (under “Field Notes”) Free on their website, it introduces some of the new-to-us crops that do so well here, including (pictured) Molokhia, a little-known (to US-born folks) superfood, packing more more carotene and calcium than regular spinach. Use and consider supporting PLANT IT FORWARD.
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LADIES! WE’RE OVERSHADOWED! By now we all know the covid crises and unusual freezes triggered a gardening boom — as global traumas always have. For first time now, men are out-spending women on garden purchases!
And, surveyed males admit, they’ll probably spend a LOT more in future! Remember,
BE FOREWARNED! Nationwide, seed demand is so high, the 144-year-old Burpee Seeds Co. temporarily stopped taking orders for first time in its history! Most seed companies report sales have exploded and delivery delays are not unusual. Might want to get orders in quickly!
But it’s not just in-the-garden benefits being quoted. More than one survey notes homes with mature trees and a well-manicured landscape have property values up to 25% more than similar homes without. And, interesting: children involved in growing vegetables are more willing to actually eat them!
Rent-a-Ruminant® Texas‘ “team” did such a great job last visit, starting May 4 they’ll be back and visible for roughly 10 days (chomping at their own pace) almost exactly a year since they “mowed” around the 610 Parking Loop.
Children (supervised!) and adults are welcome to view around 150 goats “dining” on the 2.5-acre area around the Wildflower Trail near the Arboretum’s administration building. Among their favorite delicacies: brush overgrowth, green briars, poison ivy, ragweed and other undesirable plant species. No direct goat physical or verbal contact allowed. Information on parking and more: houstonarboretum.org/ or 713-681-8433.
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As for the spring migration of Monarchs, we’ve observed several things, anecdotally:
First — we began seeing Monarchs around the 1st of March, when normally we do not see them until March 10-14. We were paying extra attention this year because we had a documentary film crew arriving March 14. They planned according to reliable patterns from the past that, this year, definitely did not follow the predictable pattern.
According to Journey North, the Monarchs began departing the reserves about a week early this year. I think it was reported starting on February 24 or so, when normally this occurs at the beginning of March.
NOTE: Monarch Watch Director CHIP TAYLOR reports many Monarchs remained in Mexico as late March 23, but those should have arrived in the
U.S. within 7-12 days–at the beginning of April.
Second — March–at least in the Rio Grande Valley–was exceptionally hot (3 or 4 record-breaking days at 100º) and windy. We had tropical storm force winds at 50 MPH one day! This would literally blow the Monarchs away.
I am not sure what weather has been like in Houston, but it’s been pretty extreme here. We also had approximately 9″ of rain over 4-5 days at the beginning of April, which would prevent visible Monarch activity, and likely cause diversion of their flight path, which can vary each year. As you know, everything about their spring and fall migration (timing, path, duration) is ruled by the weather!
Third — Chip Taylor seems to be suggesting, from community observations, that the Monarchs chose to reenter primarily along the Rio Grande north via the Laredo – Del Rio region. I don’t know if this is the case because we are significantly south of there, but if you look at the Journey North map of reported spring sightings in the Hill Country area (San Antonio – Austin) and then up to DFW Metro, it seems as though this might be the case. Again, it’s hard to know for sure because the data is based upon community member observations and reports, but it tracks with our experience this spring.
Finally — we did not see large quantities of Monarchs, typically dozens at a time, in the gardens and on the grounds at the National Butterfly Center this spring; rather, we saw 1 or 2 at a time. This may be due to decreased population numbers or perhaps they just passed over us in migration when the southerly winds were pushing them northward.
Any official statement from the North American Butterfly Assn. will have to wait until data is compiled from the July 4th Butterfly Counts across the country.
You can read more about that on the NBC website homepage,
Here is a link to the peer-reviewed scientific research paper Dr. Glassberg and
other published about Monarch population stability in summer breeding numbers: nationalbutterflycenter.org/images/Global_Change_Biology_2022_Monarchs_ Crossley_et_al.pdf
For those truly interested in helping the Monarch, we have three suggestions: Plant more milkweed (choose native to your region)*
Do NOT spray herbicide or pesticide Leave them be, i.e. let wildlife remain wild.
* * * EDITOR’S NOTE: Keep up-to-date on Monarchs:
*Milkweeds native to Greater Houston area
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER
On Facebook: facebook.com/natbutterflies
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NEWS FROM THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF SOIL AND PLANTS # 235
Additional research keeps being published on the importance of trace and micronutrients in the soil and how it affects our lives.
In this week’s journals of Crop, Soil, and Agronomy newsletter, there was an article on climate change and carbon storage in the soil. They called this technique of using rock dusts “enhanced weathering” or EW.
Field studies by geologists and soil scientists have estimated that the weathering of rock minerals removes about half a billon tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually. It is estimated that using EW could quadruple that amount!
Several research studies have found that applying basalt sand to trees at planting time greatly increased their carbon capturing power. Additionally, they found that applying basalt significantly decreased nitrogen leaching which helps protect our streams and bays.
I have talked many times about how a lack of trace and micro-nutrients in the soil are the source of many plant and animal health problems and why applying re-mineralizer promotes healthier gardens.
The power of rock dusts (ground up rocks) benefits the entire world-wide ecosystem hence an organization has been formed to help educate folks on the benefits of rock dusts and the minerals they contain called “Remineralize The Earth.”
From their website:
Joanna Campe, founder & executive director of RTE
“Remineralization is one of the most important missions on the planet at this time. Together, we can remineralize gardens, farms, landscapes, and forests. We can grow nutrient-dense food and improve the nutrition and well-being of all life. And in the larger picture, it’s a key strategy to stabilize the climate!”
Through our education, outreach, research, and advocacy, Remineralize the Earth facilitates a worldwide movement that brings together gardeners and farmers, scientists and policymakers and the public to create better soils, better food, and a better planet.
We can now add carbon sequestration and reduces nitrogen leaching to the list of benefits. Using locally produced Re-mineralizer is a great way to start re- mineralizing one’s soil, help fight climate change, have healthier plants and better tasting fruits and vegetables.
Re-Mineralizer -The Benefits of Remineralization
Provides slow, natural release of elements and trace minerals. Increases a plants resistance to insects, disease, frost, and drought.
Increase the nutrient intake of plants. Increase yields and increases Brix reading.
Increases growth rate and diversity of microorganisms. Increases earthworm activity.
Speeds up formation of the humus complex in soil. Prevents soil erosion.
Increases the storage capacity of soils. Increases nutrient density of food crops. Enhances flavor of crops.
Reduces weed problems. Rebalances soil pH.
Makes organic fertilizers work more efficiently. Reduces nitrogen leaching
Sequesters carbon
In addition to having a larger variety of elements in it, and since Re-mineralizer is locally produced, it is a lot cheaper than other products shipped from mines in the northern states.
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ABOUT US
BRENDA BEUST SMITH WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . but Brenda Beust Smith is also:
- a national award-winning writer & editor
- a nationally-published writer & photographer
- a national horticultural speaker
- a former Houston Chronicle reporter
When the Chronicle discontinued Brenda’s 45-year-old Lazy Gardener” print column — started in the early ’70s as a fun side-project to reporting, it then ranked as the longestrunning, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area. The name, she says, is not just fun, it’s true. Brenda’s gradual sideways step from reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener’s Guide book which morphed into her Lazy Gardener’s Guide on CD, which she now emails free upon request. Brenda became a Harris County Master Gardener and, over the years, served on theboards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations. She hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener specialty shows on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in “EcoGardening” show on KPFT-FM. For over three decades, Brenda served as Assistant Production Manager of the GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA’S “BULLETIN” magazine. Although still an active broad-based freelance writer, Brenda’s main focus now is THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Pablo Hernandez of Nature’s Way Resources. A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston, Brenda lives in Humble, TX, and is married to the retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake. Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
JOHN FERGUSON John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature’s Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies. John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.
PABLO HERNANDEZ Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature’s Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management and quality control. Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint.
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