Wild Flora’s Recent Comments

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  Value diversity

  Here's one more point to add to those already made by Umbra: In planting steep slopes as in so many things, it's important to remember the value of diversity. Some plants have shallow, fibrous roots that help to hold the top layer of soil together. Others have long roots that go through the top layer of soil and staple it to the soil layers beneath. Plants with evergreen foliage help to protect soil from wind and precipitation even in winter; deciduous plants help to lay down a layer of mulch. Tall plants such as shrubs and trees serve as windbreaks and capture precipitation before it comes anywhere near the ground. No single groundcover is likely to be able to provide the kind of protection that a functioning plant community can provide. Generally the best functioning, most sustainable, most diverse communities of plants are modeled on those that are locally native.On Umbra on planning a lawn posted 1 year, 7 months ago 4 Responses

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  There's a third option, and it's better

  Forced to choose between relocating an animal and killing it, most of us would probably choose the former. But a strictly utilitarian approach would probably require us to take the second option: If you consider which option is likely to cause the least suffering to the least number of beings (the utilitarian approach), you're probably going to decide that it's better to cause momentary suffering (death) to one animal than to cause extended suffering (long period of stress with possibility of disease, injury, or death) to many animals.

  Fortunately, we usually don't have to make this difficult choice. This is what the Humane Society of the United States says in its book Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife (Fulcrum, 1997): "It is the position of The HSUS that the vast majority of wildlife conflict situations can be resolved by simpler, more humane means than by removing an animal from its natural home area or by destroying it."

  Most of the HSUS's excellent book is devoted to ways of humanely evicting wild animals from structures and then making sure that they can't get back in. Exclusion (as opposed to translocation) can take time, effort, and money, but the investment pays for itself in long-term results and a clear conscience.

  Wild Flora
  http://www.wildgardeners.blogspot.comOn Umbra on live trapping posted 2 years, 1 month ago 28 Responses

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  Not Just a Garden

  Great article, Umbra. One of the reasons I love wildlife-friendly gardening is that it's not just about putting together a collection of plants. It's a lot more challenging--and interesting--than that. To provide havens for birds and other wildlife, we actually need to create miniature versions of they ecosystems to which they're adapted. We may not be able to duplicate what was there before (in fact, we probably can't), but we can try to develop communities of plants and animals that are suitable for our sites as they are now. And as you point out, if we work primarily with native plants, we can often create oases that are desperately needed by the most vulnerable of these creatures. Sometimes this is easier than "regular" gardening (as you point out, native plants are often a lot easier to care for), but it also requires a great deal of patience, knowledge, and understanding. Gardens, gardeners, and gardening are great. But wildlife-friendly gardens, gardeners, and gardening are so much more! On Umbra on attracting wildlife posted 2 years, 2 months ago 14 Responses

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  Patience is also a weapon against pests

  One of the principles of natural pest control is that you have to have pests in order to have natural pest predators. So, paradoxical as it may seem, patience is often one of the most important weapons a gardener can use against pests.
     Insect outbreaks follow a typical pattern: The population of pest insects skyrockets, which eventually attracts predators. Once the predators are assured of a reliable food supply, they breed, which produces a lot more predators. The pest outbreak then begins to subside as pest insects are gobbled up. But this process takes time. If it's disrupted (for instance, by an impatient gardener who decides to resort to pesticides), it may never happen at all.
     Sometimes predators can't keep up with an insect outbreak, of course, which is why Umbra is quite right to say that it's best to know what you're dealing with. However, it's amazing how often patience pays off. Your friendly local predators will come to the rescue--but you have to give them a chance!
     Incidentally, Umbra is also quite right to warn people off importing insects to the garden. If you provide good habitat and avoid using pesticides, most likely there are plenty of local predators, from lady beetles to wrens and other birds, that will be more than happy to control pest insects for you.On Umbra on fighting pests with pests posted 2 years, 6 months ago 12 Responses