Good to Know

NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE BIRDS     Our bird populations are declining at a disturbing rate. Today there are 3 billion fewer birds in North America than in 1970. if you are planning to plant more shrubs in your yard to help provide more food sources and habitats for birds below is a list of native plants you might consider. Native plants have had 1000’s of years to adapt to their surroundings and therefore are very hardy, drought, and pest resistant.   Here is a list – purple cone flowers, milkweed, cardinal flowers, trumpet honeysuckle, Virginia creeper, downy sunflower, cup plant, false dragon head, New England aster.   D owny sunflowers  attract chickadees, blue jays, goldfinches, and nuthatches    False dragon heads (obedient plants) attract hummingbirds.  Cup plants  attract chickadees, blue jays, goldfinches, and nuthatches. Asters attract cardinals, chickadees, goldfinches, indigo buntings, nuthatches, sparrows, towhees. The ...

  WE NEED THE GREENBELT    Nature is experiencing a cataclysm, the UN reported that up to a million plants and mammal species could become extinct including our precious pollinators.   On 450 , 000 species of plants depend entirely on pollinators that frequent our green spaces. Here in Canada, we have over 850 native bee species and many of those are at the risk of extinction. A great variety of pollinators actually help pollinate over 100 food crops, including fruits, veggies, and nuts.    In addition to the food we eat, pollinators also support healthy ecosystems that improve air quality, stabilize soils, and support other wildlife. Seeing that paving over paradise has magnified the impacts of global overheating, i t is therefore of utmost importance, that we protect, maintain, and enhance as much biological diversity as possible for very own survival here on Earth. Wild naturalized green spaces, such as our Greenbelt, provide hundreds of millio...

  Water and Birds W ater is the lifeline of all life on Earth. 71% of the whole world is covered in water, but just little over 3% is drinkable. David Suzuki, our world renowned Canadian environmentalis t and scientist constantly reminds us, “Water is Life.” The theme this year for World Migratory Bird Day on May 13 is “Water- S ustaining Bi rd L ife.” W ere it not for birds, Canada woulds be a barren waste l and, as birds are responsible for 92% of trees growing across our vast country. As they fly over the landscape, the tree seeds in their poop are dropped everywhere. Their poop helps to fertilize the tree seeds as they sprout into saplings. Scientists tell us that birds eat around 500 million of tons of insects including 15 million larva every year! This pest-eating service of birds is worth billions of ...

  CODE RED FOR MOTHER EARTH Whenever there is a Code Red warning, everyone knows there is some kind of serious and immediate emergency. All involved personnel spring into action and as quickly as possible play their specific role to save lives, mitigate the damage, and do everything in their power to stabilize the situation and return to normalcy. Recently world renown, highly regarded, and vigorously trained scientists warned leaders from every country that the whole Earth is facing a global emergency requiring a Code Red warning. For the first time in history we are all being impacted by global overheating, climate chaos, and unprecedented extreme weather events that are more frequent, more severe, and last longer.   Leaders of the world including the G20 countries the clock is ticking! Tick! Tick! Tick! And like Greta Thunberg declared bla, bla, bla is no longer acceptable or helpful! You can no longer ignore the catastrophic and devastating impacts global ov...

  LET'S PROTECT THE RIBBON OF LIFE  A-h-h The Cottage Life! Everyone loves the idea of a cottage where we can revel in nature's splendour. Before we rip out all the native flora, create fertilizer- dependent lawns, pave the driveways, and plant a garden of similar ornamentals we need to question the value and purpose of the original, native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. FFish Need the Ribbon of Life Over 90% of the aquatic life, such as all kinds of fish, that lives in rivers, lakes, and ponds depend on shorelines, deemed to be some of the richest and most productive ecological land on Earth, for their survival! This jumble of shrubs, trees, reeds, cattails, and native wildflowers known as the Ribbon of Life provides food, shelter, protection, and spawning areas for all kinds of aquatic animals in the lake and along the shoreline. Protect the Web of Life Each species is a thread in the intricate food web and each thread relies on other species a...

  What are Scarlet Runner Beans?   They bloom profusely, attracting both hummingbirds and bees.   The vines can grow to 5 metres long, but in colder areas usually only reach 2-3 metres in length.  The flowers are usually red but can also be white.  The flowers are edible and taste like beans.   The pods are edible when young.   The red flowering scarlet runners have beans that are black with purple mottling.  The beans can be eaten fresh or dried.  If you elect to dry them, be sure to soak them for 6 to 8 hours before cooking them. How to Grow Scarlet Runner Beans from Seeds   Scarlet runner beans need full sun and rich, well-drained soil.  Keep your vines well-watered, at least  2 cm  each week.  A thick layer of  mulch  will help keep the soil moist between watering. A balanced fert...